www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Youth Rights in alcohol culture – all right? Active proudly presents ALL RIGHTS booklet
Today is Human Rights Day and on this day the European community looks to the situation in China and Liu Xiaobo. While this is important, not least for the children and young people there, it is essential to assure at the same time not to loose sight of the European situation.
“In Europe we’ve developed the bad habit to always think of development countries and dictatorships when we talk about Human Rights violations. While that’s convenient, the truth is that there happen Human Rights, even Children’s Rights violations on our continent. They happen in open street. They happen in children’s rooms. Every day. We cannot afford to waste time to combat them”, says Andrea Lavesson, President of Active – sobriety, friendship and peace.
To live up to the needs and demands of millions of young Europeans, Active today launches its most recent publication: a booklet zooming in on the rights violations caused by alcohol harm and alcohol culture in Europe.
Find the booklet for download: http://www.activeeurope.org/attachedFiles/documents/allrigths_booklet.pdf.
An Active working group, consisting of 12 young Europeans, analyzed every article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Not less than 15 breaches of the UDHR attributable to alcohol harm and the European alcohol culture were found. The severity of breaches is even magnified by decision-makers on all levels who ignore to primarily consider the Best Interest of children whenever deciding on policies.
Studies show that alcohol harm inflicted upon others can be found everywhere and affects children and young people disproportionately. For example, alcohol is a causal factor in 16% of child abuse and neglect. In Germany, between 2000 and 2008 the number of alcohol intoxicated youth ending up in emergency rooms increased by 170%. Alcohol is responsible for 7, 4% of disability and premature death in the EU. (Source: Press Release Active, 12/10/10)

For the first time in the European Parliament, the MEPs Against Cancer (MAC) interest group hosted a meeting to evaluate the cancer hazards of alcoholic beverages, and the potential impact of this knowledge on alcohol-related policy in order to address concerns over a lack of public awareness about the carcinogenicity of alcohol.
MEPs, scientists, representatives from cancer leagues in Europe, DG SANCO and NGOs all voiced their support for immediate action to raise awareness about the health risks of alcohol consumption, especially amongst young people, in relation to cancers of the pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, breast and colorectum.
Despite research dating back to 1987 that conclusively indicates the carcinogenicity of all alcoholic beverages, the connection between alcohol and cancer is often not made in consumer’s minds. On the contrary, a Eurobarometer report in 2010 found that 1 in 10 European citizens do not know that there is even a connection between alcohol and cancer. The same study also indicated that 1 in 5 citizens do not believe that there is a connection between cancer and the drinks that millions of us enjoy every week. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 12/10/10) europeancancerleagues.eu, 12/07/10

in A Sample of 20-Year-Old Men: The More I Think You Drink, The More I Drink
The amount a person drinks can be influenced by their perception of drinking by others. We studied whether perception of the amount of drinking by others (same age and sex) is associated with one’s own current drinking, and the factors that are related to this perception. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 12/09/10)

The 2010 drugs strategy Reducing demand, restricting supply, building recovery: supporting people to live a drug-free life has been released by the Home Office. It outlines that „severe alcohol dependence raises similar issues [to drug dependence] and that treatment providers are often one and the same. Therefore, where appropriate, this strategy will also consider severe alcohol dependency.“
An alcohol chapter on page 7 states:
‚Alcohol plays an important part in the cultural life of this country, with large numbers employed in production, retail and the hospitality industry. Pubs, bars and clubs contribute to community and family life and also generate valuable revenue to the economy. However, alcohol is a regulated product. Some individuals misuse it, contributing to crime and anti-social behaviour, preventable illness and early death. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 12/10/10) alcoholpolicy.net, 12/08/10

Early responses to the new 2010 Drugs Strategy have been released by Drugscope, Addaction and the NTA. Reports from the BBC, Guardian and a Telegraph comment. Follow DS Daily for more.
Following the release of the public health White Paper, a summary of alcohol references have been highlighted on the ALC. An article in the Independent asks whether Lansley’s policies are ‚Nudge or Fudge‘, the Telegraph reporting ’no more nanny state‘. The Guardian published a supportive GP comment and a radical critique on responding alcohol misuse. The Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston expressed support for minimum pricing in an outspoken interview on public health policy. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 12/10/10) alcoholpolicy.net, 12/10/10

Die Schülerin war betrunken und das nutzte der Täter schamlos aus: Vor dem Münchner Landgericht gesteht der 28-jährige Angeklagte die Tat. An das Opfer denkt er nicht. „Ich habe Angst.“ …
Dejan J. und sein Freund lassen auch noch Schmuck der Eltern im Wert von 11650 Euro mitgehen. Dejan J. legt ein Geständnis ab. Dafür sagt ihm der Vorsitzende Richter Stephan Kirchinger keine längere Haftstrafe als drei Jahre und drei Monate zu. (Quelle: Google Alkohol News, 9.12.10) abendzeitung.de, 8.12.10

Der Grosse Rat lehnte ein Alkohol-Weitergabeverbot ab und setzt auf mehr Prävention – und auf neues Bundesrecht.
Die meisten Fraktionen im Grossen Rat kritisierten das Alkohol-Weitergabeverbot als kaum praktikabel im Polizeialltag.
Basel-Stadt muss ohne neues Recht gegen jugendliche Alkoholexzesse angehen: Der Grosse Rat ist am Mittwoch auf eine Gesetzesvorlage, die ein Alkohol-Weitergabeverbot an Jugendliche gebracht hätte, nicht eingetreten. Das Gesetz hätte den vorsätzlichen Verkauf oder die aktive Weitergabe alkoholischer Getränke an Jugendliche unter 16 Jahren sowie von Schnaps an solche unter 18 Jahren unter Strafe gesetzt. (Quelle: Google Alkohol News, 9.12.10) bazonline, 8.12.10 unser Online-Kommentar:
Altbekannte Methode: Jeder gegen jeden, nur nicht für die Bevölkerung. Wenn diese „Volksvertreter“ auf Bern hoffen, sollen sie wenigstens den Advent-Aufruf für eine wirksame Alkoholpolitik unterschreiben, der nächstens veröffentlicht wird. Dies könnte etwas Druck erzeugen, dass die eidgenössischen Politiker endlich etwas Mutiges und Wirksames beschliessen.

Wahrscheinlich ist es reiner Zufall, dass die Ergebnisse der Copenhagen City Heart Study zeitgleich zur neuesten Pisa-Studie zur europäischen Bildungsmisere veröffentlicht wurden. Die Pisa-Studie hat erneut gezeigt, dass sozioökonomische Deprivation mit schlechten Schulleistungen assoziiert ist.
Die jetzt im European Heart Journal (2010; doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehq435) publizierte Studie zeigt, welche gesundheitlichen Folgen dies haben kann: Männer und Frauen mit schlechter Schulbildung erkranken nämlich im späteren Leben doppelt so häufig an einer Herzinsuffizienz. (Quelle: aerzteblatt.de, 9.12.10) unser Online-Kommentar: All die schönen Untersuchungen zu Alkohol und Herzkrankheiten werden unter diesem Gesichtspunkt relativiert. Mässige Weintrinker gehören zu einer gehobenen Bildungsschicht. Abstinente, die sich keinen Wein leisten können, gehören oft zu einer bildungsarmen Bevölkerung. Ein weiterer Hinweis auf die nichtzutreffenden „Beweise“ für das bessere Abschneiden der Alkoholkonsumenten.

President Obama declared December National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) blog, Of Substance, reported Dec. 2.
According to Obama’s proclamation, thousands of Americans lose their lives to „drunk, drugged or distracted driving“ every year. Obama described drugged driving as a „growing problem“ and specifically pointed to the danger of driving under the influence of prescription drugs as well as illicit drugs. He referred to distracted driving — texting or using electronics while driving — as „life-threatening,“ and recommended the Distraction.gov website as a prevention tool.
Obama said the federal government had taken several steps to prevent impaired driving. The government has banned its employees from texting while driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working with law enforcement nationally to increase identification of drunk drivers during the holidays, and the ONDCP will be educating the public about the increased incidence of drugged driving. (Source: Join Together, 12/09/10)

ALBUQUERQUE – The alcohol scandal that cost two La Cueva High School football coaches their positions has now led to activity suspensions for four seniors on the team, News 13 has learned.
The four players allegedly consumed alcohol on the team bus while returning from the team’s playoff loss to Mayfield High School in Las Cruces on Nov. 26. They have been suspended from extracurricular activities for 45 days. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 12/09/10) krqe.com, 12/08/10