Calorie Intake from Alcohol in Canada: Why New Labelling Requirements are Necessary

Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
7 February 2019

Abstract

We estimated calorie intake from alcohol in Canada, overall and by gender, age, and province, and provide evidence to advocate for mandatory alcohol labelling requirements. Annual per capita (aged 15+) alcohol sales data in litres of pure ethanol by beverage type were taken from Statistics Canada’s CANSIM database and converted into calories. The apportionment of consumption by gender, age, and province was based on data from the Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Survey. Estimated energy requirements (EER) were from Canada’s Food Guide. The average drinker consumed 250 calories, or 11.2% of their daily EER in the form of alcohol, with men (13.3%) consuming a higher proportion of their EER from alcohol than women (8.2%). Drinkers consumed more than one-tenth of their EER from alcohol in all but one province. By beverage type, beer contributes 52.7% of all calories derived from alcohol, while wine (20.8%); spirits (19.8%); and ciders, coolers, and other alcohol (6.7%) also contribute substantially. The substantial caloric impact of alcoholic drinks in the Canadian diet suggests that the addition of caloric labelling on these drinks is a necessary step.

Résumé

Nous avons estimé l’apport en calories provenant de l’alcool au Canada, dans l’ensemble et selon le sexe, l’âge et la province, et proposons des données probantes en faveur de l’étiquetage obligatoire de l’alcool. Les données sur les ventes annuelles d’alcool par habitant (15 ans et plus) en litres d’éthanol pur par type de boisson ont été tirées de la base de données CANSIM de Statistique Canada puis converties en calories. La répartition de la consommation selon le sexe, l’âge et la province était fondée sur les données de l’Enquête canadienne sur le tabac, l’alcool et les drogues. Les besoins énergétiques estimés (BÉE) ont été tirés du Guide alimentaire canadien. Le buveur moyen consommait 250 calories, soit 11,2 % de ses BÉE quotidiens sous forme d’alcool; les hommes (13,3 %) consommant une plus grande proportion de leurs BÉE en alcool que les femmes (8,2 %). Les buveurs consommaient plus d’un dixième de leurs BÉE sous forme d’alcool dans toutes les provinces sauf une. Selon le type de boisson, la bière représente 52,7 % des calories provenant de l’alcool, tandis que, le vin (20,8 %), les spiritueux (19,8 %), et les cidres, panachés et autres alcools (6,7 %) y contribuent également de façon importante. L’impact calorique important des boissons alcoolisées dans le régime alimentaire canadien suggère qu’afficher la teneur calorique sur ces boissons est une étape nécessaire.

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Sources of funding: This work was supported by a Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS-D) for the first author from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Population and Public Health.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 80Number 3September 2019
Pages: 111 - 115

History

Version of record online: 7 February 2019

Authors

Affiliations

Adam Sherk MA (Econ), PhD(c)
Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC
Timothy S. Naimi MD, MPH
Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC
Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Tim Stockwell PhD
Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), University of Victoria, 2300 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC
Erin Hobin PhD
Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON

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