www.alkoholpolitik.ch

A Georgia lawmaker is mounting a new push to allow 18-year-old troops to drink alcohol on military bases. But Defense Secretary Robert Gates is skeptical. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., put Gates on the spot during a hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill, asking about the logic of prohibiting 18 year olds from drinking. …
Gates, whose familiarity with underage drinking issues reaches back to his time as the president of Texas A&M University, was not enthusiastic. “One of the things that we are seeing as a result of repeated tours is not just an increase in suicides, but an increase in risky behavior, particularly by young men … so that would be a concern of mine,” Gates said. … (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/05/11) armytimes.com, 03/04/11

I am sitting on the Justice and Electoral Select Committee as we hear submissions on the Alcohol Reform Bill for two days in Auckland.
There have been so many powerful and moving submissions. Some brave individuals have shared their own stories of alcohol harm. Overwhelmingly submitters are urging that a decisive leadership role is taken in dealing with alcohol harm. Submitters illustrate time and again what research has shown and that is as a drug alcohol causes greater harm to others than to self. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/04/11) blog.labour.org.nz, 03/04/11 our Online-Comment:
It’s really funny how many “experts” discuss this problem without knowing the facts. One of the included problems is that information is not coming to the public. In May 2010 the World Health Organization has accepted with all member states a resolution on a Global Alcohol Strategy. The harm alcohol does and the effective measures to reduce the problems are shown in detail. Did the New Zealand people got this information? In many countries the alcohol lobby is so strong that medias and government health agencies did not dare to inform the public.
The WHO calls all of us “passive drinkers” because we all suffer directly or indirectly from alcohol-related harm and we pay during a lifetime without ever being asked an awful lot of money for alcohol-related social costs. (income tax, insurance premiums)
The best measure to reduce harm is to reduce consumption by higher alcohol prices. This reduces consumption in all groups. The majority, the moderate consumers have the best profit. They pay a little more taxes but have the full profit of less social costs. And everybody has the freedom to drink as much as he likes or want to afford. Our freedom is only restricted by the alcohol industry which forces us to suffer and pay the social costs they produce. They have the profits the public has to pay the damage.
To reduce the availability is the second best measure.
To bring down the BAC-limit would be very effective. If it is combined with strong controls. In Europe the result was a reduction of 15 to 20% in mortality, alcohol related accidents and injuries. And the effect remained for years. Why not use the experience of other countries and science?

The Home Office has released guidance to help pubs and doorstaff spot and deal with ID that’s used fraudulently to buy alcohol.
The 44-page guidance, accessible on-line, includes detailed advice on how to identify legitimate passports, driving licences and PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) cards. It outlines some commonly-used counterfeit ID such as the „international driving permit“ and „provisional motorcycle licence“. The guidance warns operators to be wary of the growing trend for youngsters to use genuine ID belonging to older siblings. (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 03/01/11) morningadvertiser.co.uk, 02/24/11

Pubs caught serving drink to under-age customers in Northern Ireland twice will be closed. A Bill has been passed by the Assembly to reduce alcohol consumption. The measures were included in the amended Licensing and Registration of Clubs Bill and are expected to be in place by September.
Pubs, clubs, hotels and off licences convicted of selling alcohol to minors will be awarded five or six penalty points – once they have accumulated 10 they will face a closure of anywhere from a week to three months. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 03/01/11) belfasttelegraph.co.uk, 02/22/11

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

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

The Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center (UDETC), part of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, is offering national electronic seminars to assist states and local communities in their efforts to enforce drinking age laws, prevent youth drinking, and „significantly reduce harmful consequences associated with alcohol use by underage youth.“
The seminars include audio- and web-conferencing (for those with an internet connection).
The next workshop — called „Alcohol Energy Drinks: They Pack a Killer Punch!“ — will be held Thurs., Feb. 24, from 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm EST.
UDETC invites state and community leaders to participate and find out what others are doing to limit youth access to alcohol and prevent the injuries associated with consumption of alcoholic energy drinks (AEDs).
To register or learn more about UDETC seminars, visit: www.udetc.org/audioconfregistration.asp

Police Find 3 Businesses Selling Alcohol To Minors
Fayetteville police said that during their recent random alcohol compliance checks, three business were found to be non-compliant. On Feb. 16, the Fayetteville Police Department conducted random compliance checks of 18 businesses with alcohol permits in Fayetteville. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 02/18/11) 4029tv.com

– many get alcohol from family or home.
A new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicates that 5.9 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 14 drank alcohol in the past month and that the vast majority of them (93.4 percent) received their alcohol for free the last time they drank. About 317,000 (44.8 percent) 12 to 14 year olds who drank in the past month received their alcohol for free from their family or at home. This includes 15.7 percent (or an estimated 111,000) who were provided alcohol for free by their parents or guardians. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 02/17/11)

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — During the month of January, detectives with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crime Investigation Unit and investigators with the State of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, working under a GAP Grant funded by the State of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, conducted alcohol enforcement operations resulting in the arrest of 7 individuals.
Detectives and investigators conducted a variety of operations including the use of minor decoys and undercover enforcement targeting Bakersfield, Oildale, Rosedale, Boron, North Edwards, Rosamond and the City of McFarland. As a result of these enforcement operations the following suspects were arrested…. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 02/10/11) turnto23.com, 02/10/11