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Considerations under European Law and the implications for European public health
Scotland has amongst the highest rates of alcohol-related harms in Western Europe and over the last three decades has observed an approximate 3-fold increase in alcohol-related mortality.1 The Scottish Government has identified the affordability of alcohol as a key component for an effective strategy in addressing these harms. While increases in alcohol duty can be used to reduce affordability, responsibility for determining alcohol duty lies with the UK rather than Scottish Parliament so the introduction of a minimum unit price (MUP) is being considered as a more targeted alternative. Its potential introduction raises a number of important legal considerations that bear relevance to future public health legislative measures across the European Union. In this article, we outline some of the main considerations as illustrated by the case study of MUP in Scotland and discuss the implications for countries across Europe and other areas of public health policy. …
(Source: Alcohol Reports, 07/27/12) eurpub.oxfordjournals.org, August 2012 (payable) Eur J Public Health (2012) 22 (4): 457-458. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/cks091

The proportion of those failing a breath test has not fallen significantly, figures from the latest police drink and drug campaign and enforcement drive show.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) announced that 4,857 (5.8%) of the 83,224 drivers tested during the month long campaign in June 2012 tested positive, refused or failed a breath test. Although a slight improvement on the 6% rate the previous year, ACPO said they are „disappointed“ that a small proportion are refusing to the get the message about the dangers of drink and drug driving. ….
(Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 07/25/12)

Preliminary results show alcohol-related traffic fatalities dropped in the year since the state began requiring an ignition interlock for those convicted of drunken driving.

The Kansas Department of Transportation reported Friday that the state recorded 59 alcohol-related traffic fatalities between July 1, 2011 — when the law took effect — and June 30 of this year. That compares with 125 and 137, respectively, for the previous two years. …
(Source: Alcohol Reports, 07/25/12) sfgate.com, 07/20/12

The findings, presented at an international conference, challenge the notion that some alcohol could be good for ageing brains.

People who stick to recommended alcohol limits are still at risk, as well as bingers and heavy drinkers, according to the work.

The study tracked the health over 20 years of 1,300 women in their mid-60s.

The risk, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to full blown dementia, was higher among those who reported drinking more alcohol.

Women who switched from abstinence to drinking over the course of the study also increased their risk.

Those who drank alcohol „in moderation“, meaning seven to 14 alcoholic drinks a week, were also more likely to develop problems with memory and brain functioning that can be a warning sign of future dementia. …
(Source: Google alcohol news, 07/18/12) (news-ad-hoc.de, 18.7.12) bbc.co.uk, 07/18/12

The study found increased cigarette prices due to taxes did not decrease smoking rates in people under 30, The Atlantic reports.

The researchers based their findings on data from the 2001-2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys, which included 1.3 million people. They found increases in state cigarette prices were associated with increases in current drinking among people ages 65 and older, and binge and heavy drinking among those ages 21 to 29. They found reductions in smoking among adults ages 30 to 64, drinking among those ages 18 to 20, and binge drinking among those 65 and older.

“Researchers, practitioners, advocates, and policymakers should work together to understand and prepare for these unintended consequences of tobacco taxation policy,” the researchers wrote in the journal Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy.
(Source: Join Together, 07/17/12)

Around seven percent of adults suffer from an intolerance to wine. This is the result of a survey presented by Peter Wigand and co-authors in the current edition of Deutsches Arzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2012; 109 (25): 437-44).

The authors evaluated 948 questionnaires that were returned from the 4000 sent out to randomly selected people between the ages of 20 and 69 years. They found that women (8.9%) were more often affected by an intolerance to wine than men (5.2%). The most commonly reported reactions included flushed and itchy skin and a runny nose. The symptoms were particularly common after drinking red wine. Additionally, people with a wine intolerance were more likely to report other food intolerances. …
(Source: Medical News Today, 7/7/12)

The Portman Group, the alcohol industry’s social responsibility body, has said alcohol producers are on track to deliver their pledge to provide health information on 80% of alcohol labels by the end of December 2013.

As part of the Government’s responsibility deal, alcohol producers have committed that three core labelling elements – clear unit content, NHS guidelines and a warning about drinking when pregnant – will appear on 80% of drinks. A Drinkaware link and responsibility statement are optional.

The Portman Group, who were given responsibility for monitoring the pledge, say current compliance is over 60%, with 18 months still remaining. More companies are expected to confirm their pledges in the coming months. …
(Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 07/05/12)

The new EUCAM Newsletter with Fact Sheets on sport sponsoring by alcohol producers in Europe, kids being overexposed to irresponsible alcohol marketing and more…
Newsletter

A report exploring the potential role of promoting lower strength drinks to address alcohol harms has been produced by the Liverpool John Moores University (JMU) Centre for Public Health.

The rapid literature review identified both opportunities and threats to improved health through the increased availability of lower strength alcohol. The report suggests that if lower strength drinks result in ’substitution‘ for higher strength drinks there can be potential public health benefits. However it also identifies ‚addition‘ as a likely affect, whereby lower strength drinks result in an increased number of situations where alcohol is consumed. The report concludes that encouraging production and consumption of lower alcohol products in a single product category is unlikely to maximise effects on population level harms. …
(Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 07/3/12)

Every year, 1.5 million people in Norway are affected by others‘ alcohol consumption.
In this frame, the government is concerned about the increasing damage of alcohol, the result of the increasing alcohol consumption.

The report presented by the government assumes that 50 000 to 150 000 children living with their parents in Norway are in risk due to alcohol consumption.
(Source: Alcohol Reports, 07/2/12) The Nordic Page Norway, 06/25/12