Support Bill S-254 Act to amend Food and Drugs Act warning label on alcoholic beverages (Motion #18-23)

Moved by Masood – Noland

Approved by Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts, April 20, 2023

18-23 SUPPORT FOR BILL S-254 – An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning label on alcoholic beverages)

WHEREAS alcohol is a well-established risk factor for premature death and injury due to unintentional injuries, violence, cancer, liver disease, heart disease, and high blood pressure; and

WHEREAS the Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction released new guidelines and information in January 2023 about alcohol consumption and health; and

WHEREAS within the Public Health Sudbury & District’s catchment area, only 37% of adults report that they are aware that consumption of alcohol every day may increase their risk of cancer; and

WHEREAS Public Health Sudbury & Districts has elevated and increasing rates of heavy drinking (27.9% PHSD in 2019/2020, compared with 15.6% for the province); and

WHEREAS the Ontario Public Health Association and multiple Ontario boards of health in Ontario are writing in support of Senator Brazeau’s Bill S-254 – An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning label on alcoholic beverages), which, if passed, would require the industry to include informative labels on alcoholic bottles discussing health risks and standard drink size;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts similarly convey its support for federally mandated health risk labels on all alcohol containers sold in Canada and urge members of parliament and senators to support Bill S-254.

CARRIED

This item was last modified on April 24, 2023