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Monday, December 28, 2009

Alcohol News - 52/2009

Herald Sun (Australia) - Alcohol intake triples during the Christmas festive season, charity FabFast finds
AUSSIES are getting very jolly in the festive season, with new research showing we drink three times as much over the Christmas/New Year part season.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/alcohol-intake-triples-during-the-christmas-festive-season-charity-fabfast-finds/story-e6frf7l6-1225814123689

WFIE-TV - Researchers find link between alcohol and breast cancer
A study by Japan's Health Ministry showed that women who drink heavily are 75 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than those who abstain from alcohol.
http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=11733095

Washington Post (Russia) - Top Russian doctor accuses brewers of spiking beer
Russia's top drug and alcohol specialist accused brewers on Friday of adding pure alcohol to their product, a charge rejected by firms in the latest spat between the industry and regulators.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/25/AR2009122501301.html

Radio New Zealand International (Fiji) - Fiji NGO speaks out about easier access to alcohol
The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre says the interim regime’s decision to liberalise access to alcohol is a bad move for the country.
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=51141

guardian.co.uk (UK) - Teenage alcohol abuse up, but fewer people counselled for hard drug use
Record numbers of teenagers are receiving help for drug and alcohol problems, but the number of those undergoing counselling for heroin and crack use is falling, official figures show.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/dec/23/teenage-drug-use-cocaine-heroin

Mirror (UK) - Drunken driving costs add up financially, personally
Ron W. is learning the hard way that he can't afford to drink and drive. The $2,000 in fines and court fees, $20 a week for alcohol testing and the loss of a job were only the financial costs imposed on him when he was sent to jail for 90 days over the holidays last year.
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20091227/NEWS06/912270419

Times of India (India) - 'Alcohol tests for pilots on intl flights mandatory'
India's aviation regulator has struck a sobering note — don't get high before take off — for pilots of Indian carriers operating international flights this Yuletide. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has made it mandatory for Air India, Jet and Kingfisher to do 100% alcohol testing for all pilots operating flights out of India.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Alcohol-tests-for-pilots-on-intl-flights-mandatory/articleshow/5379657.cms

Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Alcohol-fuelled disorder costs every home £600 a year
Alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder is costing every household almost £600 a year as the true impact of the country's drink problem is exposed for the first time.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6866448/Alcohol-fuelled-disorder-costs-every-home-600-a-year.html

BBC News (Scotland) - Health chiefs in booze price plea
All 17 of Scotland's public health chiefs have called on politicians to back a minimum price for alcohol.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8429145.stm

Baltimore Jewish Times (Israel) - Israeli Cabinet Advances Bill on Limiting Alcohol
The bill, passed Sunday, also bans the sale of alcohol in public places and would impose large fines on those who sell alcohol to minors.
http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/news/jt/israel_news/israeli_cabinet_advances_bill_on_limiting_alcohol/16238

7thSpace Interactive - Mice injected with ghrelin and then given the choice of alcohol or water to drink, were more likely to choose alcohol
A Faculty of 1000 evaluation examines how a stomach-produced hormone that influences the desire to eat and consume alcohol could be switched off to control drinking problems.
http://7thspace.com/headlines/330014/mice_injected_with_ghrelin_and_then_given_the_choice_of_alcohol_or_water_to_drink_were_more_likely_to_choose_alcohol.html

Prague Post (Czech Republic) - New drug guidelines are Europe's most liberal
Long known for a liberal policy on drugs, the Czech Republic is now officially quantifying its status as one of European Union's most lenient member states when it comes to decriminalizing drug possession.
http://www.praguepost.com/news/3194-new-drug-guidelines-are-europes-most-liberal.html

Huffington Post - Alcohol Consumption Around The World (PHOTOS, POLL)
The OECD data shows alcohol consumption in liters per capita for people 15 year old and over. The data is from 2007 or the latest year available.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/21/alcohol-consumption-aroun_n_399684.html

The Local (Sweden) - Sweden heads toward new wine sales record
More than 170 million litres of wine are expected to fly off the shelves of Sweden’s state-owned alcohol monopoly Systembolaget by the end of 2009, setting a new record.
http://www.thelocal.se/23832/20091214/

Deutsche Welle (Germany) - Fears rise as binge drinking among youths increases
Significant increases in youth binge drinking and hospitalizations has government officials worried. Experts are considering new methods to prevent German children from harming themselves through consuming alcohol.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5017116,00.html

Monday, December 21, 2009

Alcohol News - 51/2009

Ha'aretz (Israel) - Government okays ban on sale of alcohol from 11 P.M. to 7 A.M.
The ban, which is part of Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch's campaign to minimize alcohol consumption, will go into effect pending Knesset approval.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1136478.html

Daily News & Analysis (UK) - Alcohol cheaper than water in United Kingdom
Alcohol is cheaper than water at some supermarkets in Britain. Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's have marked the price of beer at 5poundper 100ml, while 100ml brand-name mineral water is available for 8pound.
http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_alcohol-cheaper-than-water-in-united-kingdom_1325611

WebMD - Abuse of Alcohol, Pot Linked to Same Genes
Now new research suggests that many of the same genetic factors that lead people to drink alcohol also lead them to smoke marijuana.
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20091218/abuse-of-alcohol-pot-linked-to-same-genes

AFP (UK) - Top doctor tells parents not to give children alcohol
The country's top doctor warned parents on Thursday that they should not allow children under the age of 15 to consume alcohol.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i4Fka72Odn3mw_RfsA2yoA5aPL7A

NEWS.com.au (Australia) - Experts warn that alcohol is not digested as fast as you may think
FESTIVE drinks the night before can still put you over the limit the next morning - and experts warn a sleep and a shower are not always enough to sober up.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,,26510811-2682,00.html

Chicago Tribune (USA) - Proposal would require absolute sobriety at school
Anyone under age 21 would have to be completely sober whenever on school grounds under a bill introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-xgr-schoolsobriet,0,514219.story

Irish Independent (Ireland) - The new female wine culture is a ticking time-bomb of alcoholism
WOMEN are drinking too much -- and its not teenagers out on the binge, it's the middle-aged housewives lashing into the bottles of wine in the comfort of their own homes.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/the-new-female-wine-culture-is-a-ticking-timebomb-of-alcoholism-1982431.html

The Baltic Course (Latvia) - Alcohol producers and distributors in Latvia present state officials with empty vodka bottles for Christmas
Cabinet ministers, the head of the government and chairpersons of several Saeima committees will receive empty 0.7-liter vodka bottles adorned with black ribbons and labels stating "Legal Alcohol 2009" as gifts from the Latvian Association of Alcohol Producers and Distributors, as the association's representatives informed the business portal Nozare.lv.
http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/markets_and_companies/?doc=21774

BBC News (Australia) - Australian police crack down on alcohol violence
Australian police are beginning their biggest co-ordinated operation to curb alcohol-related violence nationwide.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8407309.stm

Peace fm Online (Ghana) - Ghanaians Spend 10.3% Of Their Income On Alcohol
Records at the Ghana statistical Service indicate that Ghanaians spend about 10.3 per cent of their annual income on alcohol and tobacco.
http://news.peacefmonline.com/social/200912/34991.php

dBTechno - Alcoholic Hangovers Impair Judgement of Drinkers
Results of a new study show that young people can be thrown off their game when they experience a hangover from too much alcohol.
http://www.dbtechno.com/health/2009/12/21/alcoholic-hangovers-impair-judgement-of-drinkers/

Daily News & Analysis - Alcohol outlets pave way for specific problems among youngsters
Off-premise alcohol outlets and bars have a link with traffic crashes and assaults among youngsters, claims a new study.
http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report_alcohol-outlets-pave-way-for-specific-problems-among-youngsters_1325319

Miadhu (Maldives) - A new law on submitting sale of alcohol submitted to Parliament
MP for Fares Mathoda, Ibrahim Muththalib had submitted another law which would prohibit the sale of alcohol in inhabited islands. He had also submitted a bill with the same effect earlier which was rejected by the Parliament.
http://www.miadhu.com.mv/2009/12/local-news/a-new-law-on-submitting-sale-of-alcohol-submitted-to-parliament/

Politics Daily (EU) - Professional Women More Likely to Be Heavy Drinkers, European Study Finds
A new study in Europe shows that highly educated, professional women drink more often and more heavily than almost any other female group.
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/12/21/european-study-professional-women-more-likely-to-be-problem-dri/

Charleston Gazette (USA) - 1 in 5 W.Va. babies exposed to drugs or alcohol
Nearly one-fifth of babies in West Virginia are born to mothers who used drugs or alcohol while pregnant, a new study shows - evidence of a problem far worse than previous research has revealed.
http://wvgazette.com/ap/ApTopStories/200912130272

PR Newswire (USA) - U.S. Government Booklet 'Rethinking Drinking' Reinforces Responsible Decisions About Alcohol During the Holidays
At an important briefing yesterday at the National Press Club, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism showcased an informative, free consumer booklet to encourage responsible drinking decisions during the holiday season and beyond.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-government-booklet-rethinking-drinking-reinforces-responsible-decisions-about-alcohol-during-the-holidays-79548992.html

Helsingin Sanomat (Finland) - Alcohol consumption goes down a fraction
In 2008, the aggregate alcohol consumption in Finland went down marginally compared with the year before.
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Alcohol+consumption+goes+down+a+fraction/1135251494911

Monday, December 14, 2009

Alcohol News - 50/2009

Examiner.com - Alcohol consumption increases breast cancer recurrence
A new study states that moderate alcohol consumption can increase a woman's risk for her breast cancer to come back.
http://www.examiner.com/x-12571-Buffalo-Senior-Care-Examiner~y2009m12d13-Alcohol-consumption-increases-breast-cancer-recurrence

Mirror.co.uk (UK) - Cheap alcohol is fuelling rise in youth crime
Selling kids booze at "pocket money prices" has caused a huge rise in youth crime figures, it was claimed yesterday.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/12/14/cheap-alcohol-is-fuelling-rise-in-youth-crime-115875-21895847/

Daily Mail (UK) – Drunk men who demand sex from partner should be 'treated as rapists'
Drunken men who demand sex from their wives or girlfriends should be treated as rapists and no longer allowed to claim their judgment was blurred by alcohol, according to the head of the government's review of the rape laws.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/dec/14/stern-review-rape-laws-alcohol

New York Daily News - Coffee won't cure your hangover, and may lead to poor decision-making: study
Researchers have concluded that while drinking coffee after consuming alcohol may make you feel more awake, it doesn’t actually make you more sober - and that combination could lead to poor decision-making, reports WebMD.com.
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2009/12/11/2009-12-11_coffee_wont_cure_your_hangover_and_may_lead_to_poor_decisionmaking_study.html

Medical News Today (UK) - British Festive Drinking Will Exceed 600 Million Units Of Alcohol
An alcohol awareness charity estimates that Britons will be consuming at least 602 million units of alcohol over the festive period in December: they say the equivalent of 265 million pints, 602 million shots of vodka or 286 million glasses of mulled wine will be drunk at work Christmas parties and on Christmas day, with nearly half of consumers predicting they will be drinking more than the recommended daily unit guidelines.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173902.php

The Herald (UK) - Alcohol 'will become nation's biggest killer'
ONE of Britain's leading experts on the effects of drugs has called for drinking laws to be tightened up – and a big hike in the price of booze.
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Alcohol-nation-s-biggest-killer/article-1602103-detail/article.html

Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - Call for public drunkenness to be illegal
A police crackdown on alcohol-fuelled violence has prompted the Hospitality Association of New Zealand (HANZ) to call for public drunkenness to be illegal.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3155814/Call-for-public-drunkenness-to-be-illegal

The Press Association (Scotland) - SNP in new push on alcohol pricing
The Scottish Government has launched a fresh bid to win support for a minimum price for alcohol - by pointing to looming tax rises.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gMnR6xu0lE98W9UVuPcY-G-EMxIg

Inquirer.net (EU) - EU turns to WTO over unfair RP alcohol tax
The European Union has asked the World Trade Organization to establish a panel to decide on the Philippines' excise tax regime on alcoholic drinks which it “discriminates against imports and is thereby in clear breach of international trade rules.”
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20091213-241777/EU-turns-to-WTO-over-unfair-RP-alcohol-tax

Irish Times (Ireland) - Duty on alcohol, VAT reduced
Excise duty on alcohol is to be cut and the VAT rate restored to 21 per cent in an attempt to stem the flow of cross-Border shopping, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said yesterday.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1210/breaking27.htm

Namibia Economist (Namibia) - Alcohol abuse leads to increased HIV infections
Excessive alcohol abuse amongst Namibians is one of the main causes fuelling the spread of HIV and AIDS, according to a 2008 report on the behavioural and contextual factors driving the epidemic in Namibia.
http://www.economist.com.na/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20618:alcohol-abuse-leads-to-increased-hiv-infections&catid=534:community-a-culture&Itemid=58

Science Daily - Head and Neck Cancer Survivors Who Use Alcohol and Cigarettes Have Increased Death Risk
Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption before head and neck cancer diagnosis strongly predicts the patient's future risk of death, according to published studies.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091203090105.htm

The Age (Australia) - Roxon rejects advice on drinking age
THE Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, has rejected a call from the Prime Minister's advisory body on drugs to consider lifting the drinking age.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/roxon-rejects-advice-on-drinking-age-20091213-kqif.html

OECD report - Alcohol consumption among adults
The global health burden related to excessive alcohol consumption, both in terms of morbidity and mortality, is considerable in most parts of the world.
http://www.oecdilibrary.org/oecd/sites/health_glance-2009-en/02/06/index.html?contentType=&itemId=/content/serial/19991312

Monday, December 7, 2009

Alcohol News - 49/2009

The Independent (UK) - Minimum alcohol price 'would cut binge drinking'

Alcohol should be priced at a minimum of 60p per unit to drive down binge drinking, public health experts said today.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/minimum-alcohol-price-would-cut-binge-drinking-1835850.html

Daily Mail (UK) - Drinking epidemic 'fuels surge in cancer'

Round-the-clock drinking and cut-price alcohol are to blame for an 'appalling' rise in cancers, experts warned today.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1233722/Drinking-epidemic-fuels-surge-cancer.html

7thSpace Interactive - The association between alcohol use, alcohol usedisorders and tuberculosis

In 2004, tuberculosis (TB) was responsible for 2.5% of global mortality (among men 3.1%; among women 1.8%) and 2.2% of global burden of disease (men 2.7%; women 1.7%).
http://7thspace.com/headlines/327920/the_association_between_alcohol_use_alcohol_usedisorders_and_tuberculosis_tb__a_systematic_review.html

Science Daily - Head and Neck Cancer Survivors Who Use Alcohol and Cigarettes Have Increased Death Risk

Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption before head and neck cancer diagnosis strongly predicts the patient's future risk of death, according to published studies.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091203090105.htm

BBC News (UK) - BrewDog Beer of 18.2% faces ban over label message

An 18.2% beer made by a controversial Scottish brewery should not be be sold by bars, clubs and shops across the UK, a watchdog has ruled.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/8392807.stm

BBC News (UK) - A mobile phone 'alcohol tracker' is to be launched

Festive drinkers will be able to keep track of their alcohol habits through an interactive mobile phone application.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8386531.stm

BBC News (UK) - Drink-drive limit to be examined by legal expert

The government has asked a legal expert to examine the case for lowering the legal alcohol limit for drivers and tightening the laws on drug-driving.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8392716.stm

Science Daily - Alcohol Companies Target Youths With Magazine Ads, New Study Shows

Alcoholic beverages popular among youths are more likely to be advertised in magazines with high youth readership than alcoholic drinks consumed mainly by adults, resulting in disproportionately high youth exposure to such targeted alcohol ads, according to a new study.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091202114034.htm

Herald Sun (Australia) - Alcohol rehab numbers outstrip hard drugs

ALCOHOL has again outstripped illicit drugs like heroin and ice as the number one reason for admissions at a major Australian rehab service.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/alcohol-rehab-numbers-outstrip-hard-drugs/story-e6frf7jx-1225806823504

Barcelona Reporter (Spain) - 75% of Spanish drivers, favour a ‘zero alcohol law’ at the wheel, according to a study of AXA

The study also indicates that 89 percent consider it necessary to include road safety in the educational system.
http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php?/news/comments/75_of_spanish_drivers_favour_a_zero_alcohol_law_at_the_wheel_according_to_a/

IceNews - Finnish study reveals carcinogenic link to alcohol

Tobacco and alcohol both contain similar carcinogenic substances, with the risk of cancer increased if one is vulnerable to the effects of alcohol in low doses, according to Finnish research.
http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2009/12/01/finnish-study-reveals-carcinogenic-link-to-alcohol/

Alfa.lt (Lithuania) - Seimas rows back on plan to stop kiosk beer sales

Lithuania's parliament has voted in favour of amending a law that would have seen corner kiosks banned from selling beer and cider in the new year.
http://www.alfa.lt/straipsnis/10302633/?Seimas.rows.back.on.plan.to.stop.kiosk.beer.sales=2009-12-03_09-25

Monday, November 30, 2009

Alcohol News - 48/2009

OnMedica (Europe) - Alcohol prompts rise in mouth and gullet cancers

Deaths from lung, stomach and bowel cancers have fallen steadily in Europe since the 1990s, new figures show. But alcohol related cancers, particularly among UK women, are on the rise.
http://www.onmedica.com/news/19b0ba44-f65b-408c-ae5e-b8a851063f14/alcohol-prompts-rise-in-mouth-and-gullet-cancers

Daily Mail (UK) - Average Briton drinks 84 times their bodyweight in alcohol

The average adult consumes 84 times their body weight in alcoholic beverages in their lifetime, research has suggested.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232115/Average-Briton-drinks-84-times-bodyweight-alcohol.html

Bloomberg (Scotland) - Scotland Aims to Get Tough on Booze Culture, Lift Alcohol Price

Scotland plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol, clamping down on retailers selling drinks too cheaply in a country whose booze culture kills more than 3,000 people a year.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=akEY3u1abpSY

The Age (Australia) - War on drink violence could take decades

POLICE Chief Commissioner Simon Overland will today declare the battle to beat alcohol-fuelled violence may take decades and will launch an attack on ''profit-hungry businesses'' that he says encourage binge drinking.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/war-on-drink-violence-could-take-decades-20091130-k18i.html

The Exponent - Study: Half of women prefer to drink before sex

A recent study found that almost 50 percent of women prefer to have sex while under the influence of alcohol.
http://www.purdueexponent.org/index.php/module/Section/section_id/18?module=article&story_id=18982

Washington Post - Fetal alcohol syndrome's long-lasting impression

The symptoms of FAS vary by child, depending on how much alcohol their mothers drank when they were pregnant -- and when.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/26/AR2009112602162.html?hpid=sec-artsliving

UK Express - BINGE DRINKERS: GYM TRIPS ‘WON’T BEAT ALCOHOL RISKS’

BINGE drinkers who hit the gym after a heavy night may be doing little for their health, doctors said yesterday.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/142484/Binge-drinkers-Gym-trips-won-t-beat-alcohol-risks-

ABC Online (Australia) - Zero alcohol limit extended

Cabinet has approved new laws imposing a zero alcohol limit on all learner and provisional licensed drivers in Queensland, regardless of their age.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/23/2751110.htm

Ha'aretz (Israel) - Proposal would ban drinking in parked cars after 11 P.M.

Drinking alcohol in a parked car will be considered public drinking and will therefore be banned after 11 P.M., under a Public Security Ministry proposal paving the way for a Knesset vote.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131602.html

Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - 700,000 drinkers 'in need of help'

At least 700,000 problem drinkers need help, medical leaders say in "a historic and unprecedented" push to change alcohol laws.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/3101488/700-000-drinkers-in-need-of-help

New Zealand Herald (New Zealand) - 'Sophistication' turned into binge-booze culture

A once-in-a-generation "first principles" review of the liquor laws is being conducted by the Law Commission, headed by former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10612387

BBC News (India) - Delhi gets tough on drink drivers

A court in the Indian capital, Delhi, has ruled that those driving under the influence of alcohol could lose their driving licence.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8380204.stm

Ireland Online (Ireland) - Alcohol-related crimes rise 30% in four years

There was a 30% increase in the number of alcohol-related crimes between 2003 and 2007.
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/ireland/alcoholrelated-crimes-rise-30-in-four-years-435832.html

Estonian Free press (Estonia) - WHO: Estonia Second for Alcohol Consumption in EU

Estonia is on the second place right behind Czech Republic for alcohol consumption. While according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) already 6 litres of absolute alcohol per year per person is dangerous for health then here the numbers reach even 12 litres.
http://www.estonianfreepress.com/2009/11/whoestonia-alcohol-consumption-in-eu/

Monday, November 23, 2009

Alcohol News - 47/2009

BBC News (Wales) - 'Minimum price' demand on alcohol

The availability of cheap alcohol has led to calls for minimum prices in Wales to change the drinking culture.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8373721.stm

Scottish Daily Record (Scotland) - There's no quick fix to Scotland's problem relationship with drink, says MSP

SCOTLAND has always had a complex relationship with alcohol. Too many Scots drink to excess, with devastating health and social consequences.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/2009/11/23/there-s-no-quick-fix-to-scotland-s-problem-relationship-with-drink-says-msp-86908-21843364/

Telegraph.co.uk - Moderate drinking while pregnant doubles risk of child becoming depressed

Researchers found that drinking up to a bottle of wine a week in the first trimester appeared to double the chance of a child becoming anxious or depressed. If the mother drank more than this, the risk trebled.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6630115/Moderate-drinking-while-pregnant-doubles-risk-of-child-becoming-depressed.html

MaleHealth - Healthy drinking, healthy heart - is it so simple?

Regular moderate drinking appears to lower the risk of serious heart disease by almost a third in men. Spanish men, anyway. But is alcohol the real cause?
http://www.malehealth.co.uk/userpage1.cfm?item_id=2926

Science Daily - Older Problem Drinkers Use More Alcohol Than Do Their Younger Counterparts

Older adults who have alcohol dependence problems drink significantly more than do younger adults who have similar problems, a new study has found.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091120124831.htm

Xinhua (Israel) - Alcohol at "epidemic" levels among Israeli teenagers

The Israeli government has pledged to tackle what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dubbed on Sunday as the "epidemic" of adolescents drinking alcohol.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/17/content_12470925.htm

Science Daily - Intervention Can Reduce Hostile Perceptions in Children With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has been linked to a wide array of developmental deficits, including significant impairments in social skills.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091119193630.htm

Earthtimes - Alcohol and obesity leading causes of fatty liver

It's tempting to eat heartily in the bitter cold of winter and the holidays seem like a perfect time to knock back a few drinks.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/295801,alcohol-and-obesity-leading-causes-of-fatty-liver.html

NEWS.com.au (Australia) - Push to raise legal drinking age above 18 under plans for booze blitz

THERE were calls to lift the legal drinking age above 18 yesterday under plans for an Australia-wide crackdown on booze-fuelled crime.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26375122-5017817,00.html

New York Times (USA) - A New View of Alcoholism

This week, Dr. Mark L. Willenbring, director of the Treatment and Recovery Research Division of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and clinical professor of psychiatry at George Washington University School of Medicine, joins the Consults blog to answer readers’ questions about alcoholism.
http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/a-new-view-of-alcoholism/?scp=2&sq=Challenging%20Old%20Assumptions%20About%20Alcoholism&st=cse

Monday, November 16, 2009

Alcohol News - 46/2009

AboutLawsuits.com (USA) - Alcohol Energy Drink Safety Questioned by FDA

The FDA has notified the makers of alcohol energy drinks, such as Joose and Liquid Charge, that they have 30 days to establish that adding caffeine to the alcohol is safe and legal.
http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/alcohol-energy-drink-safety-questioned-6952/

The Moscow Times (Russia) - Putin Calls Hip-Hop a Cure for Booze, Drugs

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he thought that hip-hop could be a cure for alcohol and drug abuse and praised the country’s rappers for refining an otherwise alien culture by putting “Russian charm” into it.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-calls-hip-hop-a-cure-for-booze-drugs/389509.html

Reuters (Japan) - In binge-tolerant Japan, alcoholism not seen as disease

When Japanese civil servant Yoshiyuki Takeuchi saw himself lagging behind his peers at work, alcohol was the only thing he felt he could turn to, becoming the latest victim of an addiction poorly understood in Japan.
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUST327801

guardian.co.uk (WHO) - Alcohol price controls suggested by World Health Organisation

Minimum price controls should be imposed on alcohol and tougher drink-driving laws introduced, policy options circulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggest.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/16/alcohol-minimum-price-controls

RTE.ie (Ireland) - Bishop calls for alcohol bans

A Dublin bishop has called for the advertising of alcohol and sponsorship by drinks companies to be banned at all sporting events.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1116/alcohol.html

BBC News (UK) - Alcohol pricing backed by experts

A minimum price for alcohol would have a "considerable" impact if it was set at 60p a unit, a public health expert has said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8361159.stm

Ha'aretz (Israel) - State launches new program to combat underage drinking

The government has authorized NIS 27 million to fund a new program to fight underage drinking.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1128401.html

The Breeze (USA) - Alcohol Ads Ban is Appealed

A ban on alcohol-related advertising in college newspapers could be re-instated. The Alcohol Beverage Control Board appealed to the 4th U.S. Court of Appeals in an attempt to control underaged drinking. There has been no ruling yet from the Oct. 29 case.
http://breezejmu.org/2009/11/16/alcohol-ads-ban-is-appealed/

YLE News (Finland) - Finns Down More Alcohol Than Nordic Neighbours

Finnish people consumed more alcohol last year than citizens of any other Nordic country, according to the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and other Nordic statistics agencies. In past years, the Danes drank the most alcohol per capita.
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/11/finns_down_more_alcohol_than_nordic_neighbours_1162913.html

Daily Mail (UK) - Binge Britain: Nightclub slammed over '69p for any drink' promotion

A nightclub has sparked anger by hosting a night where alcoholic drinks will cost just 69p.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1228169/Binge-Britain-Nightclub-unveils-cut-price-69p-drinks-promotion.html

Science Daily - Scientists Call For Ban On Alcohol-Industry Sponsorship Of Sport

The alcohol industry's sponsorship of sport should be banned and replaced with a dedicated alcohol tax modelled on those employed by some countries for tobacco, say scientists.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091109194743.htm

ABC Online (Australia) - High Court ruling uncorks alcohol concerns

Public health advocates in Australia are warning that a High Court ruling on the responsibility of publicans to their patrons will undermine national laws about the responsible service of alcohol.
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2009/s2739768.htm

TheParliament.com (EU) - EU urged to avoid 'restrictive' measures against brewers

EU health ministers have been urged not to impose "restrictive" measures in order to combat the problem of alcohol abuse.
http://www.theparliament.com/no_cache/latestnews/news-article/newsarticle/eu-urged-to-avoid-restrictive-measures-against-brewers/

Telegraph (UK) - 24-hour drinking 'leaves police dangerously stretched,' warns assistant chief constable

The introduction of 24-hour drinking has backfired as alcohol-fuelled disorder in cities now persists throughout the night leaving police dangerously stretched, an assistant chief constable has warned.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6564224/24-hour-drinking-leaves-police-dangerously-stretched-warns-assistant-chief-constable.html

SHAAP - Untold Damage: Children's accounts of living with harmful parental drinking

A study looking at the effects of harmful drinking by parents on the lives of children in Scotland. The study highlights children’s accounts of the severe negative impacts of harmful parental drinking on their lives including emotional stress, physical abuse and neglect.
http://www.work-interactive-test.co.uk/UserFiles/File/Reports%20and%20Briefings/Untold%20Damage%20full%20report.pdf

Monday, November 9, 2009

Alcohol News - week 45/2009

guardian.co.uk - Warning of extra heart dangers from mixing cocaine and alcohol

A third chemical – cocaethylene – builds up in the liver over a number of years among those who mix the two drugs. And this is now having major health consequences.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/08/cocaine-alcohol-mixture-health-risks

New York Times (Russia) - Russians Comment on Ways to Curb the Use of Alcohol

How hard will it be for the Russian government to reduce the country’s alcohol consumption? The New York Times asked readers of its Russian-language blog on livejournal.com for their thoughts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/world/europe/03russia.html

WalesOnline (Wales) - Alcohol watchdog warning over free CeltFest drinks

THE Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs has condemned the decision to give thousands of party-goers two free pints each as “irresponsible”.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/11/07/alcohol-watchdog-warning-over-free-celtfest-drinks-91466-25111397/

Boston Globe (USA) - Alcohol ads on the T reaching school children, BU study warns

Alcohol advertising inside MBTA subway cars reaches thousands of Boston Public School students every school day, a new study from Boston University reports, exposing young people to the kind of messages that research links to increased underage drinking.
http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2009/11/alcohol_adverti.html

Atlanta Journal Constitution - Binge Drinking Puts the Brain, and Life Itself, at Risk

Nearly half of students at four-year colleges do it regularly (and, it's not sex). Rather, it's binge drinking -- downing five or more alcoholic drinks at a sitting.
http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/alca/629300.html

Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Alcohol minimum pricing plan 'all but dead', claim Scottish Tories

SNP ministers’ attempt to introduce a minimum price for alcohol is “all but dead” following a Holyrood debate on the measure, the Tories have claimed.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/6509524/Alcohol-minimum-pricing-plan-all-but-dead-claim-Scottish-Tories.html

Himalayan Times (Nepal) - 37 pc Nepalis hooked on tobacco; 29 pc on alcohol: Survey

A survey of 15-64 years old concluded in 15 districts across the country over a period of three months has unveiled a frightening data on the use of tobacco in Nepal. The survey has concluded that 37 percent of the total population in the country are tobacco users.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=37+pc+Nepalis+hooked+on+tobacco%3B+29+pc+on+alcohol%3A+Survey+&NewsID=45743

Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Alcohol gravest threat to society, claims sacked scientist

The minimum drinking age should be increased to 21 and the price of alcohol tripled in order to tackle what will soon be the "biggest killer" in modern society, claimed the sacked head of the government's drug advisory body.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6502063/Alcohol-gravest-threat-to-society-claims-sacked-scientist.html

ABC Online (Australia) - Call to reduce blood alcohol levels for drivers

There are calls to cut the blood alcohol level for drivers to zero in order to reduce the number of fatalities on Australian roads.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/05/2734495.htm?section=justin

The Herald (Scotland) - Drinking by Scots parents revealed by young

Twice as many calls are made to ChildLine by young people concerned about their parents’ harmful drinking in Scotland than the rest of the UK.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/drinking-by-scots-parents-revealed-by-young-1.931322

guardian.co.uk (UK) - UK product placement consultation launched

The government has launched a consultation looking at how product placement could work on UK television, with a view to restricting the promotion of alcohol, junk food and gambling.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/09/product-placement-consultation-launched

Decanter.com (UK) - UK alcohol consumption falling faster than ever

Alcohol consumption in the UK is falling faster than at any time in the past 60 years, prompting calls for more targeted efforts at reducing alcohol-related harm.
http://www.decanter.com/news/290861.html?aff=rss

Alcohol Focus Scotland - Minimum pricing for alcohol - joint letter to press

The debate on minimum pricing for alcohol has become increasingly polarised. Some believe that the rising burden of harm due to alcohol demands effective government intervention and others believe that concern for Scotland's health is not sufficient grounds for curbing market freedoms that have enabled unprecedented growth in the production, trade and promotion of alcohol.
http://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/news/details/?id=54

Courier Mail (Australia) - Kevin Rudd plans to curb alcohol-fuelled violence

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd will spearhead a fresh battle against binge drinking amid a growing outbreak of alcohol-fuelled violence.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,26311689-3102,00.html?from=public_rss

Monday, November 2, 2009

Alcohol News - week 44/2009

Huffington Post (UK) - Government Adviser Fired For Saying Alcohol Is More Dangerous Than Drugs

The Guardian reports that Professor David Nutt, the British government's chief drug adviser, has been fired after claiming that ecstasy and LSD are less dangerous than alcohol.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allison-kilkenny/government-adviser-fired_b_341471.html

Telegraph.co.uk (USA/UK) - British lemonade causes US alcohol row

Fentimans, a traditional Victorian lemonade enjoyed by British drinkers for more than a century, has caused a row after an American teenager had a bottle confiscated in school for its tiny alcohol content.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/6455178/British-lemonade-causes-US-alcohol-row.html

PS News (Australia) - New alcohol plan has the right mix

A package of resources that help war veterans manage their alcohol consumption issues has been updated, improved and launched by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin.
http://www.psnews.com.au/Page_psn19314.html

Novinite.com (Bulgaria) - Sofia Bans Alcohol Sale on Election Day

The sale of alcohol in the Bulgarian capital Sofia will be banned on November 15 from 6 am to 8 pm due to the elections for mayor that will take place that Sunday.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=109536

BBC News (UK) - Heavy drinkers seek out bargains

A study of heavy drinkers consuming hundreds of units of alcohol a week found they were buying cheaper drink than most other people.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8335394.stm

EurekAlert (UK) - PTSD less common than depression and alcohol misuse amongst UK troops

Common mental disorders, such as depression and alcohol misuse, are the top psychological problems amongst UK troops post-deployment and not post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as is widely believed.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-10/bc-plc102809.php

Irish Times (Ireland) - Drinks industry slump deepening

The depression in the drinks industry is deepening, with 70 per cent of licensed premises reporting a decline in sales over the past five years, according to a new report.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1102/breaking25.htm

The Breeze (USA) - Sharing Stories on the Dangers of Drinking

Alcohol kills 6.5 times more youths than all other illicit drugs combined. About 1,400 college students die each year in alcohol-related causes, and 25 percent of college students say drinking has caused them to fall behind in class and receive lower grades, according to statistics presented Wednesday.
http://breezejmu.org/2009/11/02/in-a-‘blink’/

Science Daily - Link Between Alcohol And Cancer Explained: Alcohol Activates Cellular Changes That Make Tumor Cells Spread

Alcohol consumption has long been linked to cancer and its spread, but the underlying mechanism has never been clear.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026172052.htm

TestCountry.com (UK) - 6,000 Die Each Year as a Result of Drinking in the UK

The rate of alcohol related diseases is up to 9,000 in the UK each year, an increase that is three times higher than what it was 25 years ago.
http://hometestingblog.testcountry.com/?p=4490

Bloomberg (Ireland) - Irish Cut Beer Prices After Left ‘High and Dry’ by Pound Slide

Hugh McGee is cutting the price of Guinness by about 20 percent at his bars and hotels in the Irish town of Letterkenny to keep customers coming across the border from Northern Ireland after the euro’s surge against the pound.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aHiNwJTXCNvU

Foreign Policy (Russia) - Another Russian battle with the bottle

There's a reason for the popular perception that Russians like their drink: The average Russian citizen consumes 18 liters of pure alcohol per year, compared with about 11 liters per year in Western Europe.
http://eurasia.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/10/27/another_russian_battle_with_the_bottle

The Age (Australia) - Booze putting teen brains at risk

A GENERATION of Victorian teenagers are drinking themselves into oblivion, with more than a quarter of 15-year-olds bingeing until they black out - the point at which brain damage is likely to occur.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/booze-putting-teen-brains-at-risk-20091031-hqtj.html

Times Online (Scotland) - SNP left high and dry as Labour rejects minimum alcohol pricing

The minority SNP government’s plans to adopt a minimum price for alcohol appear doomed after Labour’s appointment of a new shadow health secretary who is strongly against the move.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6894772.ece

Monday, October 26, 2009

Alcohol News - week 43/2009

NEWS.com.au - Alcohol consumption increasing cancer threat to women

FOUR out of 10 women who drink are drinking enough to increase their risk of cancer, the Cancer Council South Australia has found.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26264400-2682,00.html?from=public_rss

Irish Times (Ireland) - Drink-drive penalty points may be reduced

THE NUMBER of penalty points to be issued for lower-level breaches of the proposed new drink-driving legislation is expected to be lower than originally envisaged, in order to persuade Fianna Fáil backbenchers to back the Road Traffic Bill.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1026/1224257458085.html

Irish Times (Ireland) - 25% jump in cross-Border shopping – survey

SOME 250,000 households in the Republic are now regularly doing their grocery shopping in the North, up 25 per cent since the end of last year, according to new figures.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1026/1224257456822.html

Healthcare Republic (UK) - Public health directors demand minimum alcohol price per unit

A minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol should be introduced, according to directors of public health in the north west of England.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/947998/Public-health-directors-demand-minimum-alcohol-price-per-unit/

United Press International - Childhood risk factors, adult alcoholism

U.S. researchers say neurobiological variables measured as a child may be linked to risk of adult alcohol dependence.
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/10/26/Childhood-risk-factors-adult-alcoholism/UPI-55391256571557/

United Press International - A few drinks have negative health impact

Swedish researchers are calling into question the assumption that low alcohol consumption is good for health.
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/10/26/A-few-drinks-have-negative-health-impact/UPI-19141256573692/

Detroit Free Press - Rethink that drink to health

Just about every month a study emerges touting the health benefits to be gained from a daily glass of wine or pint of dark beer.
http://www.freep.com/article/20091025/FEATURES08/910250309/1025/FEATURES/Rethink-that-drink-to-health

Nunatsiaq News (Canada) - Kugluktuk’s alcohol controls make for lower crime rate

Nearly two years to the day have passed since people in Kugluktuk voted in favour of an alcohol education committee, just about everyone says the most westerly community in Nunavut is doing much better than before.
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/615_kugluktuks_alcohol_controls_make_for_lower_crime_rate/

ScienceAlert (Australia) - Alcohol problems most treated

Alcohol continues to be the number one drug of concern for Australians seeking treatment for drug or alcohol issues, according to a report released 21 October by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20092610-20084.html

Science Daily - Chronic Voluntary Alcohol Consumption Impairs Neurogenesis

A new study found that chronic alcohol consumption reduces the number of new brain cells that form in the hippocampus of adolescent rhesus monkeys.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091023102314.htm

Gov Monitor (Scotland) - Scotland’s Health Secretary Responds To Minimum Pricing of Alcohol

Responding to a news release claiming that minimum pricing for alcohol is “illegal”, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “It is entirely inappropriate and irrelevant to translate an opinion on tobacco to the totally different issue of minimum pricing of alcoholic products per unit of alcohol for public health reasons.
http://thegovmonitor.com/world_news/britain/scotlands-health-secretary-responds-to-minimum-pricing-of-alcohol-11953.html

The press and journal (Scotland) - Legal blow to SNP’s plan for minimum pricing on alcohol

Scottish Government plans to introduce minimum prices for alcohol suffered a major blow after Europe’s top legal adviser, the advocate general, decided it was not legal.
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1451240/?UserKey=

TestCountry.com (UK) - UK’s Alcohol Abuse Rate Causes a Need for Fines at Schools

Alcohol abuse has become a particularly hard to treat problem in the UK prompting drastic measures by the federal and local government to help prevent abuse of the substance and other products that contain it.
http://hometestingblog.testcountry.com/?p=4102

The Australian (Australia) - Alcohol biggest problem for addicts

Some 44 per cent of people seeking treatment in 2007/08 wanted to tackle their drinking problem, according to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26248631-12377,00.html

Science Daily - Even Low Alcohol Consumption Has A Negative Impact On Overall Health, Researchers Argue

Low alcohol consumption is bad for your health in general. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation studied the relationship between alcohol consumption and health to test the current theory which suggests improved health is responsible for the link found between low alcohol consumption and increased wages.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091022202717.htm

guardian.co.uk - Alcohol hinders having a baby through IVF, couples warned

Couples who share a bottle of wine a week reduce their chances of having a baby through IVF by more than a quarter, according to a study by American fertility specialists.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/20/alcohol-hinders-baby-ivf

Wall Street Journal (EU) - Fighting Downturn, East Europe Boosts Alcohol, Cigarette Taxes

Cash-strapped Central and Eastern European governments are turning to a time-tested strategy of raising taxes on cigarettes and alcohol as the recession takes its toll on the region's public finances.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125599061198095083.html

YLE News (Finland) - Booze, Drugs Ingredient in Most Homicides

Alcohol plays a role in 80 percent of the homicides in Finland. Meanwhile, drugs or a mix of drugs and alcohol are involved in 20 percent of the cases. The National Research Institute of Legal Policy reports there were 132 homicides in Finland last year.
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/10/booze_drugs_ingredient_in_most_homicides_1101035.html

Monday, October 19, 2009

Alcohol-related deaths

Alcohol News - week 42/2009

BBC News (UK) - Calls for minimum alcohol price

Doctors in the North West of England have called for the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8314497.stm

guardian.co.uk (UK) - Alcohol death toll to reach 9,080 a year, study predicts

Alcohol will claim more than 90,000 lives over the next decade without urgent action to tackle the country's increasingly ruinous relationship with drinking, experts warn today.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/oct/19/alcohol-death-toll-rising

Atlanta Journal Constitution - Hangovers May Be Tougher for Migraine Sufferers

As if migraine sufferers didn't already have enough pain, new research has found that they may also be more prone to hangover headaches.
http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/alco/632059.html

PsychCentral.com (USA) - Help Young Adults Manage Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has awarded Saint Louis University a grant to develop and test a new program to help older children and young adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/10/19/help-young-adults-manage-fetal-alcohol-syndrome/9040.html

Times Online (UK) - Homebuyers face questions on alcohol and smoking under new mortgage rules
Homebuyers could be forced to provide detailed information about the amount of money they spend on alcohol each month to qualify for a new mortgage under a new clampdown on reckless lending.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article6880612.ece

Examiner.com - Science questions if moderate alcohol intake is beneficial

In the first study of it's kind, researchers have examined whether the moderate consumption of alcohol played a part in the mobility of people aged 70-79.
http://www.examiner.com/x-3011-Atlanta-Wellness-Examiner~y2009m10d19-Science-questions-if-moderate-alcohol-intake-is-beneficial

NEWS.com.au (Australia) - Mums who drink warned they risk serious long-term damage

BUSY mums who enjoy a wine to ease the stress of daily living have been warned they risk serious long-term damage.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26234400-36398,00.html

Thaindian.com - Alcohol, drug abuse test can predict risky teenage sexual behaviour
Alcohol and drug use are known contributors to teenagers engaging in dangerous practices like unprotected sex, multiple partners, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and drug overdose.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/lifestyle/alcohol-drug-abuse-test-can-predict-risky-teenage-sexual-behaviour_100262495.html

Atlanta Journal Constitution - Drinking Your Way to Health? Perhaps Not

Just about every month -- if not every week -- a new study emerges touting the health benefits to be gained from a daily glass of wine or a pint of dark beer.
http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/alco/629696.html

BBC News (UK) - Teenage drink crackdown 'success'

Thousands of teenagers had a total of 5,171 litres of alcohol confiscated in a summer crackdown on binge drinking, the government has said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8309827.stm

Nursing in Practice (UK) - Drinking "down to regional causes"

People in different areas of the country binge drink for different reasons and a regional approach is necessary to tackle the problem, according to new research.
http://www.nursinginpractice.com/default.asp?title=Drinking%22downtoregionalcauses%22&page=article.display&article.id=18938

Daily Nation (WHO/Kenya) - WHO plan to rein in drinking

The Kenyan Government might soon be asked to put in place measures to reduce access to alcohol. In a global effort to reduce the availability and consumption of alcohol, the World Health Organisation is drafting a strategy that calls for higher taxation of beer, fewer drinking hours and fewer outlets.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/674098/-/uo1ken/-/

Jerusalem Post (Israel) - 'Raising alcohol prices would reduce youth crime'

Welfare and Social Services Ministry Director-General Nahum Itzkovitz called on the Treasury Wednesday to increase taxes on alcoholic beverages in an attempt to fight rising levels of violence.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1255547719768&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

ABC News (Australia) - Alcohol and Co-Sleeping Affect Risk for SIDS

Dave Taylor, a Boulder, Colo. father of three school-age kids, is one of the growing number of people who ignored pediatricians' warnings against bed-sharing as a way to reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/alcohol-affects-sids-risk-sleeping-baby/story?id=8824926

Ireland Online (Ireland) - Govt 'must reduce VAT and tax on alcohol'
Retail Ireland has said that new CSO retail sales figures show the sector remains under serious pressure.
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/business/govt-must-reduce-vat-and-tax-on-alcohol-430478.html

Novinite.com (Serbia) - Serbia President Faces Charges over Stadium Alcohol Consumption
Tadic is facing charges for drinking champagne at the Belgrade’s Red Star football stadium last Saturday.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=108993

BBC News (UK) - How alcohol affects the brain (Video)

If alcohol were invented today, it would be classified as a drug and restricted, according to Professor David Nutt, a government adviser who chairs the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8304655.stm

YLE News (Finland/Estonia) - Higher Alcohol Taxes Have Not Caused Rush to Estonia

Private alcohol imports by Finns travelling abroad have been on the rise this year. However, a 10% increase in alcohol taxes in Finland has not led to a surge of travel to Estonia to buy cheaper booze.
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/10/higher_alcohol_taxes_have_not_caused_rush_to_estonia_1071976.html

University Observer Online - Alcohol dependency linked to ‘bad’ gene

In modern day Ireland, it is often difficult to personally realise the boundary between a few hearty drinks, and full-blown alcohol abuse.
http://www.universityobserver.ie/2009/10/13/alcohol-dependency-linked-to-‘bad’-gene/

YLE News (Finland) - New Face of Child Abuse: Drunk Moms

Police statistics show that child abuse has a new face: drunken mothers. Police say they get around 400 reports of domestic violence against children each year; these days around two-thirds of the cases point to intoxicated mothers.
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/10/new_face_of_child_abuse_drunk_moms_1078406.html

Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (Sweden) - Striking results from the Swedish Risk Drinking Project: Talking about alcohol is becoming routine practice in Swedish health car

The proportion of health care personnel reporting that they always or often queried their patients regarding alcohol use has increased significantly. This is particularly notable with nurses, where the proportion has doubled to 60 per cent, and midwives, where 92 per cent estimate their capacity to identify risk consumption as good or very good.
http://www.idw-online.de/pages/de/news338510

Monday, October 12, 2009

Alcohol News - week 41/2009

Xinhua (China) - Drunken drivers' passengers face fines

People who willingly catch a ride with a drunken driver could face fines under a new proposal.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/12/content_12214116.htm

The Associated Press (Iraq) - Authorities in Iraq's holy Shiite city ban alcohol

Local Iraqi authorities have outlawed alcohol in the province of Najaf, home to the holiest Shiite city, saying it contradicts the principles of Islam.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0jQCNASbNTaghnn9WcCcNmDT1awD9B8EKE80

AdAge.com (EU/UK) - Europe Faults Alcohol Marketers for Binge Drinking; U.K. Proposes $286M Ad Ban

In Britain it's called "binge drinking," in Germany it's known as "coma" drinking, and in France you "se prendre une cuite" -- but whatever you call it, excessive alcohol consumption is putting marketing in the crosshairs.
http://adage.com/globalnews/article?article_id=139578

Scottish Daily Record (Scotland) - Senior Scots cop calls for minimum alcohol price to cut domestic violence

A TOP Scots cop yesterday stepped up calls for a legal minimum price for alcohol. Strathclyde Chief Constable Stephen House said he was "very keen" to drive up the cost of booze to curb domestic violence.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/10/12/senior-scots-cop-calls-for-minimum-alcohol-price-to-cut-domestic-violence-86908-21740902/

Irish Times (Ireland) - Drink role in fatal crashes highlighted

Alcohol may have been a factor in more than 1,000 fatal crashes on Irish roads between 1999 and 2008, a meeting on road safety was told today.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1012/breaking38.htm

Ynetnews (Israel) - Ministers pass bill to jail adults who buy alcohol for minors

Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs passes MK Yohanan Plesner's motion calling for three-month prison sentence for adults who purchase alcoholic beverages for minors.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3788502,00.html

Canada.com (Canada) - First Nations' liquor-related deaths five times higher than others in B. C

Alcohol-related deaths among First Nations in B.C. are a staggering five times higher than for other British Columbians, says a prominent First Nations doctor, who argues aboriginal leaders need to start working on an alcohol strategy to save lives.
http://www.canada.com/First+Nations+liquor+related+deaths+five+times+higher+than+others/2093363/story.html

Globe and Mail (Canada) - Panel seeks measures to combat fetal alcohol disorder

Canada needs to implement a sweeping set of measures, ranging from providing education pamphlets in boxes of condoms to alternatives to prison for brain-damaged inmates, says a report from a blue-ribbon panel on the epidemic of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/panel-seeks-measures-to-combat-fetal-alcohol-disorder/article1320496/

BBC (Sweden) - 'I will have one, or maybe two pints'

BBC Scotland's health correspondent Eleanor Bradford travelled to Sweden to discover how the Swedish government tackled binge drinking and look at the impact of its policies.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8291833.stm

Visit Bulgaria (Australia) - Reducing Alcohol and Cigarettes Can Save Billions

According to a new study, thousands of Australian lives can be saved, simply by cutting back on alcohol and cigarettes, including saving the economy over $2-billion in healthcare costs.
http://www.visitbulgaria.info/11473-reducing-alcohol-and-cigarettes-can-save-billions

3News.co.nz (New Zealand) - One drink a day enough to increase breast cancer

A glass of wine a day is all it takes to increase your risk of developing breast cancer, so when Rowena Mortimer was diagnosed she decided her lifestyle had to change.
http://www.3news.co.nz/One-drink-a-day-enough-to-increase-breast-cancer/tabid/420/articleID/124807/cat/475/Default.aspx

Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) - Prof's plea on alcohol law

Alcohol industry representatives "dissociate themselves from the mayhem" and keep the community in the dark about the realities of the drug, the head of the Christchurch School of Medicine's national addiction centre says.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/77515/prof039s-plea-alcohol-law

Science Daily - The High Cost Of Treating Alcohol-impaired Drivers

The costs of drinking and driving are all too apparent, with alcohol involved in 41 percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities in 2006.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005111623.htm

Expatica Netherlands (Netherlands) - Over 16,000 stopped in Rotterdam alcohol checks

Police in Rotterdam conducted alcohol testing on 16,485 motorists in the country’s most large scale alcohol checks, reports Dutch news agency ANP.
http://www.expatica.com/nl/news/dutch-news/Over-16_000-drivers-stopped-in-Rotterdam-alcohol-checks_57180.html

GlobalPost (Spain) - Binge drinking among Spanish teens on the rise

Friday night in a Madrid square. Dozens of adolescents hanging out. Two-liter soda bottles strewn at their feet, along with colorful gin and rum bottles. Teens mix their own drinks for hours, to the indifference of passersby.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/spain/090903/binge-drinking-trend-reveals-troubled-society

YLE News (Finland) - No Further Hikes to Alcohol Tax in Store

The government is not planning any new increases to the tax on alcohol, despite a report on YLE over the weekend that another hike in alcohol taxes is being planned for January 2010.
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/10/no_further_hikes_to_alcohol_tax_in_store_1072858.html

CNN (USA) - Death row female inmate denied high court review

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal from a female death row inmate who said fetal alcohol syndrome should have been considered by the state court that reviewed her sentence.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/05/scotus.female.death.row/

WalesOnline (Wales) - MP welcomes new booze law

LAW-ABIDING citizens can “reclaim the streets” thanks to new alcohol-banning powers for the police, said MP Jenny Willott.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/10/12/mp-welcomes-new-booze-law-91466-24905586/

Forexyard (Bulgaria) - Brandy anger forces Bulgaria to scrap tax increase

Bulgaria's new government abandoned plans to raise alcohol taxes due to public anger that this would threaten a centuries-old tradition of making wine and rakia brandy at home.
http://www.forexyard.com/en/reuters_inner.tpl?action=2009-10-12T101737Z_01_LC300082_RTRIDST_0_BULGARIA-ALCOHOL-TAXES

Independent (UK) - Tories turn party-poopers to end era of cheap alcohol

Steep increases in the cost of super-strength lager and alcopops were promised by the Tories in a drive to combat binge drinking.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-turn-partypoopers-to-end-era-of-cheap-alcohol-1799277.html

Billings Gazette - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder sufferers need help making choices

"The general public doesn't understand that these are people with alcohol-related birth defects, and it's permanent," Howanach said. "Their brain just doesn't function like the average brain."
http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_91a24848-b604-11de-991a-001cc4c03286.html

BBC (UK) - Capital bans alcohol from streets

Drinking on the streets of Cardiff has been banned under new laws designed to tackle anti-social behaviour.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8295805.stm

Kansas City Star (Russia) - Brewers foaming over tax increase aimed at curbing Russian alcoholism

Vodka may be the drink of choice for most Russians, but the Moscow government is focusing on beer in its attempt to clamp down on rampant alcoholism.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/1501413.html

YLE News (Finland) - Most Finns Want Tougher Drinking and Driving Laws

According to a survey commissioned by the newspapers Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, Karjalainen, Keskisuomalainen and Savon Sanomat, 63 percent of Finns say the legal blood alcohol limit should be lowered to 0.2 mg/ml, down from 0.5.
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/10/most_finns_want_tougher_drinking_and_driving_laws_1073691.html

Monday, October 5, 2009

Alcohol News - week 40/2009

The Associated Press (Russia) - UN: Russia must adapt to shrinking population

For reasons that are not fully understood, Russians suffer very high levels of cardiovascular disease. But most experts blame the country's overall high death rate on one factor, alcohol. It has been linked to everything from liver disease to Russia's high number of murders, suicides and fatal accidents.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j11XO83g3FRNnnH12pC88ve7TbBAD9B4M2R00

BBC News (Scotland) - Drink drain on ambulance response

The majority of ambulance calls in Scotland at weekends are alcohol-related, BBC Scotland can reveal.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8290325.stm

New York Times (USA) - Alcohol Interlocks Are Gaining Traction

Earlier this month, in response to a Wheels post on the increase in arrests among women driving under the influence, one reader wrote that in Australia drunken driving is addressed much more aggressively than in the United States.
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/alcohol-interlocks-are-gaining-traction/?hpw

Reuters - Alcoholics sleep worse months after quitting booze

Recovering alcoholics sleep worse than people who have never had a drinking problem, and this difference persists after months or even years of abstinence, new research shows.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5915SR20091002

Nashua Telegraph - New research links alcohol, 6 types of cancer

People who consume, on average, more than one alcoholic drink daily face a significantly higher risk of developing six types of cancer, according to sobering new Canadian research.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091004/HEALTH/910049926/-1/health

Financial Times (Scotland) - Minimum alcohol price threat to SNP pro-business image

The Scottish government is said to be risking its carefully cultivated pro-business image by pressing ahead with plans to set a minimum price for alcohol in an attempt to tackle an entrenched problem of drink abuse.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a2191fd4-b0fb-11de-b06b-00144feabdc0.html

World Radio Switzerland (Switzerland) - Cities call for tougher alcohol measures

City governments have begun lobbying Bern to allow them to carry out fake purchases, to test whether alcohol is being sold to minors.
http://worldradio.ch/wrs/news/wrsnews/cities-call-for-tougher-alcohol-measures.shtml?16158

Courier Mail (Australia) - Time to target alcohol abuse like we targeted smoking

THE recent release of the Federal Government's National Preventative Health Taskforce report has generated important discussion and debate on not only the value of investing in prevention, but also how best to reduce the harm being caused by tobacco, alcohol and obesity.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26163367-5003426,00.html

Washington Post (USA) - Pay For Health Reform With an Alcohol Tax

One way to reduce the harmful effects of heavy drinking is to make drinking more expensive: the more a drink costs, the less people drink. This is true of young people, pregnant women and even heavy drinkers.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/28/AR2009092802796.html

LiveScience.com - Exercisers Drink More Alcohol

Here’s a question for your buddies at the next golf outing or bowling league night: Are we more active because we drink more or do we drink more because we’re more active? Recent research showed that there is a correlation between the two, but could not offer a solid reason.
http://www.livescience.com/health/091001-sports-alcohol-exercise.html

EurActiv (Sweden/EU) - Swedes put alcohol pricing on EU health agenda

Europe's health ministers will today (1 October) discuss the role of pricing and responsible marketing in tackling alcohol abuse, but early indications suggest Sweden may have somewhat tempered its ambitions.
http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/swedes-put-alcohol-pricing-eu-health-agenda/article-185929

Monday, September 28, 2009

Alcohol News - week 39/2009

BBC (Scotland) - Alcohol pricing could save £950m

Charging a minimum price for alcohol could save Scotland £950m over 10 years by reducing the harmful effects of drinking, researchers say.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8278385.stm

Washington Post (USA) - Alcohol-Sniffing Anklet Saves Money but Stirs Privacy Fears

The biometric anklet represents a recent technological breakthrough whose popularity is gaining as state and local governments search for ways to close budget deficits during the recession.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/24/AR2009092405012.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Reuters (Italy) - Pressures mount as binge-drinking hits Italy

In a country where proverbially "wine makes good blood" -- a popular belief that moderate alcohol intake makes people good-humored and can be healthy -- the authorities are grappling with a youth drinks culture modeled on the heavy-drinking north.
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE58R05Z20090928

Reuters - Obesity, alcohol, depression interlinked for women

Alcohol abuse, obesity and depression seem to go hand in hand for many women, according to the first study to look at how the three relate to one another over time in young adults.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58O6ID20090925

ABC Online (Australia) - Richer communities 'more impacted by alcohol crimes'

A study has found that richer rural communities are more affected by alcohol-related crime than poorer communities.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/28/2697971.htm

Newsday - Drinking alcohol may worsen year-round allergies

The reason your allergies are making you crazy all the time might have nothing to do with your significant other's cat (or dog, or carpet). It might be due to what you're drinking before, after or with dinner. Cutting back on beer, wine and cocktails could mean less sneezing, a clearer nose and more comfortable eyes.
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/drinking-alcohol-may-worsen-year-round-allergies-1.1475688

Big Hospitality (UK) - Gov to allow more flexibility on alcohol measures

The government has announced plans to introduce a new law that will allow pubs, restaurants and hotels to sell wine in smaller measures and beer and cider in two-thirds of a pint size glasses.
http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/default.aspx?page=articles&ID=203912

guardian.co.uk (France) - One for the road? Film forces France to admit its drinking problem

One for the Road, the real-life story of a journalist's battle with alcohol, sparks debate over the country's self-image as a nation of moderate wine-lovers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/27/film-france-drinking-problem

Press Trust of India - Alcohol's benefits 'exaggerated'

In a new research, scientists have claimed that there is no "conclusive proof" that drinking alcohol in moderation benefits the heart.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/301261_Alcohol-s-benefits--exaggerated-

Monsters and Critics.com - Binge drinking weakens the immune system

Binge drinking doesn't just mean a hangover the next day. It also means a weakened immune system and a heightened chance of an infection, report US scientists.
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/health/news/article_1503493.php/Binge-drinking-weakens-the-immune-system

Daily Mail (UK) - Labour ministers accused of being 'soft' on alcohol warnings

Ministers have been accused of colluding with the alcohol lobby to water down new warning labels on drinks.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1215175/Labour-ministers-accused-soft-alcohol-warnings.html

Scotsman (Scotland) - Minimum drink price would save 70 lives in first year, study shows

A MINIMUM price for alcohol of 40p per unit would eventually save hundreds of lives a year, a Scottish Government commissioned study will reveal this week.
http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Minimum-drink-price-would-save.5681991.jp

MedPage Today - Booze May Interfere with Controlled-Release Mechanisms

Consumption of alcohol may interfere with controlled-release drugs, potentially sending an excess of active ingredient into the bloodstream, researchers say.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/ProductAlert/Prescriptions/16110

YLE News (Finland) - Tax Increases Give Boost to Alcohol Imports

Imports of alcohol beverages by Finnish travellers have increased significantly since the turn of the year following an increase in alcohol taxes. Personal tobacco imports meanwhile declined.
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/09/tax_increases_give_boost_to_alcohol_imports_1025986.html

The Baltic Course (Estonia) - Estonia will increase tax on alcohol and tobacco in 2010

The Estonian government agreed yesterday on principle on next the state budget 2010 and in order to cover spending in this budget, the state will increase the excise tax on alcohol and tobacco, Estonian dailies write.
http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/markets_and_companies/?doc=18634

Swedish Presidency of the European Union (EU) - Harmful alcohol consumption hinders social progress

On Wednesday 23 September the Swedish Presidency, in cooperation with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, and co-sponsored by the World Health Organisation, conducted a Global Expert Meeting on Alcohol, Health and Social Development.
http://www.se2009.eu/en/meetings_news/2009/9/23/harmful_alcohol_consumption_hinders_social_progress