www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Trying to keep up with alcohol policy changes in your state or to compare policy changes across multiple states through 2009? The Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) is the resource for you.
Sponsored by The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at the National Institutes of Health and developed by the The CDM Group, Inc., among others, APIS now includes 34 policy changes across 29 policy areas made in 2009. (Source: Join Together, 03/15/11)

Doesn’t having a beer in the afternoon when you’re at work sound pretty cool? Sure it does — but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
Drinking at work is apparently getting more popular, especially in Silicon Valley workplaces, Bloomberg reported March 13.
Companies like Crowdflower, Tello, Twitter, and Yelp all reported making alcohol in some form available to their employees on a fairly constant basis – in some cases, 24/7.
Twitter keeps its employee fridge stocked with nonalcoholic drinks, plus beer and wine. „We treat employees as adults,“ said Twitter spokeswoman Jodi Olson, „and they act accordingly.“ (Source: Join Together, 03/18/11) Comment: A new study in Switzerland shows that the additional alcohol-related employee costs at workplaces are one Billion Swiss Francs a year.

Another lawsuit has been filed against Phusion Projects, LLC, maker of Four Loko alcoholic beverages, Crain’s reported March 9.
The new lawsuit, which is aiming for class-action status, was filed March 4 in the Southern District Court of California. It claims that Four Loko misled its customers about the potency of its caffeinated alcoholic beverages by using fruit flavors, colorful packaging, and clever shelf placement in stores to suggest they were similar to non-alcoholic beverages. Source: Join Together, 03/18/11)

Lawmakers have been weighing whether to raise the tax on alcoholic beverages since the first day of this year’s legislative session. But the idea is getting a fresh look in recent weeks — with a twist.
Health advocates recently learned that DC imposes a „special sales tax“ on alcohol, charging an extra 3-4 percent on top of the regular 6 percent sales tax rate. Maryland, they argue, should follow the District’s lead and develop its own special sales tax for alcohol.
The new proposal comes as the General Assembly is getting into the nitty gritty of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s $14 billion general fund budget. Revenue increases are considered separately from the budget, but they generally go hand in hand. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/18/11) weblogs.baltimoresun.com, 03/17/11 our Online-Comment: Alcohol taxes should be seen in relation to the damage and harm alcoholic beverages produce in society. Alcohol taxes should be high enough to reduce general consumption. This would reduce also the tribute we pay a life long without being asked for alcohol related social costs. The profit goes to the alcohol industry.

Die mexikanische Fluggesellschaft Aeroméxico scheint derzeit ein Problem mit Alkohol am Arbeitsplatz zu haben: Zum zweiten Mal in dieser Woche waren Piloten betrunken. Als man sie unter Beobachtung stellen wollte, flüchteten sie. (Quelle: Google Alkohol News, 17.3.11) focus.de, 17.3.11

Gemeinsam mit der Landeskoordinierungsstelle Suchtvorbeugung NRW (ginko), dem Landschaftsverband Rheinland, diversen Jugendschutzverbänden sowie dem Landeskriminalamt Nordrhein-Westfalen startet die Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA) ein neues Projekt, um dem Alkoholmissbrauch unter Kindern und Jugendlichen auf kommunaler Ebene entgegenzuwirken. … (Quelle: Google Alkohol News, 17.3.11) gesundial.de, 17.3.11 unser Online-Kommentar:
Im Artikel wird erwähnt, dass allein in Köln ca 30’000 Kinder in alkoholbelasteten Familien aufwachsen. Das sind die eigentlichen unschuldigen Opfer des Alkoholkonsums in der Gesellschaft. Hoffentlich denkt die geplante Prävention auch an diese Kinder, die oft die Hölle durchmachen und schlechtere Lebenschancen haben. Damit es weniger solcher Kinder gibt, müsste die Gesellschaft ihren Umgang mit Alkohol überdenken und den Konsum senken. Die Regierung blockiert weiterhin wirksame Massnahmen in diese Richtung, obwohl sie auch ihr bekannt sind.

Twelve York County convenience stores are no stranger to selling alcohol to underage drinkers; two Fort Mill and one Tega Cay convenience store also have allowed some underage drinkers to purchase alcohol, records show.
For those illegal sales, each of those stores failed recent compliance checks conducted by York County law enforcement. Topping the list with three violations is a Fort Mill convenience stop.
“Our highest violator is Fairway Fuel,” Corree Carelock, prevention director of Rock Hill’s Keystone Substance Services, said of the convenience store located at 1290 Tom Hall St. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/17/11) heraldonline.com, 03/16/11

Wenn die Mutter den Sohn überwacht und der Vater das Verhalten der Tochter im Auge hat, wirkt sich das besonders positiv auf den Nachwuchs aus. Laut Forschern um Julie Patock-Peckham von der Baylor University mindert gegengeschlechtliche elterliche Kontrolle impulsives Verhalten im jungen Erwachsenenalter und schützt vor späteren Alkoholproblemen (Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Bd. 72, S. (Quelle: Google Alcohol News, 03/17/11) sueddeutsche.de, 17.3.11

ATLANTA — The Georgia state senate narrowly passed a bill Wednesday that would allow local cities and counties to vote on Sunday alcohol sales.
After nearly four hours of debate and multiple amendments, senators passed the measure 32-22, three more votes than needed for passage. It was Crossover Day, the last day for the bill to pass in the Senate in order for it to stand a chance at becoming a law. The bill is now headed to the House of Representatives for a vote. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/17/11) wsbtv.com, 03/17//11

Junge Menschen trinken nicht mehr Alkohol als früher, aber sie trinken ihn härter und schneller. Dies bedingt spezifische Präventionsmassnahmen. Dies das Thema des aktuellen Infoblattes (pdf, 4S., 514Kb) vom März 2011 der Suchtpräventionsstelle der Stadt Zürich. (Quelle: Infoset Newsletter März 2011)