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Public Health Experts Call On The Scottish Parliament To Do The Right Thing And Introduce Minimum Pricing For Alcohol. At the Faculty of Public Health Scottish conference in Peebles, delegates called on the Scottish and UK governments to introduce new measures to curb binge drinking, anti-social behaviour and to tackle Scotland’s increasing alcohol-related health problems. (Source: Medical News Today, 11/16/09)

Three weeks before a scheduled review by EU Health Ministers of the bloc’s strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm, The Brewers of Europe have called for an approach which is targeted at the problems and avoids additional restrictions hitting all drinkers regardless of their behaviour. BREWERS OF EUROPE, 11/10/09 Comment: We are all Passive-Drinkers. Any reduction of consumption will be to the profit of the moderate drinkers too. They have the biggest profit of higher prices by taxes as they don’t drink much but get all the profit in higher life-quality and less income taxes and insurance premiums.

Alcohol consumption is a significant contributor to the burden of disease in India and is a major public health concern. Extreme policies of prohibition and the current permissive strategies are both counter-productive. A nuanced approach involving the regulation of alcohol availability and a rigorous enforcement of public health perspectives and legislation is needed. (Source: Google Alkohol Alert, 11/5/09) morungexpress.com

About 70 percent of the alcohol consumed by a group of problem drinkers in Scotland had been bought at a discount, according to a study that concluded that heavy drinkers actively seek out cheap alcohol and that setting minimum alcohol prices could cut overconsumption. (Source: Join Together, 11/3/09) Comment: This means that higher alcohol taxes reduce the consumption of alcoholics too. Minimum prices should be combined with alcohol taxes in order to pay for treatment and prevention.

The Charge for Harm Alliance – a diverse coalition of treatment and prevention providers, public health advocates, consumers advocates, public safety groups, youth and labor – launched a campaign in Los Angeles on October 19th to pass an alcohol mitigation fee in California in 2010. Visit the new Charge for Harm website for more information on the CFH Alliance, AB 1019, and alcohol harm. Take action by filling out the CFH Postcard and view powerful video testimonies of personal struggles and victories with alcohol. Go to — ChargeForHarm.org

Allocating Alcohol Revenue to Alcohol Programs, report by Marin Institute, October 2009
Marin Institute has identified 20 states that specifically earmark funds collected from the sale of alcoholic everages to programs that address problems associated with alcohol use. Funds are collected through taxes or statutorily imposed mark-ups on alcoholic beverages in control states. The idea that states should “charge for harm” from alcohol sales or consumption is a common practice in the United States, as it is codified and practiced in 20 states. Source: Marin Institute News, 10/29/09

Proposals to raise beer and liquor taxes in Wisconsin — partly to pay for alcohol treatment and anti-drunk-driving programs — drew big crowds to the state capital, but the response from lawmakers was less than enthusiastic. (Source: Join Together, 10/23/09)

“There is no Single European way to Consume Alcoholic Beverages”
– Understanding Different Drinking Patterns Across Europe key to Successful Alcohol Policies. EU-level policy to reduce alcohol-related harm must be tailored to respond to diverse, complex realities in the different Member States. This is the conclusion of experts meeting in Brussels today at a scientific conference, organised by the Wine Information Council. (Source: Google Alkohol Alert, 10/23/09) flensburg-online.de, 23.10.09 Comment: In the media-report they pretend: „Furthermore, the literature suggests that the regulatory approach is simplistic, and sometimes counter-productive, punishing moderate drinkers and leaving problem drinkers unhelped.” The literature they mention is their own literature. The reality is just the contrary. Moderate drinkers and problem drinkers have a profit by regulatory measures, which reduce consumption and harm. We all are at any time passive-drinkers under the pressure of the alcohol industry and suffer from tremendous harm and social costs. We need regulatory measures. They alone are able to reduce overall consumption. That’s the only reason, why the alcohol industry doesn’t like them.

More protection needed for European citizens. This is the headline of a new brochure by Eurocare with basic facts on alcohol in the EU.
The European Union (EU) is the heaviest drinking region of the world (11 litres of pure alcohol drunk per adult each year). This is over 2,5 times the rest of the world average. ALCOHOL IS NOT AN ORDINARY CONSUMER
COMMODITY. Harm to the Individual drinker: Alcohol is a key health determinant, responsible for 7.4% of all ill-health and premature death in the EU, which makes it the 3rd leading risk factor, after high blood pressure and tobacco. (Source: Eurocare, 10/18/09)BROCH_MEP091019

Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Public Health studied the drinking habits of 9833 15-16 year olds in the North West of England, finding that excessively low cost alcohol products and illicit purchase are strongly related to harmful underage drinking. (Quelle: Google Alkohol News,10/13/09) innovations-report.de, 10/12/09