As we welcome in the New Year, the Ontario government has released
further plans to expand alcohol availability in the province of Ontario. In addition to an expansion of 70 new retail
outlets throughout the province, the LCBO will be launching VQA Destination Boutiques inside selected full-size LCBO stores,
as well as LCBO
Express stores. Unlike the VQA
boutiques, the LCBO Express stores will be situated in large grocery stores and
will carry a wide range of products, enabling the LCBO to “meet consumer demand
for convenience”. This latest
announcement is part of the government’s plan to “modernize” alcohol laws in
Ontario. It’s hard not to wonder whether
this was really part of the plan, or whether this is more of a political move
to counter Tim Hudak’s promises and the Ontario Convenience Store Association’s
push to sell beer and wine in corner stores?
In their news release, the additional revenue
from the LCBO store expansions and the new store formats promise to “contribute
to eliminating the deficit and protect key priorities, such as health care and
education”. How will increasing alcohol
availability and consumption protect health care? According to the World Health Organization
alcohol is responsible for the highest rate of disease and death in Canada next
to tobacco.[1]
It contributes to dozens of illnesses
and injuries. Yes, the LCBO makes a lot of money for the province ($1.63
billion in 2011-12), but alcohol-related costs which include health care are
significant. In a comparison of direct
alcohol-related revenue and costs in Ontario in 2002-2003, the government
deficit totaled more than $456 million.[2]
Limiting the availability of alcohol is essential to controlling
overall consumption and related harm. Several
decades of research have proven this.[3] Expanding alcohol availability has potential
short and long term impacts and must be considered carefully. Not simply based on convenience. There is a
definite disconnect between the profitability of alcohol and the impact on
health. Our leaders need to be embracing
and supporting population level policies that effectively balance alcohol
revenue with the health and social costs that come with consumption. Instead, in the spirit of modernization, the
government of Ontario continues to weaken the alcohol control policies we
already have in place.
In times of increasing health care costs and cuts to services,
these changes should be of concern to everyone.
Is the desire for convenience really worth it?
[1]
Rehm J, Mathers C, Popova S, et al. Global burden of disease and injury
and economic cost attributable to alcohol use and alcohol-use disorders. The
Lancet. 2009 June; 373: 2223-33.
[2]
Thomas G. The Economics of Alcohol Control Policy in Canada. Alcohol Policy Network webinar; 2010
Sept. Available from: http://www.apolnet.ca/resources/education/teleconferences.html#economics
[3]
Babor T, Caetano R, Casswell S, Edwards G, Giesbrecht N, Grube J, et al.
Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity - Research and Public Policy 2nd edition. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press;
2010. Summary available at: http://www.ndphs.org///documents/2253/Babor_alc%20no%20ordinary%20comm%20second%20edition.pdf
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