Social cost of alcohol addiction in Canada outweighs government revenue by $6 billion dollars | Globalnews.ca
Social cost of alcohol addiction in Canada outweighs government revenue by $6 billion dollars Global News
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Alcohol Consumption in Canada
Canadians continue to pay a high cost as a society when it comes to alcohol consumption.
A recent study from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) shows that in 2020 net government revenue from alcohol sales was $13 billion, while the net social costs from alcohol use were $19 billion leaving Canadians with a $6 billion alcohol deficit.
The costs include health care, people missing work, and criminal justice costs.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
“Some of the costs are deaths, hospitalization, addictions, treatment, long-term disability, short-term disability, absenteeism, and presentism when people are at work but their capacity is reduced,” said Adam Sherk senior scientist and special policy advisor with the CCSA.
“But there are many secondhand effects — the harms to others that is difficult to cost. Drinking in the home has a massive impact on domestic partner violence with kids and youth, but that’s not part of this cost to study,” Sherk said.
Increasing Alcohol Deficit
Sherk compiled data from 2007 to 2020 that shows the alcohol deficit has more than doubled in that time.
Sherk said there are decades of research from many different countries that show the most effective way to change consumer purchasing patterns around alcohol is to move around the price.
On April 1, the federal government officially raised its alcohol excise tax to 2 per cent.
Impact of Alcohol Tax Increase
Originally, the tax was set to increase to 4.7 per cent, in connection with inflation. But the government decided to cap it at 2 per cent, a break welcomed by those in the alcohol business. Sherk says taking inflation into account, the 2 per cent increase was a 2.7% real decrease in the tax. He calls that a corporate subsidy for bars and restaurants.
Personal Stories
Calgarian Earl Thiessen stopped drinking in 2007.
“It almost cost me my life. It cost many of my friends their lives,” said Thiessen who is now the executive director of the Oxford House Foundation.
Oxford House provides helps for people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction through affordable housing and support. In his role, he continues to see the price we all pay when it comes to alcohol.
Government Response
At this point, the Alberta government has no plans to increase the alcohol tax.
“Within the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction, our focus is to build the Alberta Recovery Model and create a system of care that gives every person an opportunity to pursue recovery. Changes to taxes on alcohol are typically only considered when drafting the budget, and no proposals are currently under consideration,” said Hunter Baril, a spokesperson for the office of the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction.
A spokesperson for Health Canada said the department recognizes that alcohol use is a serious public health and safety issue that affects individuals and communities across Canada, and accounts for substantial health and social costs.
“Our actions to address alcohol-related harms are guided by the renewed Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy (CDSS) which takes a public health and public safety approach to reduce the harms associated with substance use in Canada. This includes supporting research, conducting public awareness activities, developing guidance, and monitoring trends in alcohol consumption and harms,” read a statement from Health Canada.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
- SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- SDG 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
- SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
- SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator: Net government revenue from alcohol sales
- Indicator: Net social costs from alcohol use
- Indicator: Health care costs related to alcohol consumption
- Indicator: Absenteeism and presentism in the workplace due to alcohol-related issues
- Indicator: Domestic partner violence associated with alcohol consumption
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. | – Net government revenue from alcohol sales – Net social costs from alcohol use – Health care costs related to alcohol consumption |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | – Domestic partner violence associated with alcohol consumption |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. | – Absenteeism and presentism in the workplace due to alcohol-related issues |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. | – Net social costs from alcohol use |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. | – Criminal justice costs related to alcohol consumption |
Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.
Fuente: globalnews.ca
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