The Nickel-a-Drink Research Foundation is a national, grass-roots organization whose mission is to support research initiatives into the causes of addictions and mental illnesses and develop better treatments to enhance the quality of life for thousands of Canadians and their families.

The inspiration for the "nickel-a-drink" initiative is credited to the former United States Surgeon General, Dr. Everett Koop. He asked the question, "Who could quarrel with a nickel-a-drink user fee?" to help pay for alcohol-abuse prevention programs and related medical and social services.

In May 2006, the Senate of Canada also recommended that the excise tax on alcohol be increased by a nickel-a-drink to raise money to pay for programs outlined in its report, Out of the Shadows at Last, Transforming Mental Health, Mental illness and Addiction Services in Canada. According to the report, such an extraordinary measure is necessary because: "Canadians living with a mental illness or substance abuse problem have been neglected, or at best, substantially underserved for so long."

Despite the profound effect that mental illnesses and substance abuse have on our society, there is, little, if any political will to treat these diseases with the same urgency as physical illnesses. But we can make a difference by reaching out to Canadians and asking them to contribute voluntarily to this cause.

Mental illnesses and addictions are among the greatest challenges we face as a society. Initiatives such as the Nickel-a-Drink for Addictions and Mental Health Research Foundation will help address the urgent need to discover the causes of these diseases and develop more effective treatments.
- City of Toronto Councillor Joe Mihevc

Disclaimer

We do not support alcohol consumption beyond the accepted low-risk guidelines of one to two standard drinks per day. Although the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption are well documented, we recognize that the net health consequences of heavy drinking are overwhelmingly detrimental.

Evaluate your drinking habits.