Key Points

• In 2017, 7.9% of adults aged 18 to 75 consumed alcohol daily (a prevalence significantly lower than the national average), and 16.2% consumed 6 or more drinks on a single occasion at least once a month (comparable to the national average prevalence). These consumption rates were higher among men than among women. Weekly consumption of hard liquor was higher in Normandy than the average in other regions.

• 35.9% of adults aged 18 to 30 consumed alcohol weekly, and 9.7% engaged in heavy episodic drinking (6 or more drinks on a single occasion); these prevalence rates did not differ from the average in other metropolitan regions.

• Among 17-year-olds: 87.8% had consumed alcohol at least once in their lives; 10.6% consumed alcohol regularly (at least 10 times in the past month); 19.1% consumed 6 or more drinks on a single occasion at least 3 times a month. These prevalence rates among 17-year-olds in Normandy were significantly higher than the national averages.

• In 2017, 11,422 emergency department visits were directly related to alcohol, averaging 31 visits per day, which represented 1.45% of all emergency department visits. Acute alcohol intoxication was the most common condition, followed by alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The rate of visits was higher among men (2.11%) than among women (0.72%) and was highest among those aged 46–60.

• The incidence and mortality rates for alcohol-related cancers (lip, mouth, and pharynx; esophagus; and larynx) were higher among men and exceeded the national average (excluding larynx). These rates varied from one department to another within the region.

• The cumulative mortality rate associated with the main alcohol-related conditions (cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, liver cirrhosis, alcohol-induced psychosis, and alcoholism) was 14.7 per 100,000 inhabitants among women and 62.4 among men. These rates were higher than those in other regions.