{"id":211561,"date":"2019-04-26T23:48:45","date_gmt":"2019-04-27T03:48:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=211561"},"modified":"2019-04-26T23:48:45","modified_gmt":"2019-04-27T03:48:45","slug":"ontarios-proposed-alcohol-policies-will-increase-harms-researchers-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2019\/04\/26\/ontarios-proposed-alcohol-policies-will-increase-harms-researchers-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario’s proposed alcohol policies will increase harms, researchers say"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Titled \u201cCanadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation,\u201d the report finds that until the new rules were announced, Ontario had some of the most effective alcohol policies in the country when it came to reducing harm. (Photo by Tiara Aracama\/Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TORONTO \u2013 A group of researchers is sounding the alarm over the Ontario government’s planned changes to alcohol policy, saying the relaxed rules will lead to more consumption that can bring an increase in crime, hospitalizations and even death.<\/p>\n

The warning comes in a report from Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research.<\/p>\n

Titled \u201cCanadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation,\u201d the report finds that until the new rules were announced, Ontario had some of the most effective alcohol policies in the country when it came to reducing harm.<\/p>\n

However, researchers say the changes recently announced by the Progressive Conservative government \u2013 including wider availability, increased hours of sale and legalizing tailgate parties \u2013 will lead to increased harms.<\/p>\n

Norman Giesbrecht, a scientist emeritus with CAMH and one of the report’s lead researchers, is calling for some \u201csober second thought\u201d from the provincial government.<\/p>\n

He says the Tories’ proposals appear to prioritize convenience over protecting public health.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole package of changes \u2013 some already implemented and some proposed \u2013 all seem to be in the direction of increasing access to alcohol,\u201d Giesbrecht said in a telephone interview Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey all seem to be in the harm-enhancement direction, if you will.\u201d<\/p>\n

The government has said the new rules are meant to respect consumers by trusting them to make responsible choices.<\/p>\n

A spokesman for Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said the province has appointed Ken Hughes, a former chair of Alberta Health Services, as a special adviser on the proposed alcohol policies.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis experience … will inform our government’s approach, ensuring we introduce change responsibly,\u201d Robert Gibson said in a statement Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe safe, responsible sale and consumption of alcohol in Ontario is and will continue to be a top priority for our government. We want to ensure any proposed improvements would uphold the safety and health of our communities and our roads.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giesbrecht said, however, that whenever governments make alcohol cheaper and easier to access, it leads to more consumption, which in turn brings more hospitalizations, deaths and alcohol-related crimes.<\/p>\n

He pointed to previous research that found alcohol-related emergency room visits increased in Ontario after the government allowed the sale of beer and wine in certain grocery stores in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe evidence indicates that yes, the majority of people probably do make good choices. But some people don’t make good choices. And I think the government has a duty to protect the health and safety of the population,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just think there needs to be sober second thought \u2013 pardon the pun \u2013 about, what are the real implications and real costs of making alcohol more widely available.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giesbrecht warned that those costs could be \u201cquite substantial\u201d and include hospital beds, emergency room admissions and police resources.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese consequences do not appear to have been taken into account in these plans,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The changes to alcohol rules were contained in the Tory budget released earlier this month.<\/p>\n

The province will allow bars, restaurants, and golf courses to start serving alcohol at 9 a.m., seven days a week, and is promising consultations on a further increase in hours of service in the future.<\/p>\n

The government will also let municipalities establish rules about where booze can be consumed in public, such as in some parks. Regulations are also changing to allow tailgating parties near sports events across the province.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, casinos will be allowed to advertise free alcohol to \u201clevel the playing field\u201d with American competitors, and the province will loosen rules to allow licensed establishments to advertise \u201chappy hour\u201d promotions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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