Alcohol Policy Update

A Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Alcohol Policy Network
Feel free to copy & distribute
Vol. 5 February 1997

"No one is immune or safe from the damage, death and immeasurable loss that is so senselessly caused by [alcohol] impairment."
— OPP Commissioner Tom O'Grady (quoted in Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving brochure)

Impaired Driving..still a Problem

Despite significant progress over the last decade, impaired driving remains a leading cause of death and injury among young people and a major drain on the public purse.

According to an economic cost study released in June 1996, motor vehicle crashes account for nearly one-quarter of the 6,700 alcohol-related deaths in Canada each year, 13% of alcohol-related hospitalizations and 12% of days spent in hospital (Single et al., 1996).

The Traffic Injury Research Foundation estimates that in 1994, 25,520 Ontarians were charged with impaired operation of a vehicle — driving a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, snowmobile or other vehicle with a BAC of .08 per cent or more — or with failure to provide a breath sample. These charges included:

To curb the problem, the Ontario government has introduced a number of innovative policies in recent years. On November 8, Ontarians suspected of impaired driving became subject to automatic "administrative licence suspensions" (ALS). Under this new system, motorists who are caught driving over the legal limit, or who refuse to provide a breath sample when stopped by police, may lose their licence on the spot for a period of 90 days. The cost of the Ontario program will be funded by the licence reinstatement fees charged to drivers whose licences are suspended.

Another recent Ontario initiative to curb impaired driving was the introduction of graduated licensing in June 1994. The latter maintains "zero BAC tolerance" for new drivers, regardless of age. In other words, all new drivers must maintain a zero blood alcohol concentration — they should never drink before driving — for their first two years behind the wheel. Australian studies have found that these special zero tolerance regulations resulted in reduced traffic injuries and deaths (Smith, 1986).

Currently, at least two anti-drinking and driving private member's bills are before the provincial legislature. Bill 85, the Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Impaired Driving), 1996, sponsored by Mississauga South MPP Margaret Marland has been forwarded to the Standing Committee on the Administration of Justice for review. The bill, which received all-party support at first and second readings in late October, calls for licence suspensions for individuals convicted of an impaired driving offence. The suspension would be for a minimum of one year in the case of a first conviction, three years in the case of a second conviction and five years in the case of a third conviction. On the fourth conviction, the driver's licence is revoked. Bill 85 also requires convicted impaired drivers to successfully complete an educational or drug and alcohol rehabilitation program before their licence can be reinstated. Public hearing dates have not yet been set.

A second bill to amend the Highway Traffic Act was tabled in the provincial legislature on November 26 by Scarborough West MPP Jim West. If Bill 100 becomes law, it will give police officers the power to seize motor vehicles, including snowmobiles, operated by a person suspected of drinking and driving. If the driver is charged with and has previously been convicted of an impaired driving offence, the police may impound his or her vehicle for up to 90 days until the charge is heard. Bill 100 is expected to undergo second reading in early March.

Meanwhile, the Community for Sober Highways and Waterways Committee in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (near Cornwall) is working with public health, probation officers and the Crown to pilot a court-ordered session for convicted impaired drivers featuring presentations by a breath technician, a drug/alcohol assessment officer and victims of drinking and driving collisions.

These and other countermeasures initiatives will be the focus of attention at the Manage the Energy conference taking place March 2-4 at the Radisson Hotel in Toronto. In addition to an orientation for victims of drinking and driving collisions and an exhibit full of innovative displays, there will be sessions on:

Manage the Energy is organized by the Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving, the SmartRisk Foundation, Community Safety Councils of Ontario and the OPHA's Injury Prevention Resource Centre. Registration is $120. For more information contact Bev Woods, 416-367-3313 ext. 25.

For more information on Bill 85 contact Douglas Arnott, Clerk of the Standing Committee on the Administration of Justice, 416-325-3506. For information on Bill 100 contact the Queen's Park Journals Branch, 325-7350. For information on the court-ordered session for impaired drivers, contact Sharon Villeneuve, 613-932-0601.

BAC Talk...

Blood alcohol concentration, or "BAC," is used in reference to the legal driving limit. In Canada, the legal limit is 80 mg% or .08 per cent (80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.) Police officers can charge people with "impaired driving", regardless of their BAC. Under provincial highway traffic legislation, officers can also issue a 12-hour driving suspension if a person's BAC is between .05 and .08 per cent.

BACs are influenced by a variety of factors including: gender, age, weight, mood, health status, fatigue, the presence of other drugs in the body, amount of alcohol consumed and rapidity of consumption. It takes about 1.5 hours for the average adult to metabolize the 12 to 14 grams of alcohol in one standard drink.

Among drinking drivers killed in 1994, 83 per cent were legally impaired and 65 per cent had BACs over 150 mg%. Nearly two thirds (65 per cent) of impaired driving suspensions were issued to drivers with previous offences (Bierness, 1996).

According to studies conducted by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, nearly half (45 per cent) of impaired driving collisions occur on weekends, usually during the late evening and early morning hours. Male drivers between 25 and 34 years of age are most likely to be involved in drinking-related crashes (Bierness, 1994).

Sources: D. J. Bierness et al. Drinking and Driving in Ontario. Statistical Yearbook, 1993. Toronto: Drinking/Driving Countermeasures Office, Ministry of the Attorney General, 1994; D. J. Bierness et al. Drinking and Driving in Ontario. Statistical Yearbook, 1994. Ottawa: TIRF, 1996.

Alcohol Policy Network and ARF Team Up to Distribute Alcohol Resources

"Excellent resource ... comprehensive, thorough ... highlighted
statistics and other info ... easily and quickly accessible."

—Priorities evaluation form

For a limited time only, groups across Ontario that order a copy of APN's Priorities, developments in alcohol policy in Ontario, will receive a free copy of Drugs in Ontario published annually by the Addiction Research Foundation. Both are ideal for use as:

Each set of Priorities/Drugs in Ontario costs $20 (includes $5 postage and handling). Offer expires March 31, 1997. To take advantage of this time-limited opportunity while quantities last, just complete an order form

Alcohol Policy Round Up

Got any local alcohol policy news you'd like to share? E-mail, fax or mail us the info and we'll get the word out."

Windsor requires refresher training for servers

On February 17, Windsor City Council passed amendments to by-laws regulating the hospitality industry. The city will strengthen the compulsory training provisions of the Liquor Licence Act, by requiring alcohol servers to take a refresher course periodically as a condition of the municipal business licence. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will be administering refresher training and is currently drafting a curriculum to complement the Hospitality Training Organization's SmartServe Program. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort by municipal officials, residents groups, ARF and the local business community to reduce problems associated with overservice, including rowdiness, injuries, deaths, and alcohol-related liability. Local bar and restaurant owners have also banded together to develop a voluntary code of conduct currently under revision. For more info contact Liz Haugh, Windsor Public Health, 519-258-2146 ext. 264 or Mark Gibson, ARF, 519-251-0500.

Gaming venues to be licensed

On February 18, the Gaming Control Commission released the Request for Proposals (RFP) for groups interested in developing and operating one or several of the 36 full-time and 8 part-time/seasonal charity gaming venues expected to begin opening across the province later this year. The Commission anticipates "that the sale and consumption of alcohol beverages may be available for sale at competitive prices in licensed areas, including gaming areas" (RFP, p. 11). The latter would require amendments to the Liquor Licence Act regulations. For more info call the Gaming Control Commission, 416-326-8710.

U-brews/U-vints under review

According to a report in the February 6 edition of Hamilton's The Spectator, several brew-your-own businesses in the Hamilton-Wentworth area are all but eliminating the customer's involvement in the production process, and, in the words of reporter Carol Phillips, "making u-brews a cheap and easy retail alternative to the big breweries and wineries." According to the article, a case of 24 of u-brew beer costs $13, less than half of what it would cost at a beer store. The same applies to wine. In both cases, the difference appears to lie in the lower level of taxation applied to brew-on-premise products. The Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations is currently reviewing the need for greater regulation of the sector. Meanwhile, the City of Toronto Board of Health is expected to consider a report on u-brews and hear deputations on the issue at its April 2 meeting. For info on the u-brew/u-vint sector, including efforts to control irresponsible operators, contact Don Wolan, Brew-on-Premise Association of Ontario, 519-753-2962. For info on the MCCR review contact Catherine Finlay, 416-326-8876. For info on the Toronto Board of Health report or to make a submission call 416-392-7025. Visit the APN website for a backgrounder on the topic.

CAF takes over review of alcohol ads

On February 1, the Canadian Advertising Foundation (CAF) began operating the Alcohol Beverage Advertising Clearance Section. The latter will conduct reviews of broadcast alcohol ads, a function previously carried out by the CRTC. Bilingual clearance analysts working out of CAF's Montreal and Toronto offices will review advertising copy to ensure it complies with the Code for Broadcast Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages. CAF-approved messages will receive a clearance approval number valid for one year. Submission procedures (including fee schedule) are posted on the CAF web site (http://www.canad.com). For more info contact the CAF's Linda Nagel, 416-961-3663.

Red Tape Commission releases report

The Red Tape Commission released its report in January, including recommendations to eliminate the minimum seating capacity of licensed premises; allow vineyard outlets to sell wine by the glass without a sales licence; and do away with the gallonage tax paid by licensees. Bill 117, the Red Tape Reduction Act, also gives the Liquor Licence Board more discretion regarding SOPs and new liquor licence applications. For more info check out the APN web site or call the Red Tape Secretariat, 416-314-5712.

News & Views

Conferences & Workshops

Media advocacy expert Robert Reynolds, Director of the Washington-based National Centre for the Advancement of Prevention will be speaking to residents' groups at an evening forum on the impact of alcohol sales on neighbourhoods. The event will take place on Thursday, March 20, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Masaryk-Cowan Community Recreation Centre, 220 Cowan Avenue (at Queen Street West) in Toronto. Free. For more info, call Susan D'Oliveira, Parkdale Community Watch, 416-588-3985, or Paula Neves, 416-367-3313 ext. 27.

A coalition of health units and community groups will be organizing a forum on alcohol policy and community action for residents and agencies in the Peterborough, Northumberland, Victoria and Haliburton counties. The forum will take place on March 25 at the Peterborough Lions Club. It will feature a keynote presentation by the Centre for Health Promotion's Michael Goodstadt; a panel on alcohol controls: too many or too few?; "info blast" presentations and round table discussions on alcohol advertising, alcohol liability and community-based action strategies; a buffet lunch; and interactive displays on successful programs and innovative products related to the day's theme. $15. To register or book display space call Anne Gallant, Peterborough City-County Health Unit, 705-745-3865.

The Association to Reduce Alcohol Promotion in Ontario (ARAPO) will be hosting a fast-paced, action-oriented workshop on alcohol advertising on Tuesday, April 8, 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, at North York City Hall. Targeted at those working or volunteering in public/community health. For info contact Simone Cusenza, 416-740-9592.

Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) will be holding its 12th annual conference April 16-20 at the Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre in Mississauga. The conference is designed to motivate and inform youth, teachers, health professionals, police officers and community groups involved in the promotion of sober driving. The full conference package is $199 and includes all meals, main forums, workshops and entertainment. For more info call 519-924-3801.

The Health Communication Unit will be hosting the 7th Annual Health Communication Conference in Toronto on April 24-25. Registration is $100. For more info call 416-978-0522 or visit the HCU web site at www.utoronto.ca/chp/hcu.

The City of Scarborough Special Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse will be sponsoring a substance abuse conference on May 9-10 at the Quality Inn (401 & Warden). The day will feature "Dialogue in Open Space," a unique facilitation process that allows creative ideas and insights to emerge; a creative thinking presentation and exercise led by Mike Mandel; stories and experiences from community action groups and ethnocultural communities, and information on fetal alcohol syndrome, successful youth projects and links between substance abuse and violence. For more information call Shaila Krishna, Scarborough Health Department, 416-396-7452.

Publications

A Review of the Methodologies and Data Sources for Estimating the Economic Costs of Substance Abuse by Bernard C.K. Choi et al. Free. Available from the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, Tel: 416-6888, E-mail: otru@arf.org.

Local plans for the restructuring of the province's addictions treatment system are now available for comment. To get a copy or for more information, contact the district health council in your area.

About Us

Alcohol Policy Update is a bi-monthly fax-news-letter of the Alcohol Policy Network, a province-wide voluntary group with an interest in alcohol policy.

APN does not take public positions on issues, although its members, and its sponsor, the Ontario Public Health Association, may do so.

Information appearing in this newsletter in no way constitutes an endorsement by the OPHA or its members. Submissions welcome. Printing subject to space availability.

If you would like to continue receiving Alcohol Policy Update but haven't yet signed up as a Network Member or Supporter, fax us your application form and we'll ensure you remain on our mailing list. We'll also send you a complimentary copy of Facts on Alcohol Policy, a limited edition binder produced by the Addiction Research Foundation full of useful statistics and background information on various aspects of alcohol policy.

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Please direct any comments or suggestions regarding Alcohol Policy Update to "APOLNET" staff :

Paula Neves : 416- 367-3313 ext. 27 or
Ana Almeida : 416-367-3313 ext. 23

Internet E-mail: apn@opha.on.ca
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