www.alkoholpolitik.ch

2010 FAMILY DINNERS REPORT FINDS:
MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF TEENS THINK THAT EATING FREQUENT FAMILY DINNERS IS IMPORTANT
NEW YORK, NY, September 22, 2010 – Compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five to seven per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are more than twice as likely to say that they expect to try drugs in the future, according to The Importance of Family Dinners VI, a new report from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA*) at Columbia University.
The CASA family dinners report reveals that nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of teens think that eating dinner frequently with their parents is very or fairly important. Compared to teens who have frequent family dinners, those who have infrequent family dinners are:
* Twice as likely to have used tobacco;
* Almost twice as likely to have used alcohol; and
* One and half times likelier to have used marijuana. (Source: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 9/22/10)

The Stories You Need to Read
– Critics See More Problems with ABC Privatization
– Strange Brew: Beer Equality Law Opened Gates for ‘Alcopop’ Drinks
– ACLU Seeks High Court Ruling on College Alcohol Advertising
– One Daily Glass of Wine Can Double Risk of Breast Cancer

Marin Institute has published a report on Big Alcohol’s efforts to privatize alcohol sales in control states. The report, titled „Control State Politics: How Big Alcohol is Dismantling Regulation State by State,“ explains the likely outcomes to states that turn over alcohol sales to private businesses. These states may experience a short-term cash windfall, but loss of reliable income, coupled with increases in alcohol-related harm, will damage economic stability and public health in the longer term. (Source: Marin Institute, 9/21/10) – Press Release – Read Report

DAY 2 AFTERNOON: FOOD SECURITY, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, REGIONALISM AND WTO REFORM
… News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news10_e/pfor_pm_16sept10_e.htm
DAY 2 MORNING: FROM GENDER AND JOBS TO FOOD SECURITY AND POLICY SPACE
… News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news10_e/pfor_am_16sept10_e.htm
NEW PUBLICATION: GOVERNMENTS, NON-STATE ACTORS AND TRADE POLICY-MAKING: NEGOTIATING PREFERENTIALLY OR MULTILATERALLY?
More: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/gov_2010_e.htm

Article by Thomas F Babor, a. Department of Community Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06030, United States of America.
Science plays an increasingly important role in the development of international health policy and this has certainly been true in the case of a global response to alcohol-related problems. In May 2010, the World Health Assembly adopted resolution EB126.R11, Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol,1 based in part on an impressive amount of evidence on both alcohol’s contribution to the global burden of disease and the policies capable of ameliorating the harm it causes.2 Now that the strategy has been adopted, it is time for public health science to take on two new challenges. The first is to expand the evidence base so that it applies not just to the developed countries where most of the world’s alcohol consumption is concentrated, but also to the low- and middle-income countries where alcohol consumption is increasing and where the policy response is still weak. The second challenge is to use scientific research to guide the adoption of effective alcohol policies at the national and international levels. …. (Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2010;88:643-643. doi: 10.2471/BLT.10.081729

People in developing economies just aren’t drinking enough beer. That’s the argument analysts at Credit Suisse have laid out in a series of reports touting the beer and the alcoholic beverage sector. But there’s hope for thirsty Brazilians and Chinese, the analysts say: It’s just a matter of time before they start guzzling almost as much beer as Americans and Europeans. (Source: Marin Institute) npr.org, 8/18/10

People love to complain about „sin taxes“ on unhealthy or socially undesirable foods and beverages (for instance, this Booster Shots item on a proposal to tax fattening foods to pay for obesity-related healthcare costs has prompted 831 comments so far). We know many of you think the government has better things to do than police what you put into your mouth. But have you ever stopped to consider how these taxes can help us? (Source: Marin Institute) Los Angeles Times, 8/11/10

Background: The mass media has enormous potential to influence health-related behaviours and perceptions. Much research has focused on how the media frames health issues. This study sought to explore how journalists in Australia select and shape news on health issues.
Results: Journalists routinely attempted to balance different, sometimes competing, aims amidst significant operational constraints. They perceived the most trusted sources on health issues to be respected and independent doctors. Specialist health and medical reporters had a more sound technical knowledge, channels to appropriate sources, power within their organizations, and ability to advocate for better quality coverage.
Conclusions: An awareness of how to work with the media is essential for health communicators. This includes understanding journalists‘ daily routines, being available, providing resources, and building relationships with specialist health reporters. (Source: BMC Public Health, 9/08/10) Comment: Unfortunately regarding studies on alcohol there are more criteria, e.g. the policy of the editor (his dependence on the alcohol industry) and a possible more or less alcohol dependency of the journalist.

While moderate drinking – one to less than three drinks per day – is linked to a decrease in mortality in middle-aged and older adults, there is also concern that the health benefits of moderate drinking have been overestimated. A new study of the association between drinking and mortality during a 20-year period, which controlled for confounding factors such as previous problem drinking, confirms an association of moderate drinking and reduced mortality among older adults. … „Our findings demonstrate that abstainers were significantly more likely to have had prior drinking problems, to be obese, and to smoke cigarettes than moderate drinkers and scored significantly higher than moderate drinkers on health problems, depressive symptoms, and avoidance coping,“ he said. „In addition, abstainers were significantly lower than moderate drinkers on socioeconomic status, physical activity, number of close friends, and quality of friend support and significantly less likely to be married than moderate drinkers. Moreover, all of these factors that were associated with abstention significantly predicted mortality.“ … (Source: Medical News Today, 8/27/10) our online-comment: This study is the end of all those alcohol friendly research we have had in the last decade. We always said, that the control group of abstainers used in those studies was a swindle, now that’s the proof. In German newspapers the headlines still say the contrary. Perhaps they learn now that the wind has changed. We have to thank a lot to that team of researchers!

Some people whose drinking habits do not change over the years and decades may find that they develop problems with alcohol when they get older – aging lowers the body’s tolerance for alcohol. A drink now and again as one ages will not usually cause any harm. However, alcohol can become a problem for older adults, especially if they are taking certain prescription medications, have health conditions, or do not control their alcohol intake. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/13/10)