Beyond the Buzz: Understanding the Impact of Alcohol on Health from a Public Health Perspective with Dr. Erin Hobin

Alcohol is regularly used to relax after a long day at work, at dinner, and on the weekend as well as in connection with social events or to mark special occasions; however, we have learned that even low levels of regular use increases health risks. Dr. Erin Hobin is a Senior Scientist at Public Health Ontario, an Associate Professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a Collaborating Scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria. Her research program focuses on developing and evaluating population level interventions for chronic disease prevention, specifically in the areas of alcohol control policy and consumer product labels. Dr. Hobin has served on several scientific advisory committees focused on alcohol policy, including for the World Health Organization, Eurocare, Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, and the 2023 Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Report focused on substance use health. In this episode, she will be discussing the role of alcohol on our health and how policy can promote healthier decisions.