BC Coalition for Action on Alcohol Reform

The BC Coalition was created in response to recently published reports on the harms of alcohol abuse.

The recommendations of the Coalition are:
    1.  Reduce the price of low alcohol content beverages and increase the price of high alcohol content beverages.   
    2.  Set a minimum price per standard drink, $1.50 in the liquor store and $3.00 in a bar or restaurant. The minimum price for a bottle of wine would be $7.80; $9.00 for a six-pack of beer and $26 for a bottle of spirits.
    3.  Tax wine and beer products sold at u-vin and u-brew outlets the same as the alcohol products sold at public and private liquor stores.
    4.  Index the price of alcohol to inflation.
    5.  Implement a small levy based on standard drinks and use the proceeds to enhance prevention, treatment and research.
 
The evidence is overwhelming that the reforms will reduce harms, including domestic abuse, crime and violence, homicide and suicide. On the other hand, these reforms will not have a significant impact on alcohol prices or sales at government or private liquor stores. Nor will these reforms have a negative effect on business in restaurants or bars. 

All residents of British Columbia have a vested interest in a policy adopted by the government that will reduce harms caused by alcohol and save money. The shortfall between the annual direct costs associated with alcohol and the direct revenue from its sales and taxes was $196 million in 2003. As health care costs escalate, this gap will continue to increase unless we start focusing on reducing alcohol-related harms in our province. 

Regardless of growing concerns in some sectors about increasing regulation by the government of our alcohol policy, it is not acceptable for 2,000 BC residents to die every year because of the consequences of alcohol abuse.

There is considerable interest in this initiative from the District of Chetwynd in northern BC to the City of Victoria in southern BC. A number of organizations are also supporting this initiative, including the BC Alliance on Mental Health, Illness and Addictions, a 21-member coalition of health, social service and criminal justice organizations which include:  the RCMP and the Vancouver Police Department as well as the Association of Substance Abuse Programs of BC, the BC Psychiatric and Psychological Associations.

For more information about this initiative, please contact Lembi Buchanan who is acting as chair of the Coalition.