“Ontario partially deregulated alcohol sales in 2015 by allowing retail outlets in grocery stores. This resulted in a 15 per cent increase in alcohol availability that was especially focused on neighbourhoods with lower socio-economic status,” writes Bob Bell.
Corner store booze is bad for our health and our budget
At a time when this government is worried about reducing both budget deficits and hospital overcrowding, it is simply remarkable that the province would consider increasing retail availability of alcohol.
“Ontario partially deregulated alcohol sales in 2015 by allowing retail outlets in grocery stores. This resulted in a 15 per cent increase in alcohol availability that was especially focused on neighbourhoods with lower socio-economic status,” writes Bob Bell.
The government is understandably concerned about increasing health care costs that must be managed by the Ontario tax payer. You would think the government would be delighted to implement policies that would reduce a cause of hospital admission that costs us more than heart attacks and strokes put together.
Surprisingly, this government is planning to introduce legislation that will increase this very common cause of hospitalization — that is hospital admissions due to substance abuse. Last week, the Canadian Institute of Health Information released a report showing the impact of substance abuse on the health of Canadians.
Every day in Canada, more than 400 people are admitted to hospital with health problems related to abuse of alcohol or drugs. This is more admissions than required for treatment of heart attack or stroke. And despite recent concern over the harm caused by illicit use of opioids, by far the most dangerous substance abused by Canadians is alcohol.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Every day, 10 Canadians die in hospital from substance abuse and 75 per cent of these people die from alcohol.
So, with all our concern about health system sustainability, you would think the government would reject any policy that could increase alcohol use. Remarkably, this government is considering selling beer and wine in corner stores, which will increase the health harm of alcohol.
Is alcohol unsafe at any level of consumption? The Canadian Centre on Substance Use & Addiction recommends that women have no more than 10 standard drinks (5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer) a week and that men have no more than 15 drinks weekly. The medical literature is clear that the best way to increase peoples’ alcohol consumption is to increase the local retail availability of booze.
Certainly, extending the sale of wine and beer beyond the government-controlled monopoly (LCBO), international beer manufacturer monopoly (The Beer Store) and large grocery stores to expand availability to every corner convenience store will increase the availability of alcohol in our communities.
Community density of alcohol retail outlets has been shown to be a predictor of alcohol consumption, crimes and even neighbourhood graffiti in New York City. In Sweden, analysis of alcohol availability showed increased alcohol use disorder based on how many retail outlets were available to consumers in a neighbourhood and also demonstrated that one identical twin had a higher risk of abusing alcohol than their sibling if they lived in a community with more access. And New Zealand showed that at-risk groups had a stronger history of alcohol abuse if they lived in areas with more convenient access to alcohol.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Ontario partially deregulated alcohol sales in 2015 by allowing retail outlets in grocery stores. This resulted in a 15 per cent increase in alcohol availability that was especially focused on neighbourhoods with lower socio-economic status. If that carefully regulated expansion resulted in a 15 per cent increase, it is conceivable that moving to corner stores will more than double availability — a rather frightening thought.
Increasing the number of outlets selling alcohol may also have an effect on other health hazards. In Perth, Australia, it was shown that alcohol associated motor vehicle accidents were more likely to occur in areas with more retail alcohol outlets.
In addition to increasing availability of alcohol by opening more retail accessibility, there are other potential risks of corner store accessibility. Increasing late night hours of retail accessibility may occur in convenience stores and late-night consumption is a concerning risk factor for bad behaviours. Deregulation of alcohol sales may also result in less training of sales staff increasing the likelihood of selling to inebriated customers.
Finally, the Ontario government’s commitment to “buck a beer” suggests that retailers would not be prevented from starting a price war for suds. The decision to buy alcohol is highly price sensitive and reducing the price would increase consumption.
At a time when this government is worried about reducing both budget deficits and hospital overcrowding, it is simply remarkable that the province would consider increasing retail availability of alcohol.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
This policy sends the wrong message about alcohol health impacts and in the long term will increase hospital costs of caring for patients with alcohol abuse disorders.
Bob Bell worked in Ontario health care for more than 40 years as a GP, surgeon, hospital CEO and Deputy Minister of Health. Follow him on Twitter: @drbobbell
