War on fun perpetuates excessive alcohol consumption amid growing numbers
“Today is the beginning of the end of the war on fun,” preached Jason Kenney during this summer’s campaign to allow alcohol in campsites. If Kenney had his way, alcohol would be legal on the streets, as it is in some European cities.
What does Kenney define as fun? Is it being one of the many women who will die this year from alcohol-related deaths? Is it feeling unsafe in your workspace while everyone around you is sharing a few drinks?
Kenney’s rhetoric about his looser alcohol policies leading to the end of the “war on fun” perpetuates the rising alcohol levels across the country. Statistics show that while other nations consume less alcohol per year, Canada’s alcohol addiction numbers are on the rise. He is not the only one maintaining this culture.
Ontario premier, Doug Ford, has done his share of work to free alcohol from the jaws of sober society. His policy “Buck-A-Beer” was the talk of his campaign, probably because there was not much substance to any of his other policies. He believes that beer is not accessible enough across the country and that it’s too expensive. You know what’s really too expensive? Mental health assistance for those struggling with addiction. The solution to the mental health issue in Ontario was, however, to decrease funding.
The reality is that in 2016, alcohol was the leading cause world-wide for premature death and disability between the ages of 15 and 49. In fact, 80 per cent of Canadians 15 years and older report consuming alcohol in the past year, despite the legal drinking age being 18. At least 3,000 Canadians died of conditions attributed to alcohol in 2015. That doesn’t sound like fun to me.
While Jason Kenney’s actual policy on alcohol consumption in campsites isn’t nearly as progressive as he says, his wording portrays Albertans as old-fashioned and immature due to his perception of strict alcohol laws. Kenney has said that he wants Albertans to “grow up” regarding their alcohol use by making it easier to consume in public.
If he really wants Alberta to grow up, he should focus on accessible mental health services for everyone and recovery services for those struggling with substance abuse. While Kenney did put money towards addiction services, these services focus mainly on those suffering from opioid addiction, not alcoholism. Despite these additions, Kenney has also made many important cuts to funding. In the last six months, Kenney cut the Calgary Homeless Foundation budget by $3.2 million. The Downtown Outreach Addictions Partnership, an organization that provides recovery shelter and resources to those under the influence, will be unable to operate outside of the city centre after having had funding cut to four recovery teams. That means that at least 20,000 people struggling with addiction will be left on the streets to die.
Sobriety doesn’t have to be a punishment. Supporting sober spaces and sober events across the city will help society move away from the pressures of alcohol. Fun doesn’t just have to mean drinking.
Maya Smith is the public relations director for the Boring Little Girls Club.