A new provincial survey paints a sobering picture of Ontario's relationship with alcohol, revealing that harmful drinking patterns established during the COVID-19 pandemic have become stubbornly persistent.
Key Findings from the 2025 CAMH Monitor
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) recently released its 2025 CAMH Monitor report, Canada's longest-running survey on adult substance use and mental health. The study, which spans nearly five decades, involved an online survey of 3,012 Ontario adults aged 18 and older, conducted between February 12 and March 28, 2025.
While the overall percentage of adults who reported drinking alcohol in the past year declined slightly—from 79.9% in 2019 to 76.2% in 2025—the data tells a more concerning story about consumption patterns.
Elevated High-Risk Drinking and Shifting Purchases
The report indicates that regular, high-risk alcohol consumption remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. The rate of regular drinking jumped from 7.4% in 2019 to 13.9% in 2020 and stayed elevated at 12.1% in 2025.
"While overall reports of drinking in the past 12 months continue to trend downward, those at a high risk of harm from alcohol continue to drink at record high pandemic levels," stated Dr. Leslie Buckley, CAMH Chief of Addictions Division. "Alcohol remains one of the leading preventable causes of death in Canada."
The survey also captured a shift in where Ontarians buy alcohol, coinciding with increased access in grocery and convenience stores. Purchases from beer stores have been roughly halved over the past decade, dropping from 25% in 2016 to 12.3% in 2025. Among regular drinkers, 10% reported buying alcohol from grocery stores in the past month, while 6% purchased from convenience stores.
Researchers cautioned it is too early to link increased availability directly to higher consumption, as provincial legislation allowing alcohol sales in convenience stores only took effect in September 2024. However, Dr. Buckley noted, "Increasing availability raises concern about further harm to this higher-risk population."
Declining Mental Health Indicators
Perhaps equally alarming are the report's findings on mental wellness. Self-reported mental and physical health has either remained at pandemic levels or worsened.
Those rating their mental health as fair or poor increased from 26.2% in 2020 to 29% in 2025. Reports of frequent mental distress (14 or more days in the past month) rose from 16.8% to 18.7% over the same period.
The data shows a pronounced decline in men's self-reported mental health. The percentage of men rating their mental health as fair or poor increased from 20.8% in 2020 to 25% in 2025, while those reporting frequent mental distress rose from 12.3% to 16.3%.
"We thought the elevated numbers would be temporary, but mental wellness among respondents continued to decline five years later," said Dr. Hayley Hamilton, a senior scientist at CAMH. "This highlights the need for continued investment in mental health and addiction supports."
The report also noted increased use of anti-anxiety medication among women and antidepressants among adults 65 and older.
Cannabis Use Stabilizes at Higher Level
The survey found that consumption of cannabis products in 2025 remained comparable to 2020 levels. However, researchers pointed out that current marijuana use has nearly doubled from pre-2013 levels, a trend aided by the federal legalization of recreational cannabis in October 2018.
The persistent elevation of high-risk drinking, coupled with declining mental health metrics, suggests the pandemic's shadow continues to affect public health in Ontario, underscoring a critical need for sustained support and monitoring.
