For decades, nova Scotians have lived with, and rankled under, the stereotype that they are laid-back, party-hearty souls. Now, thanks to a recently released study, it seems there may be a grain of truth to the image.

According to The Alcohol Indicators Report, prepared by epidemiologist Linda Graham for Health Promotion Nova Scotia, as many as 81% of Nova Scotians drink alcohol. Of these, about 117,000 — or 20% — are heavy drinkers, which is defined as consuming five or more drinks at one time for men, and four or more drinks for women.

Using this widely accepted definition, upward of 6% of Nova Scotians drink heavily every week and 20% at least once a month. True to stereotype, the rates for heavy drinking are particularly high for underage drinkers, young adults and men. Breaking the mould, perhaps, are individuals who have never been married; they also have high rates of heavy drinking.

Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald is quick to point out — especially in a province that banked almost $1 billion in alcohol sales: “The concern is not that Nova Scotians drink; rather, it’s how they are drinking.” Having a leisurely drink at home over supper with a spouse carries very different risks, he says, than having several drinks at home before going out for a night on the town with friends.

Clearly, health and social problems are linked to alcohol abuse and misuse. Each year in Nova Scotia, an average of 600 hospital admissions and 230 deaths can be directly attributed to alcohol. But the risks associated with drinking, says an addictions expert, extend well beyond the individual’s health, hitting the business community right where it hurts the most — the bottom line.

According to Glenda Morrissey, an addictions specialist and owner of Morrissey Rehabilitation and Treatment Counselling, workplaces are significantly — and adversely — affected by alcohol abuse.

Absenteeism is estimated to be four to eight times greater among employees with alcohol problems, severely affecting productivity. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse has also estimated that substance abuse cost the Canadian economy more than $7.5 billion in 1992, the most recent year for which figures were extrapolated.

The workplace also contributes to the problem, notes Morrissey. Employers and their employees often turn a blind eye, which only exacerbates the problem for the individual, colleagues and company.

Clearly, action needs to be taken to address the issue. Nova Scotia is starting to act by producing an alcohol-reduction strategy aimed at cutting back harmful drinking. The approach is similar to the one the provincial government has implemented to tackle smoking and problem gambling. As a means of supporting that as-yet-unwritten strategy, the health promotion department has already announced that it will establish five new positions in addictions services units throughout the province.

Despite the “chugalug” stereotype, and its apparent roots in reality, Nova Scotia and its business community are not alone in grappling with alcohol-related problems. A study prepared last year for the Centre for Addictions and Research of British Columbia concludes that alcohol consumption in Canada has increased by 13% since 1997. In fact, compared with the rest of the country, Nova Scotians are running counter to the current imbibing trend.

According to the provincial government report, Nova Scotians consumed, on average, 7.57 litres of pure alcohol a year for the period between 2000 and 2004. That’s actually below the national average of 7.76. IE