CHAPTER 6:

THERE'S A REASON
WHY WE CONTROL ALCOHOL

THE WORD ALCOHOL OR BEER appears 46 times in the Doug Ford budget. From corner stores to tailgating to opening the taps at 9 in the morning, this government is fixated on alcohol, like an alcoholic. Obsessed. Who needs a drink at 9 in the morning? An alcoholic.

But there’s a reason we control alcohol. Alcohol is a dangerous substance. A drug.

Health Canada estimates that 4 to 5 million Canadians engage in high risk drinking, which is linked to motor vehicle accidents, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and other health issues, family problems, crime and violence.

Depending on how much you drink, alcohol can be linked to both chronic and acute alcohol-related harms. Chronic alcohol-related harms include cancer, liver cirrhosis and other diseases and illnesses. Acute alcohol-related harms include alcohol poisoning, fights and accidents.

This isn’t about freedom or personal choice. Doug Ford just made a dangerous substance more available and more open to abuse. We think he might have a problem. Maybe rehab would help.

Stand Up. Fight Back. Don’t Give Up.