Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to speak in this House to Bill C-337, which amends the Food and Drugs Act. This bill, tabled by my colleague for Mississauga South, is aimed at warning pregnant women and the public at large about the health risks involved in the consumption of alcohol. It also serves to draw attention to the fact that alcohol consumption reduces a person's ability to operate machinery or an automobile.
We agree with the principle behind this bill. It is now recognized, even by the manufacturers of alcoholic beverages, that alcohol abuse can lead to a variety of health problems, impair an individual's faculties and limit their ability to perform certain tasks requiring concentration.
In recent years, society has recognized the danger of impaired driving. This awareness has caused lawmakers to strengthen legislation covering driving while impaired and to provide harsher
penalties for offenders. Governments have run public awareness campaigns with the participation of the manufacturers and distributers of alcoholic beverages.
People are also increasingly aware of the risks inherent in the operation of machinery or equipment following the consumption of alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption over long periods may also cause health problems.
According to the Addiction Research Foundation, alcohol is involved in 19,000 deaths a year through heart and liver disease, certain forms of cancer, suicide and traffic or other types of accidents.
Excessive alcohol consumption also plays a part in vandalism, acts of violence and family problems. The use of alcohol consumption as an extenuating circumstance in the courts recently led to Parliament's legislating against self-inflicted intoxication as an excuse for illegal behaviour.
This said, we cannot generalize and say that alcohol is responsible for all of society's ills.
Most of the members of this House doubtless take a drink in moderation from time to time and enjoy it. It is not the consumption of alcohol that is dangerous or harmful, it is the abuse of it.
According to recent studies, limited consumption of alcohol may even be beneficial to certain individuals, particularly those who may be candidates for coronary or circulatory problems. I am not trying to say that alcohol consumption is totally beneficial, but I would like to point out that the alcohol problems we often hear about are primarily the result of abuse and over consumption.
The sole exception applies to pregnant women. Recent studies on foetal alcohol syndrome have shown that even moderate consumption of alcohol may involve risk to the foetus, by altering the breathing of the foetus and reducing the flow of blood to its brain.
Negative effects observed after birth include lower birth weight and delays in the child's physical and mental development.
We have just listed many reasons for warning the public against the various problems that may be caused by or related to alcohol consumption. What form should the warning take? Will the bill before us be a solution or a step in the right direction? Should other ways be developed as well to warn people about the effects of alcohol abuse?
Currently there are a number of advertising campaigns aimed at increasing public awareness. In Quebec, for instance, the campaign against drinking and driving has been successful to some extent in reducing the number of automobile accidents related to alcohol consumption. The Société des alcools du Québec launched a campaign under the now well known slogan "La modération a bien meilleur goût", a phrase that has become very popular. During the holiday season, some companies include in their advertising a warning to their customers to drink with moderation.
In addition to the examples I just mentioned, many other ways to increase public awareness have been suggested by various intervenors in the business of selling alcohol. For instance, some licensed establishments now stock non-alcoholic beverages and list these on the menu. Some municipalities may consider posting warnings, in establishments that serve alcohol, against the potentially harmful effects on the foetus of consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.
Recently, there has been a trend towards more emphasis on providing information through health professionals. For instance, urging physicians who treat pregnant women to stress the harmful effects of alcohol during pregnancy. Social workers are also being asked to increase the public's awareness of the potential effects of drinking alcoholic beverages.
Briefly, we must be aware of the important role of prevention, education and other forms of social intervention in making the public aware of problems that may be related to alcohol consumption.
We should also consider the practical aspect. First of all, we would have to estimate the additional cost to producers and distributors and see whether it would penalize smaller producers, especially the micro-breweries and brewers of local beers which are a recent development.
It would also be necessary to find out if this measure would make the industry less competitive or violate international free trade agreements signed by Canada.
Of course the money aspect should not cause us to forget our main concern which remains the health of Canadians. However, before implementing a labelling directive like the one provided in the bill, we must be certain this kind of measure would be effective.
Of course, as is often the case, where public health is concerned, it is difficult to argue against the merits of virtue, and that is why we welcome the bill proposed by the hon. member for Mississauga South.