How to Promote the LRDGs
We have created a document with some ideas for how to promote the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines in your community. For additional information or resources, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions About Promoting the LRDGs
1. Can you recommend resources to educate health professionals, the media, and the public about alcohol and heart health?
2. How have the Guidelines been promoted?
3. Who has endorsed these Guidelines? Can we add our organization to the list?
4. I like your new materials. Do you have camera-ready artwork for use in local campaigns?
5. We're developing local resources to support the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines. Do you have any helpful advice?
6. Who are the partners that have been involved in developing the guidelines?
About Promoting the LRDGs
1. Can you recommend resources to educate health professionals, the media, and the public about alcohol and heart health?
There are many resources on the links between alcohol and heart health. However, to minimize public confusion, we recommend that you try to use only those that are consistent with the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines. The LRDGs are based on solid research and effectively balance the risks and benefits of alcohol. The list of endorsing agencies can be found on the left side of the screen in the side-bar on this website. For a listing of materials consistent with LRDGs, go to the Resources section of this website.
2. How have the Guidelines been promoted?
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Association of Local Public Health Agencies and the Alcohol Policy Network at the Ontario Public Health Association have been working since October 1997 to support the dissemination of the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines. LRDG Campaigns target two groups: 1) professional intermediaries such as public health nurses, physicians, pharmacists, health promoters, addictions counsellors, etc. and 2) the general public.
For more detailed information about previous Campaigns, please click here.
3. Who has endorsed these Guidelines?
For a complete list of organizations who have endorsed the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines, please refer to the left side of the screen, in the sidebar.
The Ontario Ministry of Health's Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines also require public health units across the province to promote the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines through their injury and substance abuse prevention programs. Organizations interested in adding their name to the list of endorsing organizations are encouraged to contact a member of the LRDG Committee.
4. I like your new materials. Do you have camera-ready artwork for use in local campaigns?
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) holds the copyright for the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines. They can only be used with permission. The rationale for this is to ensure that all materials, websites, etc. that discuss these Guidelines do in fact contain information that accurately reflects the science upon which they are based. Groups interested in developing new resources in support of the LRDGs, or submitting existing resources for review, are encouraged to contact the CAMH representative on the LRDG Committee.
5. We're developing local resources to support the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines. Do you have any helpful advice?
When developing materials in support of the LRDGs it's important to strike a balance between user-friendly resources that reflect the needs of the target audience, and messages that are scientifically valid. In general, when referring to the Guidelines include all the information in Question 3. This is because the Guidelines incorporate low-risk drinking levels, low-risk drinking practices as well as important caveats. Of course, this information can be organized, stated, and translated in different ways. This is where it is important to get a second opinion from a researcher with expertise in alcohol and health who is familiar with the Guidelines. This is usually a CAMH scientist.
Another option is to develop messages that are consistent with the LRDGs but simply refer to "low-risk drinking." These could emphasize only those drinking practices, consumption levels, or caveats that are relevant to a particular target group, without containing all the information that would need to be present if the actual Guidelines were referenced. For additional tips on developing local resources please refer to the Ideas for Promoting the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines document.
6. Who are the partners that have been involved in developing the guidelines?
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