DrinkSense campaign aims to manage alcohol consumption during pandemic

By Dale Woodard - Lethbridge Herald on January 29, 2022.

A program through Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis is offering Albertans the tools they may need to be mindful of their alcohol consumption and habits as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
With the new year here, AGLC’s latest DrinkSense campaign is an opportunity to encourage Albertans to be mindful if they choose to drink alcohol and offers simple tips to consume in moderation.
The Mindful campaign started in December and will go until the end of March.
“With the length of the pandemic being a challenge for so many Albertans and even just the start of a new year with many of us we are looking at how we do things, looking at ourselves a little bit differently in regards to evaluating how we eat, sleep, socialize and things like consuming alcohol, we thought we would start the year with the Mindful campaign,” said Eric Baich, director of social responsibility with the AGLC. “It’s in regards to just being mindful as to how we consume alcohol. It’s just talking about the tips and the ways some Albertans can have to add tools to the belt in regards to their alcohol consumption. There are many tips and stories all around how we can navigate the world of alcohol more effectively.”
The DrinkSenseab.ca site shows Canada’s low-risk drinking guidelines and allows people to see where they fit in those guidelines as well as offering DrinkSense health tips and other resources.
The pandemic has challenged everyone in ways they never could have imagined, said Baich, from eating and sleeping to fitness and socializing.
“Mindful is a really good mindset to have, not just winging things without thinking. When you think of alcohol, it’s the little things, like just having food. It’s spacing out your drinking, you’re in no rush. Be social and take your time as well as making sure we’re (drinking) water when we’re having drinks.”
The campaign also touches on having a designated driver and setting budgets on entertainment.
“Alcohol is part of that, it’s even being respectful with our drinking,” said Baich. “Sometimes it will be social and sometimes people don’t feel like drinking. You don’t want to be the person that’s pushing people to drink. It’s not about being anti-drinking, because we all enjoy our beverages when we want them, but it’s just about being mindful and being purposeful in what our decision making is in having those tips and making sure that we’re being moderate.”
According to the http://www.drinksenseab.ca/ website, 85 per cent of Albertans stay within Canada’s low-risk drinking guidelines.
However, the ongoing pandemic is a reminder that fear, anxiety and acceptance of new habits can lead to increased alcohol use. Numerous media reports are suggesting alcohol consumption is increasing as the effects of the pandemic continues to be felt across society.
“We try to keep looking at all the numbers and the surveys and there are some reports that say drinking has gone up,” said Baich. “But then we are also seeing shifts. For example, we know drinking may be higher at home, but maybe it is lower out because people are not going out as much. There are some products that are maybe being sold more and others that are being sold less. So it all kind of balances.
“But intuitively, we just know when it comes to challenging times people will cope. And when people cope, sometimes they’ll eat more or their sleeping patterns will be less or maybe their fitness goes down. So that’s why we want to make sure that when it comes to alcohol that people are managing that when it comes to a stressful world right now.” 
The best navigation comes from information, said Baich.
“The more information we have, the better we can navigate. So when it comes to drinking, we are just trying to have opportunities for Albertans to come to the website and get information that can just help with that navigation the best that we can.”
Baich said some alcohol consumption red flags are pretty clear such as the amount being purchased and behavioural patterns.
“It’s what you bought before compared to what you are buying now. Are you purchasing the same things? Did you drink spirits before and are you drinking spirits now? Did anything change? Are there changes in the way you’re drinking, when you’re drinking or the times? Before, were you drinking with friends and it was a social thing and maybe now are people drinking more by themselves? So basically, you look for shifts in behaviour and shifts in what you’re doing. You’re looking at your spending. So you just have to look at those things, all the different ways in which you were doing it and just trying to be very aware of how things are changing.”
Baich says the tips aren’t just for the individual.
“They’re for our loved ones and for all of our networks. If we’re noticing changes in those around us, we can be the supports and we can be the eyes and ears for all of those in our circle. The feedback for that is very powerful, too, not just looking out for ourselves, but looking out for everybody.”
Those wanting to learn more about DrinkSense can visit DrinkSenseab.ca.

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