Home > Issues to Watch > November 2011
This is a monthly discussion of "issues to watch" in the field of alcohol policy.
National Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines On November 25, 2011, the first pan-Canadian low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines—developed to help Canadians make informed choices about alcohol consumption and to encourage a culture of moderation—were officially released. More than two years in the making, the guidelines have been endorsed by Health Canada in the federal government sector, along with national public health bodies including the Canadian Public Health Association and the Canadian Medical Association. Representatives from the alcohol industry also acted as key stakeholders on the development of the guidelines, adding their endorsement. “That we have all agreed on what the guidelines should look like — government, the alcohol industry and public health — is unique to Canada,” said Michel Perron, CEO of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), which oversaw the shaping of the guidelines. “You will not find another country that has this level of congruence,” Perron added. The new guidelines outline that women should consume no more than two drinks most days, up to 10 a week; and men should consume no more than three drinks most days, up to 15 a week. Further, everyone should plan for non-drinking days, ensuring that they aren’t developing a habit.Those familiar with Ontario’s low-risk drinking guidelines will notice an increase in recommended consumption levels: Provincial guidelines state that women should have a maximum of 9 a week and men should stop at 14. Arguably, it’s a small change from Provincial to National guidelines. Still, there appears to be some concern with the changes. For example, researchers from the World Health Organization's International Agency of Research on Cancer concluded that alcoholic beverages are carcinogenic to humans and are related to malignant tumours of the mouth, throat, esophagus and liver, based on a review of evidence. Other research has linked alcohol consumption to colon cancer in men and breast cancer in women. "It can be concluded that there is no level of alcohol consumption for which cancer risk is null," Dr. Paule Latino-Martel of the French National Institute for Agricultural Research and co-authors said. “On the whole, alcohol is considered an avoidable risk factor for cancer incidence and, more generally, for the global burden of disease … Thus, for cancer prevention, the consumption of alcoholic beverages should not be recommended" The researchers point out that alcohol drinking guidelines in some countries focus on short-term effects of alcohol, such as social and psychological issues and hospital admissions, without considering evidence for long-term harm. At minimum however, is the fact that alcohol policy dialogue is now receiving greater attention in political circles in Canada. The government’s endorsement of drinking guidelines could be considered a first step towards recognizing alcohol as a contributor to societal harms. Additionally, these guidelines provide impetus for provinces without low-risk drinking guidelines or those with higher guidelines to now align with national recommendations. “Alcohol is a health hazard. It’s really important that we now have national guidelines,” Deb Matthews, Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care said in November. “We are happy to see a national standard now exists in regards to low-risk drinking guidelines,” stated Siu Mee Cheng, Executive Director of the Ontario Public Health Association. “It is still important to consider research which links moderate alcohol consumption to various chronic diseases. As such, we are happy and eager to see research and evidence-informed prevention efforts continue across the alcohol policy field.” What the public health field now needs to do is capitalize on this new attention to alcohol and bring to bear other evidence-based effective policy levers shown to minimize alcohol associated harms, such as introducing effective taxations models, controlling outlet density, and enforcing compliance with marketing regulations. Clearly stated by award winning journalist Ann Dowsett Johnston: “[Alcohol policy] is a public health issue, and it’s begging for leadership”. So what’s next with the National guidelines? Broad circulation and promotion, promises the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. To aid in this, the Alcohol Policy Network will be hosting a free webinar moderated by Paula Robeson, Knowledge Broker at the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012. Ms. Robeson’s presentation will discuss the main recommendations to Canadian’s found in Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines; the evidence base that served as the foundation for these Guidelines; and the process of the development of the guidelines, lessons learned, and future plans to further mobilize this knowledge within organizations and among the public. There will also be time allotted for questions, answers, and discussion. Please visit www.apolnet.ca or here for registration details Resource List/Background Readings:
French Language Resources
When it comes to weekly risky drinking— currently defined as five drinks or more on at least one occasion in the past week —rates rose significantly between 2003 and 2010 for the following age groups: underage girls, women 25 to 34, those 45 to 54 and 54 to 64, reports Ann Dowsett Johnston of The Toronto Star. Interviewing Dr. Gerald Thomas of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, Dowsett Johnston quotes Dr. Thomas saying: “No one knows if this upward trend among younger drinkers will translate into a larger number of women with alcohol problems later in life. We do know we’re significantly underestimating risky drinking using the five-plus measure for women.” Award-winning journalist Ann Dowsett Johnston is the 2010 recipient of the Atkinson Fellowship in Public Policy. Her 8-part series on alcohol and women was featured in The Toronto Star in November 2011. The full series including written articles, videos, and photos can be viewed at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/Atkinson2011. Dowsett Johnston is also a keynote speaker at the Alcohol Policy Network’s ninth annual alcohol forum. Please visit www.apolnet.ca for details and to register.
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