Alcohol News: December 2011

Monday, December 26, 2011

Alcohol New - 52/2011

PsychCentral.com - Alcohol Ups Aggression in Present-Focused Drinkers

Getting drunk increases aggression in people who have one particular personality trait: the inability to consider the future consequences of current behavior, according to new research.

MarketWatch (USA) - Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) Charts Alcohol Industry's Digital Marketing, Questions Adequacy of Industry's Self-Regulation to Avoid Exposing Youth to "Alcohol Experience"

The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health today released a four-part YouTube movie ( http://www.youtube.com/user/JohnsHopkinsSPH ) charting the alcohol industry's push into digital marketing and raising questions whether the industry's self-regulation is adequately protecting underage youth from exposure to the "alcohol experience" available on social marketing platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Reuters (Philippines) - Philippines to review alcohol taxes after WTO ruling

The Philippines will review taxes on foreign alcohol products following a World Trade Organisation decision that the current system was discriminatory and the trade minister said the government will look at how to assist affected local distillers.

Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Hidden alcohol problem among elderly

A growing number of older people are exceeding the recommended alcohol limit, many of whom only develop harmful drinking habits when faced with bereavement, tedium and other stresses of retirement.

aidsmap - Alcohol increases desire for sex without condoms: systematic review

Alcohol consumption has an impact on the intention of individuals to have unprotected sex, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Addiction.

Scottish Daily Record (Scotland) - Plan for minimum alcohol prices will be contested in court admits Nicola Sturgeon

LEGISLATION for a minimum unit price for alcohol is "almost certain" to meet a legal challenge, the Health Secretary has said.

Scotsman (Scotland) - One in seven children ‘drinking regularly’

THE scale of Scotland’s under-age alcohol problem was laid bare yesterday when a new survey showed that more than one third of 15 year-olds and one in seven 13 years olds admitted that they had taken a drink in the previous week.

Vibe Ghana (Ghana) - Chief alarmed at rate of alcohol consumption in Builsa

The Nasuing Naab, Alex Azantilow, Regent of the Builsa Traditional Area, on Wednesday said alcohol consumption among the people is assuming an alarming proportion and affecting the manpower of the area.

The Stir - Alcohol Hits Women Way Harder Than Men

You know how your husband can drink a few beers and not even blink, whereas you're wearing the proverbial lampshade after only a glass and a half of wine? A new study has underscored what we all know to be true: Alcohol affects women much more dramatically than it does men.

The New Age Online (South Africa) - Presidential adviser’s blood ‘free of alcohol’

“The police are in sh*t. Blood sample results are back, alcohol in my blood: zero. I told them, banyile ngekhe ndibayeke.” So tweeted President Jacob Zuma’s adviser, Zizi Kodwa, on Tuesday.

Daily Mail (UK) - A taste for champers! Cuts-hit BBC ran up a £366,000 bill on alcohol in five years

BBC executives were last night accused of ‘living it up on the licence fee’ after it emerged that the Corporation has spent £366,000 on alcohol in the past five years.

Irish Times (Ireland) - No cheery side to excessive drinking at Christmas time

HOW OFTEN have you heard it said that drinking is part of our culture, part of our social norm, part of our economy? There’s reality and truth in this. You’re not a bad person if you like a drink, or for that matter if you don’t, and the Irish pub is a venue to be preserved as part of our natural heritage.

Medscape - Help for Drinking Unpopular During Minor Injury Treatment

Patients presenting at minor injuries units (MIUs) in the United Kingdom may often fit the profile of "hazardous"" drinkers, making such settings ideal for interventions and advice to support problem drinking, according to a pilot study published online December 21 in Emergency Medicine Journal.

SPECIAL: Year in Review: Alcohol news in 2011

JANUARY

YLE (Finland) - Alcohol Consumption Falls in Finland

Finns drank less alcohol this year than last. However, if alcohol tax is not raised, consumption might yet exceed recent records, says Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health.

Herald Sun (Australia) - Alcohol behind almost all murders in Queensland, figures reveal

ALMOST every murder committed in Queensland during the past year was suspected to involve alcohol, crime statistics show.

Focus Infomation (Spain) - Tougher traffic laws cut road deaths in Spain

The government credits the introduction of tough new road laws as well as the greater use of alcohol checkpoints and speed scanners for the decline in deaths from road accidents.

Innovations (Sweden) - Consumption Report 2010: Swedes' alcohol consumption is falling

Despite the fact that the Swedish Alcohol Retail Monopoly's sales are rising and statistics from Statistics Sweden indicate that we drink more and more alcohol, the trend is going in the opposite direction – Swedes' alcohol consumption is falling. This emerges from the Consumption Report 2010 (Konsumtionsrapporten 2010) published by the Centre for Consumer Science at the University of Gothenburg.

The Telegraph (Denmark) - Why is Denmark the cancer capital of the world?

One reason why Danish people seem to be particularly susceptible to cancer is that its record of diagnosing the disease is so good, meaning that more cases are picked up by the country's doctors than in most other parts of the world. But there are also lifestyle factors which could be having an influence on the figures reported by the World Cancer Research Fund from the World Health Organisation.

Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Alcohol-related liver disease in young people up 50% in a decade

The number of young people having to be treated in hospital for serious liver disease has risen by more than 50 per cent in the last decade, figures show.

FEBRUARY

European Public Health Alliance (EU) - 2010 - Overview of activities in implementation of EU Alcohol Strategy

Between September and November 2010 all the existing EU structures working on alcohol conducted their meetings. You can find below reports of the following : the Open Alcohol and Health Forum, the European Alcohol and Health Forum, the Forum Science Group, as well as the Committee on National Policy and Action.

Medical News Today - WHO Study: Alcohol Is International Number One Killer, AIDS Second

Today the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that alcohol is to blame for just about 4% of, or 2.5 million deaths worldwide annually. Alcohol attributable injuries are of a growing concern to the public health community, with alcohol-related injuries such as road traffic accidents, burns, poisonings, falls and drownings making up more than a third of the disease burden attributable to alcohol consumption.

Barents Observer (Russia) - Every fifth Russian man dies of alcohol

The Russians drink an average of 15,76 liters of pure alcohol every year, which makes them the fourth most drinking country in the world, a new report from the World Health Organization reads.

RIA Novosti (Moldova) - WHO names Moldova world's leader in alcohol consumption

Moldovans consume more alcohol per head than citizens of any other country, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its report.

GlobalPost (Russia) - NEWS FLASH! Beer is alcohol, Russia says

The Russian parliament today finally acknowledged something taken as given the world over: beer is alcohol. The Duma passed a law on second reading (a third, largely ceremonial reading will follow, but the second is the most important) a bill that explicitly acknowledges that fact and bans the sale of beer between 11pm and 8am.

MARCH

EurekAlert (Sweden) - Parents important for keeping adolescents off alcohol

Parents who are both present and engaged are the very best way of preventing teenagers from consuming large quantities of alcohol. Adolescents who smoke, stay out with their friends and have access to alcohol – from their parents, for example – when they are as young as 13 are at greater risk of becoming binge drinkers in their late teens, reveals a new thesis from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

stv.tv (UK) - Health bodies slam "toothless" alcohol policy

Six prominent health organisations withdrew their support on Monday for a government initiative aimed at promoting responsible alcohol consumption, accusing ministers of not standing up to the drinks industry.

Times LIVE (South Africa) - State declares war on alcohol abuse

The government is waging war on the alarming increase in the abuse of alcohol and drugs, and has warned of stricter legislation - including raising the legal age for alcohol consumption from 18 to 21.

Norway: Government has to accept alcohol advertising on TV

The EU Commission will not grant Norway a continued exemption from the implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive. This means that the Norwegian government will have to accept TV advertising for alcoholic beverages in Norway when it is broadcast from another country.

APRIL

BCM (Russia) - Vladimir Putin speaks out against sharp rise in prices on alcohol in Russia

Speaking at the meeting of the Government Presidium on Thursday, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that a sharp hike in excise duties and, accordingly, the price of alcohol would be unacceptable.

Eureka! Science News - Underage binge drinking can create lasting brain changes

Adolescents represent the majority of people who binge drink. This may come as a surprise to some, but recent surveys indicate that episodes of heavy alcohol drinking within the previous two weeks are reported by 12 percent of 8th graders, 22 percent of 10th graders, 28 percent of 12th grade seniors and 44 percent of college students.

BMJ (EU) - Alcohol attributable burden of incidence of cancer in eight European countries based on results from prospective cohort study

In western Europe, an important proportion of cases of cancer can be attributable to alcohol consumption, especially consumption higher than the recommended upper limits. These data support current political efforts to reduce or to abstain from alcohol consumption to reduce the incidence of cancer.

Telegraph.co.uk - Glass or two of wine a week 'could damage baby'

Pregnant women who drink as little as a glass of wine a week could be putting their babies at risk, according to new research which contracts recent studies indicating that an occasional tipple is harmless.

UPI.com (Italy) - Study: Italian youth at alcohol risk

The country's Higher Health Institute released a report Thursday saying at-risk drinkers of both sexes under the age of 16 are on the rise, with 18.5 percent of males and 15.5 percent of females in that age bracket showing worrying drink patterns, ANSA reported.

Focus-Fen (Sweden) - Sweden launches new strategy to combat narcotic, alcohol problems

The Swedish government Tuesday launched a new comprehensive strategy to deal with alcohol, drugs, doping and tobacco problems together.

ABC Online (Australia) - Alcohol strongly linked to cancer

The Cancer Council of Australia has issued a new position statement recommending that people limit their alcohol intake to reduce their risk of developing cancer.

MAI

Wine Spectator (Australia) - Aussie Health Group Says No to Alcohol, Even in Moderation

An Australian health organization has issued an eyebrow-raising report urging people to abstain from alcohol completely in order to reduce their risk of cancer.

BBC News (UK) - Alcohol-related hospital admissions reach record level

The number of alcohol-related hospital admissions in England has topped one million for the first time, according to official statistics.

JUNE

The Hindu - Even small amounts of alcohol impact the brain

Just the one drink can sometimes prove one too many when it comes to alcohol, according to Chinese researchers who have discovered that even minimal alcohol intake can cause immediate damage to the brain.

Daily Mail (EU) - Men twice as likely as women to die before 65 because of smoking and alcohol abuse

Smoking and drinking too much means men are twice as likely as women to die before the age of 65, a European Union study has revealed.

JULY

Scottish Daily Record (Scotland) - Nicola Sturgeon: SNP will make war on cheap alcohol top priority in 2012

HEALTH secretary Nicola Sturgeon yesterday vowed to drive through minimum pricing for drink within a year.

NHS Choices - Alcohol 'may damage a baby's DNA'

“Alcohol damages DNA of unborn children beyond repair,” The Independent reported today. The newspaper says that “scientists have identified the precise molecular mechanism” through which this damage happens.

Alcohol and Alcoholism (EU) - Heavy Episodic Drinking in Europe: A Cross Section Study in Primary Care in Six European Countries

Consecutive attenders aged 18–75 were recruited from the UK, Spain, Slovenia, Estonia, the Netherlands and Portugal and followed up after 6 months. Data were collected on alcohol use using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification test (at recruitment and 6 months) and risk factors for heavy episodic alcohol use at recruitment.

Daily Mail - How much alcohol is REALLY safe? None, say cancer specialists

French researchers said most nations including the UK and U.S. set their drink limit guidelines to deal with short-term effects of alcohol and were not designed to prevent chronic diseases.

The Guardian (France) - France's young binge drinkers upset cafe society with their 'British boozing'

Midnight on the Left Bank and the cafes and bars on Place St-Michel are, on the surface at least, unchanged from the 1920s, when Ernest Hemingway immortalised one in the opening chapter of A Moveable Feast.

AUGUST

IrishExaminer.com (Ireland) - Drink may cause ‘invisible’ brain harm

MORE than 4,000 Irish people could be suffering from an "invisible" serious brain injury caused by alcohol abuse, according to research.

AFP (USA) - More than half of Americans drink alcohol: report

More than half of Americans aged 12 and up drink alcohol, a quarter binge-drank in the past month, and one in 14 teens has used marijuana, a US government agency says in a report on substance abuse.

Medscape - Industry Influence on UN Noncommunicable Disease Summit?

The United Nations (UN) High-Level Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) will convene in New York City from September 19 to 20. However, negotiations recently broke down in drafting an outcomes document that will contain commitments toward progress in 4 target NCD areas: cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, cancer, and diabetes.

SEPTEMBER

Austrian Independent (Austria) - Alcohol addiction warning issued

Around 900,000 of the 8.5 million residents of Austrian are consuming health-threatening amounts of alcohol, experts have warned.

Euractiv (EU) - Combat alcohol abuse with mandatory labels, EU urged

Policymakers gathered in Brussels this week to discuss the risks posed by alcohol abuse to unborn children urged the EU to introduce mandatory warning labels on bottles and cans.

Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - Alcohol contributes to quarter of child deaths – report

Alcohol contributed to the deaths of one in four children and young people who died between 2005 and 2007, a new report has found.

The Age (Australia) - Experts see red over wine 'myth'

RED wine's reputation for preventing heart attacks has come under fire from health experts who have declared every drink of alcohol can do you damage.

CNN International - WHO outlines steps to reduce leading causes of death

To decrease deaths from noninfectious diseases, countries should pass excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol, encourage smoke-free public places, reduce salt and trans fat in foods, and increase awareness of diet and physical activity, according to a World Health Organization report.

Los Angeles Times (USA) - Drinking problems have increased in last 60 years

An analysis of 31 studies on alcohol drinking patterns worldwide has found that people born in North America after World War II are more likely than other groups to engage in binge drinking and develop alcoholism. Younger groups consistently consume more alcohol than older generations.

European Public Health Alliance (WHO Europe) - New Action Plan to reduce the harmful use of alcohol adopted by 53 countries in Europe

Representatives from the 53 WHO European Region Member States met at the 61st session of the Regional Committee for Europe and adopted the European Action Plan to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.

OCTOBER

IceNews (Denmark) - WHO calls for Denmark drinking age hike

The World Health Organisation has warned the new Danish government that it should take steps to reduce the amount of alcohol being consumed by teenagers.

Independent Online (South Africa) - Foetal alcohol syndrome is on the rise, says study

FOETAL alcohol syndrome is ravaging Western Cape farming communities, with hundreds of children affected, research has found.

PR Newswire - Big Alcohol Drunk With Power

Industry watchdog Alcohol Justice, formerly Marin Institute, released a new report today that chronicles an obscene outlay of Big Alcohol dollars to California legislators in 2010.

EurekAlert (Baltics/Italy) - Link between alcohol and harm is stronger in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Sweden than in Italy

Research clearly shows a dose-response relationship between alcohol and health issues such as cirrhosis of the liver. More recent research has shown linkages between greater drinking and greater problems such as interpersonal violence. A study of the impact that the larger, cultural context of drinking in several European countries may have on the relationship between drinking and harm has found that this relationship is stronger in the Baltic countries and Sweden than Italy.

Euroalert.net (EU) - Commission stresses the need for action to protect young people from alcohol-related harm at the EU Alcohol and Health Forum

Although minimum drinking age in most EU Member states is set at 18 years old, the most recent European surveys show that half of school children aged 15 to16 years have drunk alcohol in the past month. In order to tackle this situation and take action to protect young people, experts, industry and other stakeholder have met at the the 9th plenary meeting of the European Alcohol and Health Forum held in in Brussels on 19 October.

NOVEMBER

NHS Choices - Breast cancer link to alcohol studied

Women who drink within the recommended limits are still putting their health at risk, according to The Daily Telegraph. It said new research shows that less than one small glass of wine a day increases the risk of breast cancer.

EPHA (EU) - 68 NGOs call of a new EU alcohol strategy

Under Eurocare’s leadership, 68 international, European and National NGOs (including EPHA) joined forces to call for a comprehensive Alcohol Policy Strategy in the European Union 2013-2020.

AHN | All Headline News - Teenage girls up breast cancer risk with every alcoholic drink

Among teen girls with a family history of breast cancer, there is a significant association between the amount of alcohol consumed and the risk of getting benign breast disease, which is a known breast cancer risk factor.

Toronto Star (Canada) - Women are the new face of alcohol advertising

She's the image of poised perfection: a come-hither blonde in a sexy gold dress, balancing a martini between polished red nails, painted just a shade darker than the swizzle stick perched jauntily through the “o” in “Classic Cocktails” above her head.

The Local.de (Germany) - One in five German children have alcoholic or drug-addict parents

One in five German children have alcoholic or drug-addict parents, according to the latest annual figures on drugs and addiction.

Kashmir Watch (China) - China Prohibits Advertising of Alcoholic Drinks

Nine out of the more than 20 national Chinese television networks (CCTV) will not air TV commercials that advertise beer, wine, or any other type of alcoholic drink, according to He Haiming, vice-director of CCTV's advertising operations and management center, as told to the Beijing Today newspaper.

DECEMBER

Baltic Business News (Estonia) - Researcher: Estonia should triple alcohol excise duty

Indrek Saar writes in his doctor’s thesis that the alcohol taxation rate that was introduced in 2009 is notably below the optimum level.

The Atlantic (Italy) - A Sobering Look at Alcohol: 10-Year Study Finds High Death Rate

A number of studies in the past few years have suggested health benefits from drinking small or moderate amounts of alcohol. This can encourage people to look at alcohol almost as if it's medicine. A recent study of alcohol use in Italy paints a much more sobering picture.

Mindshare (Lithuania) - Alcohol advertising ban denied

Lithuanian Parliament has abjured complete ban of alcohol advertising. Alcohol advertising details are in constant questioning, as the latter plan oversaw a complete ban of outdoor, internet and print advertising.

Medical Daily - Underage Drinking Boosts Criminal Activity: Researchers

While alcohol has frequently been linked to criminal activity among adults, a new study finds that there is a strong association between childhood drinking and criminal activity.

New Zealand Herald (Australia) - New warning labels for pregnant women on NZ liquor products

Warning labels aimed at pregnant women will be added to all alcohol products in New Zealand and Australia.

Alcohol News - 51/2011

The Baltic Course (Latvia) - 40 cigarettes and liter of alcohol allowed to be carried into Latvia without paying taxes only once per week

In 2012, individuals will be able to transport 40 cigarettes and a liter of alcohol across Latvia's borders without paying taxes only once a week, according to amendments to the Law on Excise Tax that Saeima passed in the second and final reading today.

Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News (Sweden) - Increased Alcoholism Rates Seen After Gastric Bypass Surgery

European researchers have found that gastric bypass patients have an increased risk for postoperative alcohol dependence, according to data presented at the 2011 Digestive Disease Week (DDW) meeting (abstract 266). Based on the findings of a retrospective cohort analysis of more than 12,000 bariatric surgery patients, the investigators are calling for clinicians to examine gastric bypass patients for alcohol-related diagnoses.

Eurocare (Lithuania) - The President of the Republic of Lithuania and the Lithuanian Parliament do not want a ban of alcohol advertisement

Two years ago, Lithuania showed willingness to protect health of its citizens by restricting alcohol marketing. The Lithuanian Health Program and Alcohol Control Law suggested an alcohol marketing ban from 1 January 2012. However, that situation has now changed, after a regrettable Parliament decision has stopped the process.

BBC News (UK) - Alcohol 'over provided' in some parts of Highlands

Alcohol is too widely available and harming health in some parts of the Highlands, the area's health board has warned.

Offlicence News (UK) - Alcohol pricing scheme is illegal, minister says

The government remains convinced that minimum unit pricing for alcohol is illegal under European law, despite the Scottish government’s determination to press ahead with the policy.

New York Daily News - Loud music makes alcohol taste sweeter: study

At a bar where the music is so loud you can’t hear yourself think? Be mindful of the number of drinks you tip back, as new research suggests that loud environments can make alcohol taste sweeter and impair judgement.

PsychCentral.com - Texting for Alcohol Intervention in High-Risk Young Adults

A new study explores text messaging as a method to interact with young adults to reduce alcohol consumption and decrease binge episodes.

HealthCanal.com - New strain of lab mice mimics human alcohol consumption patterns

A line of laboratory mice developed by a researcher from the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis drinks more alcohol than other animal models and consumes it in a fashion similar to humans: choosing alcohol over other options and binge drinking.

The Independent (UK) - Britain's alcohol crisis: Is there a cure for the biggest hangover in Europe?

Minimum pricing on alcohol will not beat Britain's burgeoning drink problem, the Health Secretary insists, defying medical experts.

Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - Alcohol-price finding challenged

Research that claims lifting the price of alcohol will not curb binge drinking has been denounced by a leading alcohol health promotion group.

AllAfrica.com (Rwanda) - Youth Warned Against Drugs, Alcohol

Abuse of drugs and alcohol are among the main challenges that continue to hinder the development of the youth and could potentially derail the country's economic development, it has emerged.

Mashable (UK) - British Facebook Users Are Intoxicated in 76% of Their Photos [STUDY]

The average British person is under the influence of alcohol in three-quarters of of his or her tagged Facebook photos, according to a new study.

Medical Daily - Underage Drinking Boosts Criminal Activity: Researchers

While alcohol has frequently been linked to criminal activity among adults, a new study finds that there is a strong association between childhood drinking and criminal activity.

Hindustan Times (UK) – Why mums tend to turn to alcohol

More mothers are now getting inclined towards alcohol to cope up with the pressure of becoming Supermums to their kids, a new study has revealed. This lifestyle of mothers is putting their children at risk of depression and anxiety.

The Atlantic Wire (Egypt) - Egyptian Voters Go to the Polls to Decide the Fate of Alcohol and Bikinis

Egypt's second of three rounds of parliamentary elections began today, and two of the big talking points during this election are booze and beachwear -- at least according to CNN's report.

Native Times (USA) - Alcohol: The strongest enemy we have ever faced

I have thought long and hard about this dominating thing we have in our lives, the dominating thing that has been used as a weapon, as a means to rob us of not only our lands but also our proud warrior mentality.

The Press Association (Canada/Scotland) - Minimum booze price 'cuts drinking'

Minimum unit pricing for alcohol has been credited with cutting consumption in part of Canada.

Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon highlighted the findings of a study into the impact of the policy in British Columbia as evidence that her own pricing plan will tackle Scotland's alcohol problems.

Irish Times (Ireland) - Drivers warned about alcohol in their system on morning after night out

ANYONE PLANNING to drive the morning after a night out should use an alternative means of travel if they are in any doubt about whether they still have alcohol in their system, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said yesterday.

New Zealand Herald (Australia) - New warning labels for pregnant women on NZ liquor products

Warning labels aimed at pregnant women will be added to all alcohol products in New Zealand and Australia.

Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Britain will never have a Mediterranean drinking culture

One of the many things I prefer about being in France to England, along with the superior food, beautiful architecture and even more beautiful language, is their civilised attitude to alcohol – cheap, freely available and not used by the authorities as an excuse to constantly tell the population how horrible and rubbish they are.

openPR (Canada) - Canadian Pharmacies Convinced Alcohol Consumption Causes More Damage than Good

Alcohol consumption has always invited strong debates, some in favor of drinking while others finding potential harm to health far more serious.

Alcohol News - 50/2011

Mindshare (Lithuania) - Alcohol advertising ban denied

ERR News (Estonia) - Temperance Activists Seek Warning Labels for Pregnant Women on Booze Bottles

The Temperance Union is participating in a Pan-European initiative which aims to introduce labels on liquor bottles, warning women of the hazards of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

Copenhagen Post (Denmark) - Drunken Danes

At a friend’s recent birthday party, I had the pleasure of being told by an intoxicated teenager that young Danes hold the record for drinking to excess in Europe. His face lit up as he bragged that his generation drank even more than the Brits and that this was an achievement to celebrate.

The Independent (UK) - Alcohol diseases double in 7 years

The Health Minister Andrew Lansley was forced to defend his controversial "hands off" approach to public health yesterday as new figures revealed hospital admissions for alcohol-related diseases have doubled in the past seven years.

Examiner.com - Alcohol leads to unsafe sex – it is now official

Some things in life are a matter of common sense. The idea that the consumption of alcohol would lead to a higher incidence of unsafe sex is such a commonsense concept.

Wall Street Journal (USA) - New Distracted Driving Measure Shows Alcohol Is Still The Bigger Threat

The safety threat posed by drivers who text and talk behind the wheel generates a lot of heat, but drinking and driving remains the bigger problem, according to the latest highway fatality statistics from the U.S. government.

AllAfrica.com (Liberia) - Consumers Council Warns Children Against Alcohol

The National Consumers Council of Liberia (NCCL) has warned Liberian children to stay far from alcohol during the Christmas and the New Year seasons. The NCCL said its attention has been drawn to the continuous intake of alcoholic beverages by children despite the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's regulation, prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages to children.

The Press Association (Scotland) - Sales of alcohol down since ban

Alcohol sales have fallen since the ban on multi-buy deals was introduced in October, new figures suggest. Retail analysts Neilsen said sales of wine fell by 5%, spirits 3% and beer 8% during the first eight weeks of the ban, compared with the same period of 2010.

BBC News (Scotland) - Scottish alcohol sales fall after multibuy ban

The amount of alcohol sold in Scottish shops and supermarkets has fallen since a ban on multi-buy deals was brought in this October, figures show.

Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Unhealthy lifestyle responsible for 'half of cancers'

Almost half of cancers are caused by an unhealthy lifestyle that could be avoided by quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising and drinking less alcohol, the most comprehensive study of its kind has found.

Daily Mail (UK) - Drinks company slammed for handing out free alcohol to student blood donors

A drinks company has been slammed for handing out free alcohol to teenage blood donors.

Photographs posted via Facebook showed students being given cases of Turbo shandy as they queued at a temporary blood bank outside a church in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

NPR (France) - French Lessons: Why Letting Kids Drink At Home Isn't Tres Bien

Many European parents, and some American ones, too, have long figured if they let their kids drink alcohol at home, they'd be less likely to go hog wild with their friends. But recent studies of teen drinking behavior don't bear that out.

Telegraph.co.uk - Middle-aged drive to avoid peer pressure of drinking

Middle-aged people regularly volunteer to drive to dinner parties just to resist "mature" peer pressure to drink, according to new research.

The Daily Telegraph (Australia) - Alcohol labels to warn mums-to-be

THE country's leading health experts will today call on the federal government to impose mandatory warning labels for pregnant women on all alcoholic drinks.

7thSpace Interactiv (EU) - Drinking behaviours and blood alcohol concentration in four European drinking environments: a cross-sectional study

Reducing harm in drinking environments is a growing priority for European alcohol policy yet few studies have explored nightlife drinking behaviours. This study examines alcohol consumption and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in drinking environments in four European cities.

Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - Booze and networking meet online

An iPhone cover that counts how many beers you have opened, an app that stops you sending drunken abusive texts, and a program that matches your drinks to your musical tastes are all encouraging a strong link between social media and drinking, researchers say.

PhysOrg.com - The perils of drunken walking

Drinking and driving is a much-publicized, dangerous combination, but is walking after drinking any safer?

HGV UK (EU) - Motorists get pan-European drink drive warning

Motorists across Europe, including truck drivers can expect to be tested for alcohol as police officers conduct a week-long enforcement operation starting tomorrow, Monday 12 December.

Croatian Times (Croatia) - Croatian parents accustomed to giving children alcohol

Some Croatian parents continue to believe in nutritional values of alcohol and give their first graders wine or beer often, recent research shows.

Malta Independent Online (Malta) - Zero tolerance approach to drink-driving – Health Minister

Health Minister Joe Cassar yesterday urged the public to adopt a zero tolerance mentality to drink-driving and called on society to evaluate whether too much alcohol is being consumed for enjoyment, not just at Christmas but all year round.

FASD News - 49/2011

NEWS and ARTICLES

Net Newsledger (Canada) - “Ontario needs to step up and get serious with the prevention of FASD”

Anishinabek Nation Deputy Grand Council Chief Glen Hare says that Ontario needs to step up and get serious with the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Reno Gazette-Journal (USA) - John Packham: Prevention plays powerful role in fight against Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Prenatal exposure to alcohol and other drugs is the leading cause of preventable birth defects and intellectual disabilities in Nevada. Children born to women who use alcohol during pregnancy have an elevated risk for a number of lifelong negative health and developmental outcomes.

PR Web - Film about Preventable Birth Defects Subject of Christmas Release

Award-winning film maker, Tom Monson announced the world-wide release of Last Call, the Sobering Truth about Drinking During Pregnancy. Amazingly, 20% women drink alcohol while they are pregnant. One of the most comprehensive documentaries on the subject, the producer believes a timely release will save babies from a life of pain and unfulfilled dreams.

The Daily Telegraph (Australia) - Alcohol labels to warn mums-to-be

THE country's leading health experts will today call on the federal government to impose mandatory warning labels for pregnant women on all alcoholic drinks.

Twin Cities Planet (USA) - Fetal alcohol program takes unique cultural approach

A parenting program developed in Minnesota and aimed at helping Indian families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder goes national early next year.

Asian Scientist Magazine (Australia) - Study: Some Pregnant Women Still Smoke And Drink

A recent study by the Australian Institute of Family Studies has found a minority of Australian women still report drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes during pregnancy.

ERR News (Estonia) - Temperance Activists Seek Warning Labels for Pregnant Women on Booze Bottles

The Temperance Union is participating in a Pan-European initiative which aims to introduce labels on liquor bottles, warning women of the hazards of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

Nunatsiaq News (Canada) - KRG wants health board to adopt a “zero-tolerance” for drinking by pregnant women

Women in Nunavik should not drink when they are pregnant. That’s the clear position of counsellors at the Kativik Regional Government.

The Nation (Nigeria) - ‘First three months of pregnancy are critical’

There are actually many things that can cause heart defects. When we say Hole in the heart, it comprises of a whole bunch of problems. It is just a layman’s terminology to describe congenital heart diseases.

Detroit Free Press -Risk of disease partially established in womb, scientists say

Pregnant women sacrifice many of life's simple pleasures -- caffeine, sushi, a glass of wine -- in the hope that their babies will be born healthy.

iPolitics (Canada) - Feds fund study to determine cost of fetal alcohol disorders

The Conservative government is tasking a study to determine the financial toll of various disabilities in children and adults whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy.

The Star (Canada) - Better testing needed to diagnose fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, Canadian expert Sterling Clarren says

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, the leading cause of developmental disability in Canada, is an umbrella term used to describe a range of disabilities that result from prenatal exposure to alcohol.

MATERIALS

Healthy Child Manitoba - InSight Mentoring Program

InSight is an outreach program where mentors provide intensive support to women who are pregnant or have recently had a baby and are struggling with alcohol or drug use. This is a voluntary program for women who aren’t well connected to community support services.

CanFASD Northwest - Evaluation of FASD Mentoring Programs

This team is focused on the research and evaluation of Parent Child Assistance Programs (PCAP), or other mentoring support programs, that provide intensive mentorship support services to women considered most at risk to have a child with FASD.

SAFE Babies program – Caring for Babies with Prenatal Substance Exposure

Check out the 3rd edition of Baby Steps: caring for babies with prenatal substance exposure. The 92-page handbook is for parents and caregivers of babies who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol or other drugs.

helsenorge.no - Alkoholfritt svangerskap

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COMING

Eurocare - 2ND International SAFFrance Colloquium, 15- 16 December 2011, Strasbourg, France

The second international conference of SAFFrance to be organised on the 15th and 16th of December in Strasbourg is linked to the first conference organised in the Senate in September 2009 to which the higher head of state participated.

EUFASD – Second European Conference on FASD

The European FASD Alliance is pleased to announce the Second European Conference on FASD – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: clinical and biochemical diagnosis, screening and follow-up, which will take place in Barcelona, October 21 to 24, 2012.

RESEARCH

Alcoholism - Callosal Thickness Reductions Relate to Facial Dysmorphology in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Structural abnormalities of the corpus callosum (CC), such as reduced size and increased shape variability, have been documented in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

Alcoholism - Ethanol Exposure During Pregnancy Persistently Attenuates Cranially Directed Blood Flow in the Developing Fetus: Evidence from Ultrasound Imaging in a Murine Second Trimester Equivalent Model

These data show that binge-type maternal EtOH exposure results in rapid and persistent loss of blood flow from the umbilical artery to the fetal brain, potentially compromising nutrition and the maternal/fetal endocrine environment during a critical period for neuron formation and angiogenesis in the maturing brain.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES

De Stentor (Netherlands) - 'Verplicht logo alcohol en zwangerschap'

Een zwangere vrouw in silhouet met daaromheen een rode cirkel en een streep erdoor. Dat logo moet op alle alcoholhoudende dranken worden aangebracht. Dat vinden de FASstichting, de European FASD Alliance en het Nederlands Instituut voor Alcoholbeleid.

BarniMagen (Norway) - Slik kommer gravide seg unna drikkepresset

Fest er forbundet med moro og hygge, men for gravide kan det være vanskelig. Særlig i julebordsesongen opplever de drikkepress.

Delfi (Estonia) - Üleeuroopaline aktsioon nõuab pudelitele silte: rasedad peaksid alkoholist loobuma

Organisatsioonid enam kui 20 Euroopa riigist kutsuvad üles edastama sõnumit, et lapseootuse perioodil peaksid naised alkoholist täielikult hoiduma.

Kehitysvammaliitto (Finland) - Kehitysvammaliitolta lyhytelokuva Alkoholin synnyttämät

Odottavan äidin alkoholinkäyttö voi aiheuttaa syntyvälle lapselle pysyvät vauriot. Vakavasti vaurioituneet lapset päätyvät usein sijaisperheeseen asumaan.

Kehitysvammaliitto (Finland) - Kun äiti joi raskauden aikana

Tälle sivulle tallennetaan Kehitysvammaliiton järjestämien seminaarien ja asiantuntijatapahtumien aineistoja. Aineistot julkaistaan tilaisuuden jälkeen ja ne ovat sivulla kolmen kuukauden ajan.

Alcohol News - 49/2011

Medscape (Sweden) - Alcohol Abuse More Detrimental to the Female Brain

Alcohol abuse appears to be much more detrimental to the female brain than to the male brain, new research suggests. Investigators from the multidisciplinary Gothenburg Alcohol Research Project in Sweden found that after 4 years of excessive drinking, women experienced the same loss of serotonergic function that occurred in men who had been abusing alcohol for 12 years.

The Local.se (Sweden) - Half of Swedes 'unsure' if they have driven drunk

Some 46 percent of Swedes are uncertain whether they have drunk too much when they get behind the wheel, according to a new survey carried out by a major insurance company.

Stockholm News (Sweden) - Police: We can’t get rid of pub violence

The police can not reduce pub violence more than marginally. This because of Swedish drinking culture and the availability of alcohol. Efforts are now concentrated on keeping such crime at a "reasonable" level.

Baltic Business News (Estonia) - Researcher: Estonia should triple alcohol excise duty

Indrek Saar writes in his doctor’s thesis that the alcohol taxation rate that was introduced in 2009 is notably below the optimum level.

The Guardian (UK) - Alcohol-induced liver problems soar among young adults

There has been a huge increase in the number of young adults treated in hospital for serious liver problems brought on by drinking too much, NHS figures show.

American Medical News - Avoiding alcohol in adolescence may reduce breast cancer risk

Drinking alcohol during adolescence has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, especially for girls with a family history of the disease, a study says.

RTE.ie (Ireland) - Alcohol tops drug-related deaths

Alcohol accounted for the greatest number of drug-related deaths in Ireland between 2004 and 2009.

The Atlantic (Italy) - A Sobering Look at Alcohol: 10-Year Study Finds High Death Rate

CBC.ca (Canada) - B.C. drunk-driving law could be overturned

The B.C. Supreme Court is expected to rule Wednesday on whether the province's tough new drunk-driving law violates constitutional rights. Described as the strictest impaired driving law in Canada, the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act's automatic roadside driving prohibition clause allows police to issue roadside suspensions, impound cars and levy fines in the hundreds of dollars for drivers with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 or higher.

The Economist (Scotland) - The battle of the bottle

SATURDAY nights in most British cities are high-spirited, but in Glasgow they are the stuff of legend. Some 75,000 people stream through its streets, crowding into pubs and clubs. After the bouncers push their last all-but-senseless clients out of the door, and the last punch-up outside a chippy is dispersed by the Strathclyde police, pavements lie deserted under a dense coating of fag ends and glass shards. Over a thousand people will have been admitted to accident and emergency units.

Fin24 (South Africa) - Minister calls for alcohol ban at functions

Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini has called on her government colleagues to lead by example and ban alcohol at all state functions, City Press reported on Sunday.

New Zealand Herald (Australia/New Zealand) - Fetal harm warnings likely for alcohol labels

Alcoholic drinks in New Zealand and Australia could soon carry health warnings aimed at pregnant women and their unborn babies. The Australian Government indicated this week that it will aim for compulsory warnings in two years as part of a transtasman agreement on food labelling standards.

RIA Novosti (Ingushetia) - Ingushetia MPs seek alcohol ban on Thursdays, Fridays

Lawmakers of Ingushetia’s outgoing parliament voted for the first reading of a bill to ban alcohol sales in the predominantly Moslem Russian republic on Friday, the local government’s spokeswoman said.

Irish Independent (Ireland) - Alcohol locks and tracking devices planned for drivers who flout law

DRIVERS who repeatedly flout road-traffic laws face the prospect of having tracking devices and alcolocks installed in their vehicles.

ABC Online (Australia) - Declaring homes alcohol free could reduce violence

For some, it's an everyday reality - the walls are smashed as a fist goes through or there are holes or marks where a chair has been thrown.

The Independent (UK) - Editor-At-Large: Let's sober up – and stand up to booze industry bullies

It's that time of year again – pubs and pizzerias full of gurning office workers wearing paper hats and pulling crackers, downing house plonk by the bucket load, all in the name of seasonal good cheer. Later there'll be puke in the gutters and piss on the back walls of buildings up and down the land.

Alcohol News

Pages

Monday, December 26, 2011

Alcohol New - 52/2011

Thursday, December 22, 2011

SPECIAL: Year in Review: Alcohol news in 2011

Monday, December 19, 2011

Alcohol News - 51/2011

Monday, December 12, 2011

Alcohol News - 50/2011

Sunday, December 11, 2011

FASD News - 49/2011

Monday, December 5, 2011

Alcohol News - 49/2011