www.alkoholpolitik.ch

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

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

Indiana liquor retailers have lost another round in their lawsuit against the state’s alcohol control board, Indystar.com reported March 5.
The Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers sued the state Alcohol and Tobacco Commission in January 2010 for granting more permits for selling beer than were allowed under state law. (Source: Join Together, 03/15/11)

The Government’s public health Responsibility Deal was announced today, but has been surrounded by controversy as health groups pulled out from the partnerships.
The ‚Responsibility Deal‘ includes pledges on key areas of alcohol, food, behaviour change, physical activity and health at work. But this week 6 health groups involved in the alcohol deal pulled out, saying the pledges would not work and were being overly dictated by industry. Today further health groups including the British Heart Foundation also walked away from the deal. (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 03/15/11) Comment: The health groups which pulled out now, knew from the beginning, that this cannot work. They showed good will but it is a waste of time and resources to plan prevention with the alcohol industry.

ALCOHOL LABELLING POLICIES TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE
Place: European Parliament (Brussels)
Date: Thursday 17 March 2011
Time: 12h00 – 15h00
Room: JAN6Q2

The government is receiving a lot of criticism from a number of different health groups based on their refusal to sign up for a „responsibility deal“ regarding alcohol sales in England. The deal created by organizations like Alcohol Concern, British Liver Trust and the Royal College of Physicians is voluntary and encourages the drink industry to label the alcohol units on their beverages and to take on the problem of alcohol abuse. … (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/14/11) topnews.us, 03/14/11

Alcoholic drinks sold in pubs and restaurants in Linz will not become more expensive due to higher taxes after such plans by the Social Democrats (SPÖ) were snubbed by political rivals.
The SPÖ department in the Upper Austrian city said today (Fri) the factions of People’s Party (ÖVP), the Freedom Party (FPÖ), the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) and the Austrian Communist Party (KPÖ) rejected its draft bill. The Greens declared abstention from the vote, according to the SPÖ.
The party of Mayor Franz Dobusch announced last weekend it wanted to set up an extra tax on alcoholic beverages for sale in bars and eateries in the city. The Linz SPÖ explained prices of beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks would have risen by around 15 per cent. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/13/11) wienerzeitung.at, 03/11/11 Comment: As usual, the profits to the industry, the harm and social costs to the state and the people.

The government is waging war on the alarming increase in the abuse of alcohol and drugs, and has warned of stricter legislation – including raising the legal age for alcohol consumption from 18 to 21.
In a hard-hitting statement, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said yesterday that the devastating effects of alcohol abuse had spurred the government to „prioritise this as a matter of urgency“.
„Alcohol and substance abuse is destroying families and the fabric of society. The shocking reality of the situation has strengthened our resolve to tackle the problem head-on,“ Dlamini told The Times. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 03/12/11) timeslive.co.za, 03/11/11 Comment: Good luck, my beloved South Africa. You have the political power to succeed. But do it without the alcohol industry! Take the WHO Global Alcohol Strategy.

New Mexico has ruled that beer pong can be played again in local bars as long as the games don’t involve drinking alcohol or gambling, the Portales News-Tribune reported Feb. 28.
„It’s against the law for [liquor] licensees to allow games or contests that involve drinking alcohol beverages or award alcohol beverages as prizes,“ said Gary Tomada, who directs the state’s alcohol and gaming department, „and we can’t have any semblance of gambling. If those [rules] are observed … they can play all they want.“ Source: Join Together, 03/10/11)

The outspoken addictions Professor David Nutt has written a controversial piece claiming ‚There is no such thing as a safe level of alcohol consumption‘. Nutt asserts a number of factors to argue that the ‚myth of a safe level of drinking‘ has no real evidence. These include that alcohol is toxin which kills cells, that a small minority of people may become addicted to alcohol at first drink, and that the claimed cardiovascular benefits of moderate consumption have not sufficient proof. (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 03/10/11)