The OPHA and its partners consistently advocate for public health on alcohol-related issues.

Alcohol

The Alcohol Workgroup was created in 2002 to develop policy positions on Alcohol issues for the OPHA and to advocate for alcohol policy development on the provincial and community levels. Today, the Alcohol Workgroup keeps public health units abreast of current alcohol issues by monitoring the social and political landscape, communicating actively with stakeholders and responding to requests for information on Ontario government legislation, consultation and policy issues. The Workgroup also maintains a multi-sectoral group of experts to respond to alcohol issues and works proactively to increase OPHA’s collective capacity with its of key stakeholders to respond to alcohol issues.

The Mission/Mandate:

The Alcohol Workgroup’s mission is to strengthen the public health voice regarding alcohol policy. The cornerstones of healthy public policy related to alcohol are:1

  • Effective controls on alcohol:
    Controls on the physical, economic and social availability of alcohol are not only good for public health, they are good for public finances
  • Supportive environments:
    Policies, programs and other initiatives should strive to build self-esteem; promote healthy living; strengthen the ability of individuals; families and communities to care for one another; and help prevent and reduce alcohol related harm.
  • Inclusive decision making:
    Policy discussions should acknowledge the unique health and social consequences of alcohol consumption, as well as the economic impact in the province. Current and future decisions need to be made in an environment that welcomes public discussion, considers a wide range of community groups and facilitates the development of policies that enhance public health and safety.”

Activities

On an on-going basis OPHA’s Alcohol Workgroup engages in a variety of activities designed to:

  • Seek opportunities for OPHA to participate in advocacy with respect to alcohol, at both the provincial and federal levels;
  • Provide information and recommendations to the public health field so that health units can also take advocacy positions: and
  • In concert with the Alcohol Policy Network, keep the importance of alcohol use and its impact “on the agenda” in public health and at government levels.

Recent Accomplishments

  • Six successful annual alcohol policy forums to date attended by academia, public health, government, etc.
  • Presentation to the Beverage Alcohol Review System Panel through the Ministry of Government Services on Alcohol Privatization Issues
  • Contribution and support of the national alcohol strategy, released by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
  • Position Paper: Promoting Healthy Communities adopted by the OPHA in 2003.

 

 

 

 

1 Source: Promoting Healthy Communities: a Position Paper on Alcohol Policy and Public Health [PDF]

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