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Thursday, March 30, 2023

Alcohol News - 13/2023


CNN (Netherlands) - Amsterdam asks ‘wild’ young male British tourists to ‘stay away’
Amsterdam is asking young British men to “stay away” if they plan to visit the city to cut loose and “go wild”. The Netherlands’ capital’s new online campaign to tackle nuisance tourism launched this week and targets visitors between the ages of 18 and 35, the city’s local authority announced in a news release on Tuesday.
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The Brussels Time (Belgium) - 'Absolutely necessary': Belgium implements first-ever nationwide alcohol plan
Belgium's various health ministers approved its "interfederal alcohol plan" with 75 measures to combat excessive and harmful alcohol consumption in the country, announced Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke on Wednesday.
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Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (Nigeria) - Devastating effects of harmful alcohol consumption
Worldwide, many people enjoy alcohol, which has been a staple of human society for centuries. However, excessive alcohol consumption can have disastrous effects on individuals and society as a whole.
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DW (Vietnam) - European beer giant Heineken fights Vietnam's alcohol tax
The alcohol sector is lobbying against potential tax hikes in Vietnam, while the government's ear is being bent. But at what cost to public health?
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The Guardian - Drugs and alcohol do not make you more creative, research finds
From Hunter S Thompson’s infamous daily pre-writing routine of cocaine, Chivas Regal and acid to Vincent Van Gogh’s love for absinthe and Andy Warhol’s prescription drugs habit, the idea that drugs and alcohol produce great art is deeply culturally ingrained.
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Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) - Cabinet approves drug and alcohol tests for fans at sports stadiums
Sports fans will be subjected to random alcohol and drugs tests on entry to sports venues while a permanent police team will be established to cover high-risk matches, according to a Wednesday cabinet decision aiming to curb violence in sports stadiums.
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CP24 (Canada) - Canada's alcohol tax to see biggest jump in more than 40 years
Canada's restaurant industry is bracing for the biggest jump in the country's alcohol excise duty in more than 40 years, spurring warnings the tax hike could force some bars and restaurants out of business.
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KBR (South Korea) - Drinking even at ‘modest’ levels can be harmful
The common sense of drinking is changing. People used to claim that moderate drinking was beneficial for cardiovascular health but they have lost their ground.
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Daily Mail (Italy) - Italian cafes continue to serve alcohol to thirsty England fans despite authorities announcing a BAN ahead of Three Lions' clash with the Azzurri in Napoli
By mid-afternoon hundreds of England fans had gathered in a square next to the port where buses to take them to stadium.
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AlcoholAndCancer (Sweden) - Swedish Study Reveals Knowledge Gap on Alcohol Increasing Cancer Risk
A new survey conducted by Sifo reveals that one in five Swedes is unaware that alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer. The knowledge gap is even more significant when it comes to low alcohol consumption, with 9 out of 10 Swedes unaware that even small amounts of alcohol raise the risk of cancer.
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Tribune 242 (Bahama) - Report calls for revision of alcohol laws, highlights major health issues
A MAJOR report on health in The Bahamas recommends revisiting and modernising alcohol-related laws to restrict access to alcoholic beverages.
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Iceland Review (Iceland) - Vínbúðin Could Open on Sundays
State liquor store Vínbúðin could be open on Sundays, with a proposal to expand the opening hours of the alcohol retailer having been submitted to Alþingi.
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Sunday, March 26, 2023

FASD News - 12/2023

Neuroscience News - Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Linked to Gender-Specific Adversities
A new study identified sex-specific differences in neurodevelopment and health-related disorders in children who were exposed to alcohol while in the womb.
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Death Penalty Information Center - New Podcast: Protecting Especially Vulnerable Defendants from the Death Penalty — A Discussion with Karen Steele
In the latest episode of “Discussions with DPIC,” Robert Dunham, former Executive Director of DPIC, interviews Karen Steele, a researcher and defense attorney in Oregon, regarding the special characteristics of late adolescent defendants facing the death penalty.
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Alcohol Clinical and Experimental Research - Renewed call to improve approaches for developing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder diagnostic criteria: Commentary on “Comparison of three systems for the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in a community sample”
There have been significant advances in assessment processes and diagnostic criteria since the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure were first described in the medical literature (Lemoine, Harrouseau, & Borteyru, 1968; Ulleland, Wennberg, Igo, & Smith, 1970) and the terminology of fetal alcohol syndrome was first applied (Jones & Smith, 1973).
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NOFASD Australia - THINKING ABOUT BRAIN IN ANALOGIES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FASD CHANGEMAKERS -Part 2 Of 3
Most people with FASD are good at language output – at talking – but very poor at interpretation – making sense of what is being said – independent of cognitive ability (IQ).  And what people expect from you is almost always based on how well you speak.  Think about it…….
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CanFASD (Canada) - Announcing the 2023 Dr. Sterling Clarren Research Award Recipient
We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2023 Dr. Sterling Clarren FASD Research Award is Danielle Johnston for her research on visual-motor integration, visual perception and motor coordination assessments in children with FASD.
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VIDEOS and MATERIALS
FASD Hub Scotland and FASD Hub UK - Wednesday Webinar - the Value of a FASD Diagnosis
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Manitoba FASD Coalition - How You Can Support Healthy Sexual Development and Behaviours in Children and Youth with FASD
This panel discussion focuses on the basics of supporting healthy sexual development and behaviors in children and youth with FASD.
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The Honestly Adoption Company - How To Advocate For Your Child With FASD
The FASD journey can be very defeating and very frustrating. Mostly because, we are constantly dismissed by providers, or made to feel like we're a bit crazy when we try to get answers. How do you break through this?
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NPs, Midwives, & Nurses Partnering to Prevent FASDs - FASD Champions Connect - Lynn Cole, DNP
Dr. Cole is a pediatric Nurse Practitioner who specializes in the care of children with complex developmental and behavioral challenges.
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Spotlight on FASD - Podcast Season 5 Episode 5 - Encounters with the Criminal Justice System: A Research Study
We end our criminal justice mini series chatting with David Junior Gilbert, Doctoral Researcher at the Univeristy of Salford.
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Free Friday Tidbits with Your FASD Coach
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are but one type of neurodivergence. Those who have prenatal exposure to alcohol have physiological changes to the structure and function of their brain.
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FASD Education & Advocacy - FAQs about FASD
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UBC Psychology - Dr. Tamara Bodnar (Mar 9, 2023) - UBC Psychology Colloquia
Prenatal alcohol exposure has been well-documented to result in deficits in cognitive function, learning and memory, attention, and behavioural regulation, as well as mood disturbances.
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National FASD - Raja & Neil's FASD Book Club - Session 12, The Role of Formal Psychometric Assessment in FASD
In session 12 of Raja & Neil’s FASD Book Club, Alexandra Carlisle and Alexandra Livesey discussed their chapter, ‘The Role of Formal Psychometric Assessment in FASD’.
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FASD Hub Australia Podcast - We share the latest evidence-based information about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
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FASD Awareness - David Junior Gilbert - FASD in the Criminal Justice System (Webinar #14)
Individuals with FASD are nineteen times more likely to be involved with the criminal justice system (CJS) when compared to those without FASD. Interrogative suggestibility, a tendency to accept suggestions (during police interviews) is theorised to be a weakness in this population.
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Again for the first time - A Dialogue with Dr. Liam Curran regarding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Dr. Liam Curran has spent many years witing about and studying how undiagnosed F.A.S.D. has had devestating effects on families and society as a whole. This week on the Again For the First Time Podcast.
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RESEARCH
University of New Mexico - Enrichment-Mediated Neurogenesis is Impaired in the ventral Hippocampus in a Mouse Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Potential Therapeutic Intervention
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a leading cause of preventable intellectual disability and neural developmental disorders. Depression and anxiety are the most common mental illness in people with FASD.
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University of New Mexico - Microvascular Structure and Blood Brain Barrier Function are Compromised in Developing Cortices Following Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
FASD presents as a wide range of neurocognitive deficits that may be caused by abnormal vascular development in the brain and expression of factors that regulate vessel formation.
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Archives of Hellenic Medicine - Alcohol and cardiac abnormalities in embryos
In the present paper, alcohol-related congenital heart abnormalities are examined. Congenital heart defects are morphological and functional abnormalities of the heart, which are present at birth and can disrupt the normal blood flow of the heart or great arteries.
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Development of an Australian FASD Indigenous Framework: Aboriginal Healing-Informed and Strengths-Based Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing
Aboriginal culture intuitively embodies and interconnects the threads of life that are known to be intrinsic to human wellbeing: connection. Therefore, Aboriginal wisdom and practices are inherently strengths-based and healing-informed.
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Review of Disability Studies - An Interdisciplinary Approach to Increasing Access to Care for Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have a prevalence of roughly 1 in 20, making it one of the most prevalent disorders in the United States (May et al., 2018).
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University of Victoria - Choline: A Potential Neuroprotective Agent for Microglia Recovery from Prenatal Ethanol Exposure
We investigated the effects of postnatal ethanol exposure (at a time period equivalent to 3rd trimester in humans) on microglia in the hippocampus of adolescent rats.
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Advances in Dual Diagnosis - Capturing invisibility: child welfare social worker's interventions and assessment planning in presentations of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder(s)
The direct implications of FASD and how it impacts CWS are well documented. However, few studies focus on the critical interface of FASD and the role of CWSW responsible for planning their safe care. This paper offers a novel pragmatic and functional multistep protocol to aid CWSW in this complex area of practice.
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Annals of Medicine - Multifaceted case management during pregnancy is associated with better child outcomes and less fetal alcohol syndrome
At age five, proportionally fewer children of MCM participants qualified for a diagnosis of FAS, and proportionally more had physical outcomes indicating better prenatal brain development. Neurobehavioral indicators were not significantly different from controls by age five.
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Nutrients - Untargeted and Targeted Blood Lipidomic Signature Profile of Gestational Alcohol Exposure
Alcohol consumption has a close relationship with blood lipid levels in a nonpregnant state, with a myriad of effects on the liver; however, little is known about the interaction of alcohol and lipids in the context of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
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Research in Developmental Disabilities - Prognostic factors for long-term outcome in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Even though our results need to be interpreted with caution due to methodological limitations such as the use of a convenience sample and limited statistical power, they imply that severely affected children with FASD experience a less stable environment.
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Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Sex-related differences among individuals assessed for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Canada
Individuals with PAE/FASD experience notable sex-related differences in clinical presentation and experiences across the lifespan.
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Children - Concerns and Strengths: Caregiver Perceptions of Their Infant/Toddler with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
These findings reinforce the value of caregivers’ perspectives and offer a reminder to practitioners that infants/toddlers with PAE and their caregivers have many strengths that can be harnessed, in addition to a range of challenges that must be addressed.
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Nutrients - The Association of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis with Appetite Regulation in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)
Hormonal dysregulation in FASDs can contribute to reduced growth and development, as well as many other disturbed processes, including neurological/neurodevelopmental dysfunctions.
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Research in Developmental Disabilities - Relationship-based intervention for children who were prenatally alcohol exposed in South Africa
This early intervention study investigated the effectiveness of a relationship-based, developmental enhancement process for children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol in the South African context.
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Monash University - Attention and white matter micro- and macro-structure in children exposed to common patterns of alcohol consumption during pregnancy
Attention deficits are common among children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure, but little is known about the developmental consequences of lower and more common alcohol consumption patterns during pregnancy.
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Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy - Financial difficulties among youth prenatally exposed to substances: a longitudinal register-based cohort study
Receipt of long-term FSA among youth with PSE likely reflects maternal substance abuse linked with maternal financial situation and care instability in childhood.
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Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - Factors Associated With Changes in Alcohol Use During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Transition Among People With HIV in South Africa and Uganda
Identifying factors associated with alcohol use changes during pregnancy is important for developing interventions for people with HIV (PWH).
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Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research - Fetal alcohol exposure impairs learning and memory functions and elevates levels of various biochemical markers of Alzheimer's disease in the brain of twelve-month-old rats
These data suggest that fetal alcohol exposure increases the expression of some of the biochemical and behavioral phenotypes of Alzheimer's disease during aging.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Łódzkiego (Poland) - Pomagamy dzieciom z zespołem FASD
Nie ma bezpiecznej dawki alkoholu w ciąży. Nawet jedna lampka wina do kolacji zaszkodzi dziecku w brzuchu matki. Niestety liczby nie wyglądają optymistycznie.
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NOZ (Germany) - Kampf gegen FASD: Bundesverdienstkreuz für Gisela Michalowski
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Knov (Netherlands) - ‘Je kunt niet echt moeder zijn, je bent meer hulpverlener
Gabrielle: “Ik zou verloskundigen willen meegeven om bespreekbaar te maken wat alcohol (zowel bij de man als de vrouw) vlak voor en tijdens de zwangerschap kan doen, want als je te maken krijgt met FASD dan heeft dat een enorme impact op je leven.
Niet alleen op dat van de ouders en/of verzorgers, maar ook op dat van het kind zelf.
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Thursday, March 23, 2023

Alcohol News - 12/2023


NL Times (Netherlands) - Netherlands investigating reintroduction of alcohol lock in passenger cars
The government is still considering the reintroduction of an alcohol interlock to prevent the number of alcohol drivers on the road from rising further. Minister Mark Harbers (Infrastructure) is currently having studies conducted on the reintroduction of such a ban.
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Eindhoven News (Netherlands) - Alcohol ban extended in seventeen areas of Eindhoven
The alcohol ban in seventeen areas of Eindhoven will be extended by three years from April 1. The ban should prevent (possible) nuisance.
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Hospital + Healthcare (Australia) - Four in five alcohol-related deaths among males: AIHW
Four in five alcohol-related deaths and three in five hospitalisations in 2019–20 were among males, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
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University of Calgary - UCalgary researcher finds link between pandemic and rise in alcohol-related liver disease
It was during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic when Dr. Abdel Aziz Shaheen, MD, an associate professor in the Cumming School of Medicine, noticed the lineups to get into the liquor store were longer than the lines to get into the grocery store.
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NordAN (Latvia) - NordAN supports Latvia's proposed alcohol policy amendments
The Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network (NordAN) has written a letter to the Prime Minister of Latvia, Mr. Krisjanis Karins, and several other ministers, expressing support for the draft laws developed by Latvia's Ministry of Health.
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PopNAD (Iceland) - Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Iceland – where are we heading?
The Directorate of Health in Iceland monitors several determinants of health every year ever since 2014. In this article we compared the use of alcohol in the adult population over a five-year period from 2018 to 2022 and the use of tobacco along with e-cigarettes and tobacco-free nicotine pouches.
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NBC News (Japan) - East Asians more likely to develop stomach cancer because of lower alcohol tolerance, new study says
East Asian people are more likely to develop a more aggressive type of stomach cancer because of their higher likelihood of alcohol intolerance, according to a new study led by researchers in Japan.
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BBC - Why workplace drinking culture is fading fast
Drinking has long been the centre of workplace culture. But younger employees are changing the role of alcohol in the office.
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BBC (Kenya) - Kenya's plan to curb alcohol abuse: One pub per town
Kenya's deputy president has tried to take a radical step to reduce alcohol abuse in the country's central region by saying that county governments should only allow one pub per town, but not everyone is convinced that this is a good plan.
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Euronews (Scotland) - In Scotland, minimum pricing on alcohol has led to a drop in deaths and hospitalisations
The introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) on alcoholic drinks in Scotland has led to a drop in alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations in the country, new research has found.
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Independent.ie (Ireland) - Zero-alcohol brands in the spotlight as study shows high level of drink branding during rugby coverage
Complaint to HSE inspectors follows research showing an alcohol brand reference was seen on screen in every eight to 18 seconds in the highlights of 11 European Champions Cup matches over the last two years
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Crossroads - STUDY OF ALCOHOL OVERSERVICE FINDS LACK OF ENFORCEMENT
Overservice—the act of serving alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person—contributes to motor vehicle crashes and violence, and it’s illegal in 48 out of 50 states. Still, U of M researchers say overservice tends to be understudied and underenforced.
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Concordia University - Alcohol abuse and anxiety sensitivity are linked in different but mutually reinforcing ways, according to a new study
Anxiety sensitivity — the fear of anxiety-related sensations — has a long and not very healthy relationship with alcohol use and abuse. People who display high levels of AS are more likely to drink heavily and use alcohol as a coping method or to reduce tensions.
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The National (Scotland) - Alcohol industry 'trying to obstruct public health policy'
INDUSTRY claims about the damage curbs on alcohol marketing would do to the economy and businesses in Scotland should be treated with a “healthy degree of caution”, a charity has insisted.
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Friday, March 17, 2023

Alcohol News - 11/2023

Brazil Reports (Brazil) - Brazilian women abusing alcohol more; pandemic, cultural shifts to blame, says expert
In 2010, 10.5% of Brazilian women consumed alcoholic beverages abusively. In 2020, the number increased to 16%. During the same period, the rates among men remained stable (27% in 2010 and 26.5% in 2020).
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ABC (Australia) - Liquor restrictions will be placed on Carnarvon unless watchdog can be convinced otherwise
New alcohol restrictions will be placed on Carnarvon unless local licensees can convince the state's liquor regulator they are not necessary.
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New Mexico In Depth (USA) - Senate committee passes nickel-per-drink increase in alcohol taxes
On Wednesday, a Senate committee amended a tax package passed by the House earlier this week to hike alcohol taxes 5¢ per drink for beer, wine, and spirits, greater than the 1¢ to 2¢ increase included in the original proposal.
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Oregon Public Broadcasting (USA) - Illegal substances are part of addiction problem in Oregon, but alcohol is biggest killer
Headlines in 2022 declared Oregon to be the “worst in the nation” for addiction. But many local experts in behavioral health say state rankings should be taken with a grain of salt.
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Safety+Health Magazine - Study links high schoolers’ alcohol consumption to heavier use as adults
Teens who begin “high-intensity drinking” of alcohol by their junior year of high school are more likely to drink heavily as young adults, researchers at the University of Michigan say.
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Mirage News (Australia) - Young people in affluent areas drink more alcohol
A La Trobe University study examining Australia’s heavy drinkers has found that young people aged 14-24 years living in higher socio-economic areas are more likely to drink higher quantities of alcohol than those from lower socio-economic areas.
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Global News (Canada) - One-fifth of London-area deaths in an average year attributable to alcohol, smoking: MLHU
At least one-fifth of all deaths in London and Middlesex in an average year are attributable to alcohol consumption and smoking tobacco, a report going before the board of health for the Middlesex-London Health Unit on Thursday suggests.
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RFI (France) - Decline in alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use continues among French 17-year-olds
The use of drugs, particularly cannabis, alcohol and tobacco, is declining among 17-year-olds, according to the latest figures published by the French Drugs and Addictive Tendencies watchdog.
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Thai PBS World (Thailand) - Poll shows most oppose liberalisation of alcohol, e-cigarettes, cannabis and gambling
A network of 12 children’s and family’s rights groups, tobacco, alcohol and cannabis research institutes have disclosed results of their opinion poll, which shows that the majority of respondents disagree with political parties’ policies for liberalisation of alcohol, e-cigarettes, cannabis and gambling.
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Movendi - Even Small Amounts of Alcohol Can Be Harmful to Blood Pressure and the Heart
A brand new report on alcohol and blood pressure summarizes the best scientific research and provides a state-of-the-art overview of alcohol’s substantial causal role in the genesis of hypertension and related diseases.
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BusinessWorld Online (Philippines) - On Women’s Month: Be concerned over alcohol and gender-based violence
March is a month for celebrating women. This was declared by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in 1988 and signed into law by the first Filipina president and first female president in Asia, Corazon Aquino.
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IAS (UK) - Studies around the world collectively find that Minimum Unit Pricing would reduce alcohol-related hospital burden
In England and Ireland, alcohol harms contribute significantly to the burden on healthcare. In England, alcohol accounted for 7.2% of all days that patients spent in hospital in 2009 – 2010, and in Ireland this figure was 8.7% in 2000 – 2004.
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IAS (UK) - Good news for public health, good news for pubs, and good news for Treasury revenue
Excise duties were introduced in England in the 1640s by parliament as a temporary way of raising money during the Civil War. They were presented as measures to discourage gluttony and extravagance or “favoureth virtue and punisheth vice”.
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Alcoholandcancer.eu - Urgent Need to Control Alcohol Use as a Risk Factor for Cancer
A recent study published in the journal Hepatology International highlights the urgent need to address alcohol consumption as a leading risk factor for liver cancer and cirrhosis.
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NordAN (Finland) - Focus on children and families in alcohol policy decisions
Alcohol policy aims to reduce the problems and harm caused to alcohol users, their loved ones, others and society. There is strong research evidence that restricting access to alcohol is the most effective way to reduce consumption and harm.
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Sunday, March 12, 2023

FASD News - 10/2023

Australian Government Department of Health (Australia) - 'Strong Born' a new campaign supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to yarn about FASD
On February 22, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) supported by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), will launch the Strong Born campaign aimed at raising awareness of the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and safe breastfeeding practices.
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The Medical Republic - Mythbusting fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
This is a good thing according to our guest Nirosha Boaden. She is undertaking a PhD in FASD and brings expertise in social work and public health research to her role as a senior mental health specialist in the Northern Territory.
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ABC (Australia) - Ex-prisoner says FASD screening would help break cycle of crime
Geoffrey Taylor says it wasn't until he was diagnosed with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder at 54, that he was able to make sense of his life of crime.
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Albuquerque Journal (USA) - New Mexico Senate OKs bill intended to aid ‘vulnerable’ newborns
Legislation moving forward at the Roundhouse would require New Mexico’s child welfare agency to conduct a family assessment when a newborn suffers from drug withdrawals and the parents don’t comply with a hospital-issued plan of care.
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Indiana Alliance - I’m Sorry- Reframing the FASD Diagnosis
We have all heard these words. Throughout so many seasons, for so many reasons. The I’m Sorry I want to discuss is the one I hear on occasion when I divulge my FASD diagnosis, and how I got it.
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VIDEOS and MATERIALS
NACCHO TV - NACCHO 'Strong Born' Campaign
'Strong Born' is a communications campaign designed to raise awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and the harms of drinking alcohol while pregnant and breastfeeding, among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.
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Spotlight on FASD - Podcast Season 5 Episode 2 - FASD Ireland
This week Clare and Jessica are chatting with Tris Casson-Rennie, CEO of FASD Ireland! With such a busy year ahead, we caught up with Tris in the very early days of the organisation so be sure to check out their website and follow on social media to see all they've been up to since!
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HSE Health and Wellbeing - Alcohol brief intervention during pregnancy with Midwife
In this video we will look at an example of a brief intervention between a midwife and a young student mother attending her first antenatal appointment.
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The Adoption & Foster Care Journey - Episode 366 - Primary Characteristics of FASD-Sensory Processing
On this episode, host Sandra Flach continues her series on the Primary Characteristics of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Listen in as Sandra shares how prenatal alcohol exposure affects the senses, how it might present in our kids, and offers some helpful strategies for accommodations.
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NOFASD Australia - Characteristics across the lifespan
As the adverse impacts of fetal alcohol exposure are dependent on the timing and dose of alcohol use during pregnancy, the individual fetal alcohol (FA) characteristics will vary from child to child.
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The Addicted Mind Podcast - 222: The Risk of Alcohol Consumption During Pre...
Drinking when pregnant is a cultural norm. In fact, one in seven pregnant people reports consuming alcohol during pregnancy (which is pretty high).
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Learn - Aspire - Thrive – Achieve - Episode 4 - What is trauma informed practice?
In this episode, John and Edwina turn to our very own experts Jo Lyness and Pamela McLeman to better understand the impact of early, repeated trauma and loss which can happen within the child’s important relationships.
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National FASD - Raja & Neil's FASD Book Club - Session 11, It Isn't All About the Facial Features
Raja & Neil’s FASD Book Club – Session 11, It Isn’t All About the Facial Features, with Miguel del Campo, filmed 22nd December 2022.
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Inclusive Education - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and learning
Targeted strategies for teachers to meet the multi-faceted needs of students living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
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RESEARCH
Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Disrupted dynamic functional network connectivity in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Our results indicate important resting-state dFNC differences exist in children with FASD. Participants with FASD exhibited increased dynamic fluidity and dynamic range and spent more time in states typified by anticorrelation within and between DMN and VN, and more time in a state typified by high internetwork connectivity.
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Pielęgniarstwo w Opiece Długoterminowej - What should students know about FAS when they help people with alcohol dependence?
Efforts should be made to increase public awareness of the risks of using drugs during pregnancy. The increased level of knowledge will affect not only the health behavior of patients, but may also improve the early diagnosis of FAS.
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Rethinking Local Economic Development for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Renosterberg Local Municipality, South Africa
Two towns in Renosterberg Local Municipality (RLM) in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, Petrusville and Philipstown, have high Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) prevalence rates.
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The FASEB Journal - Mitigating the detrimental developmental impact of early fetal alcohol exposure using a maternal methyl donor-enriched diet
This study clearly supports that preimplantation embryos are vulnerable to the teratogenic effects of alcohol, emphasizes the dangers of maternal alcohol consumption during early gestation, and provides a potential proactive maternal nutritional intervention to minimize FASD progression, reinforcing the importance of adequate preconception and prenatal nutrition.
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First Peoples Child and Family Review - Aboriginal Kinship Carers and Carers of Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Western Australia: Advancing Knowledge from an Indigenous and Disability Lens
Children and youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) have limited access to assessment, diagnostic, and treatment resources – a distinct disadvantage in meeting their care needs in Australia.
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Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology - Sexual dimorphic vulnerability of respiratory control in a neonatal rodent model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
These data suggest that important ventilatory defense responses in females are impaired following developmental EtOH exposure, and this may be associated with increased risk of later death.
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Nature Reviews Disease Primers - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Alcohol readily crosses the placenta and may disrupt fetal development. Harm from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is determined by the dose, pattern, timing and duration of exposure, fetal and maternal genetics, maternal nutrition, concurrent substance use, and epigenetic responses.
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Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics - Genetic, Epigenetic, and Environmental Influences on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Implications for Diagnosis, Research and Clinical Practice
We provide an overview of FASD and a brief history of the development of diagnostic criteria, review risk and resilience factors that impact the expression of the disorder, discuss genetic and epigenetic factors in FASD, and conclude by relating these findings to the clinical context.
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Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics - Clinical Perspectives on the Diagnostic Assessment of Individuals with FASD
The purpose of this chapter is to provide clinicians with an overview of the diagnostic assessment of individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Adverse childhood experiences in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and their effects on behavior
Children with FASD are at risk for ACEs, and those with higher ACEs had a greater frequency of problem behavior on the ECBI, especially conduct problems.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - An investigation of the utility of the Australian Guide to the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in young children
These results highlight the complexity of presentation and the extent of impairment in the sample. The use of comorbid diagnoses to substantiate a “severe” designation in specific neurodevelopmental domains raises the question of whether there were false-positive diagnoses.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Sleep disturbances in Norwegian children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) with and without a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or epilepsy
Problems with sleep are very common in FASD children and seem independent of FASD subgroup and the presence of epilepsy or a pathological EEG finding, while those with ADHD had more sleep problems.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Validation of the FASD-Tree as a screening tool for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
The FASD-Tree is not a biomarker of PAE and does not provide definitive evidence of prenatal alcohol exposure.
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BJR| Open - Spectrum of MRI findings of foetal alcohol syndrome disorders - what we know and what we need to know!
The exposure to alcohol in utero has been known to damage the developing foetus. Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term that highlights a range of adverse effects linked to alcohol exposure in utero.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Latent classes of neurodevelopmental profiles and needs in children and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure
Four relatively distinct subgroups were present in a large heterogeneous sample of children and adolescents with PAE assessed for FASD in Canada.
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International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction - Emerging Risk of Ethanol-related Outbreak via Clandestine Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy: An Alarming Note on Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Iran
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is an increased risk behavior that raises significant clinical concerns. Ethanol is classified as a hazardous teratogenic substance (1).
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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth - A harmonized analysis of five Canadian pregnancy cohort studies: exploring the characteristics and pregnancy outcomes associated with prenatal alcohol exposure
Pooling data across pregnancy cohort studies allowed us to create a large sample of Canadian women and investigate the risk factors for alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
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Current Psychology - Alcohol consumption after pregnancy awareness and the additive effect of pregnancy-related anxiety and child abuse
This study examined whether pregnant women alter their alcohol consumption upon pregnancy awareness and any additive effect of a maternal history of child abuse and pregnancy-related anxiety in predicting antenatal alcohol consumption.
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Experimental Neurology - Alcohol & cannabinoid co-use: Implications for impaired fetal brain development following gestational exposure

In this review paper, we will address what is currently known about combined exposure to these substances, both directly and prenatally, and identify shared prenatal targets from single-exposure paradigms that may highlight susceptible neurobiological mechanisms for future investigation and therapeutic intervention.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
FAS Portalen (Sweden) - Fem i fokus på Fokus FAS
Ungefär 60 personer, allt från barnläkare och barnmorskor till psykologer och adoptionshandläggare, deltog i Fokus FAS på plats i Göteborg den 9–10 februari. Nästan lika många följde konferensen online. Vi passade på att prata med några av deltagarna.
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AK-Kurier (Germany) - Vortrag und Austausch zum Thema "Fetale Alkoholspektrum-Störungen (FASD)"
Am 16. März um 18 Uhr findet im Kontaktladen "Aufwärts" in Wissen (Gerichtsstr. 34) der Austausch statt. Referentin: Miriam Ottweiler-Jaeger, Fachstelle für Suchtprävention und für Kinder aus suchtbelasteten Familien im Diakonischen Werk Altenkirchen.
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Gera Aktuell (Germany) - Ausstellung informiert über schädigenden Alkoholgenuss bei werdenden Müttern
Vom 1. bis 3. März laden die Frühen Hilfen des Jugendamtes, die Sucht- und Psychiatriekoordinatorin des Amtes für Gesundheit und Versorgung und Beratungsstellen in der Stadt Gera Interessierte, Fachkräfte und Schulen zur interaktiven Ausstellung „Zero!“ in die Gera Arcaden ein.
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Rádio Slovensko (Slovenia) - Tvár dieťaťa ako test na alkohol počas tehotenstva
Časté pitie alkoholu počas tehotenstva dieťaťu výrazne škodí. Vedci teraz zistili ako je to s príležitostným pitím alkoholu. Pokračuje Rado Tomeš
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El Regional Del Zulia (Spain) - Beber alcohol embarazada puede alterar la forma de la cara del bebé
Beber alcohol está totalmente contraindicado en las embarazadas porque puede afectar al desarrollo del feto y tener consecuencias tan graves para el futuro bebé como el síndrome de alcoholismo fetal, que causa diversos problemas de salud físicos y mentales.
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la Repubblica (Italy) - Ecco come l'alcol in gravidanza cambia il viso del feto
Uno studio olandese per la prima volta analizza le modifiche del volto del feto, grazie all'Intelligenza artificiale. Scoprendo che nessuna dose è sicura. Ecco i risultati.
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Thursday, March 9, 2023

Alcohol News - 10/2023


Scotsman (Scotland) - The Drink Debate: How other countries regulate alcohol advertising
Under the proposals, the Scottish Government could prohibit alcohol-branded sports merchandise, including sponsorship on replica kits and ban alcohol advertising at any sports match which could have children in the audience.
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ABC (Australia) - More than 40,000 alcohol posts will be advertised on social media, report says
A new report has revealed alcohol companies are releasing more than forty thousand ads on Facebook and Instagram each year.
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Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - What the alcohol industry doesn't want you to know
In The Drinking Game (Allen & Unwin, RRP $36.99), journalist Guyon Espiner explores what drives drinking culture, and why the alcohol industry is given a “free ride” despite selling a drug that causes enormous harm. In this edited extract, Espiner delves into exactly the problem with alcohol.
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Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Alcohol main reason for drug helpline calls, followed by cocaine
Alcohol is by far the main substance people are contacting a dedicated HSE drug helpline about, new figures show.
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CTV News (Canada) - Experts believe 'sober-curious' lifestyle driving alcohol sales down
A new Statistics Canada survey has found Canadians are buying less booze – leading sales to drop for the first time in a decade.
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Northern | Star Weekly (Australia) - RACGP urges action on alcohol delivery services
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has urged government to crackdown on alcohol delivery services, including those in Hume and Whittlesea.
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Vice - Amazon Wanted to ‘Unlock’ the Liquor Market by Secretly Lobbying to Change Laws, Leaked Document Shows
A confidential Amazon document obtained by Motherboard shows how the company wanted to make an aggressive push into the alcohol delivery market by launching a multi-state lobbying campaign to change alcohol licensing laws and regulations, in concert with a “limited government” think tank.
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EASL - Home of Hepatology - The central role of alcohol and food policies on liver health
Alcohol and food policies are increasingly being introduced to restrict marketing of and access to unhealthy foods.
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The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology - Distilling the message: Irish plans for alcohol warning labels
Ireland’s laws on alcohol could be about to change—if the Oireachtas have the stomach for it. In June of last year, Ireland informed the European Commission of its intention to introduce health warning labels on alcoholic products sold in the country, a provision allowed under Ireland’s draft Public Health Regulations 2022.
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Liverpool City Council (UK) - Blog: “We need to get serious about our relationship with alcohol – individually and collectively”
We do need to get serious about our relationship with alcohol – individually and collectively, because of the significant harm it does, and the resulting costs to the individual – and society.
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Scotsman (Scotland) - Scotland's alcohol advertising restrictions won't hurt the economy and could save lives – Aveek Bhattacharya
Saving lives versus supporting the economy. Health versus wealth. Certainly, that is the way SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes seems to see it, suggesting that the measures could “undermine one of Scotland’s greatest exports... namely whisky”.
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NordAN (Finland) - FINLAND: alcoholic beverage traveler imports surge after COVID-19 pandemic recovery in 2022
In 2022, Finns purchased 36.9 million liters of alcoholic beverages on their foreign trips, equivalent to 4.0 million liters of pure alcohol. This represents an approximately 174 percent increase in the import of alcoholic beverages compared to the previous year.
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Thursday, March 2, 2023

Alcohol News - 9/2023

NordAN (Finland) - EHYT´s survey: 78% of election candidates satisfied with alcohol availability and sales locations
The majority of Finnish parliamentary candidates (78%) who responded to a survey commissioned by the Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention (EHYT) and conducted by Aula Research, considered the current availability of alcohol to be sufficient.
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Toronto Life (Canada) - “People think we’re reducing the fun in their lives”: Meet the researcher suggesting that Canadians stick to two drinks per week
Catherine Paradis discusses the controversy over the new low-risk drinking guidelines, the latest science on booze and how it feels to be the bearer of bad news
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BBC (Canada) - Beer and wine sales in Canada fall to all-time low
Canadians appear to be losing their taste for alcohol, according to findings in a new report that showed beer and wine sales at historic lows.
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CEOWORLD magazine - Alcohol And Sugar – The Two Enemies Of The Body Health
Sugar and alcohol are two substances we put into our bodies in relatively larger amounts than we are designed to host. Today we talk about the reason why we like them so much.
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B&T (Australia) – Study: 20% of Aussies who use alcohol delivery service continue drinking post-pub
A survey of Australian adults who use popular alcohol delivery sites found one in five utilised a service to continue a home drinking session.
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PsyPost (USA) - New study suggests the 2020 election increased alcohol use and decreased sleep
People experienced reduced sleep quantity and efficiency coupled with heightened stress, negative mood, and alcohol use in the period surrounding the 2020 election, according to new research published in the journal Sleep Health.
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Brussels Times (Belgium) - Belgium working on 'alcohol plan' to curb consumption
Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke will present an "alcohol plan," in March, containing what are reportedly striking measures, to curb its consumption in Belgium.
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American Journal of Psychiatry - Alcohol and the Etiology of Depression
In the clinical context, alcohol use is typically a problem to be reduced or eliminated. Patients presenting with depression, anxiety, or other non-substance-related mental disorders often have co-occurring alcohol or other substance use.
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Bangkok Post (Thailand) - Call for govt to ban 'sly' alcohol ads
Anti-alcohol consumption networks on Tuesday called for a ban on the use of alcoholic beverage logos to promote non-alcoholic drinks, labelling it a marketing ploy to raise people's recognition of unhealthy products.
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Coventry Telegraph (UK) - Dr Michael Mosley shares alcohol warning to anyone who drinks
The effect of alcohol on your body varies from person to person and how fast you metabolise it. This means drinking what one person considers 'modest amounts' could lead to major health issues for another.
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Movendi - Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Undermines Its Global Health Credibility With Massive Investment in the World’s Second Largest Beer Producer
Bill Gates in his individual capacity and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust both bought major stakes in Heineken Holding NV, the controlling shareholder of the world’s second-largest brewer.
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Discover Magazine - This is How Alcohol Affects the Brain
And when someone drinks, the alcohol reaches crucial areas of the brain — cerebral cortex, frontal lobe, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebellum — which impairs a person’s balance, judgment, speech and memory, and forces the brain to work harder. With time, increasing the BAC levels might be enough to create long-term effects on the brain.
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Jamaica Gleaner (Jamaica) - Study on alcohol links to NCDs aimed at cutting healthcare costs, Tufton
The Ministry of Health and Wellness will be embarking on a study to determine how the harmful use of drugs, specifically alcohol, contributes to an increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
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Simple Flying - Can Cabin Crew Refuse To Serve Intoxicated Passengers Alcohol?
For some, a glass of wine at the airport or a cold beer onboard has become an almost obligatory part of the travel experience. However, there is a small minority who, for a variety of reasons, consume too much alcohol and begin to display disruptive behaviors.
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Arabian Business (Iraq) - Iraq bans alcohol import, sale and manufacturing
Iraqi authorities have officially banned the import, sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages according to the official newspaper (published by the ministry of justice) effective immediately.
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Contagion Live - The Link Between Early COVID-19 Infection and Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnoses
Patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the early phases of the pandemic were more likely to be diagnosed with new alcohol use disorder (AUD) compared to their non-COVID-19 respiratory infection counterparts, according to a paper published in JAMA Network Open.
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IAS (UK) - New report looks at reasons for the decline of alcohol-related violence in England and Wales
According to Crime Survey for England and Wales data, alcohol-related violence has fallen in both absolute terms and as a proportion of all violence over the last decade.
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AlcoholAndCancer.eu (France) - Alcohol Consumption and Cancer Risk Underestimated by French Population, Study Finds
The National Cancer Institute, in partnership with Santé publique France, has released the results of the 4th Cancer Barometer on World Cancer Day, celebrated on 4th February every year.
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