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Monday, March 30, 2009

Alcohol News - week 13/2009

FOXBusiness (USA) - Is it Really About Alcohol? The Truth About Alcohol Abuse in Women

Six million women in the U.S. abuse or are dependent on alcohol, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/really-alcohol-truth-alcohol-abuse-women/

BBC News (Scotland) - Grasping the thistle on alcohol

When Hugh MacDiarmid wrote "A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle", back in the 1920s, he was not only penning one of Scotland's longest poems, he was perpetuating one of Scotland longest running problems... the demon drink.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7968589.stm

WebMD - Alcohol's Red Face Linked to Cancer Risk

A new report shows people who experience a red face or flushing after drinking alcohol have a much higher risk of developing esophageal cancer than those who do not.
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20090324/alcohols-red-face-linked-to-cancer-risk

Reuters - Alcohol counseling reduces pancreatitis recurrence

Following an initial hospitalization for acute alcohol-associated pancreatitis, repeated visits to an outpatient gastrointestinal clinic for brief motivational alcohol counseling sessions more effectively reduces further episodes than does a single standardized anti-alcohol message delivered to the patient at hospital discharge, a study from Finland shows.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE52P6B620090326

Science Daily – TV Shows Convey Mixed Messages About Alcohol Consumption In Youth

Efforts to dissuade youth consumption through negative alcohol consumption depictions can be thwarted by portrayals of positive consumption in prime-time television programming.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090325142515.htm

WA today (USA) - Liquid assets: sport's alcohol dependency

There are growing calls from health experts to wean our major codes off the bottle, but the political will is still lacking.
http://www.watoday.com.au/national/liquid-assets-sports-alcohol-dependency-20090328-9evl.html

guardian.co.uk (Scotland) - Scotland drugs and alcohol treatment 'failing'

Three times more money spent on drug abuse than alcoholism, despite nearly 5% of Scottish adults being dependent on alcohol, say auditors.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/mar/26/drugs-alcohol-abuse-scotland

TransWorldNews - Everyone's Road To Alcohol Addiction Recovery Is Unique

Alcohol treatment is distinct from drug treatment. Alcoholics and drug addicts face different sorts of challenges on the road to recovery, and only those rehab programs which account for personal needs and case histories can be expected to achieve meaningful success.
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=81308&cat=15

NEWS.com.au (Australia) - AHA calls for Halls Creek alcohol ban for pregnant women

PREGNANT women in a West Australian community should be banned from buying alcohol, the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) says.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,27574,25240845-2761,00.html

Lateline (Australia) - Special report: Suzanne Smith investigates Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

In our second special on foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, Lateline looks at how the disorder is also a problem in non-Indigenous communities across Australia.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2525238.htm

FOXBusiness - Let's Walk Like MADD to Eliminate Drunk Driving. We Can't Afford Not to

Drunk driving threatens all of us. One in three people will be personally involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime. In addition to the emotional toll that these preventable deaths and injuries take on victim/ survivors, there is also a fiscal impact to our society.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/lets-walk-like-madd-eliminate-drunk-driving-afford/

Newspost Online (UK) - ”Extreme beer” craze leaves UK alcohol campaigners worried

British alcohol campaigners are worried about the effects of the so-called extreme beer movement on public health.
http://www.newspostonline.com/health/extreme-beer-craze-leaves-uk-alcohol-campaigners-worried-2009032845658

Times of Malta (Malta) - Use of alcohol and pills in Malta higher than most European countries

While cannabis use in Maltese schools appears to be below the European average, the use of inhalants and the combined use of alcohol and pills are more frequent than in many other countries, a survey has found.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090326/local/combined-use-of-alcohol-and-pills-in-malta-higher-than-most-european-countries

Sunday Standard (Opinion) - Alcohol abuse AND tax increase! What are the facts?

There is substantial anecdotal evidence of the detrimental effects of alcohol abuse in Botswana and in other countries.
http://sundaystandard.info/news/news_item.php?NewsID=4647&GroupID=5

Newsroom Finland (Finland) - Finland to raise alcohol duties by 10 pct

Finland's centre-right government said after a day of budget talks on Tuesday it would propose a ten-per cent increase in alcohol duties, to be put into effect in October.
http://newsroom.finland.fi/stt/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=21271&group=Politics

The Local (Sweden) - Alcohol locks for drunk driving offenders by 2010: minister

Motorists in Sweden convicted of drunken driving or suspected of being alcoholics may be forced to install alcohol locks on their vehicles starting in 2010.
http://www.thelocal.se/18460/20090326/

Monday, March 23, 2009

Alcohol News - week 12/2009

Reuters (Ireland) - Irish alcohol industry sees bleak 2009

Ireland's alcohol industry recorded its worst performance in 25 years in 2008 as recession continued to bite and prospects could be even worse this year, an industry group said on Monday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSLN9537220090323

Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Teenage girls and alcohol poisoning

The number of young women treated for alcohol poisoning has increased by 90 per cent in the past five years, according to the Department of Health statistics.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5032403/Teenage-girls-and-alcohol-poisoning.html

Science Daily - Alcohol-induced Flushing Is Risk Factor For Esophageal Cancer From Alcohol Consumption

There is growing evidence that people who experience facial flushing after drinking alcohol are at much higher risk of esophageal cancer from alcohol consumption than those who do not.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090323092711.htm

The Hour - Studies link alcohol to breast cancer risk in women

Two major studies in the past month have linked alcohol, including red wine, to increased breast cancer risk in women. What's a red wine lover to do?
http://www.thehour.com/story/466891

U.S. News & World Report - 'Good Feelings' From Alcohol Only Come With Fewer Drinks

New research suggests that when it comes to getting pleasure from alcohol, less may be more.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/03/19/good-feelings-from-alcohol-only-come-with-fewer.html

Los Angeles Times (USA) – How the economy affects the addictions?

In boom times, drunk-driving rates, alcohol-related illnesses and spending on alcohol all increase. (Source: A 2000 article in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, and a 2008 by the Swedish Business School at Örebro University)
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-addiction,0,1379872.photo

News.bg (Bulgaria) - 1 million Bulgarians addicted to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes or gambling

Around 750 000 euro spend the addicted to heroin Bulgarians every day, informed yesterday dr. Alexander Kanchelov, specialist on the treatment of dependencies.
http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_891165957

MOSNEWS (Russia) - Crisis forces Russians to spend more on alcohol – poll

Financial crisis is driving Russians to spend a larger share of their earnings on alcohol. According to a recent poll, up to 15 percent of a Russian’s wage will go for drinks.
http://www.mosnews.com/weird/2009/03/23/drinkmore/

USA Today - Chemical in alcohol may cause cancer for heavy drinkers

The chemical that causes nasty hangovers may have another unpleasant side effect -- cancer.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/sciencefair/2009/03/chemical-in-alc.html

Hindu - Daily drinking is biggest risk factor in serious liver disease

Long-term daily drinking, rather than weekly binge drinking, is by far the biggest risk factor in serious liver disease, according to a new report from the University of Southampton.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/099200903231345.htm

BBC News (Scotland) - Drink warning for Scots ex-pats

Ex-pat Scots who live in England and Wales are twice as likely to die from alcohol-related conditions than the locals, a study has suggested.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7953409.stm

Science Daily - Increased Risk Of Injury Even After First Alcoholic Drink

Most alcohol-related damage occurs after moderate consumption, according to a new doctoral thesis from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet on the association between alcohol and injury.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090323093015.htm

The Associated Press (EU) - A glance at legal drinking ages around Europe

A glance at the minimum legal drinking age in various countries around Europe.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hgrKn_bE-dwEdHs7pOvV-BtDeDbwD96S247G1

Monday, March 16, 2009

Alcohol News - week 11/2009

guardian.co.uk (UK) - Gordon Brown rejects call to set minimum prices for alcohol

Gordon Brown today rejected controversial proposals from the chief medical officer to establish a minimum price for alcohol, which would double the price of many beers and spirits.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/mar/16/gordon-brown-alcohol-pricing

Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) - Alcohol ads to carry binge warning

THE Government is proposing mandatory health warnings on television alcohol ads in an attempt to swing minority parties away from blocking the alcopops tax.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/03/16/1237054738844.html

Science Daily - Common Genes Tied To Alcohol, Nicotine, Cocaine Addictions

For decades, finding clues to substance addiction has been much like searching for a needle in a haystack. But researchers may finally be honing in on specific genes tied to all types of addictions - and finding that some of the same genes associated with alcohol dependence are also closely linked with addictions to nicotine, cocaine, opoids, heroin and other substances.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090310142912.htm

13WHAM-TV (USA) - New Warning for Women Drinking Alcohol

A new study says as little as one drink a day can significantly raise the risk of one type of cancer for women.
http://www.13wham.com/guides/health/story/New-Warning-for-Women-Drinking-Alcohol/aqAi-ZY6VkmnbRmlOjF6Ow.cspx

CBC.ca (Canada) - Doctor proposes suing alcohol companies over FAS damage

A pediatrician in northern British Columbia wants liquor and beer makers to help pay for the damage caused when pregnant women drink.
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/03/16/fetal-alcohol-syndrome-sue.html

BBC News (Scotland) - Alcohol price plans 'are legal'

The chief medical officer for Scotland has dismissed claims that setting a minimum alcohol price could be illegal.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7944902.stm

Houston Chronicle (France) - France puts a cork in alcohol sales to youth

A spot of Calvados, the apple brandy, in the bottle to help baby sleep. Champagne for all at the family fete. And wine anytime, well, because we’re French.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/world/6311905.html

Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Under-14s treated for alcohol-related mental health problems

Thousands of children are being admitted to hospital every year with mental disorders related to alcohol misuse, according to official figures.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4995883/Under-14s-treated-for-alcohol-related-mental-health-problems.html

Bangkok Post (Thailand) - Pressure grows for total alcohol sales ban

The Don't Drive Drunk Foundation has stepped up its efforts to convince the government to completely ban alcohol sales during the Songkran holiday.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/13438/pressure-grows-for-total-alcohol-sales-ban

DutchNews.nl (Netherlands) - Alcohol lock gets cabinet approval

Ministers have approved the introduction of an alcohol lock to be fitted in the cars of convicted drunk drivers, the NRC reported at the weekend.
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2009/03/alcohol_lock_gets_cabinet_appr.php

Glasgow Sunday Mail (Scotland) - Booze battle as drinks firms try to stop government plans

DRINKS firms are mounting a legal battle against government plans to end cheap booze.
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/03/15/booze-battle-as-drinks-firms-try-to-stop-government-plans-78057-21199232/

Times of India (India) - Vigil on liquor trade tightened

The Goa government is tightening its vigil on the manufacture and trade of liquor to ensure that it is not misused by political parties to lure voters in the upcoming polls.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Vigil-on-liquor-trade-tightened-/articleshow/4268978.cms

Xinhua (China) - Industry association: Children images not to be used in ads

Advertisements of food, medicine, medical service, alcohol and medical device should not use children images and they should not harm children's healthy growth, China's leading advertising organization appealed Saturday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/16/content_11017953.htm

The Copenhagen Post (Denmark) - Proposal to commit pregnant alcoholics

New legislation could allow pregnant alcohol and drug abusers to be committed against their will in order to protect their unborn children.
http://www.cphpost.dk/news/politics/90-politics/45073-proposal-to-commit-pregnant-alcoholics.html

Science Daily - Single Question Can Identify Unhealthy Alcohol Use In Patients

Researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) have found that a single-screening question recommended by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) accurately identifies unhealthy alcohol use in primary-care patients.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090311111011.htm

The Parliament.com (EU) - Europe's brewers suffer 'sharp decline' as financial crisis tightens

A Brussels conference has been told that Europe's brewing industry is suffering "sharp decline" as the global recession takes hold.
http://www.theparliament.com/latestnews/news-article/newsarticle/europes-brewers-suffer-sharp-decline-as-financial-crisis-tightens/

Monday, March 9, 2009

Alcohol News - week 10/2009

Time - Older Drinkers Less Able to Judge When They're Drunk

For all their admonitions about responsible drinking, it turns out that older adults aren't as good as young ones about knowing when to stop. After drinking the same amount of alcohol as their younger counterparts, older adults are not only more impaired than younger ones, but less likely to believe they are.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1883408,00.html

BBC News (Australia) - Australian alcohol rules 'safer'

Australians will be better protected from disease and injury by new alcohol guidelines that drastically reduce safe drinking levels, health charities say.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7931922.stm

MedPage Today - Red Wine or White? No Difference for Breast Cancer Risk

A glass or two of Chianti each day may be no better for breast cancer risk than Chardonnay, researchers found.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/13145

NY Times (USA) - A Web Awash in Liquor Ads, Promoting Moderation

WHILE there may not be sufficient data to indicate whether the economy is driving people to drink, major marketers of alcoholic beverages are maintaining or even stepping up campaigns to encourage drinking in moderation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/business/media/09adcol.html?ref=business

Ivanhoe - Which Comes First? Alcohol or Depression?

It’s like the old question, which came first, the chicken or the egg? But this time researchers are talking about alcohol abuse and depression. Does the former cause the latter, or is it visa versa?
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=20963

Belfast Telegraph (Ireland) - Senator calls for reduction in alcohol advertising

Fianna Fail Senator Mary White has said alcohol advertising should be reduced in the next five years in order to curb suicide levels in this country.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/senator-calls-for-reduction-in-alcohol-advertising-14219293.html

China Daily (China) - National alcohol ban proposed for civil servants

Political advisors have submitted a proposal to ban all Chinese officials from drinking alcohol at lunch during work days.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-03/09/content_7556738.htm

New Vision (Uganda) - Alcohol adverts lure children into drinking

OVER the last 10 years, after the NRM administration liberalised the economy, the alcohol industry in Uganda has grown rapidly. Today the major players, Nile Breweries and Uganda Breweries, contribute billions of shillings in taxes to the national coffers.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/673922

Mirror.co.uk - Children 'develop taste for alcohol in the womb' say scientists

Children whose mothers drink during pregnancy could acquire a taste for booze.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/03/09/children-develop-taste-for-alcohol-in-the-womb-say-scientists-115875-21183710/

DG News - Alcohol Consumption May Increase Pancreatic Cancer Risk

Consuming 2 or more drinks per day could increase a person's risk of pancreatic cancer by about 22%, according to a study published in the March issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/852571020057CCF6852575710074A695

The Canberra Times (Australia) - Alcohol guidelines usher in 'a new era of caution'

The National Health and Medical Research Council issued yesterday its long-awaited advice to ''reduce health risks from drinking alcohol'' a report described as a ''major wake-up call''. The independent authority has recommended stricter limits on drinking for adults.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/alcohol-guidelines-usher-in-a-new-era-of-caution/1452958.aspx

U.S. News & World Report - Alcohol-Branded Apparel Linked to Adolescent Drinking

All those T-shirts, hats and other items promoting alcoholic beverages that young people wear may be more than just a fashion statement.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/03/02/alcohol-branded-apparel-linked-to-adolescent.html

Time (Scotland) - Nation o' Drinkers: Scotland Takes on Alcohol Abuse

There's little affection in a "Glasgow kiss." Typically preceded by some variation of the growled question "Whit ya [expletive] lookin' at?" the term refers to a vicious headbutt, as delivered all too often in the bars and on the streets of Scotland's largest city.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1883087,00.html

Modern Medicine - Young Males Drink More When Alcohol Portrayed in Media

Watching a movie or commercials portraying alcohol use leads to higher total alcohol consumption among young men, according to research published online Mar. 4 in Alcohol and Alcoholism.
http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/Modern+Medicine+Now/Young-Males-Drink-More-When-Alcohol-Portrayed-in-M/ArticleNewsFeed/Article/detail/585452?contextCategoryId=40165

Science Daily - High Novelty-seeking And Low Avoidance Of Harm Contribute To Alcohol Dependence

Personality factors can influence the development of alcohol dependence (AD). Researchers examined a group of AD individuals with the inactive form of aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) – persons who would normally have a low incidence of alcoholism because the inactive form of ALDH2 causes flushing, nausea, and headaches.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090303161303.htm

Helsingin Sanomat (Finland) - Estonian devaluation threat alarms Alko

Alko, Finland’s state-owned chain of liquor stores, sold more than 112 million litres of alcoholic beverages from its 343 outlets last year. In accordance with the prevailing tendency, more and more of the sold products were mild beverages, especially wines.
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Estonian+devaluation+threat+alarms+Alko/1135244081038

Economist (EU) - Mediterranean volumes with Viking bingeing lie behind a big drink problem

“DRINK is too cheap,” says Nadin Saif, who runs a tidy little food and drink shop in Granton, a rundown area of Edinburgh.
http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13235478

Monday, March 2, 2009

Alcohol News - week 9/2009

BBC News (Finland) - Young people on Finland's drinking laws

Young Finnish people debate attitudes to drinking in the country, where the sale of alcohol is strictly regulated.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7912639.stm

Bloomberg (Scotland) - Scotland Plans to Raise Alcohol Prices, Tackle Abuse

Scotland plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol and ban the promotions and discounts the government blames for violence and disease.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=a1c1akmop0p0&refer=uk

HealthNewsDigest.com - Alcohol Consumption And Increased Cancer Risk

Many of you are familiar with the so-called "French Paradox," whereby the French, who have a diet higher in saturated fats than the typical American, have a lower rate of coronary heart disease.
http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Cancer_Issues_660/Alcohol_Consumption_And_Increased_Cancer_Risk.shtml

Mmegi Online (Botswana) - Govt To Review Alcohol Levy

Government has appointed a consultant to review the impact of the 30 percent alcohol levy on locally brewed products and imports. This comes after local brewers KBL and BBL shed off almost 100 jobs after losses made over the Christmas holidays.
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=8&dir=2009/March/Monday2

CBC.ca (Canada) - Alberta experts leading research on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Alberta is leading the way when it comes to research on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, according to an expert in the field.
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/02/27/edm-fasd-conference.html

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (Ghana) - Cigarette and alcohol intake causes impotency in men

Research has shown that cigarette smoking and alcohol intake are the major causes of impotency and erectile dysfunction among men.
http://gbcghana.com/news/24825detail.html

Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - Joint approach to tackling alcohol harm

In a new initiative police, the fire service, health professionals and local authorities are fighting alcohol-fuelled violence that features strongly in crimes and crashes, which costs the country billions of dollars a year.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4865558a11.html

The Australian (Australia) - Alcopops tax 'leads to less alcohol consumption'

HEALTH experts are urging politicians to support the federal Government's alcopops tax after they found pre-mixed drink sales fell 26 per cent in the three months following the tax hike.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25124610-5013871,00.html

Mid Columbia Tri City Herald (USA) - Survey finds alcohol bigger problem for teens than drugs

But that's a minority opinion according to statewide statistics, which indicate nearly three-fourths of high school seniors have tried alcohol. About a quarter have engaged in binge drinking.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/494714.html

Nursing in Practice (UK) - Warning to baby boomers about drinking in older age

A recent report into alcohol and older people has suggested that our growing aging population, and its often increasing dependency on alcohol, could be a "demographic time bomb".
http://www.nursinginpractice.com/default.asp?title=Warningtobabyboomersaboutdrinkinginolderage&page=article.display&article.id=15839

Science Daily - Alcohol Types And Socioeconomic Status Are Associated With Barrett's Esophagus Risk

Although the relationship between alcohol and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is well established, studies investigating the association between alcohol intake and reflux esophagitis (RE), Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) have reported inconsistent findings.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090301094256.htm

Times Online (UK) - Low-alcohol bubbly is not wine, court rules

An importer of low-alcohol sparkling drinks was told today that it could not market its products as wine because it had not met European regulations for minimum alcohol content.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article5832793.ece

New York Times (USA) - Renewed Debate on Sunday Alcohol Sales

DOMINIC P. Alaimo is fed up watching Connecticut consumers cruise past his package store every Sunday on their way to buy beer, wine and liquor just two miles up the road in Massachusetts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/nyregion/connecticut/01liquorct.html

Times Online (France) - French winemakers angered by Government move to cut alcohol intake

The Boyer family business has survived a revolution, four wars with Germany, two with England, eight changes of regime and more economic crises than anyone can remember since it began making wine by the Mediterranean in southern France.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/wine/article5818156.ece

Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Up to 1,000 people a day admitted to hospital for alcohol-related illness

More than 81,000 patients were admitted where alcohol was assessed as the main reason for the illness - more than 200 a day.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4840741/Up-to-1000-people-a-day-admitted-to-hospital-for-alcohol-related-illness.html

Medical News Today - Alcohol Consumption And Male Erectile Dysfunction: An Unfounded Reputation For Risk?

The report, one of four published articles from a population-based cross-sectional study principally on male erectile dysfunction (ED), is based on the responses of 1,580 participants to questions on their alcohol drinking behaviour.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/140658.php

Standart News (Bulgaria) - Bulgarians among the Heaviest Drinkers in Europe

Every third man and every fifth woman in Bulgaria drink too much alcohol, according to a survey by the World Health Organization, quoted by Dr Alexander Kanchelov.
http://paper.standartnews.com/en/article.php?d=2009-03-01&article=26819

Newsroom Finland (Finland) - Finland to raise alcohol duties by 10 pct

Finland's centre-right government has decided to raise alcohol duties by an average of ten per cent, the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) reported on Wednesday.
http://newsroom.finland.fi/stt/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=21061&group=General