New Report Says British Columbians Drinking More
By 250 News
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 10:38 AM
Prince George, B.C.- A new report from the Province’s provincial health officer reveals that British Columbians are drinking more alcohol, with consumption up by 8% since 2002. In the Northern Health region, the stats indicate consumption is 9.73 litres a year per person.
The 2008 report, Public Health Approach to Alcohol Policy, is an update to Dr. Perry Kendall's 2002 alcohol policy report and indicates the rapid expansion in the number of liquor stores has likely contributed to an increase in consumption and revenues, but also to an increase inharms to health.
The report also reviews government's current alcohol policy and makes recommendations to reduce the health and social harms of alcohol while maintaining the economic and social benefits.
"While we recognize alcohol is part of many people's social agenda, data clearly indicate the health and social costs of present patterns of alcohol consumption measurably outweigh the benefits," said Kendall. "I encourage government to undertake a cross-ministry approach to addressing the role of alcohol in our society. The development of the government's 10-year plan for mental health and addictions provides an opportunity for attention to our most costly substance use problem."
In order to reverse the negative impacts of alcohol, Kendall also recommends government continues to monitor alcohol consumption patterns, focus on initiatives to reduce harmful alcohol use by youth, commit to reducing alcohol-impaired driving, increase resources for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and implement a small levy on high alcohol content drinks.
"Reports like this present useful information on patterns and trends that allow senior policy makers to discuss beneficial changes," said Tim Stockwell from the Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC), who co-authored the report.
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Posted by: Sh*tdisturber on December 16 2008 12:11 PM
Let me see if get this! The government introduces legislation to allow a plethora of new liquor outlets through out BC with the not so hidden agenda of increasing tax revenue by making alcohol more accessible to the public.
Successful at this campaign, they recognize that alcohol consumption has increased (along with the tax grab) and then suggests implementing an additional tax grab 'to reverse the negative impacts of alcohol' that that government has created.
Shouldn't be long now that they legalize pot - the coffers need to be filled somehow!