142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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307409
A Comparative Analysis of Evidence-based Alcohol Policies: Potential Impacts on Emerging Policy Initiatives

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 12:30 PM - 12:50 PM

Norman Giesbrecht, PhD , Social & Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
Ashley Wettlaufer, MA, BSc , Social and Epidemiological Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
Nicole April, MPH, MD , Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
Mark Asbridge, PhD , Department of Community Health and Epidemilogy and Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Cape Verde
Samantha Cukier, MBA, MA , Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Robert Mann, PhD , Social and Epidemillogical Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
Janet McAllister, BSc.H.K. , Health Promotion and Prevention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, London, ON, Canada
Andrew Murie, MA , MADD Canada, Oakville, ON, Canada
Chris Pauley, B.Ed., M.A. , St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
Laurie Plamondon, PDt. MSc , Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Cape Verde
Stephanie Simpson, BA , Social and Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
Tim Stockwell, PhD , Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
Gerald Thomas, PhD , Gerald Thomas and Associates, Summerland, BC
Kara Thompson, Ph.D. , Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria, Victoria, MB, Canada
Kate Vallance , Centre for Addictions Research of B.C., University of Victoria, Victoria, ON, Canada

Background: Findings of a comparison of Canadian provinces across 10 research-based alcohol policy dimensions were examined in light of emerging alcohol policy initiatives.

Methods: The implementation of ten alcohol policy dimensions and their attendant indicators (70 overall) were assessed: alcohol pricing; type of alcohol control system; physical availability; drinking and driving; marketing and advertising; legal drinking age; screening, brief intervention and referral; server training, challenge and refusal programs; provincial alcohol strategy; and warning labels and signs. Provincial scores were determined independently by two team members, and dimensions weighted according to scope and effectiveness. The inter-provincial report (March 2013) and subsequent province-specific reports compared provincial scores, and provided recommendations for action. These were distributed to stakeholders and decision-makers.

Results: The consolidated national mean is 47.2% of the ideal. Across dimensions, legal drinking age and challenge and refusal programs score highest at 75% and 61%, respectively, and warning labels and signs lowest at 18% of the ideal. In two provinces there is progress on provincial alcohol strategies. Quebec and Nova Scotia have strengthened drinking and driving policies, while British Columbia recently announced promising recommendations to improve their alcohol pricing system. Nova Scotia has strengthened harm reduction policies regarding alcohol sponsorship, and is exploring alternative means for conveying risks associated with alcohol use.

Conclusions: While scores indicate substantial room for improvement across all provinces, many have taken recent steps to implement specific alcohol policies. Concerted effort involving multiple stakeholders is required to promote evidence-based policies, and reduce risky drinking practices and attendant harm across Canada.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Assess differences in implementation of evidence-based policies Identify associations between alcohol policy recommendations by project team and recent action on emerging policy initiatives Discuss strategies for engaging stakeholders and decision-makers in implementing alcohol policies

Keyword(s): Alcohol Use, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator of the project that is being higlighted in this abstract.I have conducted research on alcohol policy issues and related knowledge exchange and public health advocacy for several decades
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.