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The International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) and the Korea Alcohol & Liquor Industry Association (KALIA) are pleased to jointly announce the landmark signing of at today’s second KALIA-ICAP Seminar.
Developed in consultation with public health officials and non-governmental organizations, the code outlines alcohol producers’ formal commitment to responsible marketing through guidelines that provide new standards for the content and placement of beverage alcohol marketing communications, including online media. Among the code’s provisions are guidelines specifying that alcohol marketing and advertising should not target those under the legal drinking age, and should not portray situations suggesting that social, professional, or athletic success can be achieved as a result of drinking alcohol. (Source: ICAP press release 11/15/10) Comment: Let’s hope it has some effect. Normally those self-regulations only give the governments an alibi not to implement real preventive measures. (ICAP is the international Institue of the leading alcohol industries.)

The amount of alcohol commercials in Estonian TV channels has grown considerably over the past few years but still they form a small amount of all commercial, LETA/National Broadcasting cites a TNS Emor study. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 11/23/10) baltic-course.com, 11/23/10

First evidence-based model to evaluate alcohol marketing regulations. The FASE project (Focus on Alcohol Safe Environments) coordinated by the Dutch Institute for Alcohol Policy
(STAP), resulted in the development of an evidence based framework to evaluated existing alcohol marketing regulations from a public health perspective. (visit www.faseproject.eu)
Ireland: Renewed call for a total ban on alcohol marketing practices. The College of Psychiatry of Ireland repeats their call for a ban from 2008. They state that alcohol advertising and
sponsoring should be banned, because of multiple breaches of the self regulation codes, often found without consequences. (press release College of Psychiatry of Ireland, September 12th 2010)
Finland: Task Force against “alcohol-friendly culture” to ban alcohol advertising in Helsinki.
A working group of Helsinki is proposing radical measures to curtail what is seen as an “alcohol-friendly culture” that reigned in the city. “Alcohol has become a part of everyday living and on-drinkers tend to cause consternation” the working group says. (Helsinki Sanomat – October 22th 2010) (Source: EUCAM Newsletter November 2010 No. 2)

Eurocare (European Alcohol Policy Alliance) has issued today an open letter of support for the Thai government for its plans to introduce alcohol health warnings labels on packages of alcoholic beverages.
In January this year Thailand has notified the WTO (Committee on Technical Barrier to Trade) about plans to introduce rotating pictorial warnings on alcoholic beverages contained in different types of containers. The proposal includes:
* picture printed in 4 colours and 6 types of which one of them is required to be rotated at 1,000 package intervals.
* 6 types of health warning messages
* they should cover at least 30% of package
* prohibition of suggesting on labels that alcohol can improve better health
In the open letter Eurocare expressed its support for the initiative of placing health warning labels on alcoholic beverages and congratulated the Thai government for its courage and willingness to take this step to tackle alcohol related harm.
The significance of the economic costs of ill health has been acknowledged not only by public health community but also economic agencies such as the World Economic Forum in its publication “Global Risks 2010”. Chronic diseases were placed as one of the top most severe risks facing the world. They scored very high on likelihood and severity indicators . Alcohol is the 3rd main contributory factor globally to chronic diseases (it ranks 2nd in middle income countries and 1st in high income countries) . … (Source: Eurocare, 10/28/10)

State Authority to Regulate Alcohol Is Under Attack by Industry.
H.R. 5034 (Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act) supports strong state alcohol regulation and protects public health and safety.
Tell Your Member of Congress to Co-Sponsor and Pass H.R. 5034
Read Marin Institute’s Recent Testimony to Congress on H.R. 5034 (Source: Marin Institute – Take Action)

Journal of the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) ist online erhältlich. Form the list of content:
* Proof? Article reprinted by kind permission of the magazine of Johns Hopkins Public Health
* Row over new US Dietary Guidelines on Alcohol
* UK licensing reform ‘a mistake’
* Alcohol increases aggression – but only in some
* Ireland Lowers Drink-Drive Limit
* EU Alcohol Policy Conference
etc.

…Urges The American Academy Of Pediatrics
The monumental task of persuading children and adolescents to say „No“ to drugs, alcohol and tobacco is being constantly undermined by the $25 billions‘ worth of advertising and marketing each year, which has precisely the opposite effect, says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
A new AAP policy statement – „Children, Adolescents, Substance Abuse and the Media“ – appears in the latest issue of the peer reviewed medical journal Pediatrics. The policy statement calls for a total ban on all tobacco advertising, restrictions on the advertising of alcoholic drinks, and a ban on erectile dysfunction drug ads before 10pm. (Source: Medical News Today, 9/27/10)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, along with MusiCares and the GRAMMY Foundation — the two nonprofit organizations of The Recording Academy — announced the MusiCares and GRAMMY Foundation Teen Substance Abuse Awareness through Music Contest.
The contest asks young musicians, ages 14-18, to compose or create an original song and/or music video that explores, encourages, and celebrates a healthy lifestyle or accurately depicts a story about drug abuse.
Winners will be announced during NIDA’s first National Drug Facts Week, which begins Nov. 8, 2010. (Source: Join Together, 9/22/10)

Eurocare Newsletter August-September 2010 with news from Eurocare members, EU, Europe, WHO, around the world, the alcohol industry, research and publications, upcoming events, interesting articles and questions from MEPs

Teaching even young children to think critically about alcohol and tobacco advertising may reduce their risk for using either substance in the future, ScienceDaily reported Aug. 24.
In a study conducted by Innovation Research Training, Inc., of North Carolina, about 700 third to fifth graders were randomly assigned to participate in „Media Detective,“ a two-week course designed to boost critical thinking skills with regard to advertising, or to a waiting list. (Source: Join Together, 9/17/10)