www.alkoholpolitik.ch

A Georgia lawmaker is mounting a new push to allow 18-year-old troops to drink alcohol on military bases. But Defense Secretary Robert Gates is skeptical. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., put Gates on the spot during a hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill, asking about the logic of prohibiting 18 year olds from drinking. …
Gates, whose familiarity with underage drinking issues reaches back to his time as the president of Texas A&M University, was not enthusiastic. “One of the things that we are seeing as a result of repeated tours is not just an increase in suicides, but an increase in risky behavior, particularly by young men … so that would be a concern of mine,” Gates said. … (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/05/11) armytimes.com, 03/04/11

Some states maintain high-quality alcohol outlet databases but quality varies by state, making comprehensive comparative analysis across US communities difficult. This study assesses the adequacy of using ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZIP-BP) data on establishments as estimates of the number of alcohol outlets by ZIP code. Specifically we compare ZIP-BP alcohol outlet counts with high-quality data from state and local records surrounding 44 college campus communities across 10 states plus the District of Columbia. Results show that a composite measure is strongly correlated (R = 0.89) with counts of alcohol outlets generated from official state records. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 03/05/11) sciencedirect.com, 03/01/11

Cigarette smoking is highly prevalent among people with alcohol use disorders. People who are dependent
on alcohol are three times more likely than those in the general population to be smokers, and people who are dependent on tobacco are four times more likely than the general population to be dependent on alcohol. Alcohol use problems are associated with higher levels of nicotine dependence and a lower likelihood of smoking cessation.
The link between alcohol and tobacco has important implications for those in the alcohol and smoking cessation
treatment and policy fields. More alcoholics die of tobacco-related illness than die of alcohol-related problems.
Although the health threats of smoking are clear, many unanswered questions remain about how to best approach smoking cessation in alcohol dependent populations. Effective treatment hinges on a better understanding of how these substances—and their addictions—interact.
12th and 13th October 2011, Parc Thistle Hotel, Cardiff, Wales. www.ashwales.co.uk

Die Verkäufer von Alkohol und Zigaretten in den Zuger Gemeinden Cham, Risch, Steinhausen und Hünenberg sind vorbildlich. Wie der Gemeinderat von Hünenberg am Freitag mitteilte, wurden in den vier Ennetsee-Gemeinden am 1. März in 26 Verkaufsstellen und Restaurants Alkohol- und Tabak-Testkäufe durchgeführt. Nicht ein einziges Mal waren die Testkäufer erfolgreich. (Quelle: Google Alkohol News, 04.03.11) luzernerzeitung.ch, 04.03.11 unser Online-Kommentar: Gratulation! Im deutschsprachigen Raum ist mir noch nie ein solches Ergebnis begegnet. Wer mich kennt, versteht, dass ich auch ein bisschen stolz darauf sein darf.

Alcohol industry resists legal restrictions.
The alcohol industry profits from governments with a policy that legally restricts them as minimal as possible. That is why the worldwide alcohol industry takes a stand against measures such as the raise of excise-duty, the introduction of minimum prizes for cheap booze, raising the minimum age for buying alcoholic beverages, restricting the number of outlet points, putting warning labels on products and restricting advertisement. It’s these measures that can achieve the reduction of alcohol use and the decline of damages caused by the use of alcohol. The industry doesn’t mind having to do more informing, because this is mostly ineffective, does not threaten the revenues and benefits the image of the industry.
Consequences of alcohol are terribly hard; governments remain passive. …
Influence of the alcohol industry costs human lives. ….
A number of European health organizations have concluded that the influence of the alcohol industry on the policy of national and European governments is very effective. The result of this is that essential (evidence based) policy changes are held of and the dramatic damages caused by alcohol are not contained. The success of the industry, according to these organizations, means that many people die unnecessarily due to alcohol use and that costs for society are kept needlessly high. …
Screening the alcohol industry lobby. …..
Eleven organizations from different countries, that are concerned about the successful lobby of the alcohol industry, have jointly analyzed this lobby. The results of this are captured in the report „The Seven Key Messages of the Alcohol Industry“. The report can be ordered through EUCAM (www.EUCAM.info), a partnership of a number of European health organizations. The purpose of this report is to give politicians, officials and health organizations insight into the strategic working manners and thinking of the alcohol industry. …
The seven messages of the industry that are illuminated through examples from various countries are: … (See our article on January 2nd 2011)

I am sitting on the Justice and Electoral Select Committee as we hear submissions on the Alcohol Reform Bill for two days in Auckland.
There have been so many powerful and moving submissions. Some brave individuals have shared their own stories of alcohol harm. Overwhelmingly submitters are urging that a decisive leadership role is taken in dealing with alcohol harm. Submitters illustrate time and again what research has shown and that is as a drug alcohol causes greater harm to others than to self. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/04/11) blog.labour.org.nz, 03/04/11 our Online-Comment:
It’s really funny how many “experts” discuss this problem without knowing the facts. One of the included problems is that information is not coming to the public. In May 2010 the World Health Organization has accepted with all member states a resolution on a Global Alcohol Strategy. The harm alcohol does and the effective measures to reduce the problems are shown in detail. Did the New Zealand people got this information? In many countries the alcohol lobby is so strong that medias and government health agencies did not dare to inform the public.
The WHO calls all of us “passive drinkers” because we all suffer directly or indirectly from alcohol-related harm and we pay during a lifetime without ever being asked an awful lot of money for alcohol-related social costs. (income tax, insurance premiums)
The best measure to reduce harm is to reduce consumption by higher alcohol prices. This reduces consumption in all groups. The majority, the moderate consumers have the best profit. They pay a little more taxes but have the full profit of less social costs. And everybody has the freedom to drink as much as he likes or want to afford. Our freedom is only restricted by the alcohol industry which forces us to suffer and pay the social costs they produce. They have the profits the public has to pay the damage.
To reduce the availability is the second best measure.
To bring down the BAC-limit would be very effective. If it is combined with strong controls. In Europe the result was a reduction of 15 to 20% in mortality, alcohol related accidents and injuries. And the effect remained for years. Why not use the experience of other countries and science?

Supporters Say It Could Raise Millions For Health Programs
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A plan to increase the state alcohol tax by 10 cents a drink may be gaining momentum in Annapolis. Maryland has recently increased the gas tax, the tobacco tax and the sales tax, but the tax on alcohol hasn’t been changed in 38 years, thanks mostly to the state’s powerful alcohol lobby.
According to those who support increasing the alcohol tax this year, 10 cents gets more than one would think.
The Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute provided a House committee with a new study revealing that in the past three years, the state has cut hundreds of millions of dollars in programs that benefit the developmentally disabled in addiction services, medical assistance and other community health care projects. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/03/11) wbaltv.com, 03/03/11 our Online Comment: When a tax rise on alcohol is in discussion we forget always that there is also the possibility of reducing the social costs and alcohol-related harm, depending on the amount of taxation. If the new tax brings a reduction in consumption this not only brings more income for the state but could compensate the additional expenses of moderate consumers. And this is the majority. A new tax should be fixed with an article regarding compensation of inflation.

Unter dem Motto «bunt statt blau» hat die DAK Bayern am Donnerstag einen Plakatwettbewerb gegen das Komasaufen gestartet. Die landesweite Aktion soll Kinder- und Jugendliche zu einem verantwortungsvollen Umgang mit Alkohol ermuntern. .. (Quelle: Google Alkohol News, 03.03.11) bild.de, 03.03.11 Kommentar: Etwas zu unternehmen, gibt ein gutes Gefühl. Effektvoller wäre, sich an den evidenz-basierten Massnahmen zu orientieren. Man muss ja nicht unbedingt die Politiker zufriedenstellen!

Baden-Württemberg hat es vorgemacht, jetzt will auch der hessische Städtetag den Alkoholverkauf einschränken – der Gesundheit der Jugend zuliebe und der nächtlichen Ruhe wegen.
„Zum Schutz Jugendlicher vor alkoholbedingten Gesundheitsgefahren darf es in den Nachtstunden nicht länger erlaubt sein, uneingeschränkt Alkohol zu erwerben“, sagte der Präsident des kommunalen Spitzenverbandes, der Rüsselsheimer Oberbürgermeister Stefan Gieltowski (SPD), in Fulda. Er kritisierte, dass Tankstellen rund um die Uhr Hochprozentiges verkaufen dürfen. In Baden-Württemberg sei der Alkoholverkauf dort zwischen 22.00 und 5.00 Uhr verboten. Das Hessische Ladenöffnungsgesetz läuft zum Jahresende aus. Dann wären Änderungen möglich. (Quelle: Google Alkohol News, 03.03.11) faz.net, 03.03.11

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