Researchers say it may be time for the province to conduct an intervention when it comes to alcohol consumption.

A new study from the University of Alberta has found liquor plays a significant role in terms of the province’s intentional and unintentional injury.

Dr. Don Voaklander, Director of the Alberta Centre for Alberta Injury Control and Research, looked at data from both the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office and the Major Trauma Data Collection System.

In it he found it’s more of a problem than just drinking and driving.

“What was surprising were the other areas of injury,” he says.

Voaklander’s study found significant links, higher than 0.08 blood alcohol levels, in several areas.

Fire related deaths                    62%
Pedestrians (major trauma)       40%
ATVs and snowmobiles            50%
Assault                                     65%
Suicidal behaviour                    42%

“I had no idea so many pedestrians consumed alcohol before being hit by cars,” he says. “You find alcohol is a bit of a lubricant when it comes to self-harm.”

He says it’s difficult to compare Alberta to other jurisdictions because this province does a much better in job testing.

Voaklander’s calling on the province to have an intervention when it comes to access.

“It’s time to look at putting more limits to access on alcohol,” the researcher says. “I believe the trend has increased since the deregulation of government liquor stores, it’s been at a consistent level ever since.”

He cites Wetaskiwin as an example, whose gone above and beyond in terms of limiting commercial hours of operation.

He’s also found serious events such as self-harm and impaired driving have dropped off since their intervention.

“Most studies would say that the amount of tax raised from alcohol sales does not equal the cost of societal harms, either through social problems with families, addiction services or a lot of serious injuries.”