Alcohol Consumption in Prairieville: Effect of Change in Type of Outlet on Drinking in a Small Town

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Abstract
The drinking patterns in a small prairie community in Saskatchewan were studied 3 mths. before and 21 mths. after the opening of a different type of liquor outlet[long dash]abeverageroom open to adults of both sexes and serving beer and wine, which replaced a beer parlor that had been open only to men and served only beer. All available citizens of the community between the ages of 21 and 70 were questioned about the amount and type of alcoholic beverages they had consumed during a 7-day period, and where the drinking took place. Certain demographic information was also obtained. The 2nd survey showed no change in the percentage of drinkers in the community. In both surveys about 2/3 of the men and 1/3 of the women had consumed an alcoholic beverage during the test period. Although most drinking took place in private homes during both surveys, there was more drinking outside the home after the new outlet had opened. This change was more pronounced in the total community sample than in those people who were interviewed during both surveys. It was also found that an alcoholic beverage had been consumed during the test week preceding the interview by more young people than old, more Catholics than Protestants, fewer churchgoers than non-attenders, and more people with high-school education than without. The last 2 findings were not evident in the 2nd survey. No definite relationship was found between drinking and marital status, length of residence in the community, size of home town or occupation. In the 2nd survey the majority of people thought they were drinking about the same amount as they had before the new outlet opened. Respondents who had not consumed an alcoholic beverage during the week preceding the interview were more likely to state that people were now drinking more than before. Although it was never supposed that this was a "typical" prairie community, some evidence is presented to suggest that alcohol consumption in this town parallels that of other towns of similar sizes.

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