WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE THIS YEAR?

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE THIS YEAR? A QUIET NIGHT AT HOME (32%), OR A NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY (31%) FOR MOST CANADIANS

13% HAVE ALREADY MADE PLANS TO CELEBRATE NEW YEAR'S ON THE EVE OF THE NEXT MILLENNIUM

THE YEAR 2000 WILL BE WELCOMED IN THROUGH PARTIES (23%), TRAVELLING (10%) AND DINING OUT (5%)

This National Angus Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll is a compilation of two national telephone surveys. The first was conducted between November 16th and November 23rd, 1998 among a representative cross-section of 1,520 Canadian adults. The second survey of 1,501 Canadian adults, also a representative cross section, was carried out from December 10th until the 20th.

These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional, age and sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to 1996 Census data.

With national samples of 1,520 and 1,501, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within +2.5 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

As 1998 draws to an end, expectations of raucous celebrations marking the beginning of 1999 abound. However, as it turns out, one third of Canadians (32%) are planning to "have a quiet evening at home" this December 31st. While another third (31%), are going to celebrate the New Year by attending a party at someone else's home or hosting their own party. What about plans to celebrate New Year's Eve at the New Millennium? -- some (13%) say they already have plans for ushering in the new millennium in a year's time. One quarter of Canadians (23%) say they will likely attend or give a New Year's party, while others plan to travel (10%), or dine out (5%) to celebrate New Year's Eve in 1999.

These are some of the findings gleaned from two Angus Reid Group/Globe and Mail/CTV national telephone surveys. The first, conducted between November 16th and 23rd, 1998 and the second from December 10th to the 20th, 1998 among representative samples of 1,520 and 1,501 Canadian adults respectively. With national samples of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within +2.5 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. Highlights from these surveys are as follows.

A Quiet Evening (32%) or a New Year's Eve House Party (31%) - How Canadians Will Usher in 1999.

Canadians were asked what they thought they would end up doing for New Year's Eve this year. One third (32%) say it will be a quiet evening at home, while another third (31%) are planning to host or attend a house party. Other plans for this New Year's Eve include: dining out with friends or family (16%), going to a large celebration at a hotel, community club or convention centre (8%), being out of town (7%) or attending some live event such as the theatre, a concert, or a hockey game (2%).

Some 5% of Canadians have some other plans, while another 5% either has nothing in particular planned or they just don't know what they will end up doing (See Table 1).

• Regionally, residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (40%) are the most likely to indicate that they are going to have a quiet evening at home this New Year's Eve.
• Quebecers (47%) are more likely than the national average (31%) to be planning to go to someone else's house or host their own party on December 31st, 1998.
• Men (36%) are more likely than women (27%) to say they are going to host or attend a New Year's Eve party this year.
• Younger Canadians (aged 18 to 34, 40%) are more likely than other age groupings (35-54, 30%; 55+, 23%) to plan to go to a house party or give one this New Year's Eve.

PLAN AHEAD - 13% OF CANADIANS HAVE ALREADY MADE PLANS FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE IN 1999

Thirteen percent of Canadians attest to having already made plans for New Year's Eve in 1999 and the ushering in of the new millennium (See Table 2).

HOW TO CELEBRATE THE DAWN OF A NEW MILLENNIUM - PARTIES (23%), TRAVELLING (10%) AND DINING OUT (5%)

Canadians were asked what they intended to do next year, the last year of the twentieth century, to mark the occasion of the new millennium. One quarter (23%) plan to attend or give a New Year's party, others plan to travel (10%) or dine out (5%). Still other plans include getting together with family (2%) and attending church (1%). However, most Canadians (60%) still have no plans and do not intend to make any specific plans at this point (See Table 3).

• Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 (74%) are far more likely than those who are 35 and over (69%) to be planning to attend or host a New Year's party in 1999. For further information, please contact:

John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900