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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Alcohol News - 4/2015

9NEWS.com (USA) - Colorado lawmakers consider banning powdered alcohol
Colorado lawmakers will consider whether to ban powdered alcohol before the product arrives in stores.
News-Medical.net – Alcohol drinking pattern influences risk of cirrhosis
Approximately 170,000 people die from alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver in Europe every year. Although alcohol is the most important risk factor, less is known about the significance of different patterns of drinking.
BreakingNews.ie (Ireland) - Ban on below-cost alcohol due this week
The Government is expected to formally sign off on legislation banning the below cost selling of alcohol this week.
gulfnews.com (Australia) - Educationist calls for alcohol ban at sporting events
One of Australia’s prominent educationists has suggested a total ban on alcohol at sporting events in order to minimise the negative effects on sports.
Medical Daily - Underage Drinking May Stem From Alcohol Ads, Despite Older Intended Audience
Blaming youth misbehavior on TV and movies is an old and generally worn-out tactic, but new research seems to say it still holds water. A study from Dartmouth College has found binge drinking rates among adolescents rise consistently with the number of alcohol advertisements they are exposed to and how strongly they remember them.
Irish Times (Ireland) - Alcohol sponsorship Bill dropped
Plans to allow a legislative clause which would eventually allow for the banning of alcohol sponsorship of sports have been dropped.
Science 2.0 (Australia) - Aboriginal Women And High Rates Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one of a group of preventable, lifelong conditions (the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) that may result from high alcohol use in pregnancy.
3AW (Australia) - Dr Julie Green says there is 'no safe level' of alcohol for teenagers
Most Australians will probably have an alcoholic drink, or two, to help celebrate Australia Day. And there's a very good chance that some will have one or two too many.
NDTV - How Alcohol Affects a Good Night's Sleep
If you're stressed from a long, exhausting day at work then a stiff drink or two before you hit the sack helps you unwind - This type of behavior seems harmless, almost relaxing right?
kjrh.com (USA) - DHS reporting 375 newborns tested positive for drugs or alcohol last year; up from 322 year before
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services says hospitals in the state are reporting an increasing number of newborns who tested positive for drugs or alcohol at birth.
ChronicleLive (UK) - Liver expert tells Durham forum alcohol industry is putting profit before health
Speaking at a high profile UK-wide conference hosted by Balance, the North East Alcohol Office, Professor Nick Sheron accused the alcohol industry of being driven by shareholder value instead of public health.
Chiang Mai CityNews (Thailand) - Thailand's New Alcohol Sales Restrictions Now in Effect
Alcoholic beverages can now be sold only between 11am – 2pm and 5pm – midnight every day, according to an announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office on the 2015 law regulating alcohol sales, which officially took effect on January 23.
Edinburgh Evening News (Scotland) - Alcohol effects costing city £86m
THE Capital is suffering an £86 million hangover, according to a new report into the real cost of alcohol to the city.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

FASD News - 3/2015

Medical Xpress (Australia) - Aboriginal women address high rates of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in remote Australia
One in eight children born in 2002 or 2003 and living in remote Fitzroy Valley communities in Western Australia have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a landmark study has found.
Healio - Fetal alcohol syndrome diagnosis missed in adopted children
Over 85% of foster and adopted youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders were not previously diagnosed or were misdiagnosed with behavioral problems.
Daily Mail (Australia) - Shocking rates of foetal alcohol syndrome recorded by study in remote Aboriginal community
One in eight children in remote communities of Western Australia are born with permanent learning and physical disabilities due to their mothers consuming alcohol while pregnant, a new study has found.
Juneau Empire - The importance of getting an FASD diagnosis
Ric Ianolino has worked with at-risk children and their families since 1968 in the Lower 48 and in Alaska. He served in roles as treatment director for the Bethel Group Home and regional trainer for the Yukon-Kuskokwin Health Corporation until a ride-along with Juneau Police Department Sgt. Ben Cornell changed his life.
Binghamton Homepage (USA) - Group encourages mothers to take "PACT" to prevent birth defects
Health advocates are reminding pregnant women, and those who might become pregnant, that there are some things they can do to help prevent birth defects.
Kenai Peninsula Online (USA) - School district implements training, curriculum for FASD
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is continuing to expand and evolve outreach for students diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
The Australian (Australia) - Consigning fetal alcohol scourge to history
DESPITE searing heat, 15-year-old Tristan McCarthy is relaxed as he poses in front of a boab tree in his home town of Fitzroy Crossing. He laughs when an onlooker tells him how handsome he looks. “Just go and behave!” he replies.

MATERIALS and VIDEOS
IWK Health Centre - Mothers' Mental Health Toolkit: A Resource for the Community
The Mothers’ Mental Health Toolkit was born out of a novel partnership between the IWK Reproductive Mental Health Service and Family Resource Centres. Mothers’ Mental Health matters to the development of strong children and healthy communities.
Centre for Research in Family Health - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): A Canadian Study for Parents of Children Age 4 -12
Just a friendly reminder that we are still recruiting families into our Strongest Families FASD study. We are looking for families living in Canada with children age 4-12 with an FASD diagnosis to participate in our study.
ANTICIPATORY GUIDANCE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD): PRACTICE POINTS FOR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
To give primary healthcare providers (PHCP) evidence-based recommendations for supporting and managing the symptoms of FASD after patients have received a diagnosis.
The Regina Community Clinic - FASD Evening Routine
FASD Morning Routine
FASD Night Routine
FASD Day Routine
Mennonite Central Committee Canada - Can't, Not Won't
A Christian response to FASD.

RESEARCH
Pediatrics - Misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses in foster and adopted children with prenatal alcohol exposure
The purpose of this article is to assess the rate of misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) among a population of foster and adopted youth referred to a children’s mental health center.
Human Brain Mapping - A DTI-based tractography study of effects on brain structure associated with prenatal alcohol exposure in newborns
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is known to have severe, long-term consequences for brain and behavioral development already detectable in infancy and childhood. Resulting features of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders include cognitive and behavioral effects, as well as facial anomalies and growth deficits.
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth - Midwives' knowledge, attitudes and practice about alcohol exposure and the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Midwives are an influential profession and a key group in informing women about alcohol consumption in pregnancy and its consequences.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
RTV Slovenija (Slovenia) - Vsaka merica alkohola pomeni tveganje za otroka
Podatki kažejo, da poraba alkohola pri mladih ženskah narašča. Gre za ženske v rodni dobi, ki se, kot opozarjajo strokovnjaki, premalo zavedajo škodljivih posledic pitja ne le med nosečnostjo, temveč tudi že v času načrtovanja. Že majhna količina alkohola lahko povzroči trajne posledice.
RTF.1 Regionalfernsehen – Nachrichten (Germany) - Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft - Ausmaß schwerer Schädigungen von Kindern wird drastisch unterschätzt
Das Ausmaß schwerer Schädigungen von Kindern durch den Alkoholkonsum von Frauen während der Schwangerschaft wird offenbar noch drastisch unterschätzt.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Alcohol News - 3/2015

MediaPost Communications - Alcohol Ads Linked To Underage Drinking
There is more evidence that alcohol advertising on television does indeed contribute to underage drinking and binge drinking, with the publication of a new study, titled “Cued Recall of Alcohol Advertising on Television and Underage Drinking Behavior,” in JAMA Pediatrics.
BBC News - Poor sleep 'early warning sign' for drink and drug issues
Poor sleep in teenage years could be an early warning sign for alcohol problems, illicit drug use and "regretful" sexual behaviour, research suggests.
TIME - Here’s What Alcohol Advertising Does To Kids
Alcohol advertising that reaches children and young adults helps lead them to drink for the first time—or, if they’re experienced underage drinkers, to drink more, according to a study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
The Inquisitr (Singapore) - Singapore Moves To Ban Public Alcohol Consumption From Late Evening To Early Morning
The drinking of alcohol between 10.30 p.m. to 7 a.m. in public places, including parks and HDB void decks could soon become illegal if the new Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill tabled in Parliament on Monday is eventually passed.
Forbes - New Study Suggests People Start Drinking For Health Benefits: Should We Believe It?
There’s been a lot of alcohol in the news recently. Several new studies have reported some additional risks of alcohol itself and in the behaviors (like working long hours) that make us more likely to consume the stuff.
PsychCentral.com (USA) - Alcohol & Many Medications Make A Risky Mix
A new study finds that almost 42 percent of U.S. drinkers have also used one or more prescription medications that interact with alcohol — everything from blood pressure medications to diabetes drugs to antidepressants.
Telegraph.co.uk - Working more than 48 hours a week increases risk of alcohol abuse
Professionals who work more than 48 hours-a-week are more likely to drink dangerous amounts of alcohol, a study suggests. Researchers found that female employees on long hours were at greater risk of drinking at least two glasses of wine a night. For men it was around three pints.
ABC Online (Australia) - High-range and repeat drink drivers to pay for alcohol interlock devices on their cars: NSW Roads Minister
The New South Wales Government says it will force high-range or repeat drink drivers to pay to have alcohol interlocks installed on their cars, from the start of next month.
The Australian (Australia) - ‘World’s worst’: fetal alcohol hits one in eight
A LANDMARK health study has found that one in eight children, or 120 children per 1000, in ­remote Aboriginal communities of the Fitzroy Valley in Western Australia suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome.
Irish Times (Ireland) - Better-off women more likely to drink alcohol in pregnancy
Women with higher levels of income and education are more likely to drink alcohol weekly during their pregnancy, new figures have shown.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Alcohol News - 2/2015

Telegraph.co.uk - Working more than 48 hours a week increases risk of alcohol abuse
Finnish researchers found that longer working hours increased the likelihood of higher alcohol use by 11 per cent.
Science 2.0 (USA) - 50 Percent Of Fatal Crashes With Young Victims Involved Pot Or Alcohol – Study
US states as different as California, West Virginia and Hawaii share one thing in common - half of automobile fatalities involving young drivers, ages 16 to 25 years, involved pot or alcohol. And those results were from years before the cultural push to make marijuana legal.
New York Post - Are celebrities promoting drugs and alcohol on Instagram?
Addiction-treatment.com, a website for those looking to help themselves or a friend recover from substance addiction, took a long look at the most influential celebrities on Instagram to dissect how often they are photographed with drugs and/or alcohol — and the results are quite surprising.
Medscape - Fetal Alcohol Exposure Often Mistaken as Behavioral Issues
Children referred to a specialist because of behavioral problems may have undiagnosed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), suggest results of a new study.
Medical Xpress (Australia) - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder cases in WA doubles
The number of recorded cases of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in Western Australia has doubled in the past 30 years, demonstrating improved awareness and diagnosis of the disorder within the community.
The Conversation AU - Should scientists work with industry on alcohol policy?
It’s undeniable that there’s an irreconcilable conflict of interest in the alcohol industry being involved in developing health policy. And by participating in meetings involving industry representatives, scientists risk giving credibility to a fundamentally flawed process that’s unlikely to produce sound policy.
Medical Daily - Adolescent Alcohol Use: Parents' Attitude Toward Alcohol Often Predicts If Their Children Will Drink
A parent’s attitudes and habits more often than not influence their child’s attitudes and habits. For parents looking to protect their children against the adverse effects of alcohol use during childhood, a lax attitude toward alcohol use is not the best course of action.
Scoop.co.nz (New Zealand) - Work set to resume on new Local Alcohol Policy for Rotorua
Work on developing a new Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) for Rotorua is about to resume having been on hold pending the outcome of appeals in other cities.
Cancer Research UK (UK) - Majority of public unaware of alcohol's link with cancer
More than half of the British public are unaware of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer, according to a survey from the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA).
Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Put up drink prices to stop A&E crisis, say doctors
Doctors call for a 50p minimum unit price for alcohol to help tackle a culture of “excessive alcohol consumption”.
BBC News (Finland) - Finland: Alcohol prizes banned in pub quizzes
Pub quiz winners in Finland used to look forward to a few free pints for their efforts, but new alcohol laws mean that's now a thing of the past, it's been reported.
EurActiv (EU) - Holiday season hangovers cost €155.8 billion a year in Europe
Employee hangovers related to the holiday season are expensive for EU businesses and societies as a whole. According to a review of the academic literature done by the Toronto-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) on behalf of the Commission, alcohol‐attributable social costs are estimated at up to €155.8 billion a year in Europe.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

FASD News - 1/2015

NEWS and ARTICLES
Healio - Fetal alcohol syndrome increased psychosocial issues in adulthood
People with fetal alcohol syndrome as children may have a greater level of psychosocial outcomes as they grow older, according to a Swedish study.
KMAland - Message on Drinking When Pregnant is Clear: Zero for Nine
It is completely preventable, but based on historic rates, there will be tens of thousands of babies born in the United States this year, including hundreds in Iowa, with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Minneapolis Star Tribune (USA) - Researchers developing test for fetal brain injury
Alcohol is the leading known preventable cause of developmental and physical birth defects in the United States, according to Kidshealth.org, but many women still drink during pregnancy (either knowingly or before they know they are pregnant). About 1 in every 750 infants is born with fetal alcohol syndrome and another 40,000 with fetal alcohol effects.
iPolitics.ca (Canada) - Proposed changes to sentencing of FASD victims offer new hope to offenders
Francis Perry is an unintentional authority on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. “Most people with [FASD] have an inability to think before they act, so they often act and then they end up behind bars — then it’s too late.” Perry, a First Nations Mi’kmaq from Nova Scotia, was diagnosed with FASD when he was 20.
Lexology - Excessive alcohol consumption and the rights of a foetus
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a seven-year-old girl born with learning difficulties because her mother drank heavily while pregnant is not entitled to compensation. The court had to determine whether the harm caused by excessive alcohol consumption amounted to causing criminal injury to the child.
Daily Mail (UK) - Pregnant women should not drink AT ALL because 'no amount of alcohol is safe'
Women should not drink any alcohol while they are pregnant because of the risks to their unborn child, an MP said today. Bill Esterson wants it to be made compulsory for all alcoholic beverages to carry compulsory warning labels directed at expectant mothers.
Voice America (USA) - Developing Services for Canadians Living with FASD
Dr. Dorothy Badry, PhD, RSW, is an associate professor in the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, www.fsw.ucalgary.ca. Her doctoral dissertation, ‘Becoming a Birth Mother of a Child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome’, reviewed the lives of 8 women aged 25 to 60 who’d borne children diagnosed with the Syndrome.
Psychology Today - Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Racial and Social Class Bias
The irony of timing: just last month two articles appeared within weeks of each other. The first was published in the on-line version of Cosmo magazine, detailing why a 30-something year old new mother had decided to have the occasional drink during pregnancy, ranging from an “apple-infused craft beer — ‘sippy cup juice for adults’”— to “a glass or two of wine or a couple of beers per week” and champagne at her baby shower.

RESEARCH
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics - Fine motor skills in children with prenatal alcohol exposure or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and associated neurodevelopmental impairments. It is uncertain which types of fine motor skills are most likely to be affected after PAE or which assessment tools are most appropriate to use in FASD diagnostic assessments.
Neuroimage - Prenatal alcohol exposure reduces magnetic susceptibility contrast and anisotropy in the white matter of mouse brains
Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in long-term cognitive and behavioral deficits. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) refers to a range of permanent birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, and is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in the US.
Alcohol - Salivary cortisol levels are elevated in the afternoon and at bedtime in children with prenatal alcohol exposure
Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which may underlie some of the behavioral and adaptive problems seen in individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Prenatal alcohol exposure alters response of kisspeptin-ir neurons to estradiol and progesterone in adult female rats
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has adverse effects on reproductive function and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) activity. Kisspeptin neurons play a role in mediating feedback effects of estradiol (E-2) and progesterone (P-4) on the HPG axis.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Adolescent alcohol exposure alters GABA(A) receptor subunit expression in adult hippocampus
The long-term consequences of adolescent alcohol abuse that persist into adulthood are poorly understood and have not been widely investigated. We have shown that intermittent exposure to alcohol during adolescence decreased the amplitude of GABA(A) receptor (GABA(A)R)-mediated tonic currents in hippocampal dentate granule cells in adulthood.
Reproductive Health - Preconception care: caffeine, smoking, alcohol, drugs and other environmental chemical/radiation exposure
As providing health education, optimizing nutrition, and managing risk factors can be effective for ensuring a healthy outcome for women and her yet un-conceived baby, external influences play a significant role as well.
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth - Feasibility and acceptability of a novel, computerized screening and brief intervention (SBI) for alcohol and sweetened beverage use in pregnancy
Recommended screening and brief intervention (SBI) for alcohol use during pregnancy is impeded by high patient loads and limited resources in public health settings.
Developmental Neuroscience - Third trimester-equivalent ethanol exposure is characterized by an acute cellular stress response and an ontogenetic disruption of genes critical for synaptic establishment and function in mice
The developing brain is remarkably sensitive to alcohol exposure, resulting in the wide range of cognitive and neurobehavioral characteristics categorized under the term fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
Brain Injury - Effects of all three trimester moderate binge alcohol exposure on the foetal hippocampal formation and olfactory bulb
Pre-natal alcohol exposure results in injury to the hippocampus and olfactory bulb, but currently there is no consensus on the critical window of vulnerability.

VIDEOS and MATERIALS
YourAlberta - Practical strategies and support for families affected by FASD
Mary provides practical suggestions about what parents can do to strengthen their relationships with their children affected by FASD to give the children the best start in life.
surreyandborders - What can I do to help my child/adult with FASD? Dr Raja Mukherjee answers
City of Lakeville - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Law Enforcment
Discover more about FASD including how it happens, who is effected and what law enforcement does to try and give a measured response to those individuals who encounter police.
Jove - Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats
The goal of the protocol presented here is to describe procedures to expose rats to moderate levels of alcohol during prenatal brain development and to quantify resulting alterations in social behavior during adulthood.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Gazeta.pl (Poland) - Anna i Jarosław od 7 lat są rodzinnym pogotowiem. "Tu nie ma czego podziwiać"
Pierwsza była Zosia. Waga: niecałe dwa kilo, wzrost: tyle co długość dłoni dorosłego mężczyzny. Do tego FAS (ang. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), czyli płodowy zespół alkoholowy, dysplazja oskrzelowo-płucna i retinopatia (uszkodzenie siatkówki) trzeciego stopnia. Urodziła się w szóstym miesiącu ciąży, trzy miesiące przeleżała w inkubatorze. Matka jeszcze w szpitalu zrzekła się dziecka.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Alcohol News - 1/2015

New York Times (USA) - Alcohol Poisoning Kills 6 Americans a Day, a Federal Report Finds
Six Americans die from alcohol poisoning daily on average, and mortality rates are highest among middle-aged men, federal health authorities reported on Tuesday.
Daily Mail (UK) - Alcohol hotspots of Great Britain revealed
With soaring rates of hospital admissions - and alcohol-related liver disease - a new study has mapped how much Britons in each region are drinking – and how many are dying as a result.
Daily Mail - Pregnant women should not drink AT ALL because 'no amount of alcohol is safe'
Women should not drink any alcohol while they are pregnant because of the risks to their unborn child, an MP said today. Bill Esterson wants it to be made compulsory for all alcoholic beverages to carry compulsory warning labels directed at expectant mothers.
The New Republic - How to Curb Binge Drinking: Raise Taxes on Booze
As the government learned during Prohibition, an outright ban on alcohol isn't an effective way to stop Americans from boozing. But a new study suggests that more subtle changes to the law could help curb binge drinking.
Medical Xpress - Wealthy, male, educated, singletons risk highest alcohol consumption in later life
A decade long research project into the drinking habits of over 45s has found that rich, educated, single males are at greatest risk of failing to cut their drinking habits in later life.
Daily Mail - Binge drinking significantly disrupts immune system, study finds
New Year’s Eve may seem like a distant memory, but if you’re still feeling under the weather, the festivities could be to blame. That’s because a single episode of binge drinking significantly weakens the body’s immune system, according to research.
World Health Organization - Lifetime-risk of alcohol-attributable mortality report
Lifetime Risk of Alcohol-Attributable Mortality is a report on mortality risk based on alcohol consumption levels in seven European countries, and on implications for low-risk drinking guidelines.
Deutsche Welle (Tanzania) - Tanzania mulls action on alcohol misuse
Young, jobless Tanzanians are increasingly drowning their frustrations in cheap fake liquor. With alcohol abuse a growing public health issue, the government has promised tighter regulation. It has yet to materialize.
Deutsche Welle - Happy New Year: Alcohol is a neurotoxin
We usually toast the New Year with sparkling wine or champagne - which even in small quantities has an impact on our health and brains. But what exactly happens in our body after we've enjoyed a drink?
Hungary Today (Hungary) - FIDESZ MP: NEW RULES FOR ALCOHOL EXCISE TAX SHOULD BE INTRODUCED FROM MARCH
New rules determining the amount of an excise tax bank guarantee paid by alcohol wholesalers should be introduced from 1st of March this year instead of the original deadline of January 1, 2016, a government official said. Gergely Gulyás, the (FIDESZ) head of parliament’s legislative committee, noted that the excise tax bank guarantee paid by wholesalers on beer, wine, sparkling wine and intermediate alcoholic beverages would rise from 22 million forints (EUR 69,000) to 150 million (EUR 470,000) following passage of the tax law approved last November.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Alcohol News - Year in Review 2014


JANUARY 2014
The Local (Germany) - Alcoholism in Germany rises by a third
The number of alcoholics in Germany has increased by more than one third to almost two million, with under-25s being particularly affected, according to a study on Thursday.
Daily Mail (UK) - How ministers 'caved into the alcohol lobby': 130 meetings with supermarkets and drinks firms - then they shelved plan for minimum alcohol price
Campaigners have accused ministers of caving in to pressure from the drinks and supermarket industries to drop plans to impose a minimum price for alcohol.
Boston.com (USA) - Obama: Pot is not more dangerous than alcohol
President Barack Obama said he doesn’t think marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol, ‘‘in terms of its impact on the individual consumer.’’
Fox News (USA) - Alcohol consumption is the direct cause of 80,000 yearly deaths in the Americas
Alcohol consumption is the direct cause of nearly 80,000 deaths in the Americas each year, according to a new study. Published in the journal Addiction, the study analyzed yearly mortality rates from 16 countries in North and Latin America. The researchers focused on deaths that were specifically attributed to alcohol, meaning death would not have occurred without some form of alcohol consumption.
Daily News & Analysis - Alcohol does not just gives you a kick, it can also give you cancer: Lancet/WHO
Tipplers beware: Alcohol leads to cancer of the mouth, throat, and food pipe. Prestigious international medical journal Oral Oncology has said it in its latest edition for the first time.
Daily Mail - One binge in pregnancy 'harms child years later': Children 'more likely to be badly behaved' if their mother drinks more than two glasses of wine
Just one night out during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on the child’s behaviour, a study suggests.

FEBRUARY 2014
The Guardian - Alcohol, smoking and obesity fuel 'alarming' global cancer surge
A global drive to tackle the causes of cancer linked to lifestyle, such as alcohol abuse, sugar consumption and obesity, has been urged on Monday by the World Health Organisation as it predicted the number of new cases could soar 70% to nearly 25 million a year over the next 20 years.
The Guardian (UK) - Minimum alcohol pricing would save 860 lives a year, study finds
Introducing minimum pricing for alcohol would lead to 860 fewer deaths a year and 29,900 fewer hospital admissions among heavy-drinkers while having only a slight effect on moderate drinkers, according to research into the policy's impact.
Examiner.com - World Cancer Day: Alcohol is a carcinogen
The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) uses Feb. 4 as World Cancer Day to focus on debunking the myths about the world's leading killer. For 2014, the organization emphasizes the fifth point in their World Cancer Declaration: "Reduce stigma and dispel myths about cancer." One of many myths is that drinking alcohol is safe.
IceNews (Iceland) - Iceland ranks lowest amongst adolescent alcohol drinkers in Europe
Iceland has been ranked amongst the lowest adolescent consumers of alcohol in Europe, according to studies.
Pro Bono Australia (Australia) - Protect Children From Alcohol Advertising: National Report
The Not for Profit sector has urged the Federal Government to act quickly to protect children from unrestrained alcohol advertising on television, following the release of a national report into alcohol marketing and advertising.
Medical Daily - Legal Drinking Age Of 21 Saves Lives Every Day: Alcohol Related Injuries, Drunk Driving Significantly Less Common
A new review finds that the current legal drinking age of 21 saves lives — but critics say the benefits may come at the expense of a sensible alcohol culture.

MARCH 2014
The Independent - Drinking alcohol early in pregnancy, even in small amounts, increases chances of harming your baby, study finds
Women who drink less than the officially recommended intake of alcohol during the first weeks of pregnancy may still be at higher risk of having smaller babies or of giving birth prematurely compared to women who do not drink alcohol at all, a study has found.
NL Times (Netherlands) – Alcohol Poisoning up 350% in NL
5300 people ended up in the emergency room last year, with alcohol poisoning. In 2012, the number of drinkers who got alcohol poisoning, or ‘coma-drinkers’ stayed the same, it seems from figures out of consumer organization VeiligheidNL (SafetyNL).
BBC News - Alcohol-related brain damage report highlights concerns
A report into alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) should serve as a "wake-up call", Alcohol Concern Cymru said.

APRIL 2014
Medical News Today - Teen binge drinking linked to identifying alcohol brands in pop music
Every day in the US, the average adolescent is exposed to 2.5 hours of popular music and eight references to alcohol brands. And now, researchers have found a link between binge drinking in teens and liking, owning or correctly recognizing the brand names of alcohol mentioned in songs.
The Guardian - A bottle of wine a day is harmless? The evidence suggests otherwise
Both the Daily Mail and the Independent reported over the weekend that a bottle of wine a day might not be bad for you. The articles quote a retired Finnish professor, Kari Poikolainen.
The Guardian (UK) - Cost of alcohol credited for drop in serious violence in England and Wales
A decline in binge drinking and the rising price of alcohol is behind a dramatic 12% fall in the number of people injured in serious violence across England and Wales last year, a pioneering academic research study claims.
RT (Russia) - Online booze ban: Lawmakers target internet alcohol sales
A ruling party MP has drafted a bill banning online sales of alcohol in order to improve state control in this sphere and protect customers from buying uncertified and potentially dangerous drinks.

MAY 2014
The Guardian (Scotland) - Minimum alcohol price plan referred to European court by Scottish judges
A plan to set a minimum price for all alcoholic drinks in Scotland has been referred by appeal judges to the European court of justice, after a long legal battle waged by the whisky industry.
Medscape - No Amount of Alcohol Is Safe
"Responsible drinking" has become a 21st-century mantra for how most people view alcohol consumption. But when it comes to cancer, no amount of alcohol is safe.[1] That is the conclusion of the 2014 World Cancer Report (WCR), issued by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
WalesOnline (Wales) - 'Terrifying' drinking levels see Welsh hospitals dealing with alcohol-related admission every 35 minutes
Hospitals in Wales are dealing with an alcohol-related admission every 35 minutes on average, shocking new figures have revealed. Statistics obtained by WalesOnline show the number of admissions to Welsh hospitals where alcohol was a primary or secondary diagnosis reached 14,907 in 2012-2013.
HealthCanal.com (Australia) - Raising the legal age for alcohol purchase to 21 would reduce alcohol-related harm in Australia
There is strong evidence and increasing support to raise the minimum age for purchasing alcohol from 18 to 21, leading public health experts argue in The Medical Journal of Australia (MJA).

JUNE 2014
Headlines & Global News - Listening to Words Related to Alcohol Increases Aggression: Study
Listening to alcohol related words leads to aggressive behavior in some people similar to the effect of drinking, a new study shows.
The Globe and Mail (Canada) - Canadians grossly underestimate their alcohol consumption, study says
It turns out Canadians lowball the amount of alcohol they drink by up to a whopping 75 per cent, especially when it comes to wine.
The Guardian (UK) - Alcohol firms funding charities in order to gain political influence, claims study
Alcohol firms are adopting contentious tactics pioneered by the tobacco industry by funding charities in order to gain influence inside government, researchers claim in a new study published on Tuesday.
MinnPost.com (Brazil) - Alcohol industry wins, public health loses at World Cup 2014
Brazil may be favored to win the 2014 World Cup, which begins on Thursday, but the real winner will be the alcohol industry — and the real loser will be public health — according to a troubling article published today in the BMJ (formerly known as the British Medical Journal).

JULY 2014
FleetNews (EU) - EU backs future role for alcohol interlocks
Two new EU reports support measures to boost the use of alcohol interlocks in passenger and goods vehicles in the EU. The study by Italian consultancy TRT for the European Parliament (EP) goes as far as recommending legislation.
EurActiv (EU) - Alcohol still the number one killer on Europe's roads
Alcohol remains the number one substance endangering lives on European roads. But use of drugs and medicines behind the wheel, also combined with alcohol, is likewise a major challenge for policymakers, says a new report by the EU's drug agency EMCDDA.
Helsinki Times (Finland) - Study: Most Finns suffer from other people's alcohol use
Those who work in preventive substance work are disappointed by the fact that government parties decided to suspend the alcohol legislation amendment recently. The main objective of the reform was to significantly reduce the adverse effects of alcohol, and it was set to come into effect by 2015.

AUGUST 2014
PsychCentral.com - Alcohol Commercials Strongly Affect Underage Drinkers
New research shows a strong link between alcohol advertising and underage drinking. In fact, young drinkers are three times more likely to choose alcohol brands whose commercials appear on their favorite television shows compared to other alcohol brands, according to a new study from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Boston University School of Public Health.
MorningAdvertiser.co.uk (EU) - Inquiry launched into new EU Alcohol Strategy
The House of Lords is urging the pub sector to give its views on a new EU Alcohol Strategy.
The Age (Australia) - Alcohol kills 15 Australians a day, national report shows
Fifteen Australians die each day and 430 are hospitalised because of alcohol, according to a report on the national burden of booze.
Wall Street Journal - Which Country Drinks the Most Alcohol?
It has been established that the most expensive beer in the world is sold in Norway, while the cheapest can be chugged in Poland. But in which country is the most alcohol drunk?
CNBCAfrica.com - ALCOHOL ADVERTISING BANS SWEEP SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
The ban on alcohol advertising is picking up steam as Kenya, Botswana and South Africa gear up to impose the new regulations in the sector.

SEPTEMBER 2014
New Channel Daily - No Amount of Alcohol Safe, says World Health Organization
The long-held belief that moderate alcohol consumption benefits one’s health has been contradicted by many studies in the past, creating mixed opinions on the belief. However, earlier this year, the World Health Organization released a report that vehemently suggested a link between cancer and alcohol, which ultimately labeled any amount of alcohol unsafe.
Johns Hopkins News-Letter - "Drink Responsibly" campaigns found to be ineffective
Vague, indeterminate and ubiquitous, the "Drink Responsibly" message featured in alcohol advertisements fails to explicate the details of safe drinking, instead promoting consumer loyalty to brands associated with such slogans.

OCTOBER 2014
CBC.ca (Canada) - Moderate alcohol use increases breast cancer risk, UVic study says
Even moderate drinkers face an elevated risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new study from the University of Victoria’s Centre for Addictions Research of B.C. (CARBC).
WebMD - More Kids Harmed by Pregnant Drinking Than Thought
Although drinking during pregnancy has long been considered taboo, new research suggests that as many as one in 20 U.S. children may have health or behavioral problems related to alcohol exposure before birth.

NOVEMBER 2014
The Telegraph - FIA President Jean Todt under fire for failure to ban alcohol sponsorship in Formula One
Jean Todt, the FIA President, has come under fire for failing to ban alcohol sponsorship in Formula One, as pressure to ban alcohol advertising in sport at a European level grows.
BMC Medicine - Why does society accept a higher risk for alcohol than for other voluntary or involuntary risks?
Societies tend to accept much higher risks for voluntary behaviours, those based on individual decisions (for example, to smoke, to consume alcohol, or to ski), than for involuntary exposure such as exposure to risks in soil, drinking water or air. In high-income societies, an acceptable risk to those voluntarily engaging in a risky behaviour seems to be about one death in 1,000 on a lifetime basis.
New Zealand Herald (New Zealand) - 92% of emergency staff abused by drunks, poll finds
Pushing, punching, spitting and biting are all behaviours emergency department staff have to deal with when treating drunk patients, a new survey has found - and a startling nine out of every 10 staff have been subjected to the abuse.
Medical News Today - Moderate alcohol benefits: only for 15% of population
Alcoholic consumption (ethanol intake) at "moderate" level, up to 1 drink a day for women (corresponding to 14 g or 0.6 ounces of ethanol) and 2 drinks a day for men is associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease.
TheParliamentMagazine.eu (EU) - Alcohol must be 'top public health priority'
Raising awareness and developing a common evidence base are crucial to reducing alcohol-related harm, write Gauden Galea and Lars Møller.

DECEMBER 2014
The Moscow Times (Russia) - Alcohol Kills 500,000 Russians Annually
Around 500,000 Russians die due to alcohol abuse every year, Russia's health and safety watchdog said in a statement Monday.
Daily Mail - Drinking a glass of wine is the same as downing three shots of vodka, says NHS chief as he warns of 'silent killer'
An NHS chief has said alcohol is becoming a 'silent killer' in the UK as he warned middle class drinkers that a glass of wine is just as harmful as downing three shots of vodka.
BBC News (UK) - Minimum alcohol price law 'could save £900m'
Setting a minimum alcohol price of 50p per unit could save Wales nearly £900m over 20 years by cutting crime and illness, a report has claimed.
BBC News - Foetal alcohol syndrome case dismissed by Court of Appeal
A child born with foetal alcohol syndrome is not legally entitled to compensation after her mother drank excessively while pregnant, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Channel News Asia - 1 in 10 fatal accidents worldwide linked to alcohol: Study
Middle East, the Asia Pacific and Africa trend below global average, according to World Health Organisation data analysed by Allianz.