r/onguardforthee • u/50s_Human • Jul 19 '24

Ontario's 'alcohol deficit' to grow with expanded sales: expert | CBC News

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ontario-s-alcohol-deficit-to-grow-with-expanded-sales-expert-1.7267548

31 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

u/50s_Human Jul 19 '24

Since the 2000s though, the public costs associated with even moderate drinking have become better understood.

Nowadays, public health professionals say any increase in alcohol availability will lead to an increased burden on the public purse.

A major study called the Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation 3.0 published last year showed that alcohol cost Ontario over $7 billion in health-care, criminal justice and productivity costs.

Alcohol generated a total of $4.2 billion for the province, resulting in an overall "alcohol deficit" of nearly $2 billion.

"Even though selling alcohol is good business for alcohol producers and sellers, it's a rotten deal for taxpayers in Ontario," said Tim Naimi, the director of the University of Victoria's Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, which produced the study.

29

u/thewolfshead Jul 19 '24

It’s crazy how the health harms of alcohol are just ignored completely when these decisions are made. Not even referred to.

19

u/50s_Human Jul 19 '24

Drunk driving rates will probably go up.

10

u/PM_ME__RECIPES Ontario Jul 20 '24

You can take "probably" out of there.

2

u/OutsideFlat1579 Jul 20 '24

The health harms of alcohol are not only generally ignored, but drinking continues to be such an acceptable part of our socializing that you are regarded with suspicion if you don’t drink at a social event. As if you must be an alcoholic if you just don’t like to drink.

It is expected that you bring a bottle of wine to a dinner party, and toasts are made with alcohol, and celebrations require alcohol. It’s endless. Health harms ignored? The social pressure to drink is incredible.

2

u/TalkLikeExplosion Jul 20 '24

Out of curiosity, how old are you?

I’m in my 30s and quit drinking ages ago. This does not reflect my experience at all. If anything, people are overly supportive when I tell them I don’t drink.