www.alkoholpolitik.ch

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)

Alcohol is the most damaging drug to the drinker and others overall, heroin and crack are the second and third most harmful, Professor David Nutt and colleagues wrote in the medical journal The Lancet today. When all factors related to self harm and harm to others are considered, alcohol comes out top. The authors explain that drugs, including tobacco products and alcohol are major contributors to damage to individuals as well as society as a whole.
The harms that are caused by drugs need to be comprehensively assessed so that policy makers can be properly advised regarding health, social care and policing, the authors write; not an easy undertaking because drugs can cause damage in so many different ways. (Source: Medical News Today, 11/1/10) our online-comment: For many decades alcohol has been called the socio-medical problem No.1. This study is just an additional piece of proof. But a very valuable one, as it comes in a time when governments are not willing to implement the new alcohol strategy of the World Health Organization (May 2010), even if they signed it, because they are under permanent pressure of the global alcohol industry. This sort of corruption costs human tragedies and lives every day and the people is not able to protest as it is not informed.
(see press release by Active, 11/03/10)

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)

Data is provided by the WHO Global Information System on Alcohol and Health (GISAH). The indicator on total alcohol consumption is defined as the recorded amount of alcohol consumed per adult (15+ years) over a calendar year in a country, in litres of pure alcohol. The indicator only takes into account the consumption which is recorded from production, import, export, and sales data often via taxation. Population data is based on midyear resident population (15+ years) of the UN World Population Prospects, medium variant. In order to convert into litres of pure alcohol, the alcohol content of beer, wine, and spirits is considered to be 5%, 12% and 40% respectively. Specific conversion factors are used for other, less common types of alcoholic beverages. (Source: EUROPEAN COMMISSION HEALTH AND CONSUMERS DIRECTORATE-GENERAL10/29/10)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) seeks public feedback by Oct. 22 on its plan to focus on eight strategic initiatives.
SAMHSA released a paper that details its plans, titled, Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA’s Roles and Actions 2011 – 2014 (PDF). It was developed with input from leaders at the federal, state and local levels; SAMHSA’s advisory councils; constituency groups; and people in recovery and their family members.
“This paper outlines the immediate and future priorities for SAMHSA, and to deliver the best results to the American people, we are seeking help and assistance from the world outside of government,” said Pamela S. Hyde J.D., SAMHSA administrator. (Source: Join Together, 10.12.10)

135 university presidents and chancellors have opened a debate on the minimum legal drinking age in the U.S. Should it be lowered? Researchers say decades of data make the answer clear as gin. (Source: THE GLOBE, 2/2010)

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.

Higher social status, better overall health could explain the link, researchers say.
A major French study links moderate drinking to a lower risk for cardiovascular disease, but challenges the notion that moderate drinking is the cause of the benefit. Instead, the researchers say, people who drink moderately tend to have a higher social status, exercise more, suffer less depression and enjoy superior health overall compared to both heavy drinkers and lifetime abstainers. … (Source: The Globe 2/2010) Comment: This is one side. The other is the uncorrect use of the group of abstainers.

Science can be a powerful tool for parents and educators seeking to persuade middle-school students not to drink alcohol, says a new book from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
„Delaying That First Drink: A Parents‘ Guide“ was produced by the AAAS Science Inside Alcohol Project, which is funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It discusses research on the impact of alcohol on the growing body and offers tips on how to talk to kids about drinking. (Source: Medical News Today, 9/29/10)

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