www.alkoholpolitik.ch

The Stories You Need to Read
– Critics See More Problems with ABC Privatization
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– 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

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors has approved a surcharge on alcohol distribution to offset costs associated with problem drinking, the Associated Press reported Sept. 15.
The Board approved the fee 7-3, with one abstention. The proposal needed eight votes to survive a veto by Mayor Gavin Newsom, who has said he opposes it. (Source: Join Together, 9/16/10)

Fresh Story Blog: Despite the fact that local, state, and federal lawmakers are desperate to plug holes in their budgets, advocates of alcohol taxes have struggled to gain traction. They should take heart from a Fresh Story blog post, the first in a series, published online on Aug. 31.
It’s an excellent primer on the history of federal alcohol taxes and why it makes sense to raise them now.
Taxes on alcohol have a long history in the United States. In fact, according to Fresh Story, “the first tax ever enacted by the U.S. Congress was a tax on distilled spirits … in 1791.” While they now contribute less than 1% of federal revenue, taxes on alcohol used to contribute a significant portion of federal revenue — 11% as recently as 1941. (Source: Join Together, 9/14/10) Sep 14, 2010 04:21 PM CDT by Benjamin Chambers

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

The groundbreaking San Francisco Charge for Harm bill is the first of its kind in California. The ordinance was introduced on June 22, 2010 by Supervisor John Avalos and is co-sponsored by Supervisors Maxwell and Mirkarimi. Supported by a „nexus study“ titled The Cost of Alcohol to San Francisco, the ordinance would charge alcohol wholesalers and others for some of the unreimbursed alcohol-related costs incurred by San Francisco government agencies, including treatment and health care. (Source: Marin Institute, 8/31/10)

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s ill-conceived plan to privatize the sale of spirits in his state will jeopardize the public’s health and cost the state money, as findings from peer-reviewed studies illustrate. One such study was published this month in the journal Addiction.
The new study concluded that privatizing Sweden’s government monopoly on the sale of alcohol would significantly increase alcohol-related harm, including violence. Depending on the type of privatization enacted, total alcohol consumption in Sweden is predicted to increase by 17 – 37%, with thousands more alcohol-related deaths, assaults, and drunk driving offenses per year and as many as 11 million more days of sick leave. (Source: Marin Institute, 9/06/10)

The Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern Ireland has called on the Executive to take the advice of the Health and Social Development Ministers and follow Scotland’s lead in proposing a minimum price for alcohol of 45 pence a unit.
Both Health Minister Michael McGimpsey and Social Development Minister Alex Attwood have said in recent months that minimum pricing is needed to curb dangerous drinking habits that cost society up to £900 million a year. (Source: Medical News Today, 9/05/10)

A study published in the scientific journal Addiction argues that privatising Sweden’s government monopoly on the sale of alcohol will significantly increase alcohol-related violence and other harms. Depending on the type of privatisation, experts predict that total alcohol consumption in Sweden will increase by 17 – 37%, with thousands more alcohol-related deaths, assaults, and drunk driving offences per year and up to 11 million more days of sick leave. …(Source: Medical News Today, 9/02/10)

Responding to figures from the North West Public Health Observatory on the effects of alcohol consumption, NHS Confederation deputy policy director Jo Webber said it was up to society as a whole to address the problems of excessive drinking.
Commenting on the release of Local Alcohol Profiles for England (LAPE) by the North West Public Health Observatory, Jo webber, deputy policy director of the NHS Confederation, which represents over 95 per cent of NHS organisations said:
„The NHS Confederation has argued in a report at the New Year that alcohol is causing a growing health problem in the UK, damaging lives as well as costing the health service billions. … (Source: Medical News Today, 9/02/10)