Feb 26, 2018 - Public Health, Thunder Bay District Health Unit,. Durham Region Health Department, and. Liem Strategic Integration Inc. Public Health Units ...
Alcohol Policy Review: Opportunities for Ontario Municipalities Introduction • Alcohol policies are an important part of reducing local alcohol-related harms. • Alcohol use is one of the three leading risk factors for 1 global disease burden . • Policies and strategies are needed at all levels of government to reduce alcohol-related harms. • There are numerous resources supporting Municipal Alcohol Policy development, a long-standing policy approach that manages alcohol risk and harm on municipally-owned properties. • Guidance documents that examine policies that regulate alcohol availability and sale off municipal property haven’t previously existed.
Collaborative project between: Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Durham Region Health Department, and Liem Strategic Integration Inc.
Findings • The report describes the Ontario legislative context around alcohol regulation and municipal policy, including: the Ontario Municipal Act, the Planning Act, the Liquor Control Act, and the Liquor License Act. • Existing municipal policies relating to licensing and enforcement, regulating physical access through density, hours of sale, pricing, marketing, surveillance and information sharing are identified and examined for their feasibility for implementation in Ontario municipalities. • Opportunities and challenges are identified for each policy area. • Recommended actions and engagement questions for municipalities are provided to support Public Health practitioners and municipalities to work together on reducing alcohol-related harms.
Objective • A municipal policy review was conducted to identify and assess the transferability of alcohol-related risk and harm reduction policies and practices across Canada and/or internationally to Ontario municipalities. • This policy review examines policies that control the availability and sale of alcohol off municipal property.
Real World Policy Examples The report includes real world policy examples, such as: • City of Vaughn – business license by-law • City of Hamilton – liquor license application review process • City of Surrey – minimum separation distances • City of Barrie – zoning by-law • City of Vancouver – liquor license policy • Town of Ajax – outdoor patio by-law
Mixed Methods Approach • Identified best practices and innovative strategies to reduce alcohol-related harms at the municipal level. • Reviewed the roles and responsibilities of municipal, provincial and federal governments in establishing alcohol regulations. • Completed key informant interviews with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and municipal staff.
Public Health Units Can: Licensing and Enforcement
• Report potential liquor license infractions to the AGCO and local law enforcement officials when observed/documented during routine inspections at licensed premises. • Where applicable, participate in a task force with the local municipality and local law enforcement officials.
Regulating Physical Access through Density and Location Restrictions
• Advocate for provincial policies that: • give municipalities authority to block on premise and off-premise licenses in areas where there is a high degree of crime or higher socioeconomic disparity. • develop a separation distance between alcohol retailers, including grocery stores selling alcohol. • encourage municipalities to establish restrictions to control alcohol retail density during a statutory review of provincial land use planning policies. • Participate in municipal strategic plans such as Tourism Plans, Arts and Culture Plans, Economic Development Plans, and Municipal Retail Market studies to provide feedback on municipal actions that affect retail services, business development, tourism, and culture. • Work with municipalities to identify priority neighbourhoods to limit alcohol retailers and licensed establishments. • Develop mapping to monitor the location of alcohol retail outlets and licensed establishments.
Hours of Sale
• Provide best practices research and supporting evidence to municipalities, when warranted, regarding risks and alcohol harms associated with hours of sale.
Pricing
• Advocate for stronger alcohol pricing interventions to reduce alcoholrelated harms.
Marketing
• Advocate for stronger policies to restrict alcohol marketing and advertising.
Surveillance and Information Sharing
• Advocate for access to alcohol sales data from licensed establishments to support policy development. • Share the findings of the policy review with municipalities and encourage them to adopt a policy approach to reducing alcohol risk and harm.
CAMH Health Promotion Resource Centre (Public Health Ontario), 2013. Making the case: tools for supporting local alcohol policy in Ontario. Toronto, ON: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and Public Health Ontario. 1
Feb18
TOPHC poster 93x45 Feb18 FINAL.indd 1
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