By Spencer Sterritt

P.A. alcohol strategy takes interactive next step

May 6, 2016 | 7:06 AM

Prince Albert’s community alcohol strategy continued its long road to completion and a finalized document Thursday night.

The alcohol strategy’s steering committee met with community members to discuss what could be added to the document at the first of two consultations at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre. Numerous ideas were suggested from the relatively small crowd, including providing post-rehab services and role models, such as Prince Albert Raiders’ players, act as alcohol-free ambassadors for youth.

One idea, was to label alcohol similar to cigarettes with warning labels and graphic images. It would be a major change, but steering committee member Steven Humble said it was an idea he could get behind.

“I think that’s one step towards a good thing. We need to go further over time, but it’s a little thing we can do,” Humble said adding his biggest issue is how alcohol is advertised.

“It’s just like cigarettes, it’s causing damage, yet we’re still advertising it like it’s okay.”

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Consultation moderator Lydia Franc said the steering committee recognizes there’s still a lot of work to be done, but said they remained optimistic. In the presentation accompanying the meeting, they said the normalization of alcohol is their biggest obstacle.

According to data gathered by Prince Albert Community Mobilization, one of the biggest issues the group faces is the nearly $1,249 spent per person on alcohol; exceeding the provincial average by more than $500.

The second community consultation is May 12, 6:30 p.m. at the P.A. Exhibition Centre.

ssterritt@panow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit