Few things can top spending a relaxing summer evening on a patio with friends – and it’s even better if you wake up the next morning without a hangover.

More Canadians – especially members of the younger generations – are drinking less or ditching alcohol altogether. In 2023–24, alcohol sales in Canada dropped by 4%, the largest decline since Statistics Canada began tracking alcohol sales in 1949.

One quarter of Canadians already don’t drink alcohol. With more people enjoying a sober or sober-curious lifestyle, not drinking is now mainstream. There’s no need to justify to others why you don’t drink – though there are plenty of health reasons to make the switch!

Alcohol isn’t healthy
As research has evolved, we have learned more about how alcohol can harm your health. Canada’s guidelines for low-risk drinking point out that no amount of alcohol is safe to consume, no matter what type – wine, beer, cider or spirits. The more alcohol you drink each week, the more your risk of cancer, heart disease, liver disease and stroke increases. The guidelines suggest limiting your alcohol consumption to two drinks or less per week to help lessen the risk.

Spirit-free sips
Ditching alcohol doesn’t mean ditching good times or tasty drinks. There’s no shortage of delicious zero-proof beverages, including beer and cocktails, available at local bars and restaurants, with many drinks outshining their alcoholic versions. Several Nova Scotia wineries, cideries and breweries are also getting on board to serve sober clientele, crafting alcohol-free versions of their top beverages. If you’re feeling adventurous, try mixing a zero-proof version of a drink you already enjoy (here are some recipes to get you started).

Expanding alcohol sales short-sighted
In June, the provincial government announced it’s considering expanding alcohol sales in Nova Scotia, which would see alcohol sold at grocery and convenience stores. Doctors Nova Scotia (DNS) opposes changes that make alcohol easier to buy and consume because of the negative consequences for the province’s healthcare system and public safety.

A similar change in Ontario in 2015 saw alcohol-related emergency department visits spike by more than 24,000 in just two years. In B.C., a 20% increase in alcohol retail outlets was linked to a 3.25% increase in alcohol-related deaths.

Expanding booze sales to stores with less regulation would also see an uptick in underage drinking, binge drinking and other harmful effects. “We’re concerned about the public health impacts that this change might have, including increasing incidents of impaired driving, violence, including intimate-partner violence, and other public safety issues,” said DNS president Dr. Shelly McNeil.

“Alcohol is associated with short- and long-term health consequences that will lead to increased pressure on the healthcare system and on Nova Scotians’ health in the long term.”

Expanding sales may boost short-term alcohol revenues, but that will come at a long-term cost to public health and Nova Scotia’s healthcare system.

Find support
If you’re quitting alcohol for good and need support, check out the Community Mental Health and Addictions website and look on social media for resources and support groups in your community.

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