Many Canadians drink alcohol at levels that increase their risk of harm. However, research shows that targeted alcohol pricing policies are effective in reducing alcohol consumption.
Alcohol Price Policy in Canada – New Report SeriesReport 1 -
Levels and Patterns of Alcohol Use in Canada Report 2 -
Analysis of Beverage Alcohol Sales in Canada Report 3 -
Alcohol Price Policy to Reduce Harm Highlights:
- Presents data on levels and patterns of alcohol use in Canada
- Examines the economic and governmental context of beverage alcohol sales
- Looks at pricing policies in six provinces
- Provides guiding principles for using alcohol price policies to reduce alcohol-related harm in Canada
The Alcohol Price Policy Series recommends action that aligns with the findings from the 2007 report,
Reducing Alcohol Related Harm in Canada – Recommendations for a National Alcohol Strategy. The recommendations include:
- Index alcohol prices to inflation
- Base alcohol prices on alcohol content, providing economic incentives for individuals to drink products with lower amounts of alcohol
- Increase minimum prices to deter risky drinkers from buying inexpensive alcohol
Implementing these price policies in provinces and territories across Canada would complement the efforts underway to promote awareness of low-risk alcohol drinking in Canada.
Alcohol Pricing Policies: Reducing Harms to Canadians – Policy Brief
The alcohol price policy brief provides a summary of the policy series' findings and recommendations for action, including a comparative review of provincial alcohol price policies.
New! Alcohol pricing and public health in Canada seminar
Alcohol price policy researcher Gerald Thomas (Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse) joins panellists from the Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC), the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and further afield (United Kingdom) to discuss minimum pricing and other alcohol policies from a public health perspective. The seminar provides an overview of the latest results from an international research team investigating the impact of alcohol pricing policies on public health and economic outcomes. Watch now.
Note: Mr. Thomas’ presentation begins at 46:05.