Alcohol policies

Health economic evidence on alcohol in Canada

• Population-level interventions including taxes, alcohol availability, and marketing restrictions, are cost-effective for governments and society.
• Government monopolies are seen as a cost-effective intervention to limit the sale and consumption of alcohol.
• Taxation, controlling density, and restricting marketing do not require substantial initial or continued investment while providing benefit to a wide number of people.
• Taxation remains one of the most cost-effective and optimal strategies to reduce alcohol use and improve health, although more research is needed on optimal tax structures.
• Controlling outlet density and says of sale is seen as a cost-effective strategy to decrease alcohol sales and consumption.
• Marketing restrictions are cost-effective to reduce alcohol use and related harm.

In partnership with McMaster Health Forum, the Partnership commissioned a rapid synthesis on examining the costs and cost-effectiveness of policies for reducing alcohol consumption.