Alcohol misuse: the ethics Council deplored the”indifference” of the government Couillard

News 27 February, 2018

File Photo, Matthew Charest

QMI agency

Monday, February 26, 2018 13:32

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Monday, February 26, 2018 13:32

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MONTREAL – The Board of ethics of the quebec industry of alcoholic beverages deplores the “laxity” of the government Couillard in the protection of the public as to the harms associated with alcohol consumption.

“We are seeing more than ever of the setbacks that it surely can be attributed in good part to the québec government whose indifference, laxity and lack of sensitivity to alcohol-related problems and allow all of the drifts,” explained the president of the Board of ethics, and Claude Béland, press release, Monday.

Among the actions reported by the Board, including the “cross-promotions” are used by the traders to “work around blithely” is the minimum price of beer, as well as the sale of products with high alcohol content in Four Loko and FuckedUp.

“In spite of all, the light appears at the end of the tunnel and there are several signs allow us to hope an improvement for the future,” said the organization.

The Board of ethics believes that the subject of alcohol abuse is usually treated in the media. He also highlighted the initiative of the grocery stores, Metro, which have, on their own, removed from the shelves the products, Four Loko and FuckedUp.

Rise in complaints

In addition, the ethics Council has noted an increase in the number of complaints in 2017, compared to previous years. Twenty complaints have been registered with the Board of ethics, compared to 11 in 2015.

Mr. Béland believes that this increase in complaints can mean both good news and bad news.

“The first [aspect that can explain the rise in the number of complaints] is that, more than ever, some of the stakeholders like to play with the legislation in force and the work around, which is a bad news”, first indicated Mr. Béland.

“The second is that the population is more sensitive to unethical behavior, which is a good news “, he added.