The Grey Bruce Health Unit will be taking an up close and personal use of the culture and impact of alcohol use in the two counties.
The special seminar takes place this afternoon and will feature presentations dealing with the history of alcohol consumption in this region, the dangers of alcohol abuse and why this region has the highest rate of binge drinking in all of Ontario.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hazel Lynn, Dr Jurgen Rehm from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Bayshore Broadcasting GM Ross Kentner will all make presentations on different aspects of the culture of alcohol.
Kentner, as the Georgian Bay Explorer, will be taking an historical look at the role alcohol has played in the development of Grey Bruce over the years and the fact as a Pioneering area, consumption of alcohol was an every day occurrence in this region.
In fact he says it is part of this areas history as a wild frontier region.
Kentner says people living in Grey and Bruce Counties seem to have forgotten this was once a frontier as wild as any.
He says we were on the leading edge of all the alcohol issues then and today, maybe we have a hangover.
Kentner says because of the history of alcohol use and abuse in Grey Bruce he suspects researchers may start looking at genetic links that may show problem drinking is something that is inherited.
That seminar takes place from Noon until 2.30 PM at Stone Tree fitness, just south of Owen Sound.