Need a source? CAMH and OPHA Support Minister's decision to reject a full restructuring of Ontario's beverage distribution system

CAMH and OPHA Support Minister's decision

Toronto, Ontario, July 18, 2005 - The Beverage Alcohol System Review panel released its report today entitled: Strategy for Transforming Ontario's Beverage Alcohol System. In the report the panel strongly recommended that a full restructuring of the beverage alcohol distribution system be initiated by the Ontario government, including selling the retail and wholesale operations of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO).

This recommendation was rejected by Finance Minister Greg Sorbara who indicated that it was "the government's strong view that the public interest of Ontarians is best served by the continued public ownership of the LCBO."

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) support the Minister's decision. CAMH has many years of experience in researching the impact of policy changes such as privatization on health and social problems resulting from alcohol. Maintaining a retail alcohol monopoly with a strong duty of social responsibility is considered to be the most effective policy to reduce alcohol problems and costs.

The following are available to discuss the report: Dr. Robert Mann and Dr. Norman Giesbrecht, Senior Research Scientists in the Social, Prevention and Health Policy Research Department at CAMH, and Denise De Pape, Manager, Healthy Lifestyles Toronto Public Health and the Chair of the Alcohol Workgroup, OPHA.

What are current levels of damage from alcohol and the risks of increasing access to alcohol.
How government retailing systems can be more effective in controlling alcohol sales and attendant damage.
How the roles of retail alcohol systems can be strengthened to enhance social responsibility and reduce damage from alcohol.
What can be done to promote responsible alcohol use and control the harms associated with drinking.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre and a teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.

The Ontario Public Health Association provides leadership on issues affecting the public's health and strengthens the impact of people who are active in public and community health in Ontario.

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To arrange an interview please contact Michael Torres, CAMH Media Relations at (416) 595-6015.