www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Many new studies reported. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 01/07/11)

If tests on humans are successful, one jab a month would keep patients away from the toxic sauce known as alcohol.
Chilean scientists derived the vaccine from a genetic mutation present in 20% of the Asian population; those with the mutation in their genes reacted so violently to alcohol, that it inhibits addiction, according to Juan Asenjo head of the project. The Chilean scientists in essence tried to replicate that gene in a vaccine.
The vaccine is expected to augment dizziness, nausea and other adverse effects of alcohol, “With the vaccine, the desire to drink is going to be minimal, due to the sharpness of the effects” said the physician. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 01/07/11) hispanicallyspeakingnews.com, 01/06/11

a Delphi consensus study.
Background: International concern regarding the increase in preventable harms attributed to adolescent alcohol consumption has led to growing political and medical consensus that adolescents should avoid drinking for as long as possible. For this recommendation to be adopted, parents require strategies they can employ to prevent or reduce their adolescent’s alcohol use that are supported by evidence.
Conclusions: A comprehensive set of parenting strategies for preventing or reducing adolescent alcohol consumption were identified. These strategies can be promoted to parents to help them implement national recommendations regarding adolescent alcohol use. (Source: BMC Public Health 2011, 11:13doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-13)

It was Paracelsus, the Renaissance physician (1493-1541 A.D.) who first said „the dose makes the poison.“ So, you can drink too much wine, or ingest too much resveratrol, but in an unprecedented study, heart researchers report they couldn’t find a toxic dose for Longevinex®, a resveratrol-based dietary supplement. (Source: Medical News Today, 01/05/11) Comment: This mouse-study could show, that it is resveratrol which protects the heart and not alcohol. Therefore alcoholfree grape-juice should be propagated to a big extent, not wine with its side effects. But it’s an old story.

Alcohol may soon come with a new kind of high. It’s not stronger proof. It’s a higher tax.
Alex DeMetrick reports supporters of a “Dime a Drink Tax” think they have a shot at making it happen in Maryland. If you like to pull a cork, you might pay an extra 10 cents for every glass. It’s called the “Dime a Drink Tax,” and it would hit all alcoholic drinks, if Maryland’s legislature approves it this year. For supporters like health care providers, this may be a good thing. “Alcohol excise tax is a win-win for the state. They provide much needed revenue, and reduce alcohol consumption and related problems,” said David Jernigan, Johns Hopkins professor.
“Some 44 percent of Marylanders do not drink. They will pay no tax,” said Jernigan. The “Dime a Drink Tax” could raise $215 million in new revenue. For light to moderate drinkers, the tax would amount to only $10.83 per year. The last time Maryland raised the tax on alcohol was in 1972. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 01/04/11) baltimore.cbslocal.com, 01/04/11 our Online-Comment: Everybody should understand that:
– We are all passive drinkers, as the World Health Organization tells us. We suffer under reduced life quality and pay the whole life long terrific amounts for social costs because of alcohol.
– Alcohol taxes are very low and do not cover the social costs. By inflation it gets always cheaper. Since 1972!
– Higher prices mean less harm from alcohol, less social costs: savings.
– Those who drink moderately or not at all have the most profit. No or little more taxes and the lot of profit.
– Taxes should be combined with inflation anualy.

… Should Be Tackled Even Before 13 Years, According To PhD Thesis Defended At University Of The Basque Country
Bad eating habits, ingestion of alcohol, sedentary lifestyles all unhealthy life habits that are already being detected in early adolescence and that are especially predominant amongst women and young people between the ages of 19 and 26. The prevention campaigns should take very much into consideration these groups at risk and even take into account those less than 13 years. These are some of the conclusions that can be drawn from the PhD thesis presented at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) by researcher Marta Arrue, with the title, Lifestyle habits and psychological factors in adolescence and youth in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country (CAV-EAE). (Source: Medical News Today, 01/04/11)

By K. S. JACOB, Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632002, Tamil Nadu, India; ksjacob@cmcvellore.ac.in
ABSTRACT: Extreme policies of prohibition or the current permissive strategies are counterproductive and call for a nuanced public health approach that integrates both the regulation of availability of alcohol as well as helps in rigorously enforcing the law. …. The WHO’s global strategy for alcohol and governmental and non-governmental efforts can be used synergistically to produce sustained action. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 01/03/11) Natl Med J India 2010;23:224–5

The AMA released a brochure containing practical advice to help Australians to be more knowledgeable and responsible about alcohol consumption. (Source: Medical News Today, 01/03/11) ama.com.au, 12/28/10

Films popular in Europe feature more drinking episodes per movie than their equally popular American counterparts, according to a report by the European Centre for Monitoring Alcohol Marketing (EUCAM).
The trend toward incorporating name brand alcohol in movie scenes as a form of product placement took off more than a decade ago. In 1999, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission reported that in the two previous years, “eight reporting alcohol companies placed alcoholic products in 233 motion pictures and in one or more episodes of 181 different television series.” (Source: Google Alcohol News, 01/02/11) addiction-dirkh.blogspot.com, 01/01/11

ALMOST every murder committed in Queensland during the past year was suspected to involve alcohol, crime statistics show.
It comes as police investigate a death at a park in Cairns at the weekend, which is also believed to be alcohol-related.
Homicides were up to 56 in 2009-10 compared with 49 the previous year, and only six did not involve alcohol or drugs.
The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre said Australians were among the world’s worst abusers of alcohol, with few seeking help to curb its impact on their health. Research shows almost one in five will experience problematic drinking, while 4 per cent become alcoholics. …( Source: Alcohol Reports, 01/03/11) heraldsun.com.au, 12/30/10