Alcohol restrictions in La Ronge need community buy-in: addictions expert

An addictions expert in Saskatchewan saysthere needs to be buy-in from a community in order for new alcohol strategiesto work.

Dr. Peter Butt, a family physician and professor of medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, was responding to a list of 49 rules proposed by the Northern Alcohol Strategy committee in order to tackle the issue of "alcohol-fuelled harm and crime" in La Ronge, Sask.

Butt said the recommendations are similar to ones used in other jurisdictions in Canada. He said no one approach is going to reduce the level of alcohol-related problems in a community,which is why broad strategies that look ateducation tools, treatment options, health impacts, justice and prevention methods are the best.

The proposed policies within the strategy could solve some of La Ronge's alcohol issues, but not all, according to Butt.

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Broad approach is best, but challenging

He said the challenge for any policy such as this is getting buy-in from those impacted by the proposed changes.

"You need to get buy-in from business and health and other leadership in order to achieve the outcomes you would like to, ideally."

A La Ronge addictions worker, business owners in the communityand members of the towncouncil, including the mayor, have come out in opposition to the plan, namely the recommendations to close bars early and restrict the sale of booze onmonth-end paydays and Canada Child Benefit payment days.

Butt said restrictions such as these can change someone's behaviour, butcouldalso create a market for boot-legging, and even people stockpiling alcohol.

"There's a balance that has to be struck in terms of access and availability."

He likened the situation in La Ronge to the sale of tobacco, saying the price can't get too high otherwise people will turn to the black market to buy cigarettes.

Predictable backlash from sellers

Butt believes the backlash to the plan will come from those whose businessesand livelihoods dependon the sale of alcohol.

That's part of the reason why the debate overalcohol harm reduction strategiesin La Ronge is important to pay attention to, he explained.

"This is a dynamic tension that we have provincially. Who's driving alcohol policy in the province. Is it treasury or is it health or social services or corrections or justice?"

Measuring success

Moving forward, how successfulthese policies arewill be measured by a series of metrics, Butt explained.

For example, keeping track of how many people arehospitalized due to alcohol-related complications,or how many are incarcerated.

Likewise, the community could also monitor how many people are enrolled in alcohol or drugtreatment programs.

The La Ronge and District Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a July 18 meeting for its members to discuss the recommendations.

Are alcohol strategies and restrictions successful?

7 years ago

Duration 6:01

Dr. Peter Butt, an addictions expert with the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan talks about moderation and alcohol strategies and their impact on small communities.