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

Abstract #72544

Norman A. Giesbrecht, PhD¹, Andree Demers, PhD², Alan Ogborne, PhD³, Robin Room, PhD⁴, Gina Stoduto, MA¹, and Evert Lindquist, PhD⁵. (1) 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, (2) GRASP, Universite de Montreal, 2801 Edourd-Montpetit, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada, (3) Social, Prevention & Health Policy Research Department, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, 100 Collip Circle, Suite 200, London, ON N6G 4X8, Canada, (4) Centre for Social Research in Alcohol and Drugs, Stockholm University, Sveaplan, Stockholm, S-10691, Sweden, (5) School of Public Administration, University of Victoria, Box 1700, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada

This presentation is based on Canadian national and provincial developments in alcohol policy in the 1980s and 1990s. We examined privatization initiatives in three provinces (Alberta, Ontario & Quebec) and five national case studies pertaining to cross-border alcohol trade disputes, alcohol smuggling, regulation of alcohol advertising, warning label proposals, and a Supreme Court decision pertaining to intoxication as a defense in violence. The goals of this project were to: document how each case came on the agenda; assess the information used in the debates; analyze the perspectives of different players; and interpret the relative influence of research, public opinion, ideology, and lobbying by interest groups in the outcome. Key informant interviews were conducted with public health, alcohol industry and government representatives, and analyses of archival data, legislative debates and newspapers was undertaken. In most cases the commercial agendas appeared to be dominant, e.g. alcohol warning labels were not introduced, monitoring of advertising was moved to the private sector, and actual or threat of retail privatization contributed to enhanced marketing activities. However, the Supreme Court decision stimulated organized public outcry and a legislative change that created a criminal fault in the context of intoxication. A more balanced approach in alcohol policy making will likely require that: social impact analyses becomes part of the planning protocol; public health interests are routinely at the policy table; greater attention is directed to public opinion and evaluations of previous policy measures; and policy-makers gain greater appreciation of the interaction between alcohol marketing and drinking-related risks.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
• Describe the emergence and outcomes of several Canadian alcohol policy cases in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Discuss the relative impacts of research, public opinion, ideology and interests groups with regard to the outcomes.
• Identify several steps forward to facilitate a better balance between public health and commercial agendas in the alcohol policy arena.

Keywords: Legislative, Social Activism

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.