www.alkoholpolitik.ch

The Bishop of Stafford has criticised the government for „doing little“ to prevent alcohol abuse. The Rt Rev Geoff Annas has described alcohol misuse as „one of the major sins of our time“. Writing in a pastoral letter, published in parish magazines across the Diocese of Lichfield, he called for a „seismic shift“ in attitudes towards drinking. The government has said it is tackling alcohol-related crime „at its source“ through a variety of measures.
He said charities were left to tackle the effects of „this drug abuse“, with government action not going far enough.
In the letter, Mr Annas said: „One definition of ’sin‘ is anything that comes between us and God and makes us less than the person God created us to be.
„Alcohol abuse is one of the major ’sins‘ of our time – and it is one that governments do very little to prevent.
„Instead, it is left to amazing organisations like Alcoholics Anonymous or in the inspirational O’Connor Gateway Charitable Trust, of which I am proud to be a trustee, to tackle the effects of this drug abuse.“ … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 06/07/11) bbc.co.uk, 06/01/11 Comment: It is far too seldom we here from a Churchman such words. To be drunk means the human dignity has gone.

Sweden’s state-run alcohol retail monopoly Systembolaget has demanded an extra tax on box wine equating a price hike of up to 25-30 percent in order to curb the thirst for bag-in-box wines.
A wine box typically contains the equivalent of four bottles of wine, but typically costs as much as three – a discount that the Systembolaget wants to see removed.
„We want to look over the possibilities for adapting alcohol taxes so that the quantity discount on box wine declines,“ said Systembolaget’s press spokesperson Lennart Agén to the TT news agency. The idea was described as „interesting“ by a spokesperson for public health minister Maria Larsson. Agén observed that a boxed wine is 15-30 percent cheaper than the equivalent quantity in bottles. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 05/30/11) thelocal.se, 5/26/11 our online-comment: I am sure, many public health specialists in other countries would be glad if they could have such a system which reduces alcohol consumption to such an extent. In any case cheap alcohol by special sales reductions should be avoided.

– says BBPA: European Brewery Convention, Glasgow 2011.
At a major European conference on the brewing industry which opened this morning in Glasgow, a leading industry figure has raised concerns over key aspects of Scottish alcohol policy and called for a new dialogue with the SNP government over key issues.
In the opening keynote session of the 33rd European Brewery Congress & Exhibition Centre in Glasgow, Brigid Simmonds OBE, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said:
“The beer and pub trade is worth £1.5 billion to the Scottish economy every year, and 71,000 Scots depend on beer and pubs for work – you might be surprised to know that’s double the number that depend on Scotch Whisky for work, on a comparable basis. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 5/24/11) beerandpub.com, 5/23/11

Mark Hunter, chief executive of Britain’s largest brewer Molson Corrs, has suggested an ‚alcohol minister‘ should be considered to lead on a more cohesive alcohol strategy, including further action on price and taxation. Writing in the Morning Advertiser, Hunter criticised elements of current alcohol policy as dis-jointed, citing curbs on the promotion of lower strength products. Current advertising codes mean that brand owners cannot promote reduced strength drinks, which Hunter argues undermines policy to promote these through reduced taxation.
Hunter said he was „baffled“ by „policy decisions, such as the 7.2% duty rise on beer, that seem entirely disconnected from the alcohol responsibility and economic growth strategies emerging from Government.“ He spoke out against a policy that will continue to see the beer and pub trade decline further, depsite its vital role in providing as much as one million jobs:…
„… the most dramatic change in UK drinking behaviour over the past 30 years has been the systematic decline of beer from a 70% share of alcohol to 40%, while higher strength drinks have prospered supported by one of the most lenient tax environments, relative to beer, in the world (spirits tax up circa 15% since 1995).“ (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 5/09/11) Alcohol Reports, 5/9/11

Almost six million people die from tobacco use and 2.5 million from harmful use of alcohol each year worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports.
The WHO report on non-communicable diseases—including diabetes, cancer and respiratory and heart diseases—says that a large percentage of these conditions could be prevented by reducing tobacco and alcohol use, eating a healthier diet and exercising more. …
Alcohol-related deaths account for 3.8 percent of all deaths worldwide, according to the report. More than half of these deaths occur from non-communicable diseases including cancer, heart disease and liver cirrhosis. …
To reduce harmful alcohol use, WHO recommends a number of measures including increasing excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, regulating availability of alcoholic beverages (including minimum legal purchase age), restricting exposure to marketing of alcoholic beverages through marketing regulations or comprehensive advertising bans, and treatment of alcohol use disorders and brief interventions for hazardous and harmful drinking. (Source: Join Together, 04/27/11)

There is growing pressure for the government to tighten up New Zealand’s alcohol laws following a report into the death of a teenager from binge drinking.
Sixteen-year-old James Webster died from acute alcohol poisoning after attending a party in Auckland’s Grey Lynn in May last year.
Coroner Gordon Matenga recommended in the report that parents and schools develop alcohol awareness programmes to improve education around the issue.
However principals and health promotion experts have said this morning that it will take more than education to tackle the problem. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 04/25/11) tvnz.co.nz, 04/21/11 Comment: This is what has to be said to most governments in the western world.

Recommendations to reduce harm
This research project seeks to examine the impact of white cider on dependent drinkers. It examines the history, production and taxation of white cider, and considers the implications for future taxation, health and homelessness policies. (Quelle: Alcohol Policy UK, 04/21/11)

Political and economic transition is often blamed for Russia’s 40% surge in deaths between 1990 and 1994 (the Russian Mortality Crisis”). Highlighting that increases in mortality occurred primarily among alcohol-related causes and among working-age men (the heaviest drinkers), this paper investigates a different explanation: the demise of the 1985-1988 Gorbachev Anti-Alcohol Campaign. We use archival sources to build a new oblast-year data set spanning 1970-2000 and find that: (1) The campaign was associated with substantially fewer campaign year deaths,
(2) Oblasts with larger reductions in alcohol consumption and mortality during the campaign experienced larger transition era increases, and (3) Other former Soviet states and Eastern European countries exhibit similar mortality patterns commensurate with their campaign exposure. The campaign’s end explains between 32% and 49% of the mortality crisis, suggesting that Russia’s transition to capitalism and democracy was not as lethal as commonly suggested. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 15.4.11) iis-db.stanford.edu, March 2011) Comment: Amazing how clever Gorbachev and his staff reduced total consumption. Our governments could learn a lot.

The House of Delegates gave preliminary approval to a 50 percent increase to the sales tax on alcohol starting July 1.
The bill and companion legislation would raise $87 million for the state, to be split among mental health initiatives and education. Under the plan crafted by the House Ways and Means Committee earlier Saturday, the Developmental Disabilities Administration would receive $15 million from the boon. More than $47.5 million would be used for school construction and another $21 million was previously earmarked in the state budget for schools.
If approved by the Senate, the legislation would represent a major victory by health and education advocates, who have seen their efforts to raise alcohol taxes rebuffed for decades by the powerful state liquor lobby.
The Senate had previously approved a bill that would increase the sales tax on alcohol by 1 percent per year, from the state’s standard 6 percent until it hit 9 percent. The House, in a vote, just before 11 p.m. Saturday night, opted to move straight to 9 percent. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 04/10/11) thedailyrecord.com, 04/09/11

Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) have launched a new Manifesto which calls for the new Scottish Parliament to take decisive steps to reduce the harm caused by alcohol by:
Increasing the price and reducing the availability of alcohol
Specifically targeting supermarkets for increased regulation
Banning alcohol sports sponsorship
Reducing drink driving limits to 50mg
Awareness raising campaign on the harm alcohol causes to others
Improved treatment and support services for people in need
See here for the full 8 calls to action. The Scottish National Party (SNP) recently announced they would revive their plans for a minimum price if they win the Scottish national elections on May 5th. A senior police officer has also backed the measure. (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 04/07/11)