Summer 2011

Youth and Binge Drinking

Nearly 50% of males and 20% of females 12 and older binge drink in Peel  This was one startling revelation that provided the impetus for the Peel Public Health Department to take a serious look at alcohol prevention interventions in their communities.

“When we reviewed the Peel-specific data for hospitalizations and injuries, alcohol use was a common and concerning factor,” admitted Tom Martin, Health Promotion Officer with the Region of Peel. “Youth, specifically males, were over-represented in the categories of alcohol-related harm, and therefore a prevention strategy is required from our injury and substance misuse prevention teams.”

The Region of Peel is not alone however. The North West Territories recently reported similar trends, confirming that 50% of males and 35% of females 15 or older were likely to binge drink (defined as five or more standard drinks in a single occasion). Further, the government report based on 2009 data outlined that the majority of Northern residents consumed their first drink at the age of 16; a decrease in age of initiation from previous years.

Kingston is another example of many communities attempting to navigate through the issue of youth and binge drinking.  In response to a recent coroners report confirming alcohol was a factor in the death of two Queen’s University students, Principal Daniel Woolf confirmed:  "We want to do all we can to minimize the chances of these kinds of accidents recurring."

Binge drinking is a particularly dangerous form of alcohol consumption. It is associated with unwanted or unsafe sex, violence and injuries of all types and is reported to cause acute myocardial infarction or death.

To help address some of these harms, particularly among the male youth demographic, Peel Public Health commissioned a report through researchers at Ryerson University and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to study the determining factors that influence young males to engage in risky behaviours related to alcohol use, and further, to confirm what evidence‐based public health prevention strategies have been proven to reduce such high‐risk behaviours. Although the report references Peel-specific data, recommendations stemming from the research could be applied across other jurisdictions.   

As the report highlights, many factors contribute to high-risk drinking in this demographic including the complex relationships between personal and inter-personal dimensions along with promotion of and access to alcoholic beverages. A comprehensive prevention policy response is therefore recommended and should be organized into two priority tiers. These include population-level responses such as increasing minimum pricing and adequate taxation; limits on physical availability; controls on marketing, advertising, and sponsorship; and government monopoly of alcohol sales. The second tier includes focused responses such as introducing or maintaining the minimum legal drinking age; increased enforcement; altering the drinking context; and screening and brief intervention programs. In summary, the report suggests a community needs multiple strategies, at several levels, based on evidence, and involving ongoing assessment and monitoring.

Peel Region will be using this data to substantiate the need to prioritize this health issue, connect a group of committed stakeholders, and develop an action plan of environmental and policy approaches inclusive of a research strategy and evaluation plan.

“As a member of the substance misuse prevention team, I feel we have accomplished some key foundational steps in understanding and addressing the issue of youth binge drinking and its related harms,” notes Tom Martin. “The next few months will now be used to gather support for this issue and implement our research into action.”

Queen’s is working towards implementation of effective strategies as well.

“The university administration is working with student groups and campus representatives to develop a more coordinated alcohol policy,” Principal Daniel Woolf confirmed last month. “Like other universities across North America, we are wrestling with the societal issue of alcohol consumption and excessive drinking in the student-age population." Queen’s University review of health and safety policies could include how students possess and consume alcohol in residences, the feasibility of obtaining student consent for searches of rooms and a review of the student peer judicial system.

To receive a copy of Peels report: High-Risk Drinking among Adolescent and Young Adult
Males: Prevention and Harm Reduction Opportunities - A Systematic Review and Analysis, please contact Peel Public Health at 905-791-7800.

Alcohol Warning Labels

Why isn’t alcohol properly labeled? Shouldn’t the evidence-based harms associated with a product be clearly and publicly outlined? Shouldn’t nutrition information be made available? How about food sensitivities? Those requiring a gluten-free diet?

These and others are examples of questions which have been brought up at numerous legislature meetings over the years, most recently, from MLA Moe Amery from the Calgary-East jurisdiction in Alberta. Mr. Amery is urging the government to introduce legislation making it mandatory for liquor distributors to label their products with warnings about the potential dangers of consuming alcohol, including drinking while pregnant or driving.

"It's a citizen's right-to-know issue," says Professor Tim Stockwell of the University of Victoria in regards to proper labeling of alcohol products.

"I think it's scandalous that vested interest groups have persuaded governments that it's not necessary to inform consumers about the risks of things like cancer from this product …"

Stockwell further clarifies that labeling alcohol bottles with specific warnings about cancer risk would help reduce its adverse health effects. Alcohol labels could also carry more useful information about how many standard drinks of alcohol are found in a bottle of wine or spirits. Consumers could then measure their personal quantity and frequency of drinking behaviours against the forthcoming national Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines to better assess personal risk.

In Calgary, MLA Amery said the motion he is putting forth is to ultimately bring awareness, and hopefully if passed and becomes law, brings change as well.

For more information on Ontario’s low-risk drinking guidelines, please visit: www.lrdg.net
For more information on alcohol warning labels, please visit APN’s information pack.