The recent report from the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction (CCSA) on excessive alcohol consumption in Canada clearly states that alcohol consumption is a leading public health issue, costing our society billions of dollars annually and causing significant health and social harms.
It is the responsibility of the government to take immediate action to address this issue. Take the following steps to protect the health and well-being of all Canadians:
1. Increase the availability of information and education on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, including the risks of long-term health problems such as cancer, liver disease, and heart disease.
2. Implement policies to reduce the promotion and advertising of alcohol, especially to young people, and to limit the accessibility of alcohol in public spaces.
3. Increase funding for addiction treatment and support services to ensure that all those who need help can access it quickly and easily.
4. Work collaboratively with the provinces and territories to develop a national strategy to address alcohol misuse, including effective prevention and harm reduction measures.
5. Raise taxes on all alcohol products, using the revenue to pay for health care costs.