why more canadians are choosing mocktails over cocktails: survey
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for decades, alcohol has been a staple of canadian social life — a beer at the game, a glass of wine with dinner, cocktails at happy hour.
but a growing number of canadians are quietly changing what’s in their glass.
new research from medexpress suggests that weight-loss goals, wellness culture and a growing focus on health are reshaping drinking habits across the country. for many people, cutting back on alcohol is no longer a temporary challenge or a new year’s resolution. it’s becoming part of everyday life.
new research from medexpress suggests many canadians are making significant lifestyle adjustments in pursuit of better health. in fact, 74% of survey respondents said they are actively trying to lose weight through methods ranging from exercise and calorie tracking to prescription medications.
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majority of canadians rethinking alcohol
the survey of 1,005 canadian adults found that 62% of canadians trying to lose weight have reduced or stopped drinking in the past year.
among gen z respondents pursuing weight loss, nearly one in five have given up alcohol entirely.
beer tops the list of beverages canadians are cutting back on, followed by sugary cocktails and wine.
wellness trend gaining momentum
the trend appears to be extending beyond weight loss alone. more than one-third of canadians say they plan to reduce their alcohol consumption over the next year, while 15% plan to stop drinking altogether.
at the same time, wellness culture is becoming harder to ignore. nearly half of respondents said it has made them more aware of how much they drink, while 48% said they feel more comfortable ordering a non-alcoholic drink in public than they did two years ago.
dinner outings, house parties and after-work drinks are increasingly becoming occasions where canadians choose to skip alcohol.
medexpress canada’s dr. ashley white, left, and dr. karim vellani.
courtesy of medexpress ca
shift reflects broader change in how people think about health
“for someone living with obesity, weight loss is medical treatment, not a wellness trend,” said dr. ashley white, medical lead at medexpress canada.
“when people start cutting back on groceries or taking on credit card debt to stay in treatment, we aren’t watching them chase an ideal. we’re watching them forced into impossible trade-offs between one part of their health and another.”
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the findings suggest many canadians are making significant lifestyle adjustments in pursuit of better health. in fact, 74% of survey respondents said they are actively trying to lose weight through methods ranging from exercise and calorie tracking to prescription medications.
for some, that effort extends beyond avoiding alcohol
dr. karim vellani, chief medical officer at medexpress canada, said canadians are facing intense pressure from multiple directions.
“social media, the buzz around new weight-loss injections, a marketplace full of programs and promises — it all creates this feeling that you need to act, and act now, and spend whatever it takes,” dr. vellani said. “i see that urgency in my patients every week.”
but he warns that the pursuit of wellness can sometimes backfire when it comes at the expense of financial stability or proper nutrition.
factors that make losing weight tougher
“if you’re eating less nutritiously because your budget is stretched, or you’re losing sleep over credit card debt, those things actually make weight loss harder,” he said. “stress and poor nutrition work against you biologically.”
the survey also points to another reality of modern wellness culture: people increasingly want support.
personal trainers generated some of the highest satisfaction rates among weight-loss methods, a finding that doesn’t surprise experts.
personal trainers make people ‘feel seen’
“personal trainers came out on top for satisfaction at 71%,” dr. vellani said. “but it’s not only about the workouts. a personal trainer becomes someone in your corner, someone who holds you accountable.”
dr. white agrees that the appeal goes beyond exercise plans.
“what people are really responding to with a personal trainer is something else,” she said. “they feel seen. they have a partner in their health who notices that they’re trying and helps them learn and grow.”
tracy matthews, senior vice-president of experience and safety at goodlife fitness.
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demand for support is something fitness companies are seeing firsthand
“at goodlife fitness, we continue to see strong member engagement across the country,” said tracy matthews, senior vice-president of experience and safety at goodlife fitness.
“in fact, check-ins are at record highs, which signals that people in canada continue to prioritize their health, well-being, and routines, even in the face of broader economic pressures.”
matthews said many canadians now view fitness as an essential expense rather than a discretionary one.
“fitness remains a meaningful priority,” she said. “members are highly engaged and continue to view their fitness routine as an essential part of their overall wellbeing.”
‘health is wealth’
for 31-year-old erika camacho, staying healthy is worth the investment.
the associate marketing manager spends roughly $450 a month on fitness-related expenses, including her gym membership, supplements, meal preparation and workout gear.
to make room in her budget, she has to cut back on restaurant meals, clothing purchases and subscriptions.
“health is wealth,” camacho said.
“when i feel healthy, i feel better overall … for me, fitness is not only about appearance. it is also about feeling strong, maintaining my energy, and supporting both my physical and mental wellness.”
growing pressure that comes with today’s wellness culture
“there are so many resources available now,” she said. “at the same time, with this bigger spotlight also comes more pressure to keep up with fitness trends. it can feel like you need the latest activewear, expensive water bottles, earbuds, supplements or workout accessories just to be part of the fitness lifestyle.”
that tension — between health and consumerism, self-improvement and social pressure — may define the next chapter of canada’s wellness movement.
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for now, however, one thing appears clear: more canadians are rethinking their relationship with alcohol.
whether it’s a mocktail at happy hour or sparkling water at a house party, drinking less is becoming less of a statement and more of a lifestyle choice.
for more 世界杯决赛2022 and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, 2022年世界杯名单猜测, drugs, treatments and more, head to healthing.ca – a member of the postmedia network.
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