How much alcohol should I be drinking?

If you currently drink alcohol and are wondering about how much is too much, there are guidelines to follow that will help lower any risks to your health. 

Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines are based on the most current research available.  Studies indicate that approximately half of the total harm and costs of alcohol come from people who drink beyond the Guidelines occasionally, and half come from those who do so more regularly. Although people who binge drink occasionally are individually less likely to experience alcohol-related problems than those who consume in regular heavy patterns, they are responsible for approximately the same amount of harm as regular heavy drinkers because they make up a much greater portion of the population.  And even individuals who binge drink only occasionally are at increased risk of chronic diseases including some cancers, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and mental health problems. Binge drinking can also lead to alcohol related crashes, other injuries, and alcohol-involved violence.

The new Guidelines suggest limits to reduce both short and long term alcohol-related harms.

To prevent chronic disease:

·       women should not drink more than two drinks a day and no more than 10 drinks a week.
·       men should not drink more than three drinks a day and no more than 15 drinks a week.
·       men and women should have non-drinking days to ensure that they are not developing a habit.

To reduce the risk of injury and harm:

·       women should not drink more than 3 drinks on any single occasion. 
·       men should not drink more than 4 drinks on any single occasion.

The Guidelines also highlight situations where alcohol should be avoided altogether, such as when pregnant, taking medication or driving.  They also include a specific message for young people. Remember, these are guidelines and not recommended amounts. Go to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse website for more information.

Trouble may be on tap

It’s the weekend!!  Time to relax, hang out, and meet up with some friends at one of the many great restaurants or bars that Kingston has to offer.  But, as you’re waiting for your friends at your favourite spot you pick up a bad vibe…it’s crowded, people are getting bumped around, a guy is staring at you from across the bar, and a glass is slammed down.  This is what you might see and hear before a fight breaks out, and someone gets hurt.  Unfortunately, what’s on tap…is trouble.  

Ideally, your favourite pub or bar owner and their staff have attended a Safer Bars training workshop.  This training increases bar staff’s ability to work as a team and has been shown to reduce the risk of customers becoming aggressive, violent or injured.  If you work in a bar (or know someone who does) think about attending the upcoming training session in Kingston on November 5th. Register by contacting KFL&A Public Health.   

It’s no fun hearing loud and angry voices or observing the stuff that follows as a result.  Ditto for the sounds of sirens if the police or paramedics are called to the scene.  Safer Bars can help to ensure bar environments are safe for everyone. 

Queen’s homecoming returns

This past weekend marked the first weekend in the return of Queen’s Homecoming. This year, Queen’s has spread Homecoming over two separate weekends, with the second weekend yet to come.

In the Kingston Whig Standard, Tom Harris,VP Advancement for Queen’s University acknowledged that

“...we will likely see activity on neighbourhood streets near campus during Homecoming, as we often do at this time of year. But we’ve been working hard to stress to students, alumni and community members that we cannot see the events that led to Homecoming’s cancellation repeated. Homecoming should and must be an event that is respectful of Queen’s, our alumni, our students, and the Kingston community.”

Queen’s, in partnership with emergency personnel (including Kingston Police, Kingston General Hospital, Frontenac Paramedic Services, and Kingston Fire and Rescue among others), continues to work towards ensuring all students, alumni and community members are kept safe during the weekend events.  In a personal plea to students, Principal Woolf went door to door on Aberdeen and neighbouring streets asking them to avoid large gatherings and street parties, and instead to embrace and participate in the many sanctioned events and activities planned for Homecoming 2013. 

globeandmail.com

Relative to previous years, things have improved.  But according to CKWS, close to 2500 people, including students and alumni, gathered to party on Aberdeen Street, while more than 100 police officers worked diligently to stay on top of the situation.  The Kingston Police reported that 2 impaired driving charges, 16 arrests and 133 tickets were handed out in the university area – mostly for public intoxication and breaching the peace. 

Homecoming weekend is a cause for celebration, and alcohol can be an enjoyable part of that celebration.  Unfortunately for some, excessive alcohol use continues to be the focus. We need to change the conversation and look at solutions that will reduce harm to students, decrease alcohol-related violence and property destruction, and reduce the costs associated with the necessary police presence, without diminishing the fun and importance of homecoming weekend.

A recently released resource can help inform this conversation. “Making the Case: Tools for Supporting Local Alcohol Policy in Ontario” provides municipalities with options for addressing community problems related to alcohol. 

Women and alcohol: Stemming the tide of risky drinking

Award-winning journalist Ann Dowsett Johnston returns to Kingston to launch her new book: Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol at this year’s Kingston WritersFest.  

“Drink” chronicles the rise in risky drinking among women, as well as Ann’s personal story.  In a Toronto Star piece written to coincide with her book launch Ann describes her days in rehab:

 

“I am doing battle. I am battling for consciousness. I want to go to bed sober. I want to remember my dreams. I want to know myself without alcohol.”
 

Women are fast approaching the consumption patterns of men and the alcohol industry is marketing to women like never before.  While many people may say “so what?”, the rising trend in risky drinking among women has those of us working in public health wondering how we can stem the tide.
 

One for the Road

When:  Saturday, September 28, 2013 / 4:30–5:30 pm
Where: Bellevue South, Holiday Inn Kingston
Cost: General admission: $13.50 online /$17.00 onsite

 

Being myself – living and feeling and experiencing life



This post by Brenda Slomka, Manager, Residence Life, St. Lawrence College, Kingston

Before I go any further I should disclose that I’m writing this blog because I want to, not because I have to. I should also share that I work in Student Affairs, more specifically Residence and have done this work for a “couple of years”.  I do this work because I love contributing to developing community and because I love working with young adults.  I should clearly state that in all of my work within post-secondary institutions I never say that drinking is wrong. Lastly I should let you know that some life values that I hold close to me as well as time at my alma mater, the University of Waterloo will largely influence comments that I make in this post.

A couple of years ago on this date (okay so maybe it was more than a couple of years ago), I turned 19, and it just so happened that my birthday fell on what was one of the main orientation events at university.  While alcohol was available at orientation events if you were 19 years of age and had your ID, it wasn’t available at all events, just some.  I was blessed to study at a school that had balanced conversations/events around alcohol. 

As it turned out, I didn’t have my first drink of alcohol until April of that school year. One of the reasons was money.  While mom and dad helped me with some tuition over first year, I was paying for my education myself.  Another reason was that I loved going out with friends knowing that I’d be safe - that my drinks wouldn’t be drugged, and that I didn’t have to worry about drinking and driving.  Mostly it was about living and feeling and experiencing all that I could. 

All of this was, I think a good foundation for when my residence friends and I were out and they offered to buy me a drink.   I was simply able to say “I’m not drinking tonight” as we danced the night away at Fed Hall.

I’m reminded of another birthday I celebrated.  I was with a bunch of people standing outside.  We were observing students walking home from the pub.  I remember someone made a comment about "everyone has to get it out of their system" and then someone else turned and looked at me saying "not everyone".  I smiled but also found myself reflecting on the many conversations I’ve had in the campus pub and other fine establishments.  Conversations that when you really get down to it are not about why doesn't Brenda get drunk, or why haven't you smoked pot but about who I am and how I live my life.
This post isn't about right and wrong.
It isn't about justification.
It isn't even about making a case for myself.

It is for me -if you will - almost like giving myself permission to be myself and to celebrate the woman I am.  It is an opportunity for me to consider that I have not missed out on much, living life the way I have.  It is an opportunity for me to celebrate and relish the confidence I have in who I am and who I am becoming.

And it is a hope that it will maybe encourage you to consider the choices that you are making around alcohol.  It’s my hope that maybe you’ll give pause to when you choose to consume alcohol and that it may just remind you that there are many of us who have done just fine without it.

So let me leave you with this quote from Tuesdays with Morrie, where author Mitch Albom summarizes a conversation he has with his old professor:

"...so many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning".

Here’s to a great year of contribution, community and purpose.

Is it really just all about me?

When you think about drinking alcohol, knowing your limit and staying in control should be top of mind.  Unfortunately for many, drinking to get drunk is the goal.  When looking at alcohol use and harm, it isn’t only the individual who is drinking that pays the price.  Too often the people around them, whether friends, family or innocent bystanders, bear the brunt of their overindulgence.  

Like smoking, there are second hand effects to drinking alcohol.  The Centre for Addictions Research of BC discusses this in a recent blog post entitled Harm to others: Is alcohol just a private matter?  They ask the question: “Would social norms around alcohol use change significantly if we started taking harms to others more seriously?” Something to think about. Check it out and let us know what you think.

The 9th Day of the 9th Month at 9:09 am

Every Sept 9^th Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day is observed to acknowledge Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) which is the leading known cause of preventable developmental disability among Canadians.

People from all around the world gather for events at this time, to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking alcohol during the 9 months of pregnancy.   They gather in various communities, countries and continents to bring attention to the significant dangers of alcohol use in pregnancy, with the hopes that increasing awareness will help prevent this serious disease.  They host educational events, conferences, workshops and breakfasts.   They hold media events, put up displays and posters, provide pamphlets and advertisements, and then at 9:09am all over the world they ring bells.   The ringing of the bells is known as the “FAS Bell Concordance” and is a symbol of a “magic minute “.  Bell ringing was chosen as a symbol of warning, as bells are historically associated with warnings and alarms.

The Kingston FASD Action Network, established in 2002, holds an annual breakfast on International FASD day including a guest speaker and the bell concordance.   The Kingston FASD Action Network states that until the last baby is born with FASD they will continue observing International FASD Day.  For more information on the Kingston FASD Action Network or the FASD Breakfast to be held on Monday September 9^th 2013 please contact:  fasdactionnet@gmail.ca.  

If you would like to learn more about the risks of alcohol use in pregnancy or are looking to help someone close to you, call:                                                                                                                  

Motherisk Alcohol and Substance Use Helpline at 1 877-327-4636.

Drunk History

Last month the web series “Drunk History” was launched as a new television series by Comedy Central.  This weekly, half-hour series features historical re-enactments that are narrated by drunk storytellers who struggle to tell the story. “Drunk History” is just one example of a recent, more overt trend in television drinking.  

“Drunk History” fans rave that the show is hilarious, and all in good fun. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh?  Unfortunately the normalization of heavy drinking in pop culture, whether on television, in movies, videos, or in popular song lyrics, is prevalent in today’s society.  This has created social and cultural norms that influence how much people drink, how they drink, and levels of alcohol-related harm. Too often those that are impacted the most by the normalization of heavy drinking are children, youth, and young adults.

In a study of young adult males, alcohol portrayal on television was shown to affect actual drinking behaviour, and a recent report on alcohol portrayal in the movies found youth who watched a lot of movies that featured alcohol were twice as likely to start drinking compared to their peers. So what’s the answer?  As a starting point we need to acknowledge that the normalization of heavy drinking in popular media plays a significant role in the culture of alcohol in society, on consumption patterns, and the level of alcohol-related harm that follows.  Only then will we be able to start changing the current culture and perhaps in doing so, re-write our own history.

Please Enjoy Responsibly

Just last week in my daily newspaper I found another glossy, 40 page magazine from the LCBO called “ON TAP: Beer at the LCBO”.  This well designed and appealing magazine does such a good job at marketing, that despite not being someone who enjoys drinking beer, I found myself contemplating a trip to one of our local outlets to see if even I could find a beer I like. 

Throughout the magazine there is an abundance of information about different types of beers, what kind of food goes well with each, and ways to help you “find a beer you’ll love”.  If you’d rather do your reading online go to www.lcbobeerworld.com and “Tap into the adventure”. 

This material is clearly promotional, and I get the fact that in order to make money you need to market the products you are selling.   But if you keep in mind that the role of the LCBO is liquor control rather than liquor promotion, would it be farfetched to suggest that the LCBO should at least put an equal amount of effort towards controlling as promoting?  On the very back page of the magazine, the LCBO asks everyone to “Please Enjoy Responsibly”.  Is that it?  What does that mean exactly?  I’m sure it means something different to everyone who reads it.

The glossy, high cost promotion of alcohol in the province of Ontario needs to be balanced with investments in “responsible” alcohol control policies.  The Government of Ontario should:

·       reduce the amount of LCBO branded marketing,

·       ensure that substantial, visible space is included in all LCBO print and online promotional materials to help educate the public about what responsible drinking is, e.g. include information on standard drink sizes next to product promotions, regularly incorporate guidelines for low risk drinking and the risk of alcohol and pregnancy,

·       invest in health promotion strategies, programs and services to help reduce the harms related to alcohol use, and

·       support an Alcohol Strategy for the province that coordinates existing and new alcohol control policies including policies on pricing, availability and advertising.

These steps would increase awareness of what “Please enjoy responsibly” really means, and demonstrate to all Ontarians that the Government of Ontario and the LCBO are serious about minimizing alcohol related harms and costs in the province, and are willing to work together to help build a culture where alcohol is only a part of our good times.   

 

Happy Summer Everyone!

Taking a break - we will be back in August.

Kingston Police and AGCO making the CASE for bar safety

Looking forward to enjoying a drink on your favourite licensed patio or at your favourite local bar this summer? It’s easy to distinguish those bars and restaurants that foster a safe environment through the responsible and legal sale and service of alcohol.  Unfortunately it is equally easy to spot those that break the rules and ultimately compromise not only the safety of their patrons and staff, but also the safety of those in the surrounding community.  

 

One of the actions most supported by both men and women in a recent local survey on alcohol use was that “there should be more enforcement of alcohol laws by police and liquor inspectors in bars and restaurants”.

The Kingston Police regularly work alongside the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to inspect and enforce activities in local bars.  This summer they will be doing additional targeted inspections as part of the province wide C.A.S.E. program – a Community Alcohol Safety and Enforcement initiative launched a year ago by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the AGCO.  The purpose of C.A.S.E. is to:

•  Focus on five key areas: (1) serving a minor, (2) intoxication, (3) permitting disorderly behaviour on premise, (4) overcrowding, and (5) after-hours service
•  Promote public safety and enjoyment of all licenced establishments
•  Heighten inspections and enforcement activities by uniformed officers
• Ensure reporting by police of enforcement and relevant information in a timely manner to the AGCO
•  Promote accountability by all license holders to operate in a legal and safe manner 

A big thank you to all bar owners and staff who serve alcohol responsibly, and to all the officers working to enforce alcohol laws in our community.  Together you are helping to create conditions where alcohol is only a part of our good times. 

Latest from the OCSA: An economic study that fails to look at alcohol costs

AP Photo

The Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) has released a study that claims expanding alcohol sales to corner stores in Ontario will be better for consumers and the government.  The Quebec-owned Mac’s convenience store chain concurs and promises 1600 new jobs for Ontario.  Given the profit motivation behind the OCSA and Mac’s, it is not surprising that they fail to examine the outcome of increased alcohol sales in the province.

Years of alcohol research demonstrates the following:

↑ alcohol availability → ↑ alcohol sales → ↑ consumption → ↑alcohol related problems and harm → ↑health, enforcement, and other costs

A quick look at British Columbia, where this exact model of combined government and private retailing of alcohol was implemented shows just how unsuccessful it has been, particularly in terms of the overall impact on health.  In a letter to the editor of the Toronto Star, researchers from the Centre for Addictions Research of BC and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health also had the following to say about the OCSA’s economic argument:

“Private stores will in fact compete with government stores and so take away sales thereby reducing both government revenue and LCBO jobs...Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity. Every step towards privatization weakens the community’s ability to limit alcohol-related harm through regulation of price and availability.”

Not only did the majority of Kingston respondents in a recent alcohol survey not want alcohol expanded to corner stores, local compliance rates for selling tobacco to minors raise concerns about how well they will be able to control alcohol sales to youth.  A recent compliance check revealed that 15% of the 150 tobacco retailers checked in KFL&A sold tobacco to a 17 year old youth shopper. 

Dr.’s advice: Use LCBO revenues to fund alcohol harm reduction programs in Ontario

Well it’s been another banner year for alcohol sales in Ontario, which totalled 4.9 billion dollars in net sales for 2012-2013.  On Monday the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) announced that they were able to turn over a dividend of 1.7 billion dollars to the Ontario government, not including taxes.  There is no doubt that this money is an important source of revenue for the province.  In their news release the LCBO claims that these revenues help pay for health care, education, infrastructure and other important priorities. 

The biggest issue is that very little of this money goes back into alcohol prevention and harm reduction programs.  While some of the money is targeted at health care, it is not public health or health promotion they are referring to, but rather the illness care system.

The Ontario Medical Association’s (OMA) recent policy paper recommends that some of the LCBO dividends be used for alcohol prevention programs.  In a news item this week, OMA President Dr. Scott Wooder states:

“(I’ve) seen alcohol affect people’s lives in a list of ways, from losing their jobs and families because of heavy drinking, to affecting their health” and “there should be alcohol harm reduction programs targeted to both adults and youth”

As highlighted in a previous post on the revenues vs. costs of alcohol in Ontario, the costs clearly outweigh the revenues.  So while 1.7 billion dollars is good news for the government, perhaps it’s time we looked at the other side of the story? 

Is there something you should know before having that drink?

(Image: Flickr / michaelnugent)

While specific mandatory labeling of standard drink sizes and the health effects of alcohol would certainly be a welcome addition on alcohol packaging in Canada...the motivation behind a recent U.S. announcement regarding nutrition labels on alcohol is questionable. 

The Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau recently released voluntary guidelines for the use of Nutrition Serving Facts statements on both labels and in product advertisements.

Given the guidelines are voluntary there are many in the industry who will choose not to use nutrition labels.  For others this will serve as another marketing tool to promote lower calorie wines or ready mixed drinks / coolers to their biggest growing consumer group – women.  

What do health experts say?

1)     Michael Jacobson from the Centre for Science in the Public Interest had the following to say about the recent ruling in a CBC News report:

“It doesn’t reflect any concern for public health” and “Including fat and carbohydrates on a label could imply that an alcoholic beverage is positively healthful, especially when the drink's alcohol content isn't prominently labeled.”

2)     In a review of alcohol labeling policy worldwide, the authors concluded that

“Current evidence seems to support prompt inclusion of a list of ingredients, nutritional information (usually only kcal) and health warnings on labels. Standard drink and serving size is useful only when combined with other health education efforts. A definition of ‘moderate intake’ and recommended drinking guidelines are best suited to other contexts.”

3)     Gerald Thomas states in an article on teen girls and drinking in the Toronto Star, that

“Alcohol is one of the only, if not the only product for sale in Canada that can kill you, without a warning (label).”

4)     Michael Perley, long-standing anti-tobacco advocate with the Ontario Council for Action on Tobacco advised at the 2012 Alcohol Policy Forum, that health warning labels would be a good first step in moving things forward.  At this point in time, many individuals are not aware of the myriad health effects related to the consumption of alcohol. 

So far in Canada, we don’t have similar guidelines for alcohol labeling, nutrition or otherwise.  But more than 75% of all respondents in the local 2012 Alcohol Public Opinion survey agreed that there should be health warning labels on alcohol products.  What do you think?  Should alcohol products be labeled?  Should the label include health warnings?  Visit us on facebook and have your say.

Targeting Women with Ready to Drink Cocktails

Just in time for summer, the LCBO is promoting a wide range of ready mixed cocktails on billboards across the City of Kingston, including Palm Bay Sophisticated Vodka Cooler and Seagrams Classic Lemonade.  If you go online to LCBOreadytodrink.com you can see all the ready to drink products the LCBO has on offer including Skinnygirl Margarita and Bacardi Breezer 100 Calorie Orange Smoothie.  Did you know that Skinnygirl Margarita now comes in a convenient SKINNYMINI single serving size?  

"Refreshingly light and low-cal, this margarita delivers crisp, tangy flavours of lemon, lime and subtle tequila." - LCBO website

 

The alcohol industry is marketing these products to women like never before.  While many people may say “so what?”, the rising trend in risky drinking among women has those of us working in public health wondering how we can stem the onslaught of this targeted promotion.  Check out this CBC Radio podcast on The Rise of Binge Drinking in Women for some in depth coverage of this not so well known issue.

Free our Beer? Questioning the Logic of the OCSA – Part 4

But – is it good for business and the economy?

The Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) would like us to think this issue is about what Ontarians want: increased convenience, modernization, economic benefits, and maturity.  But let’s think this through...

Ultimately, the issue comes down to two arguments: the economic benefits versus the impact of this decision on community health. 

·       Economically the case is made that selling alcohol in corner stores will open up competition, provide cheaper prices and more choices for the consumer.  When considering this point, it is important to note that even in our current alcohol retail market controlled by the provincial government, there is already an economic loss from the sale of alcohol.  The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse has calculated that the direct revenues from the sale of alcohol in Ontario are almost $500 million less than the direct costs associated with the sale of alcohol, including enforcement and health care costs.  So, how increased alcohol sales and the inevitable increased harm will provide an overall economic benefit for Ontarians is unclear. 

·       The population health impact of increased consumption can be immediate, such as injuries and deaths due to impaired driving, drowning, falls, fires, suicide, homicide, sexual assault and other violence.  Moreover, the health impact can be long-term and include certain cancers, high blood pressure, mental health problems, liver disease, and stroke.  According to the World Health Organization, alcohol is the second most harmful risk factor for disease and disability in developed countries including Canada. It is associated with increased health and social costs. In times of increasing health care costs, these facts should not be ignored. 

The OCSA wants to create opportunities for their members and this is commendable; we rely on the growth and development of our private sector for the overall wellbeing of our communities.  However, this very important decision with potential short and long term impacts must be considered carefully and must not be simply based on convenience. 

For now, the provincial government is reporting that they will not change the current retail system for alcohol.  This is good news.  But everyone needs to be well informed to make good decisions. Unfortunately the information the OCSA campaign is providing to the public and government officials is incomplete and could lead the province to take future action that will cause more harm than good.  If alcohol were a regular product, this decision may be a simple one. However, given the significant short and long term harms related to its use, alcohol is not an ordinary commodity.  It is the government’s responsibility to control alcohol access and related harms while minimizing the impact these controls have on our freedom.

Alcohol is undeniably a part of our social and economic fabric. We are encouraging communities to work together to consider what factors are creating an environment that allows alcohol to be used in ways that are harmful and how we can change things to ensure the health and safety of all Ontarians.