www.alkoholpolitik.ch

By K. S. JACOB, Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632002, Tamil Nadu, India; ksjacob@cmcvellore.ac.in
ABSTRACT: Extreme policies of prohibition or the current permissive strategies are counterproductive and call for a nuanced public health approach that integrates both the regulation of availability of alcohol as well as helps in rigorously enforcing the law. …. The WHO’s global strategy for alcohol and governmental and non-governmental efforts can be used synergistically to produce sustained action. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 01/03/11) Natl Med J India 2010;23:224–5

ALMOST every murder committed in Queensland during the past year was suspected to involve alcohol, crime statistics show.
It comes as police investigate a death at a park in Cairns at the weekend, which is also believed to be alcohol-related.
Homicides were up to 56 in 2009-10 compared with 49 the previous year, and only six did not involve alcohol or drugs.
The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre said Australians were among the world’s worst abusers of alcohol, with few seeking help to curb its impact on their health. Research shows almost one in five will experience problematic drinking, while 4 per cent become alcoholics. …( Source: Alcohol Reports, 01/03/11) heraldsun.com.au, 12/30/10

Want to enjoy a mimosa with Sunday morning brunch at a chic restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard?
Sorry. You have to stick with the orange juice only. That champagne bottle can’t be uncorked.
Unlike many other cities in South Florida from Miami Beach to Wilton Manors, Fort Lauderdale prohibits alcohol from being sold before noon on Sundays. Restaurateurs and bar owners are mounting an effort to change that longstanding ordinance. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 01/01/11) weblogs.sun-sentinel.com, 01/01/11 with our Online-Comments: When this law was decided, the lawmakers had the intention to prevent alcohol problems. The best measure is to rise prices, the second best to limit availability of the product. At the end the restriction on Sunday was left. From a christian point of view there are several reasons to prevent alcohol problems. Today alcohol marketing has troubled our clear view on what is necessary for our society, so every group which has a profit from alcohol sales opposes any restriction. But the people in general would have more social costs to pay and less quality of life. (an other one pending)

On New Year’s Day 2009, there were an estimated 1,980 emergency department visits involving underage drinking, compared to 546 such visits on an average day. That accounts for a staggering 263% increase according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking; this includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, 1,600 as a result of homicides, 300 from suicide, as well as hundreds from other injuries such as falls, burns, and drowning. (Source: Medical News Today, 12/31/10)

In an effort to dampen under-age drinking, Scottish Labour has urged local licensing boards to make tagging of alcohol bottles mandatory in the vulnerable areas where there is a grave problem of antisocial behavior associated with drinking.
A unique code is issued to the off licenses under the scheme using which they have to mark their bottles so that a particular store can be tracked from codes. In case of under-age people taking alcohol or there is illegal use of alcohol by an adult, the officers through the unique code can trace the seller.
There is already followed tagging scheme in Dundee on pilot basis, where it was implemented by Tayside Police. Scottish Government says that tagging alcohol bottles comes within the scope of police. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 12/28/10) topnews.us, 12/28/10

This report contains alcohol-related information collected in all twenty-three counties in Wyoming during a twelve-month time period (July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010) by the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police. Information was collected from a total of 18,863 persons who were arrested and subsequently detained in a county detention facility. The alcohol-related arrest data contained in this report provides a detailed, statistical picture of the impact of alcohol abuse on crime in Wyoming. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 12/26/10) wascop.com (pdf)

Excessive alcohol consumption has a huge hidden cost to Victorian society, Premier Ted Baillieu said today.
Visiting the Alfred Hospital Emergency and Trauma Centre with Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge, Mr Baillieu said the Coalition Government’s Operation Unite campaign to be launched this weekend will highlight the dangers of over-consumption of alcohol.
Operation Unite will stage a weekend of action by police on 17 and 18 December across Australia and New Zealand to reduce alcohol misuse and related threats to public safety and order. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 12/20/10) ausfoodnews.com, 12/20/10 our Online-Comment: It sounds nice, those words for a stressed audience. But asking for awareness is not enough. It needs an alcohol policy which implements the global alcohol strategy of the WHO (World Health Organisation) in order to reduce alcohol consumption in general. This is the duty of politicians and governments.

Alcohol Dose and Aggression: Another Reason Why Drinking More Is a Bad Idea.
Objective: Numerous studies have examined the impact of alcohol on violence; however, only a small number have addressed differences elicited by different doses of alcohol. … Results: Analyses revealed a highly significant positive linear trend between alcohol dose and aggression for both genders. Conclusions: Our data aid in clarifying a body of literature that has been afflicted with numerous limitations and will help guide the selection of alcohol doses for researchers conducting future laboratory-based aggression studies. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 12/11/10) jsad.com (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 72, 34-43, 2011)

There have been more suspensions on campus this semester than all of last year. In addition, almost all alcohol-related incidents had the alcoholic energy drink Four Loko involved.
Associate Dean of Students Michael Ginsburg said the University has had more interim suspensions this fall with a total of 14 students suspended than all of last year where only 12 students were suspended. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 12/13/10) bgnews.com, 12/12/10

Airports and airlines are making alcohol increasingly available, USA Today reported Nov. 30.
Airlines began promoting cocktails and other alcohol more heavily in the past year, according to consultant Jay Sorensen. „What’s happening is airlines are becoming better retailers of products,“ Sorensen said. „They’re doing things to highlight the fact that, ‚Yes, indeed, we do sell alcohol on the airplane.‘ They’re trying to mimic what occurs on the ground in terms of consumer promotions.“
One example includes a „happy hour“ offered by American Airlines for fliers purchasing alcohol on certain flights in the month of December. United Airlines gave passengers in its Economy Plus section free wine this past summer and now offers its own signature cocktail. … (Source: Join Together, 12/07/10) Comment: Swiss Parliament just agreed that airports may sell alcohol duty free to arriving passengers too.