Sen. Patrick Brazeau is making a second attempt to pass a bill that would mandate cancer cautionary labels on alcohol packaging. The Senate is currently reviewing Bill S-202, a revival of Brazeau’s prior legislative proposal from the previous parliamentary session. The initial bill lapsed during the spring election period.
Brazeau cited his own struggles with alcohol as a motivating factor behind his advocacy for this change, emphasizing the destructive impact of alcohol on individuals’ lives and mental well-being. He revealed a personal battle with dark thoughts triggered by alcohol abuse. Additionally, he highlighted his extensive efforts in fundraising for cancer research following his mother’s demise due to the disease in 2004.
During a recent Senate committee session, Brazeau underscored the association between alcohol consumption and seven types of fatal cancers, such as liver, colon, breast, and oral cancers. The Canadian Cancer Society disclosed that consuming around three alcoholic drinks daily could potentially double the risk of developing mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus cancers, while elevating the risk of colorectal and breast cancers by one-and-a-half times.
Brandon Purcell, the Canadian Cancer Society’s advocate for prevention and early detection, stressed the importance of informing Canadians about the cancer-alcohol correlation, noting that over half of the population remains unaware of this link. He emphasized the necessity for transparency and protection similar to that of tobacco regulation.
Jacob Shelley, an associate professor specializing in law and health studies at Western University, highlighted the legal obligation for companies to notify consumers about product risks, drawing parallels with warnings on various consumer goods. Shelley criticized the alcohol industry for evading its responsibility to provide such warnings, attributing this to the industry’s influence and the normalization of alcohol consumption.
Brazeau anticipates resistance from alcohol companies towards the bill, emphasizing their profit-driven motives over public health concerns. The proposed legislation also mandates explicit labeling of standard drink measurements, container drink quantities, and Health Canada’s defined health risk thresholds. Furthermore, it seeks to clarify the concept of “drinking responsibly,” aligning it with standard drink sizes as outlined by the Cancer Society.
Acknowledging the broader health implications of alcohol consumption, Brazeau has also sponsored another bill that aims to restrict alcohol advertising, viewing the cancer warning label initiative as just the initial phase of broader health-oriented reforms.
