New poll shows English-speaking Montrealers most likely to drink to excess

A new poll suggests that among Montrealers,while more francophones drink, anglophones tend to drink more heavily.

Nearly half 46 per cent of the 150 anglophone Montrealerssurveyed report having consumed alcohol in excess at least once in the past year, where excess is defined as five drinks or more in one sitting.

In comparison, only 39 per cent of the 150 francophone Montrealersand 27 per cent of the 150 allophone Montrealerspolled reported the same.

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duc'alcool commissioned a poll examining the three linguisticcommunities following a 2015 poll that hinted towards different consumption habits between francophones and the rest of the population.

In 2015, the sample size was too small, says Hubert Sacy, general manager of duc'Alcool, to draw a definitive conclusion.

The new poll surveyed 450 Montrealers, and theresults clearly show three distinct approaches divided by linguisticcommunities when it comes to the consumption of alcohol.

Anglophones drink twice as often as allophones

Anglophones drink almost two times per week, while francophones tend to drink about 1.5 times a week. Allophones drink once a week only.

But Sacy said the numbers show all groups are drinking too much.

"It's not an anglophone-only issue," said Sacy.

Still, he admits that English-speaking culture occasionally glamourizes drinking.

"English-speaking countries the U.K., Scotland, Ireland, Australia, the United States are in a culture of heavydrinking between the ages of 15 and 23, 24, and sometimes later," he said.

Soucysaid money is a factor the more money you have, the more likely you are to drink alcohol.

"Statistics show that allophones have less money than francophones, and francophones on average have less money than anglophoneson the island of Montreal," Sacy said.

"Therefore it makes a lot of sense to say that those who have more money drink more often than those who have less money."

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The study also found more anglophonesdrinking and driving than francophone and allophone Montrealers.

Of the anglophone Montrealerspolled, 15 per cent said they got behind the wheelwith a blood alcohol level that was over the legal limit, compared to four per cent of francophones and two per cent of allophones.

'Everybody drinks the same': AA volunteer

Bill Wexler, a volunteer with Alcoholics Anonymous in Montreal, has his doubts about the new survey, which he called "sensationalism."

"It's drawing [attention] away from the real problem of drinking all over the map," he said.

"I don't think there's any group that's more powerfully binge-drinking than anybody else ... everybody drinks the same."

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