Alcohol has More Health, Social and Economic Costs Than Any Other Substance: Regional MOH Report
Alcohol attributable emergency department visits have increased by 18% since 2015 when alcohol sales were introduced in grocery stores, according to a report provided by Halton Commissioner and Medical Officer of Health Hamidah Meghani.We received the report at the Halton Regional Council meeting on Feb. 12. To read the full report, click this link: Halton Regional Council Report - MO-06-20 Alcohol In Halton.The purpose of the report was to give Regional Council an overview of the recent provincial policy changes (2019 Alcohol Policy Changes - Considerations for Halton Municipalities) related to alcohol, the public health concerns associated with the changes, and the what municipalities can do to help mitigate some of the alcohol-related harms identified in the report.Here's a summary of the report's findings:
- Alcohol has more health, social and economic costs associated with it than any other substance. In Halton, about half of adult residents consume alcohol in a way that puts them at risk for significant harms;
- Public policies that regulate alcohol accessibility, marketing and normalization influence consumption. Alcohol attributable emergency department visits have increased by 18% since 2015 when alcohol sales were introduced in grocery stores;
- Recent provincial policy measures have been introduced that increase the accessibility and normalization of alcohol by permitting drinking in public spaces, extending hours of alcohol sales, and expanding the sale of alcohol in corner stores. These changes may increase alcohol consumption and related harms;
- Local governments can develop policies that can contribute to reducing the harms associated with the normalization of alcohol use;
- Halton Region staff, in partnership with Halton’s Community Safety and Well-Being Alcohol Action Table, will continue to support a comprehensive approach to reducing harmful patterns of alcohol consumption in Halton.
The Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse and Alcohol has a chart to help people see where they fit in alcohol consumption guidelines: 2012-Canada-Low-Risk-Alcohol-Drinking-Guidelines-Brochure-en.
— Mayor Marianne Meed Ward--*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor's Media and Digital Communications Specialist