New drinking guidelines in Canada were accompanied by a call for warning labels on alcohol bottles, and a B.C. MP has already created just such a motion.

Nanaimo-Ladysmith91裸聊视频檚 Lisa Marie Barron, the NDP91裸聊视频檚 deputy critic for mental health and addictions, drafted a private member91裸聊视频檚 motion that was placed on notice last June, calling for a national warning label strategy for alcoholic products due to alcohol being 91裸聊视频渁 major driver of morbidity and mortality in Canada91裸聊视频� and a 91裸聊视频渟ignificant, modifiable contributor to many diseases including cancers.91裸聊视频�

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction issued new guidance this week that recommends no more than two drinks per week, replacing previous guidelines of no more than two drinks per day. The new guidelines state that three to six drinks per week bring 91裸聊视频渕oderate risk91裸聊视频� and seven or more drinks per week bring 91裸聊视频渋ncreasingly high risk.91裸聊视频�

Barron worked in the addictions field before being elected to Parliament and said that work formed a basis for her work on the file federally.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a glamourization of alcohol consumption and I saw the impacts quite frequently first-hand while working in addictions, and the lack of knowledge around the health impacts of alcohol consumption 91裸聊视频� proven health implications91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭he most frustrating part is that many people are unaware of these potential preventable and modifiable diseases associated with alcohol consumption.91裸聊视频�

The MP held community consultation related to her notice of motion this past fall in Nanaimo and said one woman with whom she spoke said the new information might make her reconsider that second drink.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 hearing from constituents their stories, their experiences with alcohol, their family members91裸聊视频� experiences with alcohol and how much they appreciate the work being done to bring this forward and ensure that we91裸聊视频檙e finally taking seriously the potential health concerns of alcohol consumption,91裸聊视频� she said.

Barron91裸聊视频檚 motion on warning labels won91裸聊视频檛 be discussed in the House of Commons unless she raises it for debate the next time she has a chance to table private member91裸聊视频檚 business, which won91裸聊视频檛 be until spring at the earliest.

She has read research about different kinds of warning labels and their impacts and said there are 91裸聊视频渧ery specific91裸聊视频� recommendations about size, colour and use of images. She said a pilot project on alcohol warning labels in the Yukon ended early due to industry pressure and said that91裸聊视频檚 one of the reasons why federal leadership is needed.

91裸聊视频淭his motion isn91裸聊视频檛 a judgment on alcohol consumption 91裸聊视频� People can make the decisions that are best for them with this information,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淏ut it91裸聊视频檚 completely unacceptable that Canadians don91裸聊视频檛 have access to this information and the ways in which alcohol consumption really impacts their health and the direct links there.91裸聊视频�

The drinking guidelines report, which noted that about three-quarters of Canadians drink alcohol, stated that 91裸聊视频渁lcohol is a leading preventable cause of death, disability and social problems, including certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, unintentional injuries and violence.91裸聊视频�

The CCSA report noted that its main focus was on health conditions resulting in death, and didn91裸聊视频檛 examine 91裸聊视频渋ntangible effects of alcohol use, including suffering related to adverse outcomes or social enjoyment from alcohol consumption.91裸聊视频�

Dan Malleck, a Brock University health sciences professor and a medical historian specializing in drug and alcohol policy, called the report irresponsible and said its authors 91裸聊视频渃herry picked91裸聊视频� data, considering thousands of studies but disregarding all but a few.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檝e narrowed the focus of their study to the point where they find 16 studies that show harm and lo and behold, there91裸聊视频檚 harm,91裸聊视频� he said.

He said the report doesn91裸聊视频檛 consider any positive benefits to moderate alcohol consumption such as social aspects that can affect mental well-being. Alcohol, he said, is part of people91裸聊视频檚 lives in meaningful ways such as celebrations, get-togethers, or unwinding after a rough week.

91裸聊视频淎ll of these things are important to our 91裸聊视频� biological, psychological and social health. The things that make us healthy are multi-dimensional,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏ut when we reduce it down to just a dose response and don91裸聊视频檛 consider all of that other stuff, it does kind of miss the point of alcohol to start with.91裸聊视频�

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Canada91裸聊视频檚 Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health issued a statement that noted that the guidelines are 91裸聊视频渁 first step in raising awareness91裸聊视频� and will need to be accompanied by supporting programs and policies that will lead to improved health outcomes.

91裸聊视频淚t is also important to recognize that the risk for alcohol-related harms is strongly influenced by a range of factors in our social, economic, and physical environments,91裸聊视频� the council noted. 91裸聊视频淭hese factors can include the accessibility and affordability of alcohol, exposure to alcohol marketing, social and cultural norms around drinking, coping with loss of cultural identity, racism, stigma and discrimination as well as economic resources.91裸聊视频�

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