2007

The Municipal Alcohol Policy Project

The MAPP (Municipal Alcohol Policy Project) is a set of activities undertaken by different Nova Scotia municipalities that are designed to support and engage municipalities and their citizens in community approaches to reduce alcohol harm, with a focus on implementing evidence-based polices.

2011- Antigonish, Bridgewater, Wolfville2012- Truro2013 - Capital Health, Municipal Alcohol Policies: Options

Available to Nova Scotia Municipalities Version 1.0–this report

In our words:

What alcohol use

looks like in our

towns.

WolfvilleAntigonishBridgewater (2011)

Presented at the 2011 UNSM Fall Conference

Shine a light:

What alcohol

use in Truro

looks like

TruroOctober 15, 2012

Municipal Alcohol Policy Guide (ORFA/CAMH 2007)

“This invaluable tool is designed to address your particular needs, whether you want to:

•develop a MAP for the first time to establish local rules and regulations so you can legally operate events needing Special Occasion Permits

•review and revise an existing MAP where an annual or periodic review of the MAP is indicated

•consolidate two or more MAPs because of a political merger or for those wishing to partner with other municipalities to develop a common MAP

•sample MAPs, workbook and toolkit provided in a user friendly binder each binder contains a CD with PDF files of the MAP Guide”

Who’s on the MAP?

http://www.apolnet.ca/thelaw/policies/MAPs/ap_MAPs.html

Municipal Alcohol Project

Policy Options ScanUnderstanding Communities Unit, PHS, February 2013

Identifies a variety of options available to Nova Scotia municipalities to reduce alcohol harm:

-By-laws, zoning, etc. that will contribute to reducing harms vis-à-vis four pillars.-Provides examples of where options are being used in NS and internationally.

It is the start

Tools for supporting local action to reduce alcohol-related

harms: Policy options and a resource inventory to support

alcohol policy in Ontario

Advertising

Evidence: Exposure to alcohol advertising is associated with drinking more and increasing age of first drink among children and youth.

Policy options: Create policies that restrict or prohibit alcohol advertising on municipal owned land, facilities and/or events.

Examples: Los Angeles, Boston – cities that have banned alcohol advertising in significant venues such as public transportation.

(Photo- Bus in Boston before ban, Family waiting for bus in Los Angeles)

“The City of Cambridge has developed a Municipal Alcohol Risk Management Policy to ensure the safety and enjoyment of patrons using city parks. All event sponsors are required to abide by this policy. Under City Council’s Alcohol Risk Management Policy, alcoholic beverages are not allowed on City property unless licensed under the authority of a Special Occasion Permit. “

Restricting Access

Evidence: Hours of operation, density & location of licensed establishments can impact alcohol related harms in the community.

Policy options:- Development agreements that set hours of operation.- By-laws that establish zones where no licensed establishments can locate.- Restrict location through separation distance requirements.

Examples: Alberta: Land use by-law that states alcohol establishment must be at least 500m apart.

City of Spruce Grove, Alberta: Use zoning to determine where liquor stores can operate, separation distances between liquor stores and other uses (schools, parks), or regulate maximum size of stores in certain areas.

Section 56 “Alcohol Sales” (Special regulation, Land Use Bylaw):

“Alcohol Sales shall not be located closer than 100.0 m from the site boundary of any site that includes community or public recreation activities, a public park, or a School.”

Enforcement of policiesUse of by-law officers, increased enforcement and collaboration between police and other community stakeholders.

LiabilityReducing community harms by addressing landlord tenant problems. Combined use of by-laws and enforcement to hold landlords accountable and increasing enforcement (in addition to standard noise disturbance by-laws, etc.)

builds on and up to

National Alcohol Strategy (2007/2012)

Institutions, Ideas and Interests: The

policy milieu in Nova Scotia since the

launch of the Provincial Strategy

Public health works with others to understand the health of our communities, and acts together to improve health.

Nova Scotian citizens

Growing number of municipalities across Nova Scotia

Provincial NGOs such as Injury Free Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness• Together We Can; Addictions & Mental Health Strategy• Public Health • Addictions Services

District Health Authorities supporting municipal leaders (elected officials and staff) • Public Health• Addictions Prevention and Treatment Services

Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities

Competing Ideas:

Privatization versus Government MonopolyDemocracy versus AutocracyPersonal versus Societal Responsibility

Competing Interests:

Department of Health and Wellness versus NSLCCDHA versus BreweriesPublic Health versus Restaurant and Bar Owners

Public Health Interest # 1 = Health and wellbeing of citizens

Together We CanThe plan to improve mental health

and addictions care for Nova Scotians

Action item: Work with municipalities to help communities take a more active role in addressing the consequences of alcohol harms.

Support municipalities to reduce alcohol harm.

Strategy funding will support even more collaboration between municipalities and District Health Authorities (public health and addictions services) and community members to reduce alcohol harms.

Public health works with others to understand the health of our

communities, and acts together to improve health.

Thank You

Questions? Feedback?

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Capital Health, Public Health Services7 Mellor Drive, Unit 5

Dartmouth Nova Scotia, Canada, B3B 0E8

Telephone: (902) 481-5800 Email: publichealthreports@cdha.nshealth.ca

www.cdha.nshealth.ca/public-health