www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Marin Institute awarded prizes in its 2nd annual Free The BowlTM video contest to seven young people ages 10 to 25. The prizes honored these young filmmakers compelling counter-alcohol ads, which were previewed at the Free The Bowl From Big Al (Big Alcohol) 2010 World Premiere in San Rafael, California on February 4. The message to Big Alcohol in these videos was clear: The alcohol ads you show during the Super Bowl are inappropriate for the millions of vulnerable young viewers who watch the event. (Source: Marin Institute, 2/8/10)

Washington (CNN) – Las Vegas and alcohol probably aren’t the first two things that come to mind at the mention of Sarah Palin, but the former vice presidential candidate is about to change that. At least that’s according to Craig Wolf, the president and CEO of the Wine and Liquor Wholesalers of America, who announced Tuesday that Palin will keynote the group’s annual convention and expo in Las Vegas in early April. (Source: Google Alkohol Alert, 1/13/10) politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com, 1/12/10 With some nice comments online.

The parliamentary hearing of the Commissioner-Designate for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli, is to take place on 14 January at 13.00hrs under the lead of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, with MEPs from the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and Agriculture and Rural Development Committees also attending.
He will answer questions from MEPs to assess his abilities, particularly regarding issues covering his portfolio. The parliament’s President and political group leaders will examine the results of the hearing. The debate and vote on the new Commission is expected to take place at an extraordinary plenary session on 26 January. The hearing will be webstreamed on the Parliament’s website.
For further information, please see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/

We wish all a peaceful and merry festive season and a new year in which the big and the small problems of mankind find the necessary attention and majorities which contribute towards a good solution.

… and what can you do about it? Regional responses to preventing alcohol-related harm.
Alcohol has been estimated to cost Europe 125 billion € per year in total tangible costs. That is the figure that emerges if we calculate the burden on our health and social services, on our police and judicial systems, in lost working hours, in accidents and damage to property. Many of our regions are facing the frightening reality of our young people drinking very large amounts of alcohol at a very early age. It is our role as regional politicians to fully appreciate the harm that alcohol can have on our citizens, our societies and our economies. For many of us alcohol is an accompaniment to social events and, when consumed in low doses, not harmful. But we cannot ignore the damage that alcohol can cause.
We invite you to join us in Barcelona on 11-12 May 2010 for this AER conference, kindly hosted by the Department of Health of the Government of Catalunya (E), aiming to learn about the negative impact of alcohol and about the policies and actions you can take to prevent. (Quelle: Google Alkohol Alert, 19.12.09) aer.eu, 19.12.09

HELP US MEET OUR GOAL – FOR FREE THE BOWLTM
Marin Institute created the Free The BowlTM contest last year to raise awareness around SPORTS and ADVERTISING by Big Alcohol companies. Anheuser-Busch InBev spends over $14 million a year creating the hottest beer ads to launch on Super Bowl Sunday. This event boasts over 100 million television viewers and is a CASH COW for the alcohol industry. The PROBLEM with SPORTS and BIG ALCOHOL ADS is that our children love watching professional sports as much as parents do! On Super Bowl Sunday, 20 million youth under the age of 21 will be sitting with their families watching these pervasive and excessive ads. … (Source: Marin Institute, 12/16/09)

Our Holiday Gift Wish: Help us get Super Bowl Beer Ads Off The Air! Give the people on your holiday list
a Free The Bowl donation in their name.
During Super Bowl 2008, the most watched commercial, with 103.2 million viewers, was the Bud Light Lime ad.
18 million youth under 21 are exposed to beer ads on Super Bowl Sunday. Anheuser-Busch InBev spent over $14 million on ad time for Super Bowl 2009 beer ads. On Super Bowl Sunday 2007, there was a 25% increase in total alcohol beverage cooler sales and a 13% increase in beer sales. Every year alcohol sales are the highest in the two-week period before the Super Bowl. Marin Institute Donation

The city of Paris has launched an awareness raising campaign targeting young people that aims at warning them about the dangers of binge drinking. The campaign is based on a shortfilm contest: Binge drinking: Drinking too much is a nightmare. The six winners will receive an award of 250 to 1 500 euros and their video will be broadcasted on the home page of MSN France. (Source: Eurocare Newsletter 12/1/09) For more information visit: www.thebinge-lefilm.com

Drinking alcohol is a deeply ingrained part of the European society; each year, the average intake per adult is equivalent to 1,400 small beers (11 litres of pure alcohol). The consequences of drinking go far beyond the individual drinker’s health and well-being. They include acts of drunken violence, vandalism, sexual assault, road accidents, harm to the unborn fetus, child abuse, and a huge health burden carried by both the National Health Systems and friends and family who care for those damaged by alcohol.
Place: European Parliament – Brussels (Room: A3G-3)
Date: Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Time: 12h30 – 14h30 (Lunch will be provided)
Deadline for registrations:
* 23 January (If you DO NOT have a permanent pass to the European Parliament)
* 1 February (if you do have a pass)
Source: Eurocare Newsletter, 12/1/09

SAN RAFAEL, CA – Marin Institute has launched its second annual, nationwide anti-alcohol-advertising contest, FREE the BOWL™. This year’s theme is to “Free the Bowl from Big Al,” (a.k.a Big Alcohol), as youth contestants will identify where they see the negative influences of Big Al in their lives. (Source: Marin Institute, 12/1/09) Free the Bowl