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Friday, June 21, 2024

Alcohol News - 25/2024

Yle (Finland) - THL: Finland's alcohol consumption continues to decline
Alcohol consumption in Finland continued to decline in 2023, according to latest statistics from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
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UT Southwestern Medical Center - Experts call for more clinical trials on alcohol use, liver disease
More clinical research is needed to investigate how reducing alcohol consumption in patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) may slow disease progression and improve outcomes, according to an international task force of experts from more than two dozen institutions including UT Southwestern Medical Center.
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Newsweek (USA) - Gen Z is Abandoning Alcohol
Some 64 percent of legal-drinking-age Gen Zers in the U.S. said they had not consumed alcohol in the six months leading up to May, according to the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR), a global drinks data and analytics provider.
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RNZ (New Zealand) - 'Pitiful' alcohol levy increase adds less than half a cent to the price of a can of beer
The alcohol levy has been raised - but by less than half the amount that would even cover inflation. Cabinet has agreed to increase the alcohol levy, which funds alcohol harm reduction measures, for the first time since 2009.

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The Sofia Globe (Bulgaria) - Eurostat: Bulgaria’s price levels for alcohol and tobacco lowest in EU
In 2023, the price level for alcohol and tobacco was 3.2 times higher in Ireland, the most expensive country, than in Bulgaria, the least expensive, European Union statistics agency Eurostat said on June 20.
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Women's Agenda (Australia) - Children can’t legally buy alcohol, but companies can still bombard them with marketing
Children and young people under 18 can’t legally buy alcohol – for very good reasons. Despite this, alcohol companies and digital platforms can mine their digital data and aggressively target them with online marketing.
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Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora (New Zealand) - Costs of alcohol harms in New Zealand: Updating the evidence with recent research
The Public Health Agency, within the Ministry of Health, commissioned the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) to conduct an updated analysis of the costs of alcohol related harm in New Zealand.
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FORUT - What can we learn from alcohol policy and advocacy in low- and middle-income countries?
In the special issue of the International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research on “Alcohol Prevention Research and Policy Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries,” FORUT and Movendi supported the publication of articles by authors from low- and middle-income countries.
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NordAN (Latvia) - LATVIA: Social Affairs Committee supports a bill to reduce alcohol consumption in society
To reduce alcohol consumption in society, the Social and Labor Affairs Committee on Wednesday, June 5, supported amendments to the Law on Alcoholic Beverages Circulation in its third reading.
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BMA (UK) - Evidence to support the asks in our alcohol, drugs and driving consensus statement
Statistics on the harms of alcohol and drugs, including in relation to road harm caused by substance use, highlight the need for policy change, such as those we call for in our consensus statement.
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The Australian (Australia) - New study found women drinking alcohol in high levels, despite health warnings
Alarming new research has found women in Australia are drinking alcohol at dangerous levels despite knowing the harm it can bring.
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AlcoholAndCancer (France) - Ligue contre le cancer takes on RATP over alcohol ads in metro
In a bold move to safeguard public health, the Ligue contre le cancer, supported by France Assos Santé, Unaf, FNAS, and Entraid’addict, has filed a complaint against the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP).
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Alcohol Awareness (Finland) – Invisible Children
The program of Finland´s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government includes several reforms that shift the focus of alcohol regulation away from social and health policy. The most concerning of these reforms is the proposal for alcohol home delivery, which risks increasing alcohol consumption in homes where children are the invisible victims.
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Friday, June 14, 2024

Alcohol News - 24/2024


WHO Europe - Just four industries cause 2.7 million deaths in the European Region every year
A pioneering report from the WHO Regional Office for Europe spells out clearly how specific powerful industries are driving ill-health and premature mortality across Europe and central Asia, including through interfering in and influencing prevention and control efforts for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers and diabetes, and their risk factors including tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diets and obesity.
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The Conversation (Canada) - Ontario’s expansion of alcohol to convenience stores is a covert union avoidance strategy
The Ontario government has announced it’s expediting its plan to get beer into thousands of convenience stores.
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The Local Denmark (Denmark) - Are Danes cutting back on cigarettes and alcohol?
Danish stores sold a significantly lower quantity of alcohol and cigarettes over the counter last year, new data from Statistics Denmark show.
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BBC (UK) - States may raise prices to tackle 'drinking culture'
The States of Guernsey could raise alcohol prices to tackle the Bailiwick's drinking culture, according to a new report.
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Think Global Health - Confronting Big Alcohol's Sponsorship of Pride Parades
In the face of current global political backlashes and the rise of political parties threatening advances on LGBTQ+ rights, it is clear that this Pride month transcends mere festivities.
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The Independent (Germany) - German authorities halve strength of alcohol at England’s ‘high risk’ opening Euro 2024 game with Serbia
England fans will only be allowed to buy low-alcohol beer at their opening Euro 2024 match with Serbia on Sunday after the fixture was identified as “high risk” by German authorities.
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The Drum - Google, Meta, TikTok & others agree to improve age assurance for alcohol advertising
On Monday, a swath of leading tech companies – Google, Meta, Pinterest, Snap, TikTok and X – announced that they have partnered with major alcohol brands to establish stronger standards around online alcohol advertising.
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Radio Prague International (Czechia) - Domestic violence and alcohol: Experts call for stricter measures to curb excessive drinking
Some seven percent of children and adolescents in Czechia witnessed or directly experienced repeated domestic violence last year. This behaviour is often linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
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Balance (UK) - 8/10 adults believe it is important to have health campaigns on alcohol
8/10 adults (82%) in the North East believe it is important to have health campaigns on alcohol. And 62% of people who drink alcohol are now taking steps to manage consumption.
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YLE (Finland) - Health expert questions alcohol law change as stronger beers, wines appear on store shelves
Grocery stores and supermarkets across Finland began selling drinks with an alcohol content of up to eight percent from 9am on Monday morning, as the government's reform of the nation's alcohol laws came into effect.
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NordAN (Sweden) - New report shows historic shift in young people's alcohol habits in Sweden
Compared to previous generations, today's young people believe to a much greater extent that they can have just as much fun without alcohol, and the threshold for abstaining from alcohol is lower.
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AGAPPE - How Alcohol Increases Cancer Threat Across All Ages
Alcohol is often celebrated as a cultural staple at social gatherings and special occasions. Yet, beneath its convivial surface lies a severe health risk that most underestimate: its potent link to cancer. Classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by WHO, alcohol poses a significant threat to individuals across all age groups, from young adults to older people. There is an alarming connection between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of developing cancer.
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ERR News (Estonia) - New alcohol limit introduced for cyclists, light vehicle drivers
Newly adopted legislative amendments in Estonia will update various rules for drivers of light vehicles and motor vehicles as well as cyclists. Among the changes, aimed at improving safety, are a ban on cars stopping on sidewalks and the introduction of a dedicated maximum permitted blood alcohol content for cyclists and drivers of other light vehicles.
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NordAN (Denmark) - New study: One in six Danes skip company parties due to alcohol culture
Alcohol plays too significant a role at parties and other social events in workplaces. So much so that many either avoid attending or leave early, according to a new survey conducted by Voxmeter for Blue Cross Denmark.
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Alcohol Awareness (France) - No alcohol on the way to school!
In response to the overwhelming presence of alcohol advertisements in the Paris metro, particularly near schools, several French health and family organizations have taken a stand. France Assos Santé, the Ligue contre le cancer, the Union nationale des associations familiales (Unaf), the Fédération nationale des amis de la santé (FNAS), and the association Entraid’addict have filed a lawsuit against the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP).
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Sunday, June 9, 2024

FASD News - 23/2024

UNM Health Sciences Center - UNM’s New Mexico Alcohol Research Center Receives $7.3 million in Grant Funding to Study Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
The New Mexico Alcohol Research Center (NMARC) at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences has received a five-year, $7.3 million extension of its National Institutes of Health program grant, supporting the center’s ongoing study of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
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ITVX (UK) - Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: 'Why ignorance about my condition stops me from getting a job'
A young woman from Wolverhampton who has applied for around 100 jobs with no success is calling for more support for disabled people who want to work.
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Aussiedlerbote  - Heavy drinking endangers spouses, offspring, and work associates
Alcohol consumption poses risks not only for the individuals drinking it, but also for those around them, including children, partners, and co-workers, according to addiction experts.
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FASD-CAN (New Zealand) - FASD-CAN Report: life with – or without DSS
Caregivers, parents and whānau of tamariki and young people with FASD are 'doing it tough' without access to Disability Support Services according to our survey – and those who do have it live in fear of losing it.
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CanFASD (Canada) - Decolonization: what is CanFASD doing?
This month’s roundtable meeting saw our team gather to unpack the topic of decolonization. The meeting included our Board of Directors, Staff, Research Leads, Family Advisory Committee and Adults with FASD Expert Collaboration Team.
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La Trobe University - Study shows how excessive drinking affects others
A new study published in Addiction journal shows around a fifth of adult Australians reported harm from the excessive drinking of people they know, and investigates its impacts on family, friends, and colleagues.
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VIDEOS and MATERIALS
CISUR - Legal aspects of duty to warn, the example of FASD
All manufacturers and suppliers have a general common law duty of care to inform consumers of the risks inherent in using their products. Alcohol manufacturers and suppliers (which includes government liquor authorities) have not yet been held accountable for failing to inform Canadian consumers of the risks of alcohol consumption.
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Boost Learning and Improvement Community - LUNCH & LEARN - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Raising awareness
Brought to you by Boost in collaboration with North Cumbria Knowledge and Library Service, this Lunch & Learn session on 22 May 2024 saw Dr Helen Howlett (Senior Commissioner for Children, Young People and Maternity, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board) deliver a presentation on 'Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Raising awareness'.
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FASDSUCCESS - Does Choline Help? -Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(fasd)
In this episode, Dr. Wozniak and Dr. Gimbel provide updates on their groundbreaking follow-up study on the effects of choline in children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE).
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FASD United (formerly NOFAS) - International FASD and Justice System Study - External Opportunity
Dr. David Junior Gilbert (who attended the 9th International Research Conference on Adolescents and Adults with FASD April 2024) and colleagues from the University of Salford Manchester are conducting research on FASD and justice using an international study.
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FASD Awareness - Maggie May - International Voice of FASD - FASD Webinar #26
In this webinar we will be discussing the impact of the FASD Conference in Seattle this year. Maggie will also be discussing many of the discussion points that have been arising during her travels as well as talking about some of the important strategies that she has been implementing while travelling abroad.
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FASDSUCCESS - Level Up Your FASD Advocacy with Alicia Munn
Alicia Munn is a dedicated FASD advocate and caregiver with over 15 years of experience in supporting children and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
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FASD United - FASD United Policy Forum - May 2024
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Unveiling Animation's Role in Education for FASD with Dr. Jessica Rutherford
Join us on a fascinating journey with Dr. Jessica Rutherford, an expert in FASD and education, as we delve into the innovative world of the animation curriculum.
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Kickstarting Season Two of Living with FASD, with author Jodee Kulp
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Season 2 of Living with FASD! Host Patti Kasper is joined by one of her best friends, Jodee Kulp, to discuss exciting new projects and initiatives aimed at raising awareness and providing support for those living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
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Creating a Family - What is it Really Like to Raise a Child with FASD
Host Dawn Davenport, Executive Director of Creating a Family, the national infertility, adoption, & foster care education and support nonprofit, interviews Suzanne Emery, a Program Director with FASCETS, a nonprofit focused on helping parents raise children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. She is also the mom of a son with FASD.
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Creating a Family - Panel of Moms Raising Kids with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure/FASD
Host Dawn Davenport, Executive Director of Creating a Family, the national infertility & adoption education and support nonprofit, interviews three parents who are raising kids with FAS or FASD.
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RESEARCH
Nature - Prenatal exposure to alcohol and its impact on reward processing and substance use in adulthood
Therefore, we conclude that even moderate exposure to alcohol prenatally has long-lasting effects on brain function during reward processing and risk of cannabis use in young adulthood.
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SSRN - “People Talk About Fasd Diagnosis But Barely Any Young People are Asked About It”:  Diagnosis Perspectives and Disability Identity in Adolescents with Fasd
The views expressed by adolescents with FASD about the impact of the FASD diagnosis, and the disability identity process, were similar to other groups of young people with different neurodevelopmental and physical conditions.
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Research in Developmental Disabilities - Positive behavior support (PBS) with children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Characterizing caregivers’ use of PBS using follow-up clinical trial data
This study is the first to characterize caregivers’ use of PBS strategies for children with FASD using mixed methods. Problem behaviors such as rule breaking were more difficult to target.
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Children and Youth Services Review - ‘Trying differently’ towards improving school experiences: Systematically reviewing research on school experiences for students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and their teachers
Key findings are discussed, and important recommendations are made for researchers, policymakers, and educators to address the longstanding gaps in research and practice regarding the complex care and support needs of those with FASD from an anti-oppressive, destigmatized, and holistic framework.
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Anatomy & Cell Biology - Alcohol intake during pregnancy reduces offspring bone epiphyseal growth plate chondrocyte proliferation through transforming growth factor β-1 inhibition in the Sprague Dawley rat humerus
Intrauterine alcohol exposure delays bone maturation and intensifies osteoporosis and fracture risk. As most studies emphasize the neurological aspects of intrauterine alcohol exposure, there is a lack of research on the implications pertaining to osseous tissue.
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International Journal of Molecular Sciences - Fetal Brain-Derived Exosomal miRNAs from Maternal Blood: Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)
Because several microRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in other neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, the effects of EtOH exposure on the expression of these miRNAs and their target genes and pathways were assessed.
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Drug and Alcohol Review - Evaluation of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Hub Australia website
Users found the FASD Hub accessible, authoritative and useful and suggested improvements.
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Behavioral Sciences - Effects of Developmental Timing on Cognitive and Behavioral Profiles in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Considerations for Education
This study aims to generate a profile of executive and behavioral functioning in children and adolescents diagnosed with FASD.
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Reproductive Toxicology - Contribution of ferritin and zinc to adverse infant outcomes among pregnancies with prenatal alcohol exposure in South Africa
Nutritional status during pregnancy can impact fetal development, yet less is known about how alcohol may interact with nutritional status to influence infant outcomes.
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Duke University - Sociodemographic and Psychological Profiles of Pregnant Women Who Consume Alcohol in Moshi, Tanzania: A Latent Class Analysis
Understanding variations in alcohol use among unique subgroups of pregnant women is essential for the development of targeted interventions to alleviate the burden of alcohol use during pregnancy.
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UNC University Libraries - ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE AMONG AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE BIRTHING PEOPLE: A MIXED METHODS STUDY OF PUNITIVE VERSUS TREATMENT STATE POLICIES AND COMMUNITY LEVEL RISK FACTORS.
The main research objective of this dissertation was to better understand the policy, predisposing and enabling factors related to prenatal alcohol and substance use among the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) birthing population in the United States.
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Alcohol Clinical and Experimental Research - Prenatal ethanol and cannabis exposure have sex- and region-specific effects on somatostatin and neuropeptide Y interneurons in the rat hippocampus
These results illustrate how alcohol and cannabis exposure in utero may affect hippocampal function by altering inhibitory processes in a sex-specific manner.
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Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica - Screening of substance use in pregnancy: A Danish cross-sectional study
Substance use among pregnant women consisted mainly of nicotine. Dipstick screening involved risks of false negatives and false positives.
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Nutrient - Prenatal Exposures, Diagnostic Outcomes, and Life Experiences of Children and Youths with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Children and youths diagnosed with FASD may experience a range of adverse health and social outcomes. This cross-sectional study investigated the characteristics and outcomes of children and youths diagnosed with FASD between 2015 and 2018 at the Sunny Hill Centre in British Columbia, Canada and examined the relationships between prenatal substance exposures, FASD diagnostic categories, and adverse health and social outcomes.
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Friday, June 7, 2024

Alcohol News - 23/2024

BBC (Finland/Sweden) - Finland and Sweden move to relax strict alcohol laws
Sweden and Finland have moved to relax strict laws that govern the sale of alcohol, while preserving wider state monopolies.
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Helsinki Times (Finland) - Finnish Parliament votes to bring stronger alcoholic beverages to supermarkets
THE FINNISH PARLIAMENT on Wednesday voted 102 in favour and 80 against a government bill to raise the maximum alcohol content limit for beverages sold in supermarkets from 5.5 to 8.0 per cent.
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NordAN (Sweden) - Systembolaget's future threatened after today's farm sales announcement
Today (June 5, 2024), the government announced plans to move forward with so-called farm sales and will send the proposal to the Council on Legislation. The proposal, which allows entities other than Systembolaget to sell alcohol directly to customers, threatens the exemption from EU law that Systembolaget currently enjoys. This exemption is based on Systembolaget's status as a monopoly with exclusive rights.
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Euronews.com - Scientists find drinking alcohol on a long-haul flight could be bad for sleeping passengers’ hearts
A new study found that alcohol consumption and inflight cabin pressure could influence the heart health of sleeping passengers.
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The Conversation - Your favorite drink can cause breast cancer – but most women in the US aren’t aware of alcohol’s health risks
Did you know that casual drinks with friends or having a “wine mom” moment to unwind could actually be nudging up your risk for breast cancer? It sounds like a buzzkill. But it’s a truth that many might not know: Alcohol actually causes breast cancer.
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The Conversation - Young people may see more than 20 alcohol ads per hour on social media, research finds
It’s a Friday night and you’re scrolling through Facebook, mindlessly thumbing past photos from friends, when a liquor advertisement catches your eye.
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Loughborough University (UK) - Minimum pricing for alcohol helped curb demand during COVID lockdown
Minimum pricing can be very effective in reducing demand for cheap high-strength alcohol amid concerns about affordability fuelling problematic drinking - according to a study on the impact of the measure during the COVID lockdown.
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The Independent - Calls for airlines to stop selling alcohol on flights
Airlines should consider restricting or stopping the access to alcohol on flights to protect the health of passengers, academics have said.
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RNZ (New Zealand) - Police Commissioner floats tighter alcohol regulation as 'trade off' to reduce estimated $7.8b harm from booze
Internal police documents say alcohol creates 20 times the harm of meth but police deploy less than one percent of their staff on reducing its harm.
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Public Health Institute (USA) - New Study: Alcohol and Drug Use Cause Significant Harms that Go Beyond the Individual
A new study estimates that over their lifetime, more than a third of U.S. adults or 113 million people are harmed from someone else’s drinking while 46 million experience harms from someone’s else’s drug use.
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WHO (Greenland) - Tackling a long-running challenge: Greenland is developing recommendations for a national alcohol policy
The Government of Greenland, known as Naalakkersuisut, in collaboration with the Centre for Public Health in Greenland and WHO/Europe, have launched a project to develop recommendations for a new national alcohol policy, addressing a long-running public health challenge.
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RACGP (Australia) - Renewed push for alcohol warning labels
Healthcare experts are again calling for increased awareness of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer through clearer warning labels, public health campaigns and education in primary care settings.
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IAS Blog - Beyond Personal Harm: The Costs of Alcohol to Society
Alcohol use is linked to a range of harms that affect not only the drinker but also impact wider society. This impact is extensive and places a significant financial strain on the UK.
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Medical News Today - Alcohol-based mouthwash may disrupt oral microbiome, leading to gum disease and certain cancers
Alcohol-based mouthwash might increase the risk of developing health problems such as gum disease and some cancers, including colorectal cancer.
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NordAN (Estonia) - Coalition of Estonian organisations advocate for total ban on alcohol advertising
The Estonian Tobacco and Alcohol Control Coalition (ETAK), a member organisations of NordAN, has formally proposed a complete ban on alcohol advertising to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
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AlcoholCampaign (Estonia) – Campaign in Estonia: ALCOHOL CAUSES CANCER
Alcohol is a scientifically proven carcinogen. The Estonian National Institute for Health Development (TAI) and the Health Insurance Fund is launching an awareness campaign called “Alcohol Causes Cancer” to increase public awareness of the cancer risk associated with alcohol and to encourage healthier behaviours.
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