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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Alcohol News - 51/2014

The Guardian (UK) - Scottish Labour leader criticised over proposal to end football alcohol ban
The leader of the Scottish Labour party, Jim Murphy, has been criticised by women’s organisations working with the victims of domestic abuse after he suggested that the ban on alcohol at Scottish football matches should be lifted.
Medical Daily - Breastfeeding And Drinking: Important Information For New Moms To Consider Before Indulging In Eggnog This Holiday
There are many factors that play into whether or not a woman should drink alcohol while breastfeeding, and the only way for a new mother to definitively know if having a cocktail over the holiday could harm her newborn is by discussing the matter with her physician.
Irish Independent (Ireland) - When alcohol and drugs are involved, it can only bring heartache and loss of life
Today, tomorrow or next week, some motorist will decide they are fit to drive despite having had a few drinks or taken illegal drugs. The journey is short, they will tell themselves, or on a quiet road with little or no traffic.
Medical Xpress - Alcohol apps aimed at young
Apps with names like 'Let's get Wasted!' and 'Drink Thin' have led a James Cook University Professor to call for Government action on alcohol advertising on mobile devices.
Medical Xpress - Study links suicide risk with insomnia, alcohol use
A new study is the first to show that insomnia symptoms mediate the relationship between alcohol use and suicide risk, and that this mediation is moderated by gender. The study suggests that the targeted assessment and treatment of specific sleep problems may reduce the risk of suicide among those who use alcohol.
The Local (Sweden) - Sweden seeks ban on foreign booze advertising
Two powerful Swedish lobby groups have turned to the European Commission to try and get a complete ban on alcohol advertising on television, after it emerged some channels were dodging the ban by being registered abroad.
Irish Health (Ireland) - Beware of mixing alcohol with meds
People are being reminded of the potential dangers of mixing alcohol and medicines over the Christmas and New Year period.
AsiaOne (Singapore) - Public drinking ban one option for new alcohol curbs
An islandwide ban on public drinking may be on the cards, if Singapore takes a page out of Queensland's liquor control measures. Consumption of alcohol is not allowed in all public places in the Australian state.
New Zealand Herald (New Zealand) - Call for ban on alcohol advertising at sport events
The Government has been told to end alcohol sponsorship of sports clubs and ban any advertising of beer, wine and spirits during televised matches by a ministerial forum.
FleetNews (UK) - 84% of motorists support alcohol immobilisers on cars
Almost 84% of UK motorists would support the introduction of technology designed to immobilise vehicles if sensors detect that the driver is over the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit.
JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association - Alcohol Combined With Drug Abuse Leads to More Overdoses and Deaths
People treated in an emergency department (ED) for abusing opioid pain relievers (OPRs) or benzodiazepines frequently drink alcohol with the drugs, exacerbating their risk for overdose.
Scoop.co.nz (New Zealand) - Ban On Alcohol Advertising Just One Step
Family First NZ says that a proposed ban on alcohol advertising at sports events as recommended by a ministerial forum is an important move, but will not solve the binge drinking and alcohol abuse issue on its own.
Medical Xpress - Density of alcohol outlets in rural areas depends on the town's average income
Alcohol outlets tend to be concentrated in lower-income areas. Given that alcohol-related problems such as trauma, chronic disease, and suicide occur more frequently in areas with a greater density of alcohol outlets, lower-income populations are exposed to increased risk. This study examines the distribution of rural outlets in the state of Victoria, Australia, finding towns had more outlets of all types where the average income was lower and where the average income in adjacent towns was higher, and that this was consistent with retail market dynamics.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Alcohol News - 50/2014

Live Science - Energy Drinks Plus Alcohol May Encourage Drunk Driving
People who mix energy drinks with alcohol may be more likely to drive drunk than those who consume only alcohol, according to a new study.
U.S. News & World Report - Alcohol Before Bedtime Won't Help Your Sleep, Study Finds
As many as one in five Americans turns to alcohol sometimes to help them fall asleep, but that can lead to sleep problems later in the night, a new study finds.
Prague Post (Czech Republic) - Czechs to fight alcohol, gambling as illegal drugs
The Czech Republic will start fighting alcohol and gambling as illegal drugs under the changes in the national strategy in the anti-drug policy approved by the government today, national anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil has told journalists.
Buffalo News - Smoking complicates treatment of alcohol abuse, study shows
Cigarettes and alcohol seem to go together, so much so that alcoholism is far more common in smokers than in nonsmokers.
BBC News (Canada) - Canadian navy sailors face near-total alcohol ban
Canada's navy has imposed a near-total ban on its sailors from drinking while at sea. Previously, sailors were permitted to drink while off duty; now they will only be allowed to on special occasions at the captain's discretion.
Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - New alcohol limits mean testing times
New lower drink-drive limits will be harder on rural communities where there are no taxis and buses to get home from hotels or clubs. But like previous law changes over car seat restraints, speed, alcohol and smoking, rural communities need to come to terms with lower alcohol limits and change their habits accordingly, say police and Rural Women.
TheHealthSite - Alcohol abuse linked to deadly lung conditions
Alcohol abuse can expose one to life threatening lung conditions, an American scientist said here Monday, suggesting Indian teenagers should refrain from excesses.
The Guardian (UK) - Dying for a drink: alcohol-related deaths and illness cost us dearly
Alcohol is a factor in 8-10% of GP consultations in the UK every day. There are more than 10m alcohol-related visits to the NHS a year. Admissions for alcohol misuse are likely to hit 1.5m a year unless the government steps in to tackle the problem.
Channel News Asia - 1 in 10 fatal accidents worldwide linked to alcohol: Study
Middle East, the Asia Pacific and Africa trend below global average, according to World Health Organisation data analysed by Allianz.
New York Times (USA) - Why Colleges Haven't Stopped Binge Drinking
Despite decades of research, hundreds of campus task forces and millions invested in bold experiments, college drinking in the United States remains as much of a problem as ever.
The Guardian (UK/Australia) - Australian and UK alcohol industry lobbyists are hijacking policy – study
Industry lobbyists are hijacking government alcohol policy reform discussions and hampering efforts in Australia and the UK to curb drinking rates, health experts say.
Medical Xpress - Study finds the mere presence of alcohol is enough to make women appear more sexually available
With office Christmas party season in full swing a new Deakin University study provides a timely reminder of the role alcohol plays in unwanted sexual advances.
Medical Daily - Domestic Violence Rates Fall With Tighter Laws On Alcohol Control In Bars, Liquor Stores
Consequences for excessive alcohol use, including drunk driving, injuries, and long-term health issues, tend to get all of the headlines, while the relationship between alcohol abuse and domestic violence seems to fall by the wayside.
Malta Independent Online (Malta) - Anti-drink driving campaign launched: Alcohol and driving a deadly mix, authorities warn
The authorities have teamed up to convey one message: “If you are going to drive, don’t drink”, since it is a deadly mix if one decides to do the contrary.
Science Codex - Call to change concept of harm reduction in alcohol policy
A new policy paper by a University of York academic calls for limits on the influence of the drinks industry in shaping alcohol policy because it has a 'fundamental conflict of interest'.


Sunday, December 14, 2014

FASD News - 49/2014

NEWS and ARTICLES
The Daily Tar Heel - New study by UNC researchers finds higher percentage of alcohol-related birth disorders
For Zebulon resident Becky Brantley, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders affects pretty much everything her son does on a day-to-day basis. Brantley, who adopted a child with full fetal alcohol syndrome, said her son has struggled to come to terms with the depths of his disease.
Grand Falls-Windsor Advertiser - Parenting a child with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) doesn’t involve any extra challenges, just different challenges
“Every child comes with their own set of unique characteristics and this is just a different set of challenges for that child,” said Mary, a foster mother of five years who has cared for close to 20 children, including one now with FASD.
CBC.ca (Canada) - Conservatives drop Yukon MP Ryan Leef’s FASD bill
A private member's bill, that brought Yukon MP Ryan Leef a lot of attention, has been dropped by the Conservative government.
Practical Ethics - Foetal alcohol syndrome, compensation and harm
A case currently before the UK Court of Appeal could have far-reaching implications for mothers who drink during pregnancy. Lawyers for a seven-year-old child with foetal alcohol syndrome caused by her mother’s heavy drinking, argue she should receive compensation from the government-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority as she has been the victim of a crime.
Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Child whose mother drank excessively while pregnant will not win pay-out
A young child is not entitled to criminal injuries compensation after her mother drank excessively while pregnant, the Court of Appeal has ruled. Lord Dyson, the Master of the Rolls, sitting with Lord Justice Treacy and Lady Justice King, considered the case at a one-day hearing last month.
The Epoch Times (Canada) - Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in North Prompts New Bill
The Liberals are looking to introduce a bill on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder after a near identical bill presented by Yukon Conservative MP Ryan Leaf was stalled at committee for further study to define the disorder.
The Shout (Australia) - Industry actively targeting drinking whilst pregnant: DrinkWise
DrinkWise has several valuable initiatives in place to inform consumers of the dangers of drinking whilst pregnant, CEO John Scott has reaffirmed.
Irish Independent (Ireland) - Drinking when pregnant: Is it harmless or an act of denial?
With 80 per cent of women in Ireland admitting to drinking alcohol when pregnant, Aoife Stuart Madge asks if we are ignoring the risks.
Toronto Star - Toronto author pens memoir about raising adopted son with fetal alcohol syndrome
Although his adoption and challenges with fetal alcohol syndrome are the main subjects of Not Exactly As Planned: A Memoir of Adoption, Secrets and Abiding Love, he doesn’t read books, Rosenbaum says.
Waterloo Region Record - Police officers mentor children with fetal alcohol disorder
Matthew Colombo dreams about being a police officer. That's because the 11-year-old Elmira boy has a role model he hopes to emulate some day — Const. William Hand.

MATERIALS and VIDEOS
Links between FASD and justice system explored in provincial HSJCC webinar
People with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are more likely than their non-affected peers to come into contact with the justice system. Sheila Burns and Cheryl Neave from the FASD Ontario Network of Expertise (FASD ONE) explained why in a recent webinar hosted by the Provincial Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee (HSJCC), with the support of the Evidence Exchange Network (EENet).
Replies to Prevalence and Characteristics of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

UPCOMING EVENTS
The 6th International Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - March 4 – 7, 2015
This advanced level conference continues to bring together experts from multiple disciplines to share international research. From the pure science, to prevention, diagnosis and intervention across the lifespan, the conference will address the implications of this research and promote scientific/community collaboration.

RESEARCH
Neurotoxicology and Teratology - Selective cognitive deficits in adult rats after prenatal exposure to inhaled ethanol
Increased use of ethanol blends in gasoline suggests a need to assess the potential public health risks of exposure to these fuels. Ethanol consumed during pregnancy is a teratogen. However, little is known about the potential developmental neurotoxicity of ethanol delivered by inhalation, the most likely route of exposure from gasoline–ethanol fuel blends.
Behavioural Brain Research - Prenatal ethanol exposure alters met-enkephalin expression in brain regions related with reinforcement: possible mechanism for ethanol consumption in offspring
The endogenous opioid system is involved in ethanol reinforcement. Ethanol-induced changes in opioidergic transmission have been extensively studied in adult organisms. However, the impact of ethanol exposure at low or moderate doses during early ontogeny has been barely explored.
Journal of Clinical Nursing - Dutch midwives' experiences with implementing health counselling to prevent prenatal alcohol use
Journal of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence - Influence of maternal alcoholism on the brain benzodiazepine receptor development in human embryo and fetus during ontogeny
Signaling mechanisms that are required for proper neuronal development and how these processes are impaired by ethanol resulting in harmful consequences to brain development are very important for our understanding.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Helsingin Sanomat (Finland) - Odottava äiti käytti alkoholia rajusti – vammautuneena syntynyt tyttö jää Britanniassa korvauksitta
Äidin alkoholinkäytön takia raskausaikana vaikeasti vammautunut lapsi ei ole oikeutettu korvauksiin, päätti brittiläinen oikeusistuin torstaina.
15min (Lithuania) - JK teismas paskelbs sprendimą dėl „nėštumo nusikaltimo“
Byloje, kuri kėlė susirūpinimą dėl galimo motinų pavertimo nusikaltėlėmis, britų teismas turi nuspręsti, ar moteris, nėštumo metu smarkiai gėrusi, įvykdė „smurtinį nusikaltimą“ prieš savo vaiką.
Neue Nordhäuser Zeitung (Germany) - Frühe Prävention
Im Reha-Zentrum Sülzhayn fand vergangene Woche eine Fortbildung zum Thema "FASD" - Fetale Alkoholspektrumsstörung statt. Die Folge der Störung sind eine lebenslange Behinderung. Wie man die daraus resultierenden Probleme möglichst präventiv abfedert, das wurde den Teilnehmern von Experten vermittelt...
Klikk.no (Norway) - Hvem ville vel gitt toåringen sin en drink?
Julebordssesongen er allerede i gang, og for mange er julebord ensbetydende med et høyt inntak av alkohol.
Gazeta.pl (Poland) - Dlaczego tysiąc dzieci rodzi się z FAS? Winne "drobne grzeszki"
Najwybitniejsi polscy ginekolodzy przygotowali pierwsze oficjalne stanowisko adresowane do lekarzy opiekujących się ciężarnymi. Jego przesłanie brzmi, że nawet najmniejsza dawka alkoholu może spowodować nieodwracalne skutki dla zdrowia dziecka, czyli alkoholowy zespół płodowy - FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome).

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Alcohol News - 49/2014

BBC News (Scotland) - Alcohol consumption in Scotland falling
Alcohol consumption in Scotland has fallen by the equivalent of 38 million pints of beer a year since 2009.
BBC News (UK) - Minimum alcohol price law 'could save £900m'
Setting a minimum alcohol price of 50p per unit could save Wales nearly £900m over 20 years by cutting crime and illness, a report has claimed.
BBC News - Foetal alcohol syndrome case dismissed by Court of Appeal
A child born with foetal alcohol syndrome is not legally entitled to compensation after her mother drank excessively while pregnant, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
New Era - ‘How alcohol abuse led me to getting HIV/AIDS’
When sober, Paul Witbooi would not be able to talk to women. But a sip of alcohol would give him courage to propose to women. Witbooi’s predicament was so known among his community that people started calling him an “old virgin”. He found solace in alcohol, which he however abused to get involved with women.
MorningAdvertiser.co.uk (Wales) - Welsh Government to push ahead with alcohol minimum pricing policy
The Welsh Government has indicated it will push ahead with alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) policy following the publication of a report which showed it could save healthcare services £131m over 20 years.
BBC News (Scotland) - Scotland cuts drink-drive alcohol limit
A new law has come into force which makes the legal drink-drive limit in Scotland lower than elsewhere in the UK.
BBC News (Nothern Ireland) - Alcohol: Jim Wells plans to bring in minimum pricing per unit
Health Minister Jim Wells has said he plans to introduce minimum pricing per unit of alcohol in Northern Ireland.
Cancer Research UK (UK) - Boozy young Brits will drink nearly 4,000 calories in alcohol on festive season nights out
As the nation gears up for the festive season it’s not just the goose that’s getting fat, the waistbands of the nation could be expanding too, in particular among 18-34 year olds. New figures* released today by Cancer Research UK’s Dryathlon® indicate that the average young British adult will consume an estimated 3,700** calories in alcohol alone on evenings out and parties throughout the upcoming Christmas season.
Expatica Belguim (Belgium) - Alcohol abuse up among youngsters
Alcohol consumption levels among youngsters aged between 15 and 24 are "alarmingly high" according to the latest health poll conducted by the Scientific Institute for Public Health (WIV), De Standaard reports.
Irish Independent (Ireland) - Around 500 cancer deaths a year caused by alcohol
AROUND 500 of the 900 people who are diagnosed with alcohol-related cancers annually will die of the disease, it emerged yesterday.
pitpass.com - Eurocare continues F1 alcohol sponsorship attack
European group seeking ban on alcohol sponsorship in F1 continues its attack despite FIA's attempt to distance itself.
Health24 (South Africa) - Alcohol and drugs are the main causes of partner abuse in SA
The latest Peace Maker Barometer survey, completed on the 9th of November 2014, reveals that alcohol and drugs are perceived to be the leading cause of partner abuse in South Africa.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Alcohol News - 48/2014

TheParliamentMagazine.eu (EU) - Thought Leader | Eurocare: EU alcohol strategy
As we prepare to host the sixth European alcohol policy conference on 27 and 28 November in Brussels, the European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare) is calling on the new commission to introduce an up to date, comprehensive and evidence-based EU alcohol strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm.
Fox News - Origins of human alcohol consumption revealed
Human ancestors may have begun evolving the knack for consuming alcohol about 10 million years ago, long before modern humans began brewing booze, researchers say.
Science World Report - Scientists Discover Gene Network Linked to Alcohol Abuse
Scientists may have discovered the gene network responsible for alcohol abuse. They've identified a network of genes that appear to work together that influence alcohol dependence. The new findings could potentially help lead to future treatments and therapies for alcoholics.
Lifehacker Australia - Drink Less Alcohol By Quitting Smoking First
A scientific study has discovered that it’s more difficult to quit alcohol if you also smoke. Apparently, the receptors in the brain linked to alcohol withdrawal are effected by frequent tobacco use, causing cravings to remain high. In other words, wannabe teetotalers should consider quitting smoking first.
Morocco World News (Morocco) - Moroccans Consume 131 Million Liters of Alcohol Per Year
At a time the Moroccan law clearly states that only foreigners are allowed to buy and consume alcoholic beverages, a new study conducted by Euromonitor for the British Magazine The Economist has found that Moroccans are actually the ones putting money in the pockets of liquor distributors and manufacturers.
Irish Independent (Ireland) - People as young as 20 dying from alcohol abuse
PEOPLE as young as 20 have died from alcohol-related illnesses, one of the countries leading consultants has revealed.
The Guardian (UK) - Doctors call for tougher laws on alcohol abuse to tackle liver disease crisis
Senior doctors are calling for tougher government action on alcohol abuse, after warning that Britain is the only country in western Europe except Finland where liver disease has increased over the past three decades.
The Moscow Times (Russia) - Alcohol Kills 500,000 Russians Annually
Around 500,000 Russians die due to alcohol abuse every year, Russia's health and safety watchdog said in a statement Monday.
CBS News - Women, alcohol, and a potential unseen risk
Women in America are drinking more than ever in recent history, and they are suffering growing consequences.
Channel News Asia (Australia) - How Australian cities combat alcohol misuse - Part 1
In the first of a four-part series, Channel NewsAsia looks at how Australian cities have attempted to combat alcohol misuse, starting with tougher criteria for alcohol licences.
LA Daily News - ‘Drink responsibly’ message not effective, says study on alcohol advertising
The “drink responsibly” or “enjoy in moderation” messages tucked into liquor and beer ads don’t impress Jennifer Romo.
The-review (USA) - ELDERLY ABUSING DRUGS, ALCOHOL IS GROWING
A surge in baby boomers has driven up the number of elderly people abusing drugs or alcohol, bringing more attention to the sometimes-delicate problems involved in treating addiction in the aging.
Headlines & Global News - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Is More Common Than We Thought, Study Says
Fetal alcohol syndrome is more common than we thought, according to Inquisitr, and studies show that binge drinking is the culprit.
TheParliamentMagazine.eu (EU) - EU 'can and must do more' on tackling alcohol-related harm
Alcohol is still the third biggest cause of preventable death and disease in Europe, with alcohol-related illness responsible for more than 100,000 deaths a year. It’s clear we need a coordinated strategy at EU-level to help reduce harmful alcohol consumption and safeguard the health of our citizens.
Daily Mail - Drinking a glass of wine is the same as downing three shots of vodka, says NHS chief as he warns of 'silent killer'
An NHS chief has said alcohol is becoming a 'silent killer' in the UK as he warned middle class drinkers that a glass of wine is just as harmful as downing three shots of vodka.