www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Alcohol marketing on television is banned in Sweden, but since 2003 a number of TV channels have circumvented the Swedish Alcohol Act by broadcasting from the UK. It has been possible, but whether it is legal or not is not yet clear.
That is why IOGT-NTO has sent a complaint on the fourth of March, concerning 32 companies who have broadcasted or produced alcohol advertisement targeting a Swedish audience, to the Swedish Consumer Agency and the Swedish Broadcasting Authority. The list includes among others Carlsberg Sweden, TV3 and Kanal 5.
‘It is obviously a problem that a number of companies can ignore the Swedish legislation’, says Sara Heine, handling the complaint from IOGT-NTO. (Source: EUCAM, 03/04/11)

A behavioral economic analysis.
More than 3/4 of U.S. college students report a heavy drinking episode (HDE; 5 (for men) and 4 (for women) drinks during an occasion) in the previous 90 days. This pattern of drinking is associated with various risks and social problems for both the heavy drinkers and the larger college community.
The results suggest that increasing drink prices and morning academic requirements may be useful in preventing heavy drinking among college students. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 03/30/11)

Alcohol use may be a coping mechanism for the stressors related to forced displacement. The aim of this study was to investigate levels and determinants of alcohol disorder amongst internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Uganda.
A cross-sectional survey with 1206 adult IDPs was conducted in Gulu and Amuru districts. Alcohol disorder was measured using the AUDIT instrument. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore demographic, socio-economic, displacement and trauma exposure determinants of alcohol disorder. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 03/25/11)

Aims: This study aims to document the adverse effects of drinkers in Australia on people other than the drinker. … Conclusions: Substantial proportions of Australians are affected by other people’s drinking, including that of their families, friends, co-workers and strangers. These harms range in magnitude from noise and fear to physical abuse, sexual coercion and social isolation. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 03/26/11) onlinelibray.wiley.com

Next week, Sarah Wollaston MP will put forward a private member’s bill urging the government to adopt a new approach to protect UK children from alcohol advertising.
In an editorial published on bmj.com today, Professor Gerard Hastings and Dr Nick Sheron set out why we urgently need to tackle the excessive drinking of our young people and their massive exposure to alcohol advertising.
The bill will call on the government to adapt French legislation that allows alcohol advertising in media aimed at adults but not children, and ensures that promotional messages are factual and verifiable. (Source: Medical News Today, 03/24/11)

Research topics:
* Research on the Impact of Alcohol Marketing
* Research on Effectiveness Policies to Regulate Alcohol Marketing
* Research on Alcohol Marketing and the Alcohol Industry
* Research on the Impact of Counter-Advertising
(Source: Alcohol Reports, 03/23/11)

Following the continued proliferation of alcohol advertising in social and traditional media outlets, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced plans to conduct another review of the effectiveness of the alcohol industry’s self-regulation of its own advertising campaigns. As noted in the Marin Institute’s 2008 report „Why Big Alcohol Can’t Police Itself: A Review of Self-Regulation in the Distilled Spirits Industry,“ the industry’s voluntary guidelines fail to protect underage youth from exposure to alcohol advertising. The FTC is currently seeking public comment until April 26, 2011 on the companies‘ compliance with ad placement provisions; status of third-party review of complaints; and industry data-collection practices. We encourage everyone concerned about the effects of alcohol advertising to submit comments here. Marin Institute will make our own comments available, so check back. (Source: Marin Institute Newsletter, 03/23/11)

In complete disregard of the fact that alcohol is known to be the third leading cause of preventable death in America, the National Foundation for Cancer Research has decided to specifically promote the consumption of red wine, purportedly for its cancer-preventing properties. Yet even the Foundation acknowledges that the cancer-fighting benefits are not inherent to the alcohol itself, but to the antioxidants that can be found in a wide range of other foods. Since antioxidant sources are so prevalent and widespread, it boggles our mind that the National Foundation for Cancer Research specifically pick the one antioxidant source that is also linked to an increased risk of several cancers. (Source: Marin Institute, 03/22/11)

The first Great Russian River Race will be wet in more ways than one, now that Healdsburg City Council members have overcome their qualms about allowing alcohol at the event.
The City Council Monday voted unanimously to let beer and wine be served at the May 7 after-race party, overcoming a decades-old prohibition on alcohol at Veterans Memorial Beach park.
Council members said they were swayed by the precautions and security measures proposed by the Russian Riverkeeper, the conservation group staging the race and party. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/23/11) healdsburg.towns.pressdemocrat.com, 03/22/11

Towards a Comprehensive EU-Wide Strategy
The Silken Berlaymont Hotel, Brussels, Tuesday 14th June 2011,
Event Details – Website – Register to Attend