New drinking guidelines in Canada were accompanied by a call for warning labels on alcohol bottles, and a B.C. MP has already created just such a motion.
Nanaimo-Ladysmith香蕉视频直播檚 Lisa Marie Barron, the NDP香蕉视频直播檚 deputy critic for mental health and addictions, drafted a private member香蕉视频直播檚 motion that was placed on notice last June, calling for a national warning label strategy for alcoholic products due to alcohol being 香蕉视频直播渁 major driver of morbidity and mortality in Canada香蕉视频直播� and a 香蕉视频直播渟ignificant, modifiable contributor to many diseases including cancers.香蕉视频直播�
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction issued new guidance this week that recommends no more than two drinks per week, replacing previous guidelines of no more than two drinks per day. The new guidelines state that three to six drinks per week bring 香蕉视频直播渕oderate risk香蕉视频直播� and seven or more drinks per week bring 香蕉视频直播渋ncreasingly high risk.香蕉视频直播�
Barron worked in the addictions field before being elected to Parliament and said that work formed a basis for her work on the file federally.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a glamourization of alcohol consumption and I saw the impacts quite frequently first-hand while working in addictions, and the lack of knowledge around the health impacts of alcohol consumption 香蕉视频直播� proven health implications香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈 she said. 香蕉视频直播淭he most frustrating part is that many people are unaware of these potential preventable and modifiable diseases associated with alcohol consumption.香蕉视频直播�
The MP held community consultation related to her notice of motion this past fall in Nanaimo and said one woman with whom she spoke said the new information might make her reconsider that second drink.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 hearing from constituents their stories, their experiences with alcohol, their family members香蕉视频直播� experiences with alcohol and how much they appreciate the work being done to bring this forward and ensure that we香蕉视频直播檙e finally taking seriously the potential health concerns of alcohol consumption,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Barron香蕉视频直播檚 motion on warning labels won香蕉视频直播檛 be discussed in the House of Commons unless she raises it for debate the next time she has a chance to table private member香蕉视频直播檚 business, which won香蕉视频直播檛 be until spring at the earliest.
She has read research about different kinds of warning labels and their impacts and said there are 香蕉视频直播渧ery specific香蕉视频直播� recommendations about size, colour and use of images. She said a pilot project on alcohol warning labels in the Yukon ended early due to industry pressure and said that香蕉视频直播檚 one of the reasons why federal leadership is needed.
香蕉视频直播淭his motion isn香蕉视频直播檛 a judgment on alcohol consumption 香蕉视频直播� People can make the decisions that are best for them with this information,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut it香蕉视频直播檚 completely unacceptable that Canadians don香蕉视频直播檛 have access to this information and the ways in which alcohol consumption really impacts their health and the direct links there.香蕉视频直播�
The drinking guidelines report, which noted that about three-quarters of Canadians drink alcohol, stated that 香蕉视频直播渁lcohol is a leading preventable cause of death, disability and social problems, including certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, unintentional injuries and violence.香蕉视频直播�
The CCSA report noted that its main focus was on health conditions resulting in death, and didn香蕉视频直播檛 examine 香蕉视频直播渋ntangible effects of alcohol use, including suffering related to adverse outcomes or social enjoyment from alcohol consumption.香蕉视频直播�
Dan Malleck, a Brock University health sciences professor and a medical historian specializing in drug and alcohol policy, called the report irresponsible and said its authors 香蕉视频直播渃herry picked香蕉视频直播� data, considering thousands of studies but disregarding all but a few.
香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e narrowed the focus of their study to the point where they find 16 studies that show harm and lo and behold, there香蕉视频直播檚 harm,香蕉视频直播� he said.
He said the report doesn香蕉视频直播檛 consider any positive benefits to moderate alcohol consumption such as social aspects that can affect mental well-being. Alcohol, he said, is part of people香蕉视频直播檚 lives in meaningful ways such as celebrations, get-togethers, or unwinding after a rough week.
香蕉视频直播淎ll of these things are important to our 香蕉视频直播� biological, psychological and social health. The things that make us healthy are multi-dimensional,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut when we reduce it down to just a dose response and don香蕉视频直播檛 consider all of that other stuff, it does kind of miss the point of alcohol to start with.香蕉视频直播�
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Canada香蕉视频直播檚 Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health issued a statement that noted that the guidelines are 香蕉视频直播渁 first step in raising awareness香蕉视频直播� and will need to be accompanied by supporting programs and policies that will lead to improved health outcomes.
香蕉视频直播淚t is also important to recognize that the risk for alcohol-related harms is strongly influenced by a range of factors in our social, economic, and physical environments,香蕉视频直播� the council noted. 香蕉视频直播淭hese factors can include the accessibility and affordability of alcohol, exposure to alcohol marketing, social and cultural norms around drinking, coping with loss of cultural identity, racism, stigma and discrimination as well as economic resources.香蕉视频直播�
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