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Canadian Public Health Association

Bill S-202: Letter to Senators

Location

Ottawa, Ontario

Dear Senators:

Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning labels on alcoholic beverages) is expected to come before the Senate for third reading on Tuesday 10 March 2026.

On behalf of the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA), I am writing to encourage you to support the bill and proceed to a vote so that it can be sent to the House of Commons for consideration.

Alcohol is a leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in Canada, contributing to several cancers, heart disease, liver disease, and injuries. Yet alcoholic beverages remain exempt from the basic labelling requirements that apply to other foods and beverages sold in Canada. Canadians cannot make informed choices about their health without clear information about the risks associated with alcohol consumption.

Bill S-202 offers a simple and practical solution: requiring alcohol labels to provide essential health information, including warnings about cancer risk and the number of standard drinks contained in a product. These measures would bring alcohol labelling closer in line with the transparency Canadians already expect for other consumer products.

The Senate has an opportunity to advance an important public health measure. We respectfully urge you to support Bill S-202 at third reading and allow it to proceed to the House of Commons without delay.

Thank you for your consideration and for your continued service to Canadians.

Sincerely,

Ian Culbert
Executive Director

For more information contact:
Dolores Gutierrez, Communications & Marketing Officer
Canadian Public Health Association
Telephone: 613.725.3769, ext. 190
communications@cpha.ca

About the Canadian Public Health Association
Founded in 1910, the Canadian Public Health Association is the independent voice for public health in Canada with links to the international community. As the only Canadian non-governmental organization focused exclusively on public health, we are uniquely positioned to advise decision-makers about public health system reform and to guide initiatives to help safeguard the personal and community health of Canadians and people around the world. We are a national, independent, not-for-profit, voluntary association. Our members believe in universal and equitable access to the basic conditions that are necessary to achieve health for all.

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