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The latest IAS Alcohol Alert is available from the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS). The issue’s headline article attacks the Government’s alcohol policy, emphasising dissatisfaction over the Responsibility Deal, below cost ban and decision to stick with the current drink-drive limit. The Alert also reviews key alcohol policy news and developements over recent months including a slight fall in alcohol-related deaths, licensing act changes, and predicted rises in alcohol-related admissions. Full article index here.

Hospitalizations for alcohol have been trending upward on campus this year, with spikes at fraternity houses, freshman dorms and among the sophomore class. In fall quarter alone, there were 33 cases of Stanford students being transported to the emergency room for alcohol-related incidents, according to Ralph Castro, manager of the Substance Abuse Prevention Program at Vaden Health Center.
To date, a total of 48 students have been transported to the hospital, an increase from the 42 transports in the previous academic year. In winter quarter alone, there were 15 cases—six freshmen, three sophomores, five juniors and one senior. Transports were divided fairly evenly between men and women. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 04/04/11)

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Five students from Kings Fork Middle School were suspended Friday and recommended for expulsion after officials say they violated the school system’s alcohol policy. The students involved were three 7th Graders and two 8th Graders.
According to a school spokesperson, the incident involving alcohol took place Friday morning as the students were riding on a school bus on their way to school.
After arriving at school, one of the students became sick and went to the Nurse’s Office. That student was transported by ambulance to the emergency room at Obici Hospital. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/26/11) fox43tv.com, 03/25/11

Fifty-six pilots working for Indian airlines have failed alcohol tests in the last two years, according to a list issued by the civil aviation ministry.
Ten pilots were fired after they failed tests, including one who was found over the limit on two occasions, according to the list released by Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi in parliament Thursday.
The fifty-six pilots worked for the state-owned national carrier Air India, as well as private airlines Jet Airways, Indigo, SpiceJet, GoAir, and Kingfisher.
Twenty-three pilots from India’s top airline company Jet Airways failed their tests, but the airline did not sack any of them, putting them on suspension and subjecting them to a pay cut instead. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 03/14/11) google.com, 03/10/11

Information about Oklahoma?s driving breath alcohol and ignition interlock devices just became easier to access with the launch of the Oklahoma Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence’s (BOT) new website at http://bot.ok.gov. The new website allows the agency to post announcements quickly, keeping Oklahomans informed and increasing transparency of information. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 03/13/11) trading-house.net, 03/11/11

In an effort to reduce the number of drink-driving incidents on Polish roads, a bill forbidding the sale of alcohol at petrol stations has been proposed by a senatorial group from across the political spectrum.
Additional changes to the so-called sobriety bill also include a ban on beer advertisements before 11 pm on Polish television. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 03/08/11) thenews.pl, 03/04/11

Six DeKalb County firefighters have been disciplined in an alcohol investigation. Four of the firefighters have been demoted, including an assistant chief.
Channel 2’s Jodie Fleischer attended a Tuesday news conference where acting Fire Chief Eddie O’Brien made the announcement.
„They didn’t just let me down. They let everybody down,“ O’Brien said. „They know they did wrong.“
As Channel 2 Action was first to report, several firefighters were accused of showing up to Fire Station 24 drunk during the Jan. 11 snowstorm. The group included fire apparatus operator …. The group went drinking at Twains Billiards and Tap in Decatur, according to the Fire Department’s investigation. That night, they chose to sleep at the station on Redan Road instead of driving on icy roads for their shift the next day. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 02/16/11) wsbtv.com, 02/16/11

Alcohol consumption has risen in Canada while controls have been eroded, a situation that may increase an already high burden of harms that include acute and chronic disease, trauma and social problems.
Giesbrecht and colleagues present evidence for a comprehensive response that includes restructured alcohol prices, controlled availability, curtailed marketing, lowered legal limits on blood alcohol concentration, improved access to services for high-risk drinkers and public education. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 02/07/11)

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller this morning had sobering words for those advocating a hike on beer, wine and liquor taxes: The proposal is „nonsense,“ he said. „It is not going to happen,“ said Miller, who has instead pushed for a hike in the state’s gas tax. Miller, House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Gov. Martin O’Malley participated this morning in an annual legislative issue forum hosted by radio host Marc Steiner.
The conversations were largely dominated by talk of budget cuts. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 01/13/11) weblogs.baltimoresun.com, 01/12/11 Comment: Commentators say he owns a bar. This is only a discussion on fiscal matters. Nobody sees the impact on public health.

Despite the fact that the Swedish Alcohol Retail Monopoly’s sales are rising and statistics from Statistics Sweden indicate that we drink more and more alcohol, the trend is going in the opposite direction – Swedes‘ alcohol consumption is falling. This emerges from the Consumption Report 2010 (Konsumtionsrapporten 2010) published by the Centre for Consumer Science at the University of Gothenburg.
According to Mats Ramstedt, a researcher at SoRAD, it is due to the fact that Swedes consume less and less alcohol from abroad. SoRAD has also included purchases abroad through legal imports, internet orders and smuggled spirits in its statistics. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 01/11/11) juraforum.de, 11.1.11