The Big Debate: Is Ontario going too far in loosening rules around alcohol?
A big thank you to Sheryl Spithoff for clearly stating the public health side of this debate. Check out the article in the Toronto Star and be sure to vote in their short poll!
Thanks for posting [@mention:334145016407658591]!
As Dr. Spithoff points out "Studies show that selling alcohol in corner stores, dropping prices on alcoholic beverages and increasing hours that alcohol is served, all lead to increases in use and harms. The 2015 policy change in Ontario that allowed some grocery stores to sell wine and beer was associated with a 6 per cent increase in emergency department visits. The newest policy changes are likely to lead to more harm and more alcohol-related costs."
The Alcohol Policy CoI created an infographic on exactly this topic (see attached and feel free to share!)
I think Dr. Spithoff's argument would have "grabbed" the average person more if she highlighted the economic cost of increased ED visits and hospitalizations. Individual choice results in significant public cost.
Thanks Lia! Agreed, this information can really help especially when the decisions to expand alcohol access are economic ones. Ontario spent 1.5 Billion in 2014 on alcohol-related health care costs - almost a third of that cost from ER visits and hospitalizations (CSUCH, 2014).