Researchers who collaborated on the latest guide on alcohol consumption would like Health Canada to update the information published on its website on this subject.
The federal Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, also believes that the population should have access to the most important recommendation made by the researchers
The Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction released a report in January funded by Health Canada. In it, he states that scientific findings show that there is no safe limit to alcohol consumption. According to him, simply drinking one to two standard drinks a week “represents a low risk”.
The previous Canadian Benchmarks on Alcohol and Health, published in 2011, reported two drinks… per day. This data is still on the Health Canada website.
Mr. Duclos says people need to have access to this data online to think about alcohol consumption and their well-being.
“Every Canadian has the right to know what the experts believe,” he acknowledges. Ultimately, it’s up to the people to decide. They must have easy access to this type of information which is important to them. »
However, the Minister cannot promise that the site will be updated. He referred the matter to Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett. A spokeswoman said she was unavailable for comment.
In a written statement, Ms. Bennett’s office says the government “continues to talk to Canadians about policies to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol consumption. He is still trying to figure out the best ways to spread information about the harms of alcohol.”
“We believe that this task is essential before implementing the latest tools and methods of communication. »
Ms Bennett has not pledged to introduce new federal regulations that would force companies to add new labels to their products, as the group of scientists recommends. In February, she said she hoped the industry would tackle the labeling problem on its own, without being forced to.
Peter Butt, who co-chaired the new guide, wants Health Canada to release the latest data to show the government’s support for the report. He recalls that the latter was funded by Health Canada.
“We are talking about a cultural and political transformation that cannot happen overnight. But you know, people want to see the government do the right things,” he said.
He wants the 2011 guide, which recommended a weekly limit of 15 drinks for men and 10 drinks for women, to be replaced by the new Benchmarks.
“I’m sure Health Canada has to digest the new guide, just like individuals had to,” adds Dr. Butt, who concedes that the latest data raises several questions.
“What do we need to react to this? What is our responsibility? How do we position ourselves in terms of tolerable risks — economic and political versus what is fair? »
He considers that alcohol is a “complicated product” in the way it is marketed.
He questions Ms Bennett’s position of wanting to leave this issue to the industry itself.
“It doesn’t guide anyone in any way. It’s just shoveling the problem further. What do you think the tobacco industry would have done if they had been told they had the choice of putting labels on cigarette packs,” comments Dr Butt.
Vignerons Canada says it is creating a QR code that could be voluntarily placed on a container of alcohol. This code would send consumers to a site that would contain warnings about the dangers of alcohol, including long-term mental health risks and potential negative effects on a relationship.
Dr. Butt compares this strategy to “infomercials” on the Internet that are more about defending the financial interests of the industry than providing information to consumers.
“Alcohol is not an ordinary product. He has a story. It fits into our culture. There is an economy around it,” he says.
Tim Naimi, director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, points out that the latest Benchmarks are grounded in science. They could be used to implement policies to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol consumption.
“I really hope that Health Canada will play an active role in this,” he said of the need to publish the guide from the Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction.