ISABEL Province consumes more alcohol and kava than any other provinces in the country, a newly released survey report show.
The 2012 – 2013 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) report was released yesterday.
It revealed Isabel accounts for 14 per cent of the nation’s alcohol beverages consumption rate, followed by Honiara with 12 per cent, Guadalcanal with 10 per cent and Temotu at nine per cent.
“The survey shows that seven per cent of the population aged 10 years and over reported using alcoholic beverages. This is most common with males,” the report stated.
“The use of alcoholic beverages among the population is relatively higher in Isabel,” the report added.
According to the report, betel-nut chewing is consistent and is wide spread across the majority of provinces, accounting for 45 percent of those 10 years and above.
“The use of betel-nut is more prevalent among males at 49 percent more than females at 41 percent.
“Within provinces, the use of betel-nut is more predominant in Central with 63 percent, Isabel at 60 percent and Temotu 59 percent.”
For kava, according to the report, it is rarely used across all provinces.
However, Isabel province recorded three per cent of its population use kava, the highest percent across all provinces.
With regard to the use of tobacco substances, the survey found 22 percent of the country’s total population at 10 years and over use tobacco products.
Common users are males, making for 34 percent whilst females nine percent with less major differences between provinces.
The report said average use of tobacco across all provinces is approximately a quarter of the total country’s population.
By BRADFORD THEONOMI
