22°c Partly cloudy
10°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Female alcohol intake on rise
Consumption among women up: experts
A woman drinking tastes the 2008 edition of a Beaujolais Nouveau wine in a wine glass shop in Paris. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)
TORONTO -- Experts suggest women may be catching up to their male peers when it comes to alcohol consumption.
A group of researchers gathered in Toronto Friday to discuss what they describe as a rise in female drinking.
Several said booze was the new tobacco, saying alcohol companies have begun targeting ads towards women the way cigarette manufacturers did in the late 1960s.
They said advertisers market liquor as "diet" or "natural" in an effort to appeal to health-conscious women.
They said the result is a rise in women suffering from liver disease and other alcohol-related illnesses, saying it mirrored the spike in ailments caused by smoking several decades ago.
Experts agreed the issue demanded change, both from advertisers and the governments that regulate alcohol sales.
"Over and over again, young people are being exposed to more alcohol advertising than adults," said David Jernigan, director of the U.S.-based Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth.
"This is an opportunity... an area of growth for the industry."
Research supports the notion that drinking among women is on the rise.
Earlier this week, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health issued a report describing alcohol as one of the top health risks in the country and calling for more government involvement in alcohol sales, pricing, advertising and treatment.
The report also included a score card for each province on its alcohol controls. Ontario topped the rankings, while Quebec came in last.
Studies in the U.S. have shown exposure to alcohol advertising among youth has increased more rapidly than among those 21 and older.
Studies done by Jernigan's own organization suggest the most popular beverages are not the discount beers normally associated with an age group on a budget, but rather more heavily advertised brands such as Budweiser, Miller and Smirnoff.
While Jernigan thinks advertising is driving the problem, others echoed CAMH in pointing the finger at political inaction.
"There is absolutely a vacuum" when it comes to alcohol and public policy, said Ann Dowsett Johnston, author of the Women and Alcohol Atkinson series. "It's as if we're under a spell. Where's the national and provincial leadership on this issue?"
Canada has had a national alcohol strategy since 2007 and is a signatory on the World Health Organization's global strategy to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol, but experts called for stronger action.
"It's time to hold them to it," said Gerald Thomas, a researcher with the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse that drafted guidelines to help keep Canadians' alcohol consumption in check.
The guidelines advise female consumers to drink no more than 10 drinks a week and two drinks a day, and advise men to drink no more than 15 drinks a week and three drinks a day.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 10, 2013 A4
More Canada
- Back to Top
- Return to Canada
More Canada
(1 of 23 articles for today)
Alleged PQ election shooter waives preliminary hearing, goes straight to trial
5:54 PM 0MONTREAL - Quebec's alleged election-night shooter has waived his right to a preliminary hearing and will head straight to trial.
Richard ...
Poll
Most Popular Canada
- Baird takes the heat, Harper sheds little light on Senate spending scandal
- Toronto mayor stays silent about alleged crack video as Trudeau, Wynne weigh in
- Appointees to EI boards broke guidelines by making political donations
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Former RCMP Musical Ride member sues, says colleagues dragged her through feces
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Carney leaving Bank of Canada with country in a stronger position
- Harper leaves behind political storm in Ottawa, heads south for trade talks
- Driver charged after SUV smashes through restaurant patio, killing 2-year-old
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Harper to be on hot seat at Tuesday caucus after chief of staff quits
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Baird takes the heat, Harper sheds little light on Senate spending scandal
- Duffy quits Conservative caucus over expenses as colleagues began turning on him
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Liberals blaze to stunning B.C. victory, but Clark loses own seat
- A look at the life and career of Ray Novak, prime minister's new chief of staff
- Toronto mayor stays silent about alleged crack video as Trudeau, Wynne weigh in
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Multiple fatalities after serious crash near U.S. border
- Canadian tourist dies after falling from hotel in Mexican resort
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Engineer charged in mall collapse
- Arrest made in case of Hamilton, Ont., man missing after pickup truck test drive
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Harper to be on hot seat at Tuesday caucus after chief of staff quits
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Appointees to EI boards broke guidelines by making political donations
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Harper explores new Latin American trade bloc
- Canada's summer forecast: variable
- Former RCMP Musical Ride member sues, says colleagues dragged her through feces
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Search on for living creatures far beneath Canadian Shield
- Quake near Ottawa rattles residents across wide swath of Ontario, Quebec
- Conservative senator Duffy claimed expenses while campaigning in 2011 election
- Grade 5 kids urge Harper to drop mean attack ads against Justin Trudeau
- Secret CSIS source, allied intelligence cited in high-profile terror case
- The Gretzky of Gretzky collectors
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Foul fascination: Edmonton plant beautiful, but stinks like diapers, dead animals
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Suspects arrested in Via train terror plot linked to al-Qaida in Iran: RCMP
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Commanding officer of Canadian Forces base in Alberta charged with sex assault
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Engineer charged in mall collapse
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.