Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation

 
A blue map of Canada with red lettergrades on each province and territory representing alcohol policy scores
Alcohol policy scores across Canadian jurisdictions from the 2019 CAPE Project

 The Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation (CAPE), which has a track record of strengthening Canada’s response to alcohol-related harm, is an ongoing project that systematically evaluates the degree of implementation of provincial, territorial, and federal alcohol policies under 11 evidence-based alcohol policy domains.

CAPE was initially developed and implemented in 2013 (CAPE 1.0), and then updated, refined, and expanded in 2019 (CAPE 2.0). The next round (CAPE 3.0) will be launched in 2022 alongside a national alcohol policy community of practice.

Join the CAPE Community of Practice.

Read our 2021 paper on CAPE stakeholder engagement in Drug and Alcohol Review.

View the CAPE 2.0 infographic.

View our CAPE 2.0 interactive policy mapping tool.

 

Project Overview

About the Provincial and Territorial CAPE Project

The provincial and territorial CAPE Project is a rigorous assessment of the extent to which evidence-based alcohol policies have been implemented in all 13 jurisdictions in Canada. The study design is based on a similar model conceived of and implemented by MADD Canada assessing the progress of policy measures to reduce impaired driving (see 2015 Provincial Impaired Driving Report). The types of alcohol policies being evaluated at the provincial and territorial level include those with direct evidence of direct effectiveness as a means of reducing population level consumption of alcohol and/or related harms such as: pricing and taxation; physical availability of alcohol; impaired driving countermeasures; marketing and advertising controls; minimum legal drinking age laws; screening, brief intervention and referral programs; and liquor law enforcement. We also assess evidence-based strategies that more indirectly facABout CAPE sectilitate implementation of the direct policies mentioned above. These strategies include: control systems for the distribution and sale of alcohol; provincial and territorial alcohol strategies; monitoring and reporting of alcohol related harms; and health and safety messaging.

About the Federal CAPE Project

The federal CAPE Project is a rigorous assessment of the extent to which evidence-based alcohol policies have been implemented by the federal government in Canada. The study design is based on a similar model conceived of and implemented by MADD Canada assessing the progress of policy measures to reduce impaired driving. The types of alcohol policies being evaluated at the provincial and territorial level include those with direct evidence of direct effectiveness as a means of reducing population level consumption of alcohol and/or related harms such as: pricing and taxation; physical availability of alcohol; impaired driving countermeasures; marketing and advertising controls; minimum legal drinking age laws; and screening, brief intervention and referral programs. We also assess evidence-based strategies that more indirectly facilitate implementation of the direct policies mentioned above. These strategies include: control systems for the distribution and sale of alcohol; a national alcohol strategy; monitoring and reporting of alcohol related harms; and health and safety messaging.

About the 2013 Provincial CAPE Project

The 2013 provincial alcohol policy evaluation report provided an initial systematic and comparative review of policies and programs across all Canadian provinces which have the potential to reduce the considerable health and social harms from alcohol. The overall objective was to encourage greater uptake of these practices and thereby improve public health and safety in Canada. The study design was based on a similar model conceived and implemented by MADD Canada assessing the progress of policy measures to reduce impaired driving (see 2015 Provincial Impaired Driving Report).

Funding bodies

  • 2019 Provincial and Territorial CAPE Project (CAPE 2.0): Health Canada, Substance Use and Addictions Program
  • 2019 Federal CAPE Project (CAPE 2.0): Public Health Agency of Canada
  • 2013 Provincial CAPE Project (CAPE 1.0): Canadian Institutes of Health Research

CAPE 2.0 Provincial and Territorial Reports and Summaries (2019)

CAPE 2.0 Federal Report (2019)

CAPE 1.0 Provincial Reports (2013)

CAPE Presentations and Webinars

Infographics and Fact Sheets

Academic Journal Articles

Media Releases

Media Coverage

CAPE 2.0

French

CAPE 1.0

Other Alcohol Policy Evaluations

Alcohol and Public Health Reports and Guidance

Alcohol Consumption and Harm Data Tools

Alcohol and Cancer

Liquor Acts and Regulations

Alcohol Strategy Documents

Municipal Alcohol Policies

The CAPE CoP aims to establish a national alcohol policy community which builds and sustains long-term connections, collaborations, and professional development between diverse stakeholders, and increases both awareness and knowledge of emerging alcohol-related research and policies through a range of different mobilization activities and events. The CAPE CoP is comprised of a national email listserv, policy forums, roundtable discussions, research presentations, and capacity-building sessions related to alcohol policy. All public-facing CoP resources are available on the main CAPE project page.

Interested in joining the CAPE CoP or have an event idea? Register here.

Questions or feedback related to the CAPE CoP? Email our coordinator: <nicolevi@uvic.ca>.

Researchers

  • Mark Asbridge (Co-Investigator | Dalhousie University, NS )
  • Dr. Russell Callaghan (Co-Investigator |Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, BC; University of Northern British Columbia, BC)
  • Dr. Marilou Gagnon (Co-Investigator | Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, BC)
  • Norman Giesbrecht (Co-Principal Investigator | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, ON)
  • Robert Mann (Senior Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON )
  • Dr. Tim Naimi (Co-Principal Investigator | Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, BC)
  • Jacob Shelley (Co-Investigator | Health Ethics, Law & Policy (HELP) Lab, Western University, ON)
  • Dr. Adam Sherk (Co-Investigator | Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, BC)
  • Kevin Shield (Co-Investigator | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, ON)
  • Robert Solomon (Co-Investigator | Western University, ON)
  • Dr. Tim Stockwell (Co-Principal Investigator | Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, BC)
  • Dr. Kara Thompson (Co-Investigator | St. Francis Xavier University, NS)
  • Fariha Alam (Research Associate, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, BC)
  • Amanda Farrell-Low (Communications Officer, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, BC)
  • Kate Vallance ( Research Associate, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, Victoria, BC)
  • Nicole Vishnevsky (Research Assistant, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, BC)
  • Ashley Wettlaufer (Methods Specialist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, ON)