Toronto Mayor Rob Ford made international headlines Tuesday for admitting he smoked crack cocaine a year ago. It's the second half of his admission, however, that is the greater issue but seems to be lost in the uproar.
"Am I an addict? No," Ford said. "Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors."
Ford went on to use the same phrase again - "there's been times when I've been in a drunken stupor" - as if it was no big deal.
One or two or even three drinks over the course of an evening is fine, so long as it also doesn't involve driving. It's the number of drinks after that, the ones that lead to drunken stupor that are worrisome. The fact those stupors have happened repeatedly speak to a man so drunk at the time that he likely doesn't remember trying crack cocaine and wants to see the video to actually confirm he did it.
Despite concerns that have been expressed in the past about Ford's drinking, here is a political leader who clearly can't exercise restraint, responsible behaviour and good judgment, essential qualities for anyone holding a powerful position representing others, whether in the private or public sector.
The word sober doesn't mean non-drunk. It actually has a broader meaning outside of alcohol use applied to decisions that are careful, rational and well-planned and to individuals that are moderate, calm, even quiet and boring. Do any of these adjectives apply to the Rob Ford Canadians have become fascinated with and Torontonians have become so embarrassed of?
Ford may not be an alcoholic by the clinical definition of addiction but most people would argue that anyone who has become so intoxicated on multiple occasions that they can't recall whether or not they've taken a turn huffing on a crack pipe obviously has a problem with booze.
Responsible drinking, on the other hand, happens all the time and Prince George residents have proof of it. Under a pilot project at CN Centre over more than a year, beer has been allowed in the general seating area, not just the luxury boxes, for ticketed events. Alcohol-related incidents at Cougars games dropped from three per game to zero, with no increase seen during concerts or other special events. Best of all, the city doubled its annual revenue in alcohol sales at CN Centre.
The anti-drinking teetotalers opposed to drinking at CN Centre (the Cougars were the last major junior team in Canada to allow beer sales in the stands during games) made the argument about irresponsible behaviour, public intoxication and drinking and driving, ignoring what was really happening and the problems it created. Unable to have a drink at CN Centre events, people either smuggled in their own booze and guzzled it and/or showed up to games or concerts already intoxicated. Allowing access at the rink means people show up sober, have one or two drinks and call it a night.
Longtime residents remember the days when Prince George had one liquor store and the lineup on Fridays was out the door. Limited access actually increased consumption and sales because people would stock up, rather than just buying what they needed. Buying two flats of beer for the weekend increases the likelihood of drinking two flats of beer over the weekend.
Allowing easier access to alcohol in grocery stores and even movie theatres, as is the case in Alberta, has increased the frequency people drink but not the overall consumption. In other words, people are having fewer drinks more often. The wide availability discourages stockpiling and bingeing. Why go crazy with a product that you can buy anywhere?
It also contributes to a culture that frowns on excessive consumption and impairment, even within the privacy of one's home, never mind in a public setting.
Easy access is a problem for addicts, no question, but conquering addiction is about far more than simply addressing availability.
The liberalization of beer and wine sales in B.C. is long overdue and it has some clear financial and social benefits, as the CN Centre pilot project demonstrates.
Individual problems, such as the situation with Mayor Ford, should be dealt with at the individual level.
