A Comparison of Measures and Policies to Prevent

Alcohol Problems among Youth across Canadian

Provinces

Stephanie Simpson, Ashley Wetlauffer, Norman Giesbrecht, Mark Asbridge, Robert Mann,

Andrew Murie

Alcohol Consumption and Harm among Youth

• Young Canadians aged 15-24 years

–More likely to adopt risky drinking practices

– Elevated rates of alcohol-related problems

Risk Practice: Exceeding National Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines

• Maximum Daily

– Men: 3 standard drinks

– Women: 2 standard drinks

– Exceeded by17.9% aged 15-24 vs. 11.9% aged 25+ (CADUMS, 2013)

• Maximum Weekly

– Men: 15 standard drinks

– Women: 10 standard drinks

– Exceeded by 24% aged 15-24 vs. 17.6% aged 25+ (CADUMS, 2013)

Risk Practice: Drinking and Driving

• Motor vehicle crashes leading cause of death among youth aged 15-24 years(MADD, 2013)

• Alcohol involved in 50% of these cases(MADD, 2013)

• 12 – 20% of grade 12 students drove within an hour of drinking (CCSA, 2011)

Objective

To compare Canadian provinces across three alcohol policy and program

dimensions demonstrated to effectively reduce alcohol-related problems among

15-24 year olds

Strategies to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harms and Costs across Canada: A Comparison of

Provincial Policies - Giesbrecht et al. (2013)

10 Evidence-based Dimensions

– Pricing

– The System of Alcohol Control

– Physical Availability

– Drinking and Driving

– Marketing and Advertising

– Legal Drinking Age

– Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral

– Server & Manager Training/Challenge & Refusal Programs

– The Provincial Alcohol Strategy

– Warning Labels and Signs

Methods

• Indicators developed for each dimension

• Scoring

– Population reach (i.e. Scope)

– Impact

– Extent (%) to which province attained ideal

Drinking and DrivingLicensing

Conditions(5 Points)

Suspend & Revoke

(3 Points)

Vehicle & Remedial(2 Points)

Total Score

(10 Points)% of Ideal

BC 0.6 3.0 1.5 5.2 51.7%AB 0.6 0.7 1.1 2.5 24.6%SK 0.4 1.6 1.6 3.6 36.2%MB 1.7 1.6 1.3 4.6 45.9%ON 1.7 1.8 1.4 4.9 49.2%QC 0.4 0.2 1.5 2.0 20.4%NB 1.5 1.0 0.0 2.5 25.4%NS 0.5 1.6 0.9 3.0 29.8%PEI 0.6 1.4 1.4 3.5 34.5%NL 0.5 1.2 0.7 2.4 24.1%

Mean 0.9 1.4 1.2 3.4 34.2%

Legal Drinking Age Legislated

Age (5 Points)

Off-premise Enforcement

(3 Points)

On-premise Enforcement

(2 Points)

Total Score

(10 Points)

% of Ideal

BC 3.0 3.0 2.0 8.0 80%

AB 2.0 3.0 2.0 7.0 70%

SK 3.0 3.0 2.0 8.0 80%

MB 2.0 3.0 2.0 7.0 70%

ON 3.0 3.0 2.0 8.0 80%

QC 2.0 3.0 1.0 6.0 60%

NB 3.0 3.0 1.0 7.0 70%

NS 3.0 3.0 2.0 8.0 80%

PEI 3.0 3.0 2.0 8.0 80%

NL 3.0 3.0 2.0 8.0 80%

Mean 2.7 3.0 1.8 7.5 75%

Server and Manager TrainingIn Place(1 Point)

Quality(2 Points)

Enforced (2 Points)

Total(5 Points) % of ideal

BC 0.8 0.5 2.0 3.3 65%

AB 0.8 2.0 0.0 2.8 55%

SK 0.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 30%

MB 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 20%

ON 1.0 0.5 0.0 1.5 30%

QC 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 20%

NB 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 20%

NS 0.8 0.5 0.0 1.3 25%

PEI 0.8 1.5 0.0 2.3 45%

NL 0.0 0.5 2.0 2.5 50%

Mean 0.5 0.9 0.4 1.8 36.0%

Challenge and Refusal ProgramsIn Place(1 Point)

Quality(2 Points)

Enforced(2 Points)

Total(5 Points) % of ideal

BC 1.0 1.5 2.0 4.5 90%

AB 1.0 2.0 0.0 3.0 60%

SK 1.0 1.5 0.0 2.5 50%

MB 1.0 2.0 2.0 5.0 100%

ON 1.0 2.0 2.0 5.0 100%

QC 1.0 1.5 2.0 4.5 90%

NB 1.0 1.0 2.0 4.0 80%

NS 1.0 2.0 2.0 5.0 100%

PEI 1.0 2.0 2.0 5.0 100%

NL 1.0 1.5 2.0 4.5 90%

Mean 1.0 1.7 1.6 4.3 86%

Consolidated Provincial Scores across Three Dimensions

010203040

5060708090

100

BC ON PEI MB NL NS SK AB NB QC

Consolidated Provincial Scores across Three Dimensions

Discussion

• Alcohol-related harm a preventable burden to Canadian society

• Consider options to improve harm reduction efforts

– Strengthen existing policies

– Enact new policies targeting youth

• Best implemented within comprehensive approach (see Giesbrecht et al., 2013)

Contact Information

Norman Giesbrecht, Ph. D.Senior Scientist EmeritusSocial & Epidemiological Research Dept.Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 33 Russell St. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2S1

Phone: (416) 535-8501 ext. 36895email: norman.giesbrecht@camh.ca

Acknowledgement: This project was funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research and with in-kind support from the investigators’ institutions.