WHO's Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful use of Alcohol: An Assessment of Recent Policies and Interventions in Finland and Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Aim This paper assesses alcohol policies and interventions in Finland and the Canadian province of Ontario, using the policy options and interventions recommended in WHO's Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol (2010). Data & Methods The information and data are based on archival sources, surveys, legislative and government documents, and published papers. The paper assesses both jurisdictions on 10 areas in the WHO document and their sub-topics: 1. leadership, 2. health services response, 3. community action, 4. drinking and driving policies and countermeasures, 5. availability of alcohol, 6. marketing of alcoholic beverages, 7. pricing policies, 8. reducing the negative consequences of drinking and alcohol intoxication, 9. reducing the public health impact of illicit alcohol and informally produced alcohol, and 10. monitoring and surveillance. Results Ontario had several recent noteworthy developments in line with WHO recommendations: health services response, controls of drinking and driving, pricing policies, reducing the negative consequences of drinking and intoxication, and monitoring and surveillance. Finland has emphasised pricing policies in recent years, and there have also been significant developments in community action, controls of drinking and driving, alcohol advertising, and monitoring and surveillance. Conclusions Challenges and opportunities for strengthening the policy responses are noted, as well as topics for future research.