www.alkoholpolitik.ch

It may have been the most important public hearing on alcopops to date, and yet two major producers of these dangerous products couldn’t be bothered to show up.
The New York Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse held a public hearing on April 12 to discuss the need to restrict youth access to alcopops: sweet, fruit-flavored alcohol drinks, often with alcohol levels as high as 12%. Alcopops producers directly market them to underage drinkers, and cost hundreds of lives and billions of dollars of alcohol-related harm annually.
Setting an example for all states, New York State has conducted studies that revealed the startling availability of alcopops to teens. Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), chair of the Committee, recently introduced Senate Bill 4221 to address the problem by restricting the sale of flavored malt beverages to liquor stores. As part of the legislative process, the recent Committee hearing provided a forum for both for both opponents and proponents to make their case about alcopop availability on the record and before relevant lawmakers. … (Source: Marin Institute, 04/20/11)

International Conference: 12th and 13th October 2011, Parc Thistle Hotel, Cardiff, Wales
Cigarette smoking is highly prevalent among people with alcohol use disorders. People who are dependent on alcohol are three times more likely than those in the general population to be smokers, and people who are dependent on tobacco are four times more likely than the general population to be dependent on alcohol. Alcohol use problems are associated with higher levels of nicotine dependence and a lower likelihood -of smoking cessation. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 04/19/11)

With: News from Eurocare, News From the EU, News From the WHO, New Research and Publications, Alcohol Industry News,
Upcoming Events and Questions from MEPs. (Source: Eurocare, 04/17/11)

“Prevention of alcohol problems is a leadership issue for the whole nation. The issue must be brought to the top of our political agenda”, says Lesotho’s Honourable Minister of Tourism, M. Ramaili. Lesotho’s alcohol policy will now be revised.
In her closing address to an alcohol policy training course in Maseru Ms Ramaili made reference to the current situation of Lesotho: “Alcohol is readily available anywhere in this country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is an essential part of all celebrations; births, traditional festivals, funerals, sports event. There will be very few attendants at such events if you do not serve alcohol. Alcohol consumption is a complex issue. It brings economic benefits, but these benefits come at very high costs. Even if alcohol is a legal commodity the sale of this product cannot go unchecked”, said the Minister of Tourism.
The training session on evidence-based alcohol policies, which was held in the end of March, was part of a process to revise and improve the existing alcohol policy of Lesotho. Around 30 participants from government agencies and NGOs took part in a three-day program based on the book “Alcohol No Ordinary Commodity”. By their commitment, their competence and by active participation the participants contributed towards a successful training with a high level of energy. (Source: add-recources.org, 04/14/11)

In the framework of the PROTECT project, a meeting with all stakeholders involved in alcohol labelling policy was organized by the CRIOC and Eurocare on the 17th of March 2011 in the European Parliament in Brussels. The European institutions (European Commission – EC – and Parliament – EP), the beverage industry, consumer organisations, NGOs, media, youth organizations as well as the public were invited to exchange around measurable best practices on alcohol labelling.
The seminar was hosted by Alyn Smith (The Green /EFA Alliance in the EP), who said in his introductory speech that “even though the EU does not have direct competence in health matters, all members states could greatly benefit from such meetings, in order to exchange ideas and best practices”. He was in this sense “delighted to see representatives from all stakeholders, especially from the industry” since he does not believe in “digging trenches” but rather in “open and genuine debates”. The complete program, all the presentations as well as video recordings of the different speakers can be found here.(pdf) (Source: Alcohol Reports, 04/13/11)

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An order allows licensed premises in England and Wales to stay open between 11pm on Friday 29 April and 1am on Saturday 30 April, and between 11pm on Saturday 30 April and 1am on Sunday 1 May. More here. (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 04/12/11)

The Century Council Kicks Off Alcohol Awareness Month By Releasing Ask, Listen, Learn PSAs with 23 Attorneys General.
Timed with April’s designation as Alcohol Awareness Month, The Century Council teamed up with 23 Attorneys General from around the country to release a fun and innovative Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix Public Service Announcement (PSA). In the animated and radio PSAs Attorneys General encourage kids to say ‚YES‘ to a healthy lifestyle and ‚NO‘ to underage drinking. The PSAs will begin airing around the country this month. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 04/05/11) trading-house.net, 04/04/11

Friday night, 1st April, in St. Pauli district, Hamburg a football match of the highest German league (Bundesliga) was abandoned. The reason: the assistant referee was hit in the back of his head by a plastic cup full of beer thrown at him from the stands . The match had to be broken off and the referees had to be guided from the pitch by guards.
“Not many in Europe might have paid attention to this incident”, says Andrea Lavesson, President of Active – sobriety, friendship and peace. “But we think that the dramatic incident from Friday night stands a symbol for the fact that alcohol and sport does not belong together at all.”
The act of violence occurred shortly after an official hearing in the European Parliament organized by the EPP group on 30th March. By this hearing the EPP group aimed at stressing “the importance of sports. The […] Hearing on Sport […] is a very important step in bringing new ideas and suggestions…” Commissioner Mrs Androulla Vassiliou, among others, expressed the strong role that sport plays in promoting active citizenship. … (Source: active presscontact, 04/04/11)

The first Great Russian River Race will be wet in more ways than one, now that Healdsburg City Council members have overcome their qualms about allowing alcohol at the event.
The City Council Monday voted unanimously to let beer and wine be served at the May 7 after-race party, overcoming a decades-old prohibition on alcohol at Veterans Memorial Beach park.
Council members said they were swayed by the precautions and security measures proposed by the Russian Riverkeeper, the conservation group staging the race and party. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/23/11) healdsburg.towns.pressdemocrat.com, 03/22/11

Towards a Comprehensive EU-Wide Strategy
The Silken Berlaymont Hotel, Brussels, Tuesday 14th June 2011,
Event Details – Website – Register to Attend