Low-Risk Alcohol Use

What is this issue about?

While many people safely enjoy drinking alcohol as part of their recreation and leisure activities, alcohol consumption can negatively affect the health and well-being of communities. Hazardous drinking and regularly drinking in excess of Canada’s Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines can lead to issues including:

crashes, falls, and other injuries caused by intoxication
chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease
community safety issues

Many organizations are working together on an international, national, provincial, and local level to try to reduce the harm caused by hazardous drinking. Local governments play an important role in promoting responsible alcohol consumption and reducing harm through the introduction of policy and planning, processes, and developing programs and partnerships that encourage a culture of moderation.

Why is low risk alcohol use important for health and well-being and healthy communities?

Hazardous drinking can greatly increase the risk of injuries and death. The Ca nadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), formerly the Centre for Addictions Research BC (CARBC), estimates that alcohol causes more than 20,000 hospital visits and 2,000 deaths annually in B.C. Furthermore, the morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) rates attributable to alcohol are increasing; it is estimated that the number of individuals hospitalized due to alcohol use will exceed those hospitalized for tobacco use by the end of 2015.

Individuals who regularly drink more than the low-risk drinking guidelines may develop chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and cirrhosis. Canada’s Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines advise that even small amounts of alcohol every day can increase a person’s risk of getting a range of diseases, including mouth and throat cancer, epilepsy, and pancreatitis, by up to 42%. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse estimates that if all Canadian drinkers were drinking alcohol within the proposed guidelines, alcohol-related deaths would be reduced by approximately 4,600 per year.

Hazardous drinking doesn’t just cause harm to the individual but impacts families and communities. 35% of B.C. residents reported that they had suffered harm as a result of another person’s alcohol use. The financial burden caused by alcohol-related harm in B.C. is estimated to be over $2 billion annually. Studies estimate that enforcement and health care costs exceed the revenue generated by alcohol by over $65 million annually. Local governments can reduce the cost of policing.

Why does low-risk alcohol use matter for local governments?

While many partners and stakeholders are working together on an international, national, and provincial level to try to reduce the harm caused by hazardous drinking, local governments also have an important role in reducing the harm caused by alcohol and promoting a culture of moderation. The local government is excellently placed to understand the role and impact of alcohol on its community. Additionally, many local governments are directly involved in the sale of alcohol through facilities and events held on municipally owed property. There is much local governments can do to encourage a culture of moderation and minimize the risk of harm caused by alcohol.

If the local government owns premises serving alcohol, then it has a number of responsibilities as part of the Liquor Control and Licensing Act and Regulations. In this context, local government licences are responsible for:

preventing under-age drinking

preventing the over-consumption of liquor

preventing overcrowding or unsafe conditions in licensed premises

minimizing illegal activities in and around liquor establishments

minimizing the potentially negative impact of liquor sales on neighbourhoods and communities

Take Action

Policy and Planning

Use planning and zoning regulations to reduce the availability and impact of alcohol.

Consider a variety of factors, including proposed location, the person capacity of the proposed establishment, the operating hours requested, the views of local residents, and municipal zoning when assessing licensing applications.

Implement a workplace alcohol policy and encourage other business and industries to adopt comparable practices.

Introduce a Municipal Alcohol Policy (MAP) to provide clear guidelines for alcohol use in municipal settings.

Introduce design standards for licensed premises and surrounding areas to reduce the risk of injury.

Processes

Develop protocols for granting Special Occasion Licences to ensure that applicants understand and observe their responsibilities.

Prominently display signs regarding the dangers of hazardous alcohol use on local government properties where alcohol is served.

Prohibit alcohol sponsorship or restrict sponsorship for civic events to those businesses that promote a culture of moderation.

Partnerships and Programs

Work with others to introduce minimum pricing laws and discourage “happy hour” or other promotional offers.

Provide alcohol-free entertainment and recreation events.

Programs that foster a sense of community and promote strong mental health can reduce the risk of hazardous drinking and alcohol dependence.

Promote Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines.

Include specialized information on alcohol dangers, consequences, and myths in recreation programming targeting at-risk groups such as youth, pregnant women, or seniors.

Plan and promote safe transport particularly at high-risk times such as Saturday evenings or festival days.

Work with others to increase enforcement activities.

Take Action

Publications

Healthy Community Engagement Action Guide

This guide is for local governments of rural and urban communities looking to incorporate equity-focused community engagement strategies in their public consultation processes.

Download [PDF]

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Links

BC liquor stores responsible use campaigns

Monthly in-store campaigns raise awareness of the risks of alcohol, topics include alcohol and pregnancy, and Get Home Safe programs, which give beer and wine festival organizers the opportunity to distribute free public transit tickets to festival patrons.
– BC Liquor Stores

Find it here
Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF)

The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation works to improve understanding of issues and opportunities that are of common interest to rural residents across Canada. Their members include rural leaders, rural organizations, development practitioners, government policy makers, researchers, students, and other stakeholders both in Canada and internationally.
The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation
Capital Regional District Community Map

The Capital Regional District (CRD) Community Map is designed to support health and wellbeing in the capital region by allowing users to visualize where diverse populations are living and what their proximity is to community resources and affordable transportation options.

Users can select the data that most interests them and then add transportation and community places on top.
Farm Folk City Folk

FarmFolk CityFolk is a not for profit society that works to cultivate a local, sustainable food systems in BC. A resource for community projects around access and protection of foodlands; supporting local growers and producers; and celebrating of local food.

- Farm Folk City Folk

Find it here
Food Secure Canada

Food Secure Canada is a pan-Canadian alliance working to advance food security and food sovereignty through three goals: zero hunger, healthy and safe food, and sustainable food systems. Their resources cover health, food justice, business, school programs including a Northern/Remote section.

- Food Secure Canada

Find it here
Food Security: A Growing Imperative

This article by Therese Mickelson looks at the mix of factors that affect local food production and supply in BC, challenges to shifting towards reinstating historic farmland and encouraging local food production, and how local governments can support and promote community food security.

Local Government Management Association of BC Exchange magazine (Winter 2015) page 19.
Healthy Campuses – Changing the Culture of Substance Use

This is a two-year project within Healthy Minds/Healthy Campuses that will develop local capacity at BC’s campuses and a provincial support infrastructure towards changing the culture of substance use, including alcohol.
– University of Victoria - Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research

Website
Kaslo Food Security Project

Want to know a bit more about what the Kaslo Food Security Project? At the Food Forum in Kaslo on April 12, 2014, Aimee Watson gave a presentation on the history of the project including information on the Kalso Food Charter. You can watch the video of her presentation here. The power point presentation she used is available here as a pdf

Video of Aimee Watson delivering food security presentation.
Nelson at its Best website

The aim of Nelson at its best is to help residents, businesses and community leaders develop a long-term strategy to reduce poverty and make their community the best place it can be.

Nelson at its Best website
P.A.R.T.Y. program

This program provides increase awareness and education of the issue of injury prevention and high-risk activities including transportation, sport, recreation and drug and alcohol use.
– P.A.R.T.Y. (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth)

Find it here
Plan to Farm - Saltspring Island Agriculture Alliance

The Salt Spring Ag Alliance was founded by five key food stakeholders on the Island. Together they have developed a community abbattoir, and a produce centre is on the way. Their story illustrates what is possible in small places through formal partnerships.

- Plan To Farm

Find it here
Serving it Right

BC's mandatory self-study course that educates licensees, managers and servers about their legal responsibilities when serving alcohol, and provides effective techniques to prevent problems related to over-service.
– Serving it Right

Find it here