April 9, 2024 | The New York Times via UVic News
A recent article from The New York Times discusses a new law in Ireland that will require alcohol containers to bear a label stating, “THERE IS A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND FATAL CANCERS” and “DRINKING ALCOHOL CAUSES LIVER DISEASE.” This law, which will take effect in 2026, is backed by decades of scientific research and has sparked opposition from the global alcohol industry. However, it has also inspired other countries, such as Thailand, the United States, Norway, and Canada, to consider similar measures.
Dr. Timothy Naimi, the director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR) at the University of Victoria, was sought out for his expertise in substance-use epidemiology. His research, which primarily focuses on binge drinking and the health effects of moderate drinking, has recently shifted towards prevention and the development of effective public policies to mitigate substance-use-related problems, particularly for alcohol and cannabis.
Dr. Naimi’s support for the Irish law, which advocates for consumers’ right to access basic information about alcohol, mirrors the transparency expected in other food and beverage industries. His stance on this issue not only reflects his expertise in substance use research but also his unwavering commitment to public health. This article underscores the importance of his work and the impact of his research in the field of substance use
Dr. Naimi is also a professor at the University of Victoria’s School of Public Health and Social Policy. He is a physician and alcohol epidemiologist with a rich academic background, having served as a professor at the Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health.
For those interested in delving deeper into Dr. Naimi’s fascinating work, many of his research papers and projects are accessible through the University of Victoria’s institutional repository, UVicSpace.
