Toronto, December 14, 2023 – Community mental health and addictions organizations are questioning the value of the alcohol retail sales expansion, expressing concerns that the announcement is a step in the wrong direction in reducing public health harms.
Health groups raise concerns
Meanwhile, the government will boost “social responsibility and public health efforts” by $10 million over the next five years, it said.
Ontario’s auditor general said in a report this month that government officials have not consulted Public Health Ontario on the implications of the expansion of alcohol sales in recent years. Speaking alongside Ford at the news conference, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said he was “pretty sure” public health officials were included in consultations this time around.
A coalition of three mental health groups, including the Canadian Mental Health Association, Addictions and Mental Health Ontario and Children’s Mental Health Ontario, issued a statement Thursday “urging caution” as the province rolls out the changes.
“Increasing the number of alcohol outlets has been shown to increase negative health outcomes including violence, injuries, alcohol-related crashes, and death by suicide,” the statement said. The groups added that they look forward to working with the government to ensure that “crucial community mental health and addictions supports” are a part of the retail alcohol expansion.
The Ontario Public Health Association raised concerns earlier this year about the possible overhaul of alcohol sales, saying it would have negative health implications.
“Research and real-world evidence show that when alcohol becomes cheaper and more available, consumption increases, and so does alcohol-related harm,” the group wrote in a news release.