With a growing base of evidence demonstrating the health risks associated with alcohol use, MP Lisa Marie Barron is calling for the federal government to take action. (Dreamstime)

By Ian Holmes

increased risk

Nanaimo MP pushes for alcohol warning labels, elevated health risks cited in updated research

Jan 20, 2023 | 5:24 AM

NANAIMO — Evidence showing health risks linked to alcohol consumption are increasingly severe requires action from the federal government, declared the Member of Parliament for Nanaimo Ladysmith.

Released this week by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health (CGAH) stated as few as three standard drinks weekly presents a moderate health risk at developing several types of cancers, led by breast and colon cancer.

New Democrat Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Lisa Marie Barron said it’s past due for a national warning label strategy for alcoholic beverages in retail settings.

“Right now it’s just accepted that we have warning labels on cigarettes, yet we have nothing on alcohol,” Barron told NanaimoNewsNOW.

A standard drink represents a bottle or can of beer, five ounce glass of wine or 1.5 ounce serving of hard liquor.

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A CGAH report released in 2011 recommended a cap of 15 weekly alcoholic drinks for men and 10 for women to reduce long-term health risks.

Risk scale of alcohol consumption as it pertains to leading to at least seven forms of cancer and other poor health outcomes. (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction)

The updated CGAH study found 50 per cent of of alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in the province are among former alcohol users and consumption within the 2011 CGAH guidelines.

Also cited in the newly released report was an estimation that alcohol caused 18,000 deaths in Canada in 2017, while associated costs due to alcohol use were $16.6 billion, with $5.4 billion spent on health care.

Barron said it’s her intention to formally introduce her private members bill in the House of Commons this year for a national labeling strategy for alcoholic products.

“It’s left to industry to decide what information Canadians have access to and what they don’t, instead of looking at this as a government responsibility to ensure that Canadians have this information, and the result is we have no warning labels in place.”

During a Town Hall gathering with constituents, Barron said people were largely in favour of warning labels, with some people angered the measure had not been enacted.

“It’s a public health issue as well as a safety issue.”

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes