DRAFT – Policy Statement on the Use of Alcohol

01-09-2026

Last updated: November 2025

New Brunswick Medical Society Position

There are no safe amounts of alcohol and any reduction in one’s consumption of alcohol is beneficial.

Recommendation

NBMS recommends advocating for stronger policies that reduce the alcohol consumption of New Brunswickers. It is important to increase New Brunswickers’ awareness about the health risks related to alcohol consumption.

Specifically, the NBMS recommends increasing New Brunswickers’ awareness about the risk of cancer related to alcohol consumption. This would be improved by implementing a provincial alcohol strategy and including mandatory health and safety messaging requirements at any outlet where alcohol is sold.

Background

Effects of Alcohol

The Canadian Cancer Society points out that “alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and is estimated to be one of the top three causes of cancer deaths worldwide.

Drinking any type of alcohol – beer, wine or spirits – increases one’s risk of at least 9 different types of cancers including breast, colorectal, esophageal, laryngeal, liver, mouth, pharyngeal, stomach and pancreatic cancers.

Evidence indicates regular alcohol consumption over time – even at low levels – increases the risk of developing alcohol-associated cancer.”[1]

NBMS Campaigns

In January 2023, The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) released Canada’s New Guidance on Alcohol and Health to replace the 2011 Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines. In response to these changes, the NBMS launched Mindful Drinking, Healthier Living, a modernized public awareness campaign highlighting the health risks associated with alcohol consumption.[2]

In August 2023, the NBMS introduced the broader awareness campaign It’s your choice. Know the risks., which cautions New Brunswickers of the health risks of consuming alcohol.

The NBMS position has been there are no safe amounts of alcohol. Any reduction in one’s consumption is beneficial. One should take the time to understand the complexities of alcohol consumption and their potential adverse effects on the human body.

Weblink: yourchoiceknowtherisks.ca.

Per Capita Consumption and Alcohol Costs (2020/21)[3]

Province	Per capita alcohol consumption (standard drinks)	Alcohol revenues	Alcohol harm costs	Net alcohol deficit	Loss per standard drink sold
NB	452	$319M	$411M	$-92M	$0.30
NS	481	$432M	$652M	$-219M	$0.54
PEI	475	$70M	$131M	$-61M	$0.96
NL	540	$296M	$351M	$-54M	$0.22
Canada	487	$13.5B	$19.7B	$-6.2B	N/A

Analysis

Per capita alcohol consumption in New Brunswick is lower than the Canadian average. Relative to our neighbors, New Brunswick also fares well. New Brunswick has the lowest per capita alcohol consumption in the Atlantic region and the second lowest “net alcohol deficit” (loss) per standard drink sold. That deficit is calculated by looking at the measurable social costs to alcohol use in New Brunswick. In 2020-21 there were 33,914 alcohol-related ER and hospital visits, as well as 407 deaths attributed to alcohol usage.[4] These outcomes can be improved; there is still enormous social harm that accompanies alcohol usage and these harms can be further reduced.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) has established guidelines for the safe usage of alcohol. The CCSA has established the following risk profile: the risk for those who consume 2 standard drinks or less per week is “low,” it is “moderate” for those who consume between 3 and 6 standard drinks per week, and it is increasingly high for those who consume above 6 standard drinks per week, with increasing risk conferred by every additional drink. They note: people should not start to use alcohol or increase their alcohol use for health benefits. Any reduction in alcohol use is beneficial.

Solutions

Government has several policy levers at their disposal. Through legislative and regulatory maneuvers, they could:

Set minimum pricing levels
Increase taxation
Apply marketing and advertising controls
Promote enhanced health and safety campaigns
Restrict availability
Adjust the minimum age
Implement an alcohol strategy
Enhance screening and treatment options
Monitoring and reporting

Further Considerations

New Brunswick government tax revenue has always relied heavily on the sale of alcohol through its Crown Corporation, Alcool NB Liquor (ANBL). Crown entities such as these have the potential to place government in a conflict of interest as government depends heavily on their profitability and can easily manipulate their net profitability (bottom line) through their market monopolies. However, government’s close relationship with these Crown Corporations means that it could swiftly enact any of the policy levers mentioned above, if it wished.

Health economists have determined that demand for alcohol is “inelastic” – i.e. it is slow to respond to increases in pricing as alcohol has no direct substitutes. This is a bit of a paradox however, as research has also shown that over time, taxes are effective in reducing alcohol use. Price elasticity varies by product: for example, beer and wine respond differently to price increases (less) than do spirits (more elastic). As well, increasing the price of alcohol by increasing taxes can also be expected to increase tax revenue, because the taxes on alcohol are considered to be “efficient”.[5]