Pages

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Alcohol News - 35/2018

New York Times - How Much Alcohol Is Safe to Drink? None, Say These Researchers
Just one alcoholic drink a day slightly increases an individual’s risk for health problems, according to a large new study. No level of alcohol consumption conferred any health benefits, the authors also concluded — a finding that runs contrary to much previous research and public health guidelines in many countries.
Heart - Drinking alcohol in front of your kids can lead to 'problems' in their future
A new study has revealed that children who are exposed to alcohol at a younger age will tend to start drinking earlier in their own lives.
Business Insider - Hangovers can affect your brain's performance for longer than you think, according to a new study
You might be regretting your Saturday night of binge drinking when you show up for work on Monday morning.
E/The Environmental Magazine - The Environmental Impact of Alcohol
Wine, beer, and spirits are staples of American social life. In fact, alcohol is one of the largest industries in the United States. As a culture, we’re well aware of the impact that alcohol can have on the human body, especially when abused.
The Guardian (UK) - Alcohol firms would lose £13bn if drinkers in England stuck to limits
Revenue from alcohol sales in England would plummet by £13bn if customers complied with the recommended drinking guidelines, according to a study that condemns the industry’s role in regulation.
Specialty Pharmacy Times - High Alcohol Intake in Adolescence May Affect Aggressiveness of Prostate Cancer Later in Life
Heavy alcohol consumption at an early age may be linked to a 3-fold increased risk of being diagnosed with high-grade prostate cancer, according to a new study published in Cancer Prevention Research.
ABC News (USA) - Deaths from drugs, alcohol and suicide now outpace diabetes, study shows
Deaths from self injury, a category that includes drug and alcohol use and committing suicide, has surpassed diabetes as the seventh-leading cause in the U.S., a study has shown.
Irish Times (Ireland) - Irish women ranked in top 10 for alcohol consumption, study finds
The “myth of the drunk Irish man” is probably inaccurate, according to the author of a major international study on alcohol consumption which finds Irish men’s habits comparable to other Europeans.
The Hindu (India) - ‘Younger people getting addicted to alcohol’
Recognising that addiction to alcohol and drugs seems to be affecting a younger age group — as young as 25 years — the government has recommended that educational institutions work with the police to tackle the problem.
Pretoria East Rekord (South Africa) - Alcohol the biggest date rape drug
Rape and sexual assaults are far more likely to take place when alcohol abuse is involved. This is the word from police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach.

Sunday, August 26, 2018

FASD News - 34/2018

Globalnews.ca (Canada) - Treating inmates diagnosed with FASD
Experts describe it as the so-called invisible disorder because in many cases you wouldn’t know someone had it.
RACGP (Australia) - Talking about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
It is recommended that anyone who chooses to drink alcohol has no more than two standard drinks a day, and no level of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy, as it can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
Radio New Zealand (New Zealand) - Insight: Foetal Alcohol - Damaging Baby Brains
Conservatively, it's thought 600 children are born in New Zealand every year with some form of brain damage caused by their mother drinking alcohol, often before they even knew they were pregnant. But many experts think the real number of babies affected every year may number in the thousands.
KUTV 2News - Baby Your Baby: Risks of alcohol during pregnancy
September 9th (9/9) is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day to remind women to avoid alcohol during the 9 months of pregnancy. FASDs are caused by alcohol use during pregnancy and are 100% preventable. Estimates are that FASD affects up to 5 in 100 newborns.
TVNZ (New Zealand) - Alcohol packaging needs warning for pregnant women, experts say
Experts working with sufferers of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder want explicit warnings on packaging stating the dangers of drinking while pregnant.
Independent Online (South Africa) - Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is 100% avoidable, minister tells female farmworkers
Western Cape Minister of Social Development Albert Fritz hosted over 100 women farmworkers from different farms around the Cederberg area on the West Coast on Friday, for a special women’s outreach and luncheon.
Compass Mark - Raising Awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
This year, approximately 1 in 10 children born in Pennsylvania is at risk of being born with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). With almost 11 percent of pregnant women reporting that they are still consuming alcohol, it’s more important than ever to protect the next generation from FASD.
Huffington Post - Shifting Sands And Special Needs Parenting
Our son has a Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). His brain wiring was affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Like many with his condition, he finds it really hard to control his impulses when he’s under stress, when he processes new information and when his senses are overloaded with unusual sights, smells, textures.
The Scotsman (Scotland) - Plea for funds to research drinking levels in early pregnancy
He said: “It could help babies being affected by alcohol. The reason we should find out what women were drinking before they knew they were pregnant is the

VIDEOS and MATERIALS
RNZ - INSIGHT: Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Sunny has three adopted children, her eldest was has been diagnosed with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder. While her daughter has a supportive school, Sunny sees other families desperate and struggling to get the help they need.
Norman Kunz - Myers - FASD 1280
Northwest Strategies - What is FASD
Creating a Family - Books On Fetal Alcohol Syndrome For Adoptive Parents
Damaged Angels: An Adoptive Mother’s Struggle to Understand the Tragic Toll of Alcohol in Pregnancy by Bonnie Buxton – Part heartfelt memoir, part practical guide, Damaged Angels recounts Bonnie Buxton’s struggles to raise her adopted daughter Colette, whom she didn’t realize was afflicted with fetal alcohol disorder.

RESEARCH
Journal of Public Health - Failures in reproductive health policy: overcoming the consequences and causes of inaction
It is assumed that long-established research findings and internationally accepted evidence should, and will, be translated into policy and practice. Knowledge about what prevents harm and promotes health has, in fact, guided and resulted in numerous beneficial public health actions.
Drug and alcohol review - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Australia: What is the current state of affairs?
A new Commonwealth FASD Strategy (2018–2028) is being developed and the Australian Government has announced significant funding for the expansion of FASD prevention, diagnostic and intervention services around Australia. Therefore, it is timely to consider what the current state of affairs regarding FASD in Australia is and describe areas for future research and service delivery.
BC Ministry of Children and Family Development - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder In Context
FASD’s historical, sociocultural and political contexts are often overlooked. However, available research suggests that consideration of these factors may play an important role in developing increasingly valid and reliable FASD-related policy and practice standards.
University of Miami - Alcohol-Induced Developmental Defects in Octavolateral Organs of Zebrafish: A Sensitive Period and Mechanisms
Fetal alcohol exposure is known to cause an array of deficits (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, FASD) that may manifest as lifelong physical, cognitive, and behavioral anomalies of human development.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience - Long-lasting effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on fear learning and development of the amygdala
To test whether PrEE alters development of brain circuitry associated with fear conditioning and fear memory recall, we histologically examined subdivisions of the amygdala in PrEE and control mice and found long-term effects of PrEE on fear memory circuitry.
Behavioural Brain Research - Social behavioral phenotyping of the zebrafish casper mutant following embryonic alcohol exposure
We report that exposure to 1% alcohol from either 6 to 24, or 24 to 26 h postfertilization reduces the social behavior of adult casper zebrafish. Our findings set the stage for the use of this important zebrafish resource in studies of FASD.
Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention - Supporting children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Potential applications of a Snoezelen multisensory room
How are mental health practitioners using Snoezelen rooms with children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) within a community mental health setting?
Alcoholism - Knockdown of Mns1 increases susceptibility to craniofacial defects following gastrulation‐stage alcohol exposure in mice
These data demonstrate that a partial or complete knockdown of Mns1 interacts with PAE to increases susceptibility to ocular defects and correlating craniofacial and brain anomalies, likely though interaction of alcohol with motile cilia function.
Implementation Science - A practice change intervention to improve antenatal care addressing alcohol consumption by women during pregnancy: research protocol for a randomised stepped-wedge cluster trial
This will be the first randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness, cost and cost-effectiveness of implementation strategies in improving antenatal care that addresses alcohol consumption by pregnant women.
Issues in mental health nursing - Adolescent Substance Use and Effects on the Birth Experience
Implications for nursing practice suggest collaboration between maternal child health and mental health nurses in prenatal, hospital, and follow-up healthcare settings to provide essential assessment of risk factors and resources and referrals across the perinatal period.
Hormones and behavior - Prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts male adolescent social behavior and oxytocin receptor binding in rodents
Social behavior deficits resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) emerge early in life and become more pronounced across development.
Contemporary Drug Problems - Drug Use During Pregnancy Policies in the United States From 1970 to 2016
This study breaks new ground. More studies are needed that explore the effects of these policies on alcohol and other drug use by pregnant women and on birth outcomes.
Forensic Toxicology - Detection of in utero ethanol exposure via ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate analysis in umbilical cord and placenta
We developed and validated a sensitive and specific method for the determination of EtG and EtS in umbilical cord and placenta. To date, this is the first method to investigate both direct metabolites of ethanol in umbilical cord and placenta samples for prenatal ethanol exposure.
UNAD - Meconium: Biomarker Vehicle of Expusure to Psychoactive Substances in Pregnant Women
Children exposed to drugs in a prenatal way are a medical and social problem. A useful way to study this problem is by analyzing biological matrices, such as the meconium, which stores psychoactive substances or their metabolites.
Women and Birth - Alcohol consumption during pregnancy and risk of small-for-gestational-age newborn
A very moderate alcohol intake during pregnancy may have a negative association with the risk of having a small for gestational age newborn.
Laser Optics - In utero Optical Coherence Tomography to Evaluate Vasculature Changes in the Murine Embryonic Brain Due to Prenatal Alcohol and Nicotine exposure
This study uses speckle variance optical coherence tomography to evaluate vasculature changes in the murine embryonic brain caused due to prenatal exposure to alcohol and nicotine.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice - Detection of in-utero ethanol exposure via EtG and EtS analysis in umbilical cord and placenta
To date, this is the first method to investigate both minor metabolites of ethanol in term umbilical cord and placenta samples for prenatal ethanol exposure.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Kehitysvammaliitto (Finland) - KANSAINVÄLINEN FASD-PÄIVÄ 9.9.
Kansainvälistä FASD-päivää vietetään joka vuosi 9.9. muistuttamaan yhdeksän kuukauden raittiudesta raskausaikana. Alkoholi on kaikkein merkittävin sikiön kehitystä uhkaava tekijä, johon odottava äiti voi itse vaikuttaa. Kaikista päihteistä juuri alkoholi aiheuttaa eniten sikiövaurioita.
Lifeline | Das Gesundheitsportal (Germany) - Fetales Alkoholsyndrom (FAS): Lebenslange Folgen fürs Baby
In Deutschland ist das Fetale Alkoholsyndrom die häufigste Form einer angeborenen Behinderung – noch vor dem Down-Syndrom. Die irreparable Schädigung kann beim Neugeborenen auftreten, wenn die werdende Mutter in der Schwangerschaft Alkohol konsumiert. Selbst wenige Trinkexzesse reichen dafür aus.
NewSicilia (Italy) - Bandire fumo ed alcol durante l’allattamento
I danni sul feto dovuti all’assunzione di alcol in gravidanza sono noti da tempo. Ora emerge che i bambini allattati al seno da madri che bevono alcol hanno capacità cognitive ridotte.
Inklukoalicia (Slovakia) - 4. interaktívny seminár pre učiteľov o inklúzii
Slovenská komora učiteľov s podporou neziskovej organizácie EDULAB, Vás pozýva na 4. interaktívny seminár pre učiteľov /materských, základných, stredných a špeciálnych škôl a školských zariadení/, ktorý sa uskutoční dňa 6. septembra 2018 o 18:00 v priestoroch EDULAB, Rigeleho 1 v Bratislave.
Hyvä Terveys (Finland) - ”Kysyisin äidiltä, miksi hän joi”
Äidin raskaudenaikainen alkoholinkäyttö uhkaa yhä tuhansien lapsien elämää Suomessa. Mikko on yksi FASD-nuori.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Alcohol News - 34/2018

Science Daily (UK) - Areas with more alcohol vendors have higher hospital admission rates, study in England finds
Places in England with the most pubs, bars and nightclubs had a 13 per cent higher hospital admission rate for acute conditions caused by alcohol, a new study finds.
News-Medical.net - Study: ‘Compulsivity circuit’ in brain may drive alcohol-seeking behavior in heavy drinkers
Heavy alcohol drinkers attempt to acquire alcohol despite the threat of a negative consequence more so than light drinkers, a study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging has found, and this behavior is associated with unique activation of brain circuitry in heavy drinkers.
Express.co.uk - Ryanair requests airports should stop selling alcohol before 10am
RYANAIR has renewed their call for airports to ban alcoholic drinks being served before 10am, as flight disruptions from inebriated passengers continue to cause delays to airlines.
The Guardian (UK) - What British sport can learn from America about taming its drinking culture
Danny Cipriani and Ben Stokes are the latest athletes shamed by alcohol – in the US they would have to confront their behaviour.
Daily Mail (Spain) - Unlimited alcohol WILL be banned in all-inclusive resorts in Majorca and Ibiza in war against 'uncivic tourism'
Free-flowing alcohol in all-inclusive hotels in Majorca and Ibiza appears to be finally doomed after a long-awaited raft of proposals by the Balearic Government prepares to see the light of day.
YLE News (Finland) - Looser alcohol laws increase police workload, personnel costs
Police have seen a rise in disturbances reported between 5.00 and 6.00am since new alcohol laws took effect at the beginning of March.
Inverse - Mixing Red Bull and Vodka Makes the Bad Effects of Alcohol Worse
Dangerous as they can be, it’s no surprise vodka-Red Bulls have stuck around since the ‘80s. After all, an increased risk of injury and heart palpitations are hardly top of mind when you’re having the best night ever on a relentless stream of party fuel.
The British Psychological Society - New findings explain why, if you’re sensitive to alcohol, you’re probably sensitive to sleep deprivation too
The last time you and your class-mates or co-workers pulled an all-nighter before a deadline, you may have noticed: there are always those lucky individuals who seem to do just fine after a lack of sleep, while others feel drowsy and confused – almost like they had too much to drink.
World Health Organization - Research demonstrates higher alcohol taxes help reduce alcohol consumption
“Tax increases may not sound the most attractive of policy options, but are the single most cost-effective way of diminishing demand and reining back consumption,” says Dr Daniel Chisholm, Programme Manager in the Division of Noncommunicable Diseases and Promoting Health through the Life-course at WHO/Europe and co-author of a new study on alcohol control policies.
Newshub (New Zealand) - New Zealand needs to double tax on alcohol – economist
A visiting economist and policy expert says New Zealand needs to double the excise tax on alcohol to help curb problem drinking.
EurekAlert - Drug and alcohol use by pregnant women: the evolution of state policies
Policymakers and public health experts have long recognized the harm that can come to fetuses if women use drugs during pregnancy. As U.S. states legalize marijuana and as governmental attention focuses on the "opioid crisis," state policies pertaining to drug use during pregnancy are increasingly important.
CNN - What too much alcohol can do to your health
Worldwide, each person 15 years and older consumes 13.5 grams of pure alcohol per day, according to the World Health Organization. Considering that nearly half of the world doesn't drink at all, that leaves the other half drinking up their share.
IAS - Drunk, disruptive air passenger numbers on the rise
Three out of five British adults who travel by air (60%) have encountered drunk passengers whilst on a flight, according to a report published today.
Forces.net (USA) - Alcohol Misuse 'A Costly Problem' For US Military
Alcohol misuse has been described as "a costly problem" from the US Department of Defense, with a new report showing around 30% of American service personnel are binge drinkers.
Transport Security World - Raise prosecutions to lower alcohol-related violence on planes, pleads Civil Aviation Authority
The head of the UK civil aviation regulator has called for urgent action to be taken by authorities to stop alcohol-fuelled violence and intimidating behaviour on planes, a worsening trend that ‘jeopardises the safety of flights and passengers’.
Knowridge Science Report - Why alcohol can increase your cancer risk
In a new study, researchers find that alcohol can damage DNA in stem cells. This could help explain why drinking increases risk of cancer.
Drink Tank (Australia) - Spoiler alert – alcohol causes cancer
Alcohol industry executives don’t want you to know that alcohol causes cancer. That’s because if people buy less alcohol, they make less profit.

Sunday, August 12, 2018

FASD News - 32/2018

PhillyVoice.com (France) - French winemakers are not pleased with new warning labels
The French may love their wine, but the government is cracking down – and French winemakers are not happy. Health Minister of France Agnès Buzyn wants to implement a larger warning label on wine bottles and wine producers don't understand the need for it.
ABC Local (Australia) - New tool to help screen for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Diagnosing brain impairments caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy remains a challenge in Australia, but new eye-tracking technology could help change that.
Newshub (New Zealand) - 772 NZ babies born affected by drugs, alcohol, prescription medicine in past five years
Hundreds of Kiwi babies have been born recently affected by drugs, alcohol, or prescription medicine - causing serious damage to their health.
AAP News - Maternal Alcohol Use During Lactation and Child Development
Gibson and Porter1 are commended for providing information on a difficult-to-research and poorly understood topic: longitudinal child developmental effects of maternal substance use via breast milk.
Washington Post - Environmental toxins are seen as posing risks during pregnancy
Leading up to and during pregnancy, women are told to avoid alcohol and cigarettes, to make sure they get enough folate and omega-3 fatty acids, and to get adequate sleep and exercise.
Forensic Scholars Today - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Problem Fragmentation (Opinion Piece)
As a social problem and a consequence of the plethora of alcohol caused harms, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is characterised by complexity, ambiguity, and a lack of agreement on definition and solutions.

VIDEOS and MATERIALS
CanFASD - Why FASD Research Matters to Caregivers
Why FASD Research Matters to Caregivers - a conversation with the CanFASD Family Advisory Committee.
Psychlopaedia.org - 20 myths about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder debunked
Awareness of FASD is on the rise, but many parents and health professionals are yet to recognise the symptoms of the disorder, or the scale of the problem. Children from all backgrounds are affected, making this a hidden epidemic behind many behavioural and learning issues.
Northwest Strategies - What is FASD

RESEARCH
British Journal of Occupational Therapy - Elements for developing community-based interventions for adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A scoping review
Current literature about interventions for adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is limited, which is a concern, due to the high prevalence of FASD.
Alcoholism: Clinical and experimental research - Mapping the spectrum of prenatal alcohol effects with dense surface models of the face and brain
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) refers to the spectrum of teratogenic effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) represents the extreme end of the spectrum and comprises somatic and neural growth deficiency, neurobehavioral impairment and a distinctive facial appearance (Hoyme et al., 2016).
core.ac.uk - Evaluation of a Retrospective Diary for peri-conceptual and mid-pregnancy drinking in Scotland: a cross-sectional study
Women reported higher consumption levels when completing the Retrospective Diary, especially regarding peri-conceptual ‘binge’ drinking.
Loyola University Chicago - Mechanisms and Consequences of Epigenetic Inheritance Following Parental Preconception Alcohol Exposure
Recent advances in genomics research have revealed that preconception behaviors and experiences of mothers and fathers, including diet, environmental toxicants, and drug abuse, can impact future offspring through epigenetic mechanisms.
Development and Psychopathology - Testing the programming of temperament and psychopathology in two independent samples of children with prenatal substance exposure
Prenatal programming models have rarely been applied to research on children with prenatal substance exposure, despite evidence suggesting that prenatal drug exposure is a form of stress that impacts neurodevelopmental outcomes and risk for psychopathology.
Development and Psychopathology - Atypical fetal development: Fetal alcohol syndrome, nutritional deprivation, teratogens, and risk for neurodevelopmental disorders and psychopathology
Accumulating evidence indicates that the fetal environment plays an important role in brain development and sets the brain on a trajectory across the life span.
Behavioural brain Research - Prenatal Ethanol Exposure Increases Risk of Psychostimulant Addiction
Prenatal ethanol exposure (PE) causes many cognitive and behavioral deficits including increased drug addiction risk, demonstrated by enhanced ethanol intake and behavioral phenotypes associated with addiction risk.
PloS one - Retinal Wnt signaling defect in a zebrafish fetal alcohol spectrum disorder model
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder caused by prenatal alcohol exposure includes ocular abnormalities (microphthalmia, photoreceptor dysfunction, cataracts).
Experimental eye research - Retinal structure and function in monkeys with fetal alcohol exposure
Exposure to ethanol in utero leads to several brain development disorders including retinal abnormalities whose underlying cellular pathogenesis remains elusive.
The New Zealand Medical Journal - Alcohol consumption in New Zealand women before and during pregnancy: findings from the Growing Up in New Zealand study
Drinking is common in New Zealand women before pregnancy, particularly among European and Māori women. Some women consume small amounts of alcohol and some engage in heavy drinking in pregnancy.
University of the Witwatersrand - Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on 3-week-old Sprague-Dawley rat proximal tibia: an immunohistochemical and three-dimensional micro computed tomography X-Ray investigation
Intrauterine alcohol exposure is detrimental to fetal and postnatal development. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the most severe effect of prenatal alcohol exposure.
Am Acad Pediatrics - Drinking or Smoking While Breastfeeding and Later Cognition in Children
Exposing infants to alcohol through breastmilk may cause dose-dependent reductions in their cognitive abilities. This reduction was observed at age 6 to 7 years but was not sustained at age 10 to 11 years.
Am Acad Pediatrics - Maternal Alcohol Use During Lactation and Child Development
Gibson and Porter1 are commended for providing information on a difficult-to-research and poorly understood topic: longitudinal child developmental effects of maternal substance use via breast milk.
HeinOnline - The Right to Health of the Child in Prenatal Stage

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Corriere della Sera (Italy) - Bere alcol in allattamento riduce le capacità cognitive fino ai 6 anni del bimbo
I danni sul feto dovuti all’assunzione di alcol in gravidanza sono noti da tempo. Ora emerge che i bambini allattati al seno da madri che bevono alcol hanno capacità cognitive ridotte. Lo ha evidenziato una nuova ricerca appena pubblicata sulla rivista Pediatrics.
Sveriges Television (Sweden) - Här dricker flest kvinnor alkohol under graviditeten
FAS eller fetalt alkoholsyndrom är en medicinsk diagnos på alkoholrelaterade fosterskador som ger livslånga och varierande funktionsnedsättningar hos barnet. I Sverige diagnostiseras årligen mellan 100 och 200 barn med FAS.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Guest interview: Phil Cain, author of “Alcohol Companion”

Phil Cain has a background in mathematics and journalism. He has been a correspondent for Southeast Europe and was a founder of VoxPolitics, which charted the use of the internet in democracy. In 2016 he published Alcohol Companion, a groundbreaking science-based account of alcohol for professionals and general readers. It is supported by a readers’ newsletter and discussion group.

Let´s start with the media. What is your view on how impartial and objective media is when it reports on alcohol and especially alcohol policies? Alcohol advertising ban is one of the WHO´s alcohol policy "best-buys" and at the same time, alcohol advertising is a huge income source for media.
Alcohol advertising helps pay a substantial percentage of the cost of our media, while also perpetuating unhelpful myths and misunderstandings about the product. Alcohol advertising must also increase overall demand for alcohol, despite claims to the contrary. The burden of proof should lie with those who suggest otherwise, given advertising’s effect in every other sphere it is practised. Clearly, this economic plumbing and cultural wallpaper does not improve the way alcohol is treated in journalism and drama, and other content. In English-speaking media, at least, alcohol is often treated as a lighthearted topic, despite often having a serious impact on our mental and physical health and wellbeing. That should change, although it will be difficult. That said, we should not let these structural and cultural biases distract us from another problem: Alcohol is, like it or not, an incredibly complicated topic to cover. It is by far the most difficult topic I have ever covered. This is why I felt I had to start with a deep and thorough investigation, my book, Alcohol Companion. I still draw heavily on it in my ongoing coverage and commentary. We cannot reasonably expect every journalist to undergo such an initiation.

Alcohol News - 32/2018

Metro - Scientists explain why alcohol gives you the ‘drunchies’ and makes you eat rubbish food
Craving a kebab, pizza or greasy burger on the way home from the pub is all down to sugar levels in the blood, according to new research.
Psychology Today - Can Aggression Lead You to Drink More Alcohol?
It’s a well-established fact that drinking alcohol makes people more aggressive. For instance, 19 out of 20 acts of violence on a college campus involve alcohol consumption.
Forbes - Does Drinking Alcohol Really Protect Against Dementia? Not So Fast.
The alcohol research has been a bit maddening in recent years—one study seems to tell us that moderate drinking is beneficial for health, and the next that it will kill us. A new study making the rounds appears to suggest that both heavy drinking and abstinence are linked to dementia over the years, while moderate drinking is linked to reduced risk.
Specialty Pharmacy Times - Hepatitis C Worsens Outcomes in Patients Who Abuse Alcohol
The interaction between alcohol abuse and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can compromise overall survival outcomes, according to a study published in Clinical Epidemiology.
EURACTIV (EU) - MEPs ask Commission to reject industry’s alcohol labelling proposal
A group of MEPs has called on the European Commission to turn down an industry proposal on alcohol labelling, claiming that alcoholic beverages should no longer enjoy a preferential regime compared to other foodstuffs.
The Conversation AU - Drink, drank, drunk: what happens when we drink alcohol in four short videos
Alcohol is a depressant, a diuretic, and a disinfectant. These generally aren’t pleasant attributes, but people have been drinking alcohol for thousands of years – some of the earliest written texts mention or contain recipes for beer, and pottery shards from China show people may have been making alcohol as far back as 7,000BCE.
Science Daily - Alcohol increases tuberculosis-related deaths in young mice
Alcohol increases the mortality of young but not old mice infected with the tuberculosis-causing bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and this effect is mediated by the production of a protein called interferon-alpha.
Belfast Telegraph (Northern Ireland) - Minimum pricing on alcohol could be a healthy move for Northern Ireland
In May Scotland introduced a legal minimum price for alcohol of 50p per unit. That implied a major escalation in the prices of what had previously been some of the cheapest drinks: a £1.99 bottle of cider rose to £5.
ERR News (Estonia) - Survey: Over half of Estonians favour lowering alcohol excise duty
According to the results of a recent survey commissioned by daily Postimees and conducted by Kantar Emor, more than half of Estonians are in favour of lowering the alcohol excise duty in Estonia.
Scottish Daily Record (Scotland) - Alcohol charities call for more action to tackle alcoholism across Monklands
Alcohol charities supporting people across Airdrie and Coatbridge have called for further action to tackle alcoholism in Monklands.
The Canberra Times (Australia) - Middle-aged drinking among Canberrans at sobering levels
When they aren’t opining about roundabouts, politicians and quiet streets, outsiders often form the view that Canberra is, for better or for worse, an overwhelmingly healthy place. There’s clean air, top-notch drinking water and a big lake around which the city’s many exercise junkies may jog or cycle on those crystal clear mornings.
Stanthorpe Border Post (Australia) - Alarming truths found in drug and alcohol report
CHILDREN as young as 12 years old are accessing everything from ice and prescription pills to alcohol on the Granite Belt, a new report has found.
Russia Beyond (Russia) - No more vodka for young Russians
Russians are gradually losing one of their most famous characteristics: They’ve stopped drinking! Vodka and the average Russian used to be the closest of friends, but in recent years they’ve gone different ways.

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Alcohol News - 31/2018

CNN - Alcohol in breast milk may lead to lower cognition in kids, study finds
Children's exposure to alcohol through breast milk may cause a comparable drop in their cognitive abilities, according to a study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
New Zealand Herald (New Zealand) - Alcohol brands should be banned from sponsoring sports, researchers say
Researchers say alcohol brands should be banned from sponsoring sports due to the damaging impacts it has on children.
NEWS.com.au (Australia) - New ID scanner could make it a lot harder to buy alcohol
A PROPOSAL by the Western Australian government could make it a lot harder for some Aussies to buy alcohol with the introduction of an ID scanner in bottle shops.
Economic Times - Say no to alcohol, exercise regularly to reduce risk of cancer
A healthy diet and physical activities with no alcohol consumption can help in reducing overall cancer risk besides also lowering breast, prostate and colorectal cancer risks.
Newshub (New Zealand) - Kiwi kids exposed to alcohol ads over four times a day – study
The study by University of Otago and University of Auckland found children were exposed to ads in the home, licensed outlets and sports venues.
Medical News Bulletin - Can your alcohol consumption put you at risk for a heart attack?
A recent study in PLOS Medicine explored the controversial issue of the relationship between alcohol and the incidence rate of heart attacks.
Deutsche Welle (Germany) - Alcohol and the unforgiving liver
Small amounts of alcoholic beverages now and then can be broken down by the liver. However, long-term, too much alcohol damages not only the liver, but also the brain.
Novinite.com (Bulgaria) - Bulgaria in the Top Six in the World When it Comes to Alcohol Consumption
"Capital" reports that, according to the International Organization of Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR), Bulgaria is among the top six in the world for consumption of spirits per capita, as the statistics also include domestic production.
TTG - Travel backs ‘One Too Many’ responsible alcohol campaign
Airports, airlines and tour operators have teamed up to call with one voice for a clampdown on excessive pre-flight drinking.
BBC News (UK) - Every university 'needs' Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings should take place in universities across the UK, student leaders have said.
DesMoinesRegister.com (USA) - Drunk drivers: Iowa is going to start asking where you had your last drink
Officials with the Iowa agency that approves liquor licenses are pairing up with a national organization to track where intoxicated drivers were last served or provided alcoholic beverages.
Read more
VietNamNet Bridge (Vietnam) - Alcohol-related harm equivalent to 1.3-3.3% of GDP
The cost of the harm done to society by alcohol consumption in Vietnam is valued at 1.3-3.3% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), the World Health Organization (WHO) reported at a recent group meeting of the Ministry of Health in Hanoi.
Scoop.co.nz (New Zealand) - Time for Government action on reducing alcohol-related harm
University of Otago experts in addiction medicine and the health effects of alcohol are questioning what the barriers are to Government action on reducing alcohol-related harm and calling for change.
AllAfrica.com - Botswana: Alcohol Intake Declines
The Alcohol Levy has resulted in a decrease in alcohol consumption in Botswana to around seven litres of pure alcohol per capita in 2011/12 from eight litres in 2008.
The Sun - ‘It’s time for a ban on airport drinking’ – warns booze and violence expert
University professor Simon C Moore has argued that the comfort of all passengers outweighs the desires of a minority who want to “start their holiday early”.