www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Airports and airlines are making alcohol increasingly available, USA Today reported Nov. 30.
Airlines began promoting cocktails and other alcohol more heavily in the past year, according to consultant Jay Sorensen. „What’s happening is airlines are becoming better retailers of products,“ Sorensen said. „They’re doing things to highlight the fact that, ‚Yes, indeed, we do sell alcohol on the airplane.‘ They’re trying to mimic what occurs on the ground in terms of consumer promotions.“
One example includes a „happy hour“ offered by American Airlines for fliers purchasing alcohol on certain flights in the month of December. United Airlines gave passengers in its Economy Plus section free wine this past summer and now offers its own signature cocktail. … (Source: Join Together, 12/07/10) Comment: Swiss Parliament just agreed that airports may sell alcohol duty free to arriving passengers too.

In summer 2009 the Finnish Government set up a working group to evaluate, among others, whether restrictions on evocative (visual) alcohol advertising were necessary. The working group finished its work in summer 2010 and concluded that no additional measures were needed concerning evocative alcohol advertising. This raised opposition, and consequently a bill proposing that only product information would be allowed to be shown in the commercials was introduced in Parliament in September 2010. Source: Alcohol Reports, 12/06/10) Health Policy Monitor, October 2010. Available at http://www.hpm.org/survey/fi/a16/2hpm.org,

PARENTS who have lost children to drink-drivers last night attacked the Government for failing to introduce an immediate “zero” alcohol limit for motorists.
MPs sitting on the House of Commons Transport Committee this week said the legal drink-drive level should eventually be slashed from 80milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 20mg, virtually zero.
It means drinkers, depending on their build, would have to stop at a sip or less before getting behind the wheel.
But the politicians said such a cut would have to be a long-term ambition as it would prove “too great a step at this stage”.
Alyn Hopkins, 52, who lost his 18-year-old son Domenic to a driver three times over the limit said they “obviously have not lost anyone”. Source: Alcohol Reports, 12/06/10) walesonline.co.uk, 12/05/10

Itransition Software Development Company, an international software development company, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Dutch Ministry of Health, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (the Trimbos), have launched a new pilot project with the objective to prevent alcohol and substance abuse in Brazil, India, Mexico and Belarus. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 12/06/10) healthcare.tmcnet.com, 12/06/10

On November 22, 2010 the World Health Organization (WHO) released its annual Health report on financing health systems and universal coverage. The report recommends governments to raise the taxes on tobacco and alcohol to help pay for healthcare of millions of people who are unable to afford it worldwide.
The need for guidance in this area has become all the more pressing at a time characterized by both economic downturn and rising health-care costs, as populations age, chronic diseases increase, and new and more expensive treatments
become available. (Source: Eurocare Newsletter Winter 2010 )

A new study found moderately impulsive adolescent boys who drank heavily have less impulse control in later years — thus putting them at risk for more heavy drinking, HealthDay News reported Nov. 16.
Investigators at the Rutgers University Center of Alcohol Studies examined drinking patterns and impulse control scores annually among approximately 500 Pittsburgh-area boys aged 8 to 18, with follow-up assessment at age 24 to 25.
According to the findings, teens with moderate impulsivity scores who drank heavily had significantly increased impulsivity scores at the next year’s assessment. There was no change in impulsivity, regardless of consumption, among boys with low or high impulsivity scores. (Source: Join Together, 12/03/10)

As more states move to ban caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CABs), a new research review highlights the mounting evidence on the health risks associated with combining alcohol and energy drinks, ScienceDaily reported Nov. 30.
In an effort to determine the extent of CAB use and its health consequences — and outline future research needs — a team of researchers led by Jonathan Howland, PhD, chair of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department at the Boston University School of Public Health, examined statistical evidence from 44 sources.
In one study, compared with patrons who drank regular alcoholic drinks, people who drank CABs were three times more likely to leave a nightclub „highly intoxicated“ and four times more likely to leave with the intention of driving. (Source: Join Together, 12/03/10)

New laws introduced in Queensland today will force high-risk drink drivers to pay for alcohol ignition interlock systems to be installed in their vehicles.
The interlock devices will be fitted to the vehicles of drivers who: refuse a breath test or blood test, record a blood-alcohol content of more than 0.15, are charged with dangerous driving while affected by alcohol, and are caught drink driving twice within five years.
The interlock system will apply to drivers charged with drink driving offences after August 6 2010 and will remain connected to offenders’ vehicles for 12 months. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 12/06/10) caradvice.com.au, 12/06/10

A debate has been started in Australia for reducing the alcohol limit for driving in order to alter the driving etiquettes.
A discussion paper was introduced by the Australian Transport Council this week to urge for the reduction of the national alcohol limit to 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The council cited the example of Sweden, where reducing alcohol limit from 50mg to 20mg, there was experienced 10% decrease in the accidents related to drinking plus driving.
The alcohol limit in New Zealand is 80mg, while than in Victoria is 50mg. There is 13% of concentration of drivers aged 18 to 25 years olds in Vitoria and there 36% of all drink drivers face fatality related to road accidents. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 12/05/10) topnews.net.nz, 12/05/10

Felony charges were leveled against a Dartmouth College fraternity after a 17-year-old high school student was hospitalized following a night of drinking, police said.
The Psi Upsilon fraternity was served with two felony complaints for providing alcoholic beverages to minors, Hanover police said. Chief Nicholas Giaccone said a prospective student had to be rushed to a hospital after a night of drinking. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 12/04/10) wmur.com, 12/03/10 Comment: A wonder that parents still send their children to such a college.