Algoma Public Health is taking what it calls its 'first steps' in ramping up awareness of the danger that heavy alcohol use poses to public health.
APH board of health members passed a resolution at their monthly board meeting held on Wednesday to join with other public health units in urging the federal government to start putting warning labels on containers of alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can cause cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colon and rectum, female breast, pancreas, and liver depending on the quantity of alcohol consumed, an APH report stated.
“Cancer deaths make up the majority of alcohol-related deaths,” said Dr. John Tuinema, APH associate medical officer of health in a presentation given to the board.
“There are about 14 times more alcohol-related cancer deaths than there are alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths. We see a lot more messaging about drunk driving than we do about cancer.”
Tuinema said APH is not disparaging anti-drunk driving campaigns and called those campaigns “very important.”
However, Tuinema produced a chart showing a recent tally of alcohol-related harms in Ontario.
The numbers showed there were 1,204 alcohol-related cancer deaths in the province as compared to 87 alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions.
In an average year in Algoma, there were 57 alcohol-related deaths, 310 alcohol-related hospitalizations and 2,306 alcohol-related emergency department visits.
The APH board resolved to write to local Members of Parliament and Sen. Patrick Brazeau, who sponsored Bill S-254, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act, and call on the federal government of Canada to implement alcohol warning labels that:
- Indicate the volume of alcohol in a standard drink
- Detail the number of standard drinks in the beverage container
- Display health messages regarding the relationship between the number of standard drinks consumed and health outcomes, including the risk of cancer.
The APH report also said:
- New guidelines on alcohol and health shows that drinking alcohol has negative consequences.
- The more alcohol consumed in a week, the more those consequences add up.
- Not drinking at all has benefits such as better health and better sleep.
- There will likely be no alcohol-related consequences if a person consumes one to two standard drinks per week.
- The risk of cancers such as breast and colon cancer increases with three to six standard drinks per week.
- Seven or more standard drinks per week leads to an increased risk of stroke or heart disease.
- During pregnancy, no alcohol is the only safe option.
A standard drink means 12 ounces of beer with five per cent alcohol, five ounces of wine with 12 per cent alcohol or 1.5 ounces of spirits - such as whisky, vodka or gin - with 40 per cent alcohol.
More than 75 per cent of Canadians report consuming alcohol and only 28 per cent of Canadians are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer, but two-thirds of those surveyed said they would decrease their consumption of booze if they were made more aware of that health risk.
“We’re not here to tell everybody that they must abstain from alcohol. Alcohol can be used responsibly. It’s built into our culture. It’s used for many occasions, for celebrations. I hope it’s clear that we’re trying to find that balance,” Tuinema told the board.
“Where do you decide to draw the line for yourself? That’s a tricky question and really it’s up to people to decide for themselves, but in order to decide they need to be able to make an informed choice, knowing exactly how much is in a drink and what are the consequences,” Tuinema said.
Tuinema said reducing alcohol intake or stopping it completely can lead to significant reductions in health risks - for many people - and may even reverse some types of damage.
“It’s really not too late for people who may have, for years, been above the guidelines,” Tuinema told the board.