The Ottawa Citizen

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Warning: You may need a drink after you read this story about
Canadians' confusion over warning labels on alcoholic beverages.

In essence, a newly released Health Canada poll reveals the majority
of Canadians support warning labels on alcoholic beverages served in
stores, bars and restaurants, even though they don't believe they are
effective.

It may explain why a Liberal MP's private member's bill legislating
the labels was killed in committee about a year ago, after the House
of Commons gave it overwhelming support by voting 225 to 27 in favour
at second reading in the House of Commons. Adding to the mixed
message being given by Canadians on the issue, the survey also
reveals two-thirds of the Canadians who supported booze labels in the
poll believe in them so strongly they said even a price increase to
cover the costs wouldn't dissuade them.

Liberal MP Paul Szabo, who was in Brussels this week,

e-mailed a response to questions about his bill, confirming that he
has not ended his push for the labels, which would warn about the
dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, drinking and driving and
the possibility of fetal alcohol syndrome in babies.

Mr. Szabo said his bill is on the order paper and should be debated
in the House of Commons this fall before the Christmas break. He
indicated he would use the latest information available on the issue,
including the recently released Health Canada poll, to secure
government support.

"I have already talked to the relevant ministers, and the PM (Stephen
Harper) is also well aware," said Mr. Szabo.

The poll showed that while 71 per cent had never heard of Mr. Szabo's
bill, once it was explained to them, the survey showed two-thirds
supported the suggested labels. Support was strongest in the Atlantic
provinces with 72 per cent, while Quebec and Alberta showed 64 per
cent in favour. Meanwhile, the gender gap was 10 per cent, with 71
per cent of females supporting it and only 61 per cent of males.

When supporters of the initiative were asked if they would still
support it if alcohol producers had to raise the price of alcohol to
affix the labels, two-thirds said they would maintain their backing,
while 31 per cent responded negatively.

But when questioned about the effectiveness of the labels, a majority
seemed to question their usefulness. Half the respondents said the
labels would not be effective in informing Canadians about the harms
associated with alcohol use, while 47 per cent believed they would be.

And 55 per cent said the alcohol warning labels would not be
effective at diminishing the harms associated with alcohol use, while
only 41 per cent said they would be effective.

The poll, conducted for Health Canada by Decima Research Inc. between
Feb. 10 and Feb. 13, 2005, carries a margin of error of plus or minus
2.2 percentage points. It involved a telephone survey of 2,000 adult
Canadians across the country and cost the department $7,125.

Despite a policy under the Liberal government, which called for the
release of government polls about three months after they are
conducted, Health Canada did not release the survey report until this week.

Health Canada spokesman Christopher Williams acknowledged the
inappropriate delay in its release, saying "the length of time it
took to release this report is atypical."

The delay was due to a clerical error, Mr. Williams said.

He said "much of the current evidence suggests that alcohol warning
labels would not result in a reduction of hazardous alcohol
consumption or specific at-risk behaviours, such as drinking and
driving." While the labels would provide information to consumers,
Mr. Williams said labelling cannot be considered "a complete solution
to a serious and complex social and public health problem."

MPs from Liberal, Conservative and Bloc Quebecois ranks voted to kill
Mr. Szabo's bill that would have compelled brewers, vintners and
spirits makers to put warning labels on their bottles. With support
from Health Canada, former prime minister Paul Martin and his cabinet
had been advised to support the bill.