The implementation of evidence-based alcohol policies in Canada: a national knowledge translation project

The Provincial and Territorial Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation 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 facilitate 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. A report card will be available for each jurisdiction and comparisons made with a previous national exercise completed in 2013, which was also based on the MADD Canada design.

The Federal Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation 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 (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; 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. A report card will be available for the federal government.

The 2013 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)

• 2018 Provincial and Territorial CAPE Project: Health Canada, Substance Use and Addictions Program
• 2018 Federal CAPE Project: Public Health Agency of Canada
• 2013 Provincial CAPE Project: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

• Executive summary
  • English
  • French
• Full report
  • English
  • French
• By province:
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Quebec (English) (French)
  • Saskatchewan

• Comparing Alcohol Marketing and Alcohol Warning Message Policies Across Canada (Wettlaufer et al., 2017, Substance Use and Misuse)

• Strategies to reduce alcohol-related harms and costs in Canada: A comparison of provincial policies (Giesbrecht et al., 2016, The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research)

• Pricing of alcohol in Canada: A comparison of provincial policies and harm-reduction opportunities (Giesbrecth et al., 2016, Drug and Alcohol Review)

• Quebec's legal drinking age isn't going to change, Legault says (CBC News, December 2018)
• Mandatory drunk driving tests hit the road before the holidays (CTV News, December 2018)
• Hamilton addictions expert concerned about fallout from expanded beer and wine sales (HamiltonNews.com, July 2018)
• Costs of liquor outweigh its revenues in B.C., study says (Times Colonist, August 2013)
• Alcohol one of Canada’s top health threats: Study (Toronto Star, March 2013)
• Sobriety Test: CAMH Report Rates Provinces on Alcohol Policies (CAMH media release, March 2013)

• Burton, R. et al. (2017) rapid evidence review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alcohol control policies: an English perspective. The Lancet.
• Nelson, T. et al. (2013). Efficacy and the Strength of Evidence of U.S. Alcohol Control Policies. American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
• Babor, T. et al. (2010). Alcohol: No ordinary commodity – research and public policy – Revised edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Alcohol strategy documents

• Recommendations for a National Alcohol Strategy, 2007, CCSA
• Alberta Alcohol Strategy (Summary), 2010, AGLC, AHS, AH
• Manitoba’s Strategy to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harms, 2015, HSAL
• An Alcohol Strategy to Prevent and Reduce the Burden of Alcohol-Related Harm in Nova Scotia, 2007, DHW
• Taking Steps to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harms in Nunavut, 2016, GN