Alcohol

“what governments and institutions do or don’t do about alcohol and the conditions and problems associated

with its misuse”

Definition of Alcohol Beverage

• a drink containing ethanol

• psychoactive drug

• depressant

The Prohibition: A Brief History

• enacted in the early 1900s in Canada.

• drinking establishments closed.

• These were seen as places of drunkenness and misery

• Repealed in 1920s• L.C.B.O

What does alcohol policy mean?

• control the supply and/or affect the demand

• education and treatment programs

• alcohol control and harm-reduction strategies.

• Serve the interests of public health and social well-being

The Key Players in Ontario

• Politicians and their Advisors

• Government Staff• Alcohol and Gaming

Commission of Ontario (ACGO)

• Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO)

• Alcohol producers, retailers, distributors, marketers and member of the hospitality industry

LCBO

• Importation

• Transportation

• Warehousing and sale

AGCO

• Enforces Liquor License Act (controls the sale, service, and consumption of alcohol)

Socio-Economic Status and Policy

• Many groups of people in terms of Socio-Economic Status

• Not one universal set of rules that can be applied to satisfy all the problems

• Higher Socio-Economic Status is associated with better health

Advertisement Policy

Advertisement

• 2003, 700,000 alcohol ads aired

• 400,000 airing in Ontario alone

• Only 390,000 Public Service announcements

• 1.8/1 Ad to PSA

• How can we let this happen?

• Characteristics• good looking partiers• Humour• sex appeal.

• Problem• Attractive to younger

generations as well

Why is this happening?

• Notice “Restrictions on advertising” category

• How many ‘Yes’ can you see?

• void in regulations

Consequences

Consequences

Morbidity, Health, and Social Problems from alcohol use

• 1 litre increase per capita alcohol consumption = 5.9 male and 1.9 female mortalities per 100 000 inhabitants

• Also, +1 litre = 17% in male and 13% female increase in total cirrhosis rate (chronic liver disease)

• 38.6% of fatal motor vehicle crashes were attributed to alcohol in 199

Groups at particular risk

• Women• Youth• Seniors• First Nations and Inuit

peoples • Driving-while-

impaired offenders• First Nations youths 2-

6 times greater risk

Money Money Money

Chart Information

• 14.6 billion

• 36.6% of total costs for substance abuse

• 7.1 billion due to productivity loss

• 2.3 billion for law enforcement

• 1.1 billion in direct costs

• 15% of Health Care budget due to Alcohol

Prevention

• MADD • support services to

victims• heighten awareness • save lives and prevent

injuries on the road.

• 2002, 53 million dollars spent by the government of Canada.

• 17.3 million for research

• 33.9 million for prevention programs

• 1.8 for salaries and operating funds

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Prevention Policies

• Zero Tolerance Policy

• Drinking Ages

• Breath Sampling

What to Consider

• Void in Advertisement Policy

• Approx. 11% of healthcare budget is spent

• Government Spent 53 million on prevention, is this enough?

Questions

• Should alcohol Producers be on the list of Key Players in making alcohol policy?

• Should the Drinking age in Ontario be raised?

• Why isn’t there strong regulations for advertisement?

References• Carpenter, C. “Did Ontario’s Zero Tolerance and Graduated Licensing Law Reduce Youth Drunk Driving?”,

Journal of Policy Analysis and Management• Fortin, R and Rempel B. “The Effectiveness of Regulating Alcohol Advertising: Policies and Public Health.”

Ontario Health Promotion E-Bulletin 16 Dec 05. http://www.ohpe.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7074&Itemid=78

• Benjamin T, Rehm, J, Patra J, Popova S, and Baliunas D. “Alcohol-attributable morbidity and resulting health care costs in Canada in 2002: recommendations for policy and prevention.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol Jan 07: pg 36(12)

• Rehm J, Ballunas D, Brochu S, Fischer B, Gnam W, Patra J, Popova S, Samocinska-Hart A, Taylor B. “The Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada 2002 Highlights.” Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. http://www.ccsa.ca/NR/rdonlyres/18F3415E-2CAC-4D21-86E2-CEE549EC47A9/0/ccsa0113322006.pdf

• “Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy” The World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/en/Alcohol%20Policy%20Report.pdf

• “Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004: Part II: report by country profiles” The World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/en/canada.pdf

• “Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy” The World Health Organization http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/policy_canada.pdf

• “Liquor Advertising Guidelines: Liquor Sales Licensees and Manufacturers” Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario August 2003. www.agco.on.ca/pdf/Non-Forms/3099B.pdf

• “Alcohol Licensing” AGCO: Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario www.agco.on.ca/en/b.alcohol.html

• “About the LCBO” LCBO: Liquor Control Board of Ontario www.lcbo.com/aboutlcbo/index.shtml