www.alkoholpolitik.ch

…AIDS Second
Today the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that alcohol is to blame for just about 4% of, or 2.5 million deaths worldwide annually. Alcohol attributable injuries are of a growing concern to the public health community, with alcohol-related injuries such as road traffic accidents, burns, poisonings, falls and drownings making up more than a third of the disease burden attributable to alcohol consumption. AIDS was a close second with 2.1 milion deaths in 2009.
Yet alcohol control policies are weak and remain a low priority for most governments despite drinking’s heavy toll on society from road accidents, violence, disease, child neglect and job absenteeism. … (Source: Medical News Today, 02/11/11) WHO: Global status report on alcohol and health analyses our Online-Comment: For those persons who don’t like them, figures from other sources are always incorrect. But nobody can deny that governments do not care enough about them. And that is the main sorrow of the WHO. The alcohol industry could not hinder that in May 2010 the WHO General Assembly accepted a resolution on a global alcohol strategy. Now it puts pressure on the national governments that they don’t implement the proposals in their legislation. The civil societies come off a loser.

by Sally Casswell in The Lancet, 02/05/11
It was heartening to read of the forthcoming UN high-level meeting on chronic non-communicable diseases and the excellent strategic analysis by Robert Geneau and colleagues (Nov 13, p 1689),1 which addressed the links between chronic disease and poverty and the reasons for inaction.
As Geneau and colleagues‘ Series paper states, alcohol (a fast-growing risk factor in the populous, disproportionately young countries with growing economies) is a contributor to important chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and tuberculosis. It therefore qualifies for attention in this forum because of its contribution to premature mortality, the basis on which Geneau and colleagues suggest that resource allocation should be made. However, alcohol differs somewhat from other risk factors mentioned in the Series in that its contribution to the global burden of disease and injury is, in large part, via its effect on morbidity (injury from violence and motor vehicle crashes, alcohol dependence, and depression). Much of the effect is in young people, and disability-adjusted life-years are equivalent to those of tobacco globally.

A paper has been released by the History & Policy body exploring Wine, supermarkets and British alcohol policy. It explores the current alcohol policy context and parallels with history.
The paper in particular explores the focus of recent public debate and policy on public and on-trade consumption, in its conclusion asking whether ‚a greater policy focus on domestic consumption would better reflect the balance of risks posed by alcohol today‘. (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 02/09/11) alcoholpolicy.net, 02/09/11

Identifying Links to Drinking May Lead to Drug Treatments Tailored to Your DNA.
Millions of Americans know all too painfully that alcoholism runs in families.
Children of alcoholic parents are four times as likely to develop drinking problems as the general population. Sons of alcoholic fathers face up to nine times the usual risk. Even babies of alcoholics adopted into non-drinking homes have nearly the same risk of alcoholism as they would if they’d stayed with their biological parents, studies have shown.
But untangling just which genes pass along the predisposition for problem drinking is devilishly difficult—largely because alcoholism itself is so complex. Genes that affect how fast the liver metabolizes alcohol and how the brain reacts to stress, reward and pleasure have all been implicated, as have genes for anxiety and depression. Some overlap with genes for nicotine, cocaine and other addictions. … Source: Alcohol Reports, 02/07/11) online.wsj.com, 02/08/11

Alcohol consumption has risen in Canada while controls have been eroded, a situation that may increase an already high burden of harms that include acute and chronic disease, trauma and social problems.
Giesbrecht and colleagues present evidence for a comprehensive response that includes restructured alcohol prices, controlled availability, curtailed marketing, lowered legal limits on blood alcohol concentration, improved access to services for high-risk drinkers and public education. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 02/07/11)

by Petra S. Meier. Article first published online: 19 OCT 2010
ABSTRACT Aims: This paper aims to contribute to a rethink of marketing research priorities to address policy makers‘ evidence needs in relation to alcohol marketing.
Method: Discussion paper reviewing evidence gaps identified during an appraisal of policy options to restrict alcohol marketing.
Findings Evidence requirements can be categorized as follows: (i) the size of marketing effects for the whole population and for policy-relevant population subgroups, (ii) the balance between immediate and long-term effects and the time lag, duration and cumulative build-up of effects and (iii) comparative effects of partial versus comprehensive marketing restrictions on consumption and harm. …
Conclusion: It is essential that studies into marketing effect sizes are geared towards informing policy decision-makers, anchored strongly in theory, use measures of effect that are well-justified and recognize fully the complexities of alcohol marketing efforts. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 02/07/11) onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Eurocare (European Alcohol Policy Alliance) strongly supports the World Cancer Day and hopes that combined efforts of all stakeholders will lead to significant reduction in cancer cases.
First conclusive links between alcohol and cancer were established back in 1987. Nearly 25 years later public awareness about the links is alarmingly low.
The 2010 Eurobarometer report found that 1 in 5 European citizens do not believe that there is connection between alcohol and caner and 1 in 10 do not know about the link between alcohol and cancer.
Alcoholic beverages and ethanol in alcohol beverages is group 1 carcinogenic, the cancer they impact on are cancer of oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectum and breast. (Source: Eurocare Press Release, 2/07/11)

We take a look at the drink licensing system in Cardiff, a city with one of the worst binge‐drinking
reputations in the UK. There are also reports on the thinking behind alcohol advertising and the use of drink as a precursor and symptom of sex exploitation. Finally, we return to Wales, but this time in 1970s, when the area was home to the world’s biggest LSD factory. Druglink Magazine

A population health perspective. Editorial in
Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, Vol. 27, 2010 ( 5 ), Helsinki, published by the Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues (NVC). The journal is supported by the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), (Finland), the National Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research, (SIRUS), (Norway), the Swedish National Institute of Public Health and the Danish National Board of Health. The Swedish alcohol monopoly supports the journal with subscriptions. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 02/03/11) nordicwelfare.org Comment: Very important review on todays situation in alcohol politics.

Meanwhile a recent YouGov survey indicates British opinion is split over whether the Government should go further and introduce minimum pricing; 47% are reportedly in favour with 44% against. Full survey results here and a Guardian report. (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 02/01/11)