Alcohol Policy Update
A Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Alcohol Policy Network
Feel free to copy & distribute
Vol. 13 May/June/July 1998
Alcohol Policy: Where to From Here?
Summer is usually the time for a mind, body, soul, and sometimes even office, overhaul. Not so this year. It seems that most of us are still dealing with restructuring and reorganization. Witness the recent release of FutureShape, the Ministry of Health's reorganization plan (now posted on the MOH web site); efforts to find an appropriate corporate identity for the newly-merged Addiction Research Foundation, (the consensus: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health); and ongoing negotiations among newly-downloaded and downsized public health staff to determine who's doing what, when and where in this brave new world of mandatory guidelines, evidence-based planning and municipal funding.
Amidst all the change, it is comforting to know some things are staying put. Take the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) for example. Despite much public—and internal— debate over privatization, media sources indicate this is an issue the government does not want to take on right now. While Ontarians will likely see more aggressive liquor retailing practices and more lax enforcement of alcohol advertising, promotion and service provisions over the next year or two as a result of ongoing "modernization" efforts, the current system is likely to remain intact at least until after the next election. From a public health perspective this is a positive development. Research tells us that controls on alcohol availability are generally associated with reductions in problems such as violence, drinking and driving and liver disease. When coupled with effective education and enforcement measures, such controls can go a long way towards decreasing the personal, social and economic toll of alcohol on society.
It also comforting to know that change—while always disruptive and often difficult to manage—can also be an opportunity to recharge, reevaluate and reorient. To this end, the Alcohol Policy Network is working with the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre and other groups across the province to develop a consensus on priorities for action in two areas of public health concern: the reduction of alcohol-related injuries, hospitalizations and deaths, and the prevention and early identification of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects. The priorities are being identified through a series of round tables composed of researchers, program planners, service providers and community representatives. A draft will likely be circulated for feedback in the fall. Their—and your —collective best advice, will be published in the next issue of Priorities, APN's biennial review of alcohol policy developments in Ontario.
To promote more information sharing, APN will also be hosting a teleconference in September for those working on substance abuse prevention across the province. The latter will enable participants to share action plans for the coming year and identify opportunities for collaboration, particularly with respect to developing public education materials or addressing regional issues such as ways to combat underage drinking or the need for professional development on the low-risk drinking guidelines.
For more information on these or other initiatives, or for assistance in fine-tuning your local alcohol-related program plans, please contact Paula Neves, APN Manager, 416-367-3313 or 1-800-267-6817 ext. 27.
LRDG Talk
Since October 1997, a coalition of public health agencies has been working collaboratively on the dissemination of Ontario's new Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines. These aim to clarify the links between alcohol consumption, health and risk, and have been endorsed by ARF, OPHA, alPHa and the College of Family Physicians of Canada, among others.
Your support in disseminating the Guidelines will greatly enhance their effectiveness. Please consider: a) placing an article and/ or inserts in your organization's newsletter; b)adding information to your web site (or linking to the APOLNET Web-Site); c) displaying posters or distributing brochures to your contacts; d) organizing in-services on the guidelines for colleagues and other professionals; and/or e) targeting educational campaigns to groups with high risk alcohol consumption practices. To help the LRDG Committee determine how best to support your efforts, we also urge you to complete the needs assessment on this page.
If you have questions about the Guidelines or would like assistance with their dissemination, please contact Marianne Kobus-Matthews, 416-595-8748, or Paula Neves, 416-367-3313 ext. 27, E-mail: apn@opha.on.ca. For on-line information check out ARF's or APN's web sites. To order free copies of the brochures or posters (in English or French) call 1-800-661-1111.
| LOW-RISK DRINKING GUIDELINES NEEDS ASSESSMENT |
1. Were you aware of the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines released by the ARF, alPHA and the Ontario Public Health Association in October 1997?
__Yes
__No (skip to question 5) |
2. If yes, how did you hear about the Guidelines (please check all that apply)?
__Newsletter
__Brochure/Poster
__Direct Mailing
__Media
__Internet
__Other |
3. Has your organization/group ordered ARF materials explaining the new guidelines?
__Yes. Approx. # posters:_________ Approx. # brochures:__________No, because:_____________ |
4. If yes, how is your organization/group using these materials (please check all that apply on the left and specify Groups targeted and #s reached on the right)?
___Seminars/presentations/workshops:_________________
___Mailings to staff/key contacts:______________________
___Media/public education campaigns:__________________
___General programming:____________________________
___Other (please specify):___________________________ |
| 5. What additional resources/assistance do you need to promote the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines in your community? |
| 6. Other comments/suggestions (re: barriers to dissemination, potential target groups, special needs, etc.) |
7. Tell us a bit about yourself:
Where you work
___Public Health Unit
__Addictions Agency
___Hospital
___CHC
___Community Group
___Other
Area of province (check all that apply)
___Northwest
___Northeast
___Southwest
___Southeast
___Central
___Large Urban Area
___Small Urban Area
___Rural Area
What you do
___Nurse/Physician
___Health Promoter
___Program Manager/Consultant
___Police Officer
___Community Activist
___Other: __________________ |
| PLEASE FAX COMPLETED FORM TO PAULA NEVES, 416-367-2844 BY AUGUST 30, 1998. THANK YOU! |
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."
Boating bill stalled
On May 14, Bill 5, the Highway Traffic Amendment Act passed second reading with all-party support. The bill, sponsored by Muskoka-Georgian Bay Conservative backbencher, Bill Grimmett, would ensure that anyone caught operating a boat while impaired—and non-motorized vehicles such as canoes—could be subject to a 12-hour driver's licence suspension and other penalties that currently apply to those caught drinking and driving. Despite support from a wide range of groups, the bill languished in the Legislature until June 25 when, on the advice of MTO officials, it was reintroduced minus the clause related to non-motorized vehicles. Its successor, Bill 59, will likely be up for third reading shortly after the legislature resumes sitting on September 28. For an update of the bill's status, call Bill Grimmett's office at 416-325-5667. In related news, a coalition recently released a new anti-drinking and boating poster for display in all 600 LCBO stores and elsewhere across Ontario during July and August. For a copy call the LCBO, 416-864-6875.
U-brew, red tape bills introduced
On June 25, Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations David Tsubouchi tabled Bill 57, the Liquor Licence Amendment Act, 1998. The bill, drafted in collaboration with various industry players and the Red Tape Commission, would enable the Alcohol and Gaming Commission to license and regulate the operations of u-brews and u-vints across the province, including methods and practices for making, storing, consuming, advertising and promoting beer and wine in brew-on-premise facilities. Bill 57 will likely come up for second reading in late September. For more information call the Minister's office, 416-326-8500.
Also on June 25, Bill 25, the Red Tape Reduction Act passed second reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Administration of Justice for public hearings in the fall. Schedule E covers a number of issues related to liquor licensing, including a provision giving Alcohol and Gaming Commission Board members more leeway on how to deal with objections to new liquor licence applications. According to Minister Tsubouchi, the changes would limit "frivolous or vexatious" objections from would-be competitors, those who reside outside the vicinity of the licenced facility and those "who are against alcohol consumption per se." For further info on the status of Bill 25, including opportunities for public input, call the Clerk's office at 416-325-3506.
Youth in the spotlight ... again
What to do about substance abuse and youth? Conservative backbenchers certainly appear to have some strong ideas. On May 12, Simcoe East MPP Allan McLean introduced Bill 19. Among other things, it would open the door for parents to be sued for up to $6,000 in Small Claims Court for losses incurred as a result of the actions of their underage offspring. Meanwhile, Terence Young (Halton Centre) resurrected his zero tolerance bill on June 2. Formally known as Bill 30, An Act to Promote Zero Tolerance of Substance Abuse by Children, it proposes a number of punitive measures for dealing with students caught with alcohol, tobacco or other drugs, including suspension. Also on the legislative plate: Kitchener MPP Wayne Wettlaufer's private member's bill to suspend the driver's licence of truant students or those found guilty of an offence involving violence, alcohol or other drugs. Bill 4 received second reading on April 30. Both bills have been referred to the Standing Committee on Administration of Justice. No word yet on when—or if—public hearings will be conducted. One bill that is receiving some serious attention is Scarborough Centre MPP Dan Newman's Safe Schools Act. Bill 21 is currently before the Standing Committee on General Government. If passed, it would require schools to promote violence-free learning environments through a variety of prevention, early intervention and enforcement measures including codes of conduct banning, among other things, the use and possession of illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco on school sites, buses and events. For more info visit the APOLNET Hot Issues section.
New health curriculum released
On June 29, the Minister of Education and Training, Dave Johnson released Ontario's new Health and Physical Education Curriculum for grades 1-8. The document, which replaces sections of the 1995 Common Curriculum, is organized around three "strands:" 1) healthy living including healthy eating, growth and development, personal safety and injury prevention, and substance use and abuse; 2) fundamental movement skills including locomotion/ travelling, manipulation and stability; and 3) active participation including physical activity, physical fitness, living skills and safety. The sections on substance use and injury prevention will cover issues such as the effects and consequences of tobacco, alcohol, prescription and over-the-counter medications and illicit drugs; bullying, peer assault, child abuse, harassment and relationship violence, as well as seat belt use, first aid and bicycle, home, fire and sun safety. New teaching materials will help teachers begin to introduce the curriculum in the 1998-99 school year. For links to the news release and curriculum documents visit the MET's web site, http://www.edu.gov.on.ca.
News & Views
Upcoming Events
Abstracts for the 1st International Conference on Drugs & Young People to be held in Melbourne, Australia November 22-24, 1998 are due Friday, July 31. The conference will feature presentations in four streams: drug education in schools and the community; mental health issues and drug use; drug treatment methods and options; and drug policy, legal and law enforcement issues. For more info, email Val Greatorex at events@adf.org.au or visit the Australian Drug Foundation's web site at http://www.adf.org.au/ yp/.
On October 6-7, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health will host a conference in downtown Toronto on The Face of Alcohol and Violence, From Prevention to Treatment. The event promises to bring together professionals from the fields of addiction, mental health and public health for discussions of effective prevention, justice and treatment options. $150. Registration deadline is September 21. For info call 416-595-6020.
Campaigns
The LCBO is stepping up efforts to fulfill its social responsibility mandate with the launch of a new public education campaign aimed at socially-active men between the ages of 25 and 36. The campaign features radio and movie theatre commercials and a variety of lifestyle print ads in Tribute, Le Droit and Food & Drink magazine. It will run in larger urban centres during summer long weekends and over the Christmas holidays. For details on the campaign or more info on the LCBO's award-winning staff training and public education efforts, call Corporate Communications, 416-864-6875.
Useful Resources
On May 13, researchers released a study on the economic costs of alcohol and drug abuse in the US. Among the findings: alcohol accounted for approximately 60% of the estimated $246 billion American substance abuse bill in 1992. For more info visit http://www.ctclearinghouse.org/uscost.htm.
Also released in May: the Ontario Road Safety Annual Report and an interim report on the impact of graduated licensing. Among the highlights: collision rates among novice drivers dropped 31% between 1993 and 1995; the number of fatalities on Ontario roads is at a 46-year low; and the number of people killed by drinking drivers dropped by 27% in 1996. For copies call MTO, 416-235-3473.
On June 10, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health released a snap-shot of the Toronto rave scene entitled Raving in Toronto: Peace, Love, Unity and Respect in Transition. According to author Tim Weber, there are approximately 10,000 ravers in the city, most of them white, middle class youth between the ages of 15 and 25. Among their reasons for attending the late night parties: the non-judgemental atmosphere, the dancing and music, and the lack of aggression and violence usually attributed to the absence of alcohol. For info call 416-595-6015 or visit the SANO web site at http://sano.camh.net.
On June 12, StatsCan published its latest report on the control and sale of alcoholic beverages in Canada. Among the findings: in 1996/97 beer sales declined 1.5% to 2 billion litres, while wine sales rose 4.8% to 253 million litres. The increase was most sharply felt in the red wine category, a trend media sources attributed to shifting tastes among the country's aging population and reports of red wine's potential heart health benefits. To view the full document, go to http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/980612/ d980612.htm#ART1.
Please note: Information appearing in this newsletter in no way constitutes an endorsement by OPHA or its members. Printing of submissions is subject to space availability. Future editions of Alcohol Policy Update will be published via fax only. Hard copies may be subject to a fee. To ensure your name remains on our mailing list, please send us an Alcohol Policy Network Member/Supporter Application Form.