Does differing public health advice create confusion?
A new poll for Spirits Canada finds Canadians’ trust in public health advice is vulnerable to confusion over divergent recommendations
In a recent study conducted by Abacus Data, commissioned by Spirits Canada, we explored how Canadians perceive alcohol, trust in health guidelines, and the impact of conflicting alcohol advice on their trust in health institutions. The findings, based on interviews with 2,000 Canadians between May 17th and 21st, 2023, shed light on attitudes towards moderate drinking and trust in health institutions.
Moderate Drinking is the Norm
The majority of Canadians perceive alcohol as a substance to be enjoyed sparingly or moderately, with a surprisingly small fraction endorsing excessive consumption or complete abstinence. 35% believe alcohol should be enjoyed sparingly, while 53% opt for moderate intake. Teetotalers comprise 8% of the population, and just 4% endorse indulging in alcohol liberally.
In terms of health considerations, Canadians lean towards a more conservative stance than Health Canada's official guidelines for low-risk drinking. A significant 72% of respondents consider a safe limit for healthy adults as between 0-6 standard drinks a week, lower than the official guideline of 10-15 drinks.
Interestingly, most Canadians live by their beliefs, with a majority who consume alcohol at least once per month claiming to adhere to Canada's guideline of 10-15 drinks per week. Specifically, 78% reported consuming between 1-6 drinks weekly, leaving only a small minority drinking at the upper range of Health Canada's recommendations.
Health Guidelines and Trust
Canadians hold a high degree of trust in institutions and government when it comes to health-related advice. Most respondents expressed at least some degree of trust in Health Canada, NGOs, academics, and medical professionals. Canada's official low-risk drinking guidelines are considered credible by 68% of those surveyed.
Conflicting Advice Undermines Trust
However, discrepancies in health advice around alcohol consumption can erode this trust. Recommendations that contradict the official guidelines — such as the August 2022 recommendation by the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse and Addiction (limiting consumption to no more than two drinks weekly), and a University of Victoria study (published April 2023, suggesting increased risk only above two drinks daily) — caused confusion among Canadians.
Upon reviewing these differing recommendations, 60% became unsure about the quality of scientific evidence on alcohol and health, developed mistrust towards government or public health guidelines, or were left uncertain about their future approach towards alcohol. Furthermore, 60% agreed that contradictory information makes them less trusting of the government and the scientific process.
Notably, the majority believes that government efforts should focus on reducing harm from excessive alcohol consumption. The consensus seems to be that attempting to limit alcohol intake among light to moderate drinkers would have minimal impact on heavy drinkers or on reducing the harms associated with excessive alcohol consumption.
The Takeaway
Canadians generally report responsible drinking habits. Most who consume alcohol opt for a moderate approach, with their consumption beliefs and behaviours aligning closely. Furthermore, their assumptions about healthy alcohol consumption are even more conservative than the recommendations from Health Canada.
In an era marred by declining trust in experts and institutions, contradictory health advice can compound these issues and create challenges for regulatory bodies aiming to disseminate beneficial guidance. Canadians comprehend the risks of excessive alcohol consumption and want the government to focus on preventing cases of extreme abuse, rather than trying to limit consumption among moderate or occasional drinkers.
In a world awash with information, these results demonstrate that clear and consistent guidelines are critical to maintain public trust and ensure the effective management of public health.
You can access the full poll results here: https://abacusdata.ca/spirits-canada-poll/