www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Moderate Drinkers Less Likely To Develop Dementia says a study from The Australian National University.
People who drink light to moderate amounts of alcohol in later life are less likely to develop dementia than people who abstain from alcohol consumption. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/30/09) Comment online. The same story again: Characteristics of individuals recruited into the studies were not checked. Pure alcohol marketing.

Binge drinking, defined as five or more drinks on the same occasion within the past 30 days, was reported by 14 percent of men and 3 percent of women age 65 or older, according to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/17/09)

Heavy, Daily Drinking Increases Risk Of High-Grade Prostate Cancer; Makes Preventive Drug Ineffective. Current research is inconclusive regarding the relationship between alcohol consumption and prostate cancer risk. Researchers led by Zhihong Gong Ph.D. of the University of California San Francisco, examined the associations of total alcohol, type of alcoholic beverage, and drinking pattern with risks of total, low- and high-grade prostate cancer. (Source: Medical News Today, 7/13/09)

Online-Kommentar zu „TV-Sender sollen für Alkohol werben dürfen“ in der NZZ online am 19.5.09
Es wäre wirklich an der Zeit, dass die Nationalräte ihrem Amtsgelübde nachleben würden und das Volkswohl über die finanziellen Interessen der Alkohollobby stellen würden. Der sonst als eher konservativ geltende Ständerat hat die Kurve gekriegt, hoffentlich folgt der Nationalrat nicht seiner Kommission.
Eben ist in Deutschland eine weitere Studie erschienen, die nachweist, dass Alkoholwerbung den Konsum bei Jugendlichen stark fördert. Trotzdem leugnete die Alkohol- und Werbeindustrie schon immer diese Wirkung. Viele Politiker hören leider lieber die Stimmen, die ihren Wünschen entsprechen. Man könnte sagen, das sei menschlich, doch stehen sie als gewählte Volksvertreter in einer besonderen Verantwortung. Insbesondere jene, die ein „C“ im Parteinamen tragen und behaupten, Familienpolitik zu betreiben.

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„Drink is known to kill brain cells, but the estimate of its impact on neurological health, contained in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, indicates that the problem may be much more widespread than previously thought. The rise in the amounts that people drink means ‚it is therefore likely that prevalence rates of alcohol-related brain damage are currently underestimated and may rise in future generations,‘ say the authors. Dr Jane Marshall, one of the co-authors and consultant psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital in south London, said: ‚People think that dementia is something that happens to people over 65. But a lot of those under 65 have got cognitive problems and a large proportion of the problems in that group are related to alcohol. …“ (Source: Harvard World Health News, 5/14/09) The Observer, London, 5/10/09

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Regularly downing three units of alcohol a day can double the likelihood of developing involuntary (essential) tremor, suggests research published ahead of print in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
Essential tremor is a common neurological disorder, with an estimated 650,000 people in the UK and five million in the US over the age of 60 affected. (Source: Medical News Today, 4/13/09)

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The latest findings on teenage drinking, smoking and drug use across Europe are released the 26th of March, 2009. The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD 2007) is a study of 15 and 16 year old teenagers in 35 European countries.
Professor Martin Plant commented: „ESPAD shows that the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs is widespread amongst 15 and 16 year olds across Europe. Even so, there has been a fall in both smoking and illicit drug use. This is good news for the health of young adults. Alcohol consumption has remained fairly stable, although a small reduction has recently been evident amongst boys. The UK retains its unenviable position in relation to both binge drinking, intoxication and alcohol-related problems amongst teenagers. This problem is both serious and chronic. I hope that the Government will prioritise policies that are effective to reduce heavy drinking and alcohol-related disorder and health problems amongst young people. Increasing numbers of young people are developing serious health problems related to drinking. More and more younger people also are dying prematurely due to their alcohol use.
„There is a clear scientific consensus that alcohol education and mass media campaigns have a very poor track record in influencing drinking habits. Far more effective (and cost effective) policies include using taxation to make alcohol less affordable. Alcohol problems do not only affect a tiny minority of very heavy drinkers. Everyone has a stake in public health and safety. Moreover, many people whose alcohol consumption is generally moderate also experience some adverse effects from their drinking. It is therefore recommended that a minimum price of 50 pence per unit of alcohol should be introduced. This would save over 3,000 lives per year. It would also reduce problems such as absenteeism, public disorder and hospital admissions. This measure would particularly affect harmful and hazardous drinkers. It could save £1 billion per year in the cost of alcohol-related harm. In addition, serious consideration must be given to raising the minimum age at which young people may consume or purchase alcoholic beverages, perhaps to eighteen years of age.“ (Source: Medical News Today, 4/2/09)

Moderate Alcohol Consumption Related To Stronger Bones According To AJCN Study
The devastating effects of excessive alcohol consumption are undisputable, although some data suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may impart some health benefits. For instance, several studies have reported a positive association between alcohol intake and bone mineral density (BMD) in older women. (Source: Medical News Today, 3/16/09) Comment: By all means there must be positive effects consuming alcohol after all „devastating effects“. The results sound confusing.

Older, active people who have a drink or two might be more impaired afterward than they think, according to a report today from a University of Florida research group in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. (Source: Medical News Today, 3/5/09)

Online Comment on Join Together: Moderate Drinking Helps Healthy Older Patients:

It looks as if the alcohol industry starts a new alcohol=health campaign. I hope that serious scientists make an analysis of this unbelievable and lousy job. The best is the title to make alcohol marketing. Only those who read the full article may see perhaps the point. Deutsche Webseite: Leserbriefe See our comment on Join Together Deutsche Webseite: Leserbriefe