www.alkoholpolitik.ch

SAN RAFAEL, CA – Marin Institute has launched its second annual, nationwide anti-alcohol-advertising contest, FREE the BOWL™. This year’s theme is to „Free the Bowl from Big Al,“ (a.k.a Big Alcohol), as youth contestants will identify where they see the negative influences of Big Al in their lives. (Source: Marin Institute, 12/1/09) Free the Bowl

Doctors‘ Leaders Urge Politicians To ‚Put Party Politics Aside‘ And Support The Alcohol Bill In Scotland
BMA Scotland welcomed the introduction of the Alcohol (Scotland) Bill, and called on politicians to put party politics aside and support the measures outlined in the legislation. The BMA also expressed disappointment at the Labour Party’s decision not to support minimum pricing, saying that it was „premature“ and a „blot on their excellent public health track record“. (Source: Medical News Today, 11/29/09)

Twelve European health and safety umbrella organisations call for stricter EU-coordinated alcohol policies. In a joint policy statement released today, the twelve organisations urge the EU Council of Ministers of Health:
– to ensure minimum pricing policies, sales restrictions and discount bans in all Member States;
– to introduce a EU- labelling system for alcohol products informing consumers of the specific risks related to alcohol consumption; and
– to adopt the principle of zero tolerance to alcohol consumption before driving or at work and to reduce BAC- levels to 0,2 maximum throughout Europe. (Source: Google Alkohol Alert, 11/27/09) pr.euractiv.com, 11/25/09

A systematical way for monitoring alcohol marketing will be developed in order to get insight in alcohol marketing practices in different European countries and to enable policymakers and other stakeholders to improve the existing alcohol marketing regulations within the framework of the self regulation systems.
NGOs in the participating countries, Bulgaria, Italy, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, will monitor the
volume and content of alcohol marketing practices for one year. Also young peoples opinions will be asked to get more insight in the way young people perceive the message in advertisements and to hold their opinions against the judgements of the advertising code committees. In order to promote alcohol marketing monitoring throughout Europe, all organisations who are interested in monitoring alcohol marketing are invited to join the other partners. The AMMIE project, which is funded by the European Union, has started in July 2009 and is coordinated by the Dutch institute for alcohol policy (STAP). (Quelle: EUCAM Newsletter, 11/17/09)

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)

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

Compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five or more per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are twice as likely to use tobacco or marijuana; more than one and a half times likelier to use alcohol; and twice as likely to expect to try drugs in the future, according to The Importance of Family Dinners V, a new report by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. full press release Remember that Monday, September 28th is Family Day—A Day to Eat Dinner with Your ChildrenTM

Today minorities make up one-third of the U.S. population, and by 2050, it is predicted they will become the majority in the United States. The demographic changes anticipated over the coming decades magnify the importance of addressing health disparities. Alcohol causes more harm than any illicit drug in the United States. A focus on alcohol-related health disparities is particularly important as major changes unfold in the way in which health care is delivered and financed. Where’s the research? (Source: Marin Institute, 9/7/09)

Online debate on consumers‘ health and safety at EU level starts on September 14.
To mark the 10th anniversary of its creation the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) is launching an on-line discussion on European health and consumer policy. A dedicated channel on the Debate Europe forum will be open in all EU official languages from 14 September to 9 October 2009.
This debate will provide Europeans with a good opportunity to make their voices heard on health and consumer policy and share their views with others. They will be able to vote in an online opinion poll and learn more about what the EU is doing in this area.
The conclusions of the online debate will be presented at a special anniversary seminar on 23 October 2009, which will be attended by current and former Commissioners, stakeholders and the media. The online discussion will be available via the Debate Europe forum on: http://europa.eu/debateeurope.

The BMA’s call to ban alcohol advertising because of its damaging effects on young people is „a logical recommendation to attempt to reverse the all embracing pro-alcohol culture that has grown up in a period of deregulation and liberalisation over the last quarter of a century,“ according to Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance. (Source: Medical News Today, 9/11/09)