Survey Manitoba will introduce some of the toughest penalties in the country for those who facilitate and participate in underage drinking, along with new tools aimed at reducing youth drug abuse, smoking and unhealthy eating, Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors Minister Jim Rondeau and Family Services and Consumer Affairs Minister Gord Mackintosh announced.
“The health and well-being of young Manitobans is a priority of our government,” said Rondeau, who is also chair of the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet. “By addressing some of the barriers that stand in the way of our future leaders reaching their full potential, we are helping ensure a bright future for Manitoba.”
The measures announced include a $33,000 investment in a new school-based drug abuse prevention program for elementary students known as Life Skills Training, a $225,000 investment in the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba to support healthy eating through breakfast and healthy snack programs, increased fines and enhanced enforcement against those who supply tobacco to minors and a summit to take place this summer aimed at cracking down on underage drinking including discussion of new fines which would be among the highest in Canada.
“Underage drinking has a steep social cost in terms of early alcohol dependency, impaired driving, injury and death,” said Mackintosh. “In addition to discussing significant fine increases, the summit on underage drinking will provide us an opportunity to look at other creative ways of keeping young people safe and sober during their formative years.”
New fines for retailers caught selling tobacco to minors were also implemented as of Jan. 1 with further increases on the way, said Rondeau. The minister also announced enhanced enforcement of the Non-Smokers Health Protection Act provisions prohibiting the supplying of tobacco products to minors. Currently the Tobacco Control Unit Enforcement Program conducts approximately 700 compliance checks annually with Manitoba retailers and on average issues 50 warnings and charges 25 retailers for supplying tobacco to minors. The new measures will result in more charges and less warnings, he said.
Today’s announcement was made in collaboration with Partners in Planning for Healthy Living, a group representing several organizations committed to preventing chronic disease by providing regional health authorities, communities, schools and governments with accurate information on the health of young Manitobans through the annual Youth Health Survey report, released today.
The Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet was announced in March 2000. Currently chaired by Rondeau, the committee also includes the ministers of Aboriginal and northern affairs; culture, heritage and tourism; education; family services and consumer affairs; health; housing and community development; justice; and labour and immigration.
