www.alkoholpolitik.ch

…evidence from the Expenditure and Food Survey.
Ludbrook A., Health Economics Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, 2010.
Poor drinkers in the UK consume a relatively high proportion of their alcohol in the form of very cheap products, but wealthier drinkers also drink these; a moderately high minimum price would spread the impact. Findings informed a Home Office assessment of the likely impact of a rise in the price of alcohol in Britain. … (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 02/28/11) findings.org.uk, 02/09/11

We know alcoholism runs in families — children with alcoholic parents have quadruple the risk of developing a drinking problem later in life than those without — but is the link genetic or the result of other influences?
According to a Feb. 8 Wall Street Journal article outlining the evidence for „alcoholism genes,“ it is probably both. Researchers from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism, a 22-year National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) investigation into the relationship between DNA and alcoholism, have put together compelling evidence from family studies indicating the problem has roots in nature versus nurture. … (Source: Join Together, 02/28/11)

New Zealand’s first ever FebFast ends tomorrow, having raised thousands of dollars for youth charities and given participants a break from drinking alcohol. Nearly a thousand people have given up alcohol for all of February as part of the Drug Foundation’s FebFast fundraiser, and so far more than $75,000 has been raised.
Coordinator Catherine Milburn says people can continue to make donations via the FebFast website (www.febfast.org.nz) throughout March. „There’s still time to show your support.“
A number of well-known New Zealanders have also supported the event, including teams of Labour and National MPs, ZM host Polly Gillespie, chef/food writer Jo Seagar, actor/writer Pinky Agnew, singer Maisey Rika, TV3 journalists Mike McRoberts and Paula Penfold, social media editor Greer McDonald, and The Edge radio hosts Jay-Jay Feeney and Dominic Harvey. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 02/28/11) voxy.co.nz, 02/28/11 our online-comment: Congratulations for that splendid idea. I wished our politicians and media people would have the same courage. Maybe then they could better get involved into work for an effective alcohol policy.

As per the findings of the Victorian Alcohol Statistics Report, the number of alcohol-related violence and brawls has experienced a sharp rise over the period between 1999 and 2007. …
Now with the released results of the much-awaited report, experts are in quest to find the magic bullets to curb the menace of alcoholism.
Mary Wooldridge, the Minister for the State Mental Health and Community Services, asserted: „This is the most comprehensive, detailed analysis of the impact of alcohol across the state, it’s critical for developing solutions“. … Expressing his unrest and disbelief over figures, the Director for Turning Point, Professor Dan Lubman said that the report is the wake-up call for authorities as well as the people to realize what havoc the alcohol is playing. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 02/28/11) topnews.net.nz, 02/28/11

College students caught breaking drug or alcohol laws often don’t face serious legal consequences. More often, they are sent through campus judicial systems.
David Gayle, a 19-year-old Virginia Tech student, died in September when he fell while trying to climb from a balcony to an apartment roof while intoxicated. Nineteen-year-old Laura Treanor, a sophomore at George Washington University, died from alcohol poisoning in 2009. And in 2002, Daniel Reardon, 19, died a week after going into a whiskey-induced coma during a pledging event at a University of Maryland fraternity.
The tragic consequences of heavy drinking have been felt at several local colleges. But serious legal consequences for students who binge drink and use drugs are rare. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 02/27/11)
Washington Examiner, 02/26/11

The debate surrounding the effects of caffeinated alcoholic beverages on the human body still continues, although it has been three months since the Food and Drug Administration ordered the drinks—including the well-known Four Loko—pulled from the shelves.
In a lecture yesterday at the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston University Professor of Community Health Sciences Jonathan Howland questioned caffeine’s supposed ability to counteract the sedating effects of alcohol.
“Ultimately caffeine does not reduce the impairment effect of alcohol,” Howland said. … (Source: Google Alcohol News, 02/26/11) uwire.com, 02/25/11

A retired Pasadena high school teacher was arrested Thursday for allegedly supplying alcohol to current and former students at his home, police said. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 02/26/11) latimesblogs.latimes.com, 02/25/11

For the first time in history, beer, currently classified as food, is set to be reclassified as an alcoholic drink in Russia. The move is a part of the Kremlin’s war on alcoholism, as beer consumption is rising in the country.
“Normalising the beer production market and classifying it as alcohol is totally the right thing to do and will boost the health of our population,” Yevgeny Bryun, the ministry of health’s chief specialist on alcohol and drug abuse, said. “We have been talking about and have wanted such a measure for ages. I take my hat off to the parliament.” Source: Google Alcohol News, 02/24/11) neatorama.com, 02/24/11 Comment: In Switzerland beer is still classified as food. A new law is coming now.

Members of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) have received a report from the Mayor on the proposal of a alcohol sobriety scheme for London:
‚The compulsory alcohol sobriety scheme is an enforcement approach providing specific powers for the court to order sobriety as an order for alcohol related violence offences. The Mayor is tabling an amendment to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill for changes in the current law to enable the courts to make this order. The compulsory alcohol requirement will involve twice daily testing and failure of the test will result in immediate breach and sanctions, such as custody.‘ (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 02/25/11)

… has been released by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE). See press release here.
NICE ‚Alcohol dependence and harmful alcohol use‘ clinical guidelines.
The clinical guidance (CG 115) offers evidence-based advice on the diagnosis, assessment and management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence in adults and in young people:
Alcohol use disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence pdf] NCIE See here for the full 654 page document.
A 24 page quick reference guide is also available summarising the recommendations made. (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 02/24/11)