A local researcher who has looked at the damaging effects of excessive alcohol consumption on the brain says that raising the cost of alcohol could help reduce consumption, but could also create other problems.
Dr. John Weber of Memorial University School of Pharmacy has done research showing that binge drinking episodes cause brain damage.
He says their models show that excessive alcohol consumption could lead to long-term brain damage, with no recovery due to cell death.
Binge drinking is considered to be five drinks in one episode for men and four drinks in one episode for women. An equivalent drink is a standard bottle of 5 percent beer, a 5-ounce glass of 12 percent wine, or an ounce and a half of liquor.
Weber says men in their 20s and 30s are more prone to binge drinking than women, and the frequency of binge drinking generally declines with age.
The provincial government recently released an action plan to reduce the harm caused by alcohol consumption and one of the areas being looked at is the cost of alcohol.
He admits the issue is complicated, as people could seek alcohol through other means, including illegally distilling alcohol.
