The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72518

Norman A. Giesbrecht, PhD, Social, Prevention & Health Policy Research Department, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada, 416 535-8501 ext 6895, norman_giesbrecht@camh.net, Linda C. Degutis, DrPH, Section of Emergency Medicine, Yale University, 464 Congress Ave, Suite 260, New Haven, CT 06519, Thomas K. Greenfield, PhD, Alcohol Research Group, 2000 Hearst Avenue, Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709, and George A. Hacker, Alcohol Policies Project, Center for Science in the Public Interest, 1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009-5728.

The purpose is this session is to assess a number of alcohol policy case studies in the United States and Canada -- focusing on developments at both the national and state/provincial levels -- in order to inform future prevention efforts. National level case studies include: federal excise taxes on alcohol; cross-border trade disputes; alcohol smuggling; alcohol advertising, marketing to youth, and counter advertising; warning label legislation; health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption; a court decision on intoxication as a defense in crime; DWI legislation; and prevention agency re-authorization. State or provincial analyses focus on DWI legislation and alcohol retail privatization. Session reports draw on several projects with comparable goals and methodologies as well the reflections of over 20 years of advocacy. Using a combination of key informant interviews, archival data and case study analysis, the presenters will discuss: factors contributing to emergence of a policy, relative roles of different players in the outcome, relevance of theoretical models, and, challenges faced in promoting effective prevention agendas at national and regional levels in both countries. Thomas Greenfield will discuss “A study of the alcohol policy development process in the United States: Actors, interests and evidence.” Linda Degutis will examine “A comparison of DWI policies in the U.S. and Canada: Legislative developments, obstacles and impacts.” Norman Giesbrecht will discuss: “Canadian alcohol policies in a changing context: Balancing commercial and public health agenda”. George Hacker will assess “Twenty years of alcohol policy advocacy at the national level: Scars and lessons”.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the participant will be able to:
• Describe a number of alcohol policy developments in the United States and Canada over the past 20 years.
• Discuss the relative importance of policy players, ideology, public opinion, research and other influences for different case studies and variations by country.
• Identify several lessons from these case studies, and what might be done to promote prevention agendas in different national and regional settings.

Keywords: Social Activism, Legislative

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.