www.alkoholpolitik.ch

Karin Keller-Sutter, Präsidentin der Polizeidirektoren, fordert eine Festnahme-Einheit gegen Hooligans
Im Letzigrund randalieren FCB-Chaoten, YB-Schläger greifen in Ostermundigen einen Zug an. Was sagen Sie als Präsidentin der kantonalen Polizeidirektoren (KKJPD) zu diesen Gewaltausbrüchen?
Ich finde diese Entwicklung unsäglich. Ich bin aber auch nicht überrascht. Die Klubs haben diese Szene aufkommen lassen, zum Teil sogar gepflegt. Sie freuten sich daran, dass die Fankurven für Stimmung sorgten. Als die Szene gewalttätig wurde, hiess es plötzlich: Das ist ein gesellschaftliches Problem, das muss der Staat lösen. Was kann man tun? … (Quelle: Sonntagszeitung, 15.5.11) Kommentar: Im ganzen Interview keine Silbe über Alkohol. Dafür über millionenschwere Aufstockungen der Polizeistellen. Das ist FDP-Sicht. Den Profit der Industrie, die Schäden für Staat und Bevölkerung, unter dem Deckmäntelchen der Selbstverantwortung.

Nach schweren Übergriffen in Berliner Bahnhöfen fordert CDU-Chef Frank Henkel ein absolutes Alkoholverbot im öffentlichen Nahverkehr. Der Berliner Fahrgastverband Igeb begrüßt den Vorschlag, die BVG zeigt sich offen.
BVG-Sprecherin Petra Reetz sagt, in Bussen und Bahnen gelte ein solches Alkoholverbot faktisch schon seit Jahren – möglicherweise soll es auf Bahnhöfe ausgedehnt werden. … (Quelle: Google Alkohol News, 16.5.11) morgenpost.de, 15.5.11 Kommentar: Warum ist die CDU nicht auch auf Bundesebene am Thema Alkohol interessiert, wo sie die Macht hat, Lösungen durchzubringen?

Mit einer ungewöhnlichen Aktion begeht das Sozialberatungszentrum Hochdorf/Sursee die Dialogwoche Alkohol, die vom 21. bis 29. Mai stattfindet: In Sursee werden Jugendliche in die Kunst des Bierbrauens eingeführt.
«Sie sollen erkennen, wie viel Wissen und Aufwand sich hinter dem fertigen Produkt verbirgt», erklärt Projektleiterin Christina Hierzer. Zudem würden die Auswirkungen des Trinkens thematisiert. In einem Monat schliesslich wird der Gerstensaft zusammen mit den Eltern degustiert. www.ich-spreche-über-alkohol.ch (Quelle: 20minuten Online.ch, 12.5.11) Kommentar: Dass dieses Heranführen an einen verantwortungsbewussten Umgang mit Alkohol nicht funktioniert, hat erst kürzliche eine Studie bewiesen. Noch immer gilt: Die beste Methode ist, die Kinder so lange wie möglich vom Alkohol fernzuhalten. Eine Andere Veranstaltung dieser Aktionswoche findet in einer Schnapsfirma statt. Die Alkoholindustrie freut es. Sie kann ihr Image aufpolieren. Wer die entsprechenden Zahlen kennt, weiss, dass sie dies dringend nötig hat. Der Bund hilft dabei. Dieses Sozialberatungszentrum sollte sich verkriechen.

Seit 1997 koordiniert RADIX im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Gesundheit und Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz das Schweizerische Netzwerk Gesundheitsfördernder Schulen. Dieses umfasst aktuell 16 kantonale und 2 sprachregionale Netzwerke mit 1000 Schulen. Die 1000. Schule ist die erste Schule aus dem Kanton Uri, die Kreisprimarschule Seedorf-Bauen. (Quelle: radix, 12.5.11)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed new regulations for nationwide menu labeling for restaurants. That’s a good thing. However, as currently proposed, alcoholic beverages are exempted. That is not a good thing.
Over-consumption of calories and poor nutrition is a serious public health problem. Alcoholic beverages are a significant source of calories in the American diet. Currently, drinkers have no way of knowing how many calories are in what they’re consuming.
With such information prominently displayed for all menu items, consumers can make better choices that can improve their health rather than harm it.
Please join Marin Institute and other concerned organizations and individuals in telling the FDA to require that restaurants inform customers of the caloric content of alcoholic beverages.
For more information and to read Marin Institute’s talking points: http://www.marininstitute.org/site/blog/38-blog-entries/629-tell-fda.html

e.g.: The City of Tampere (Finland) – Tampere campaigns against supplying alcohol to minors
The City of Tampere has launched a campaign to make an appeal to its inhabitants in order to end the supply of alcohol to minors. All retail shops in Tampere selling alcoholic beverages will feature posters, cards and shopping basket advertising on the topic.
Irish Independent (Ireland) – Alcohol to blame for rise in liver problems
GROWING numbers of people are developing liver disease in their 20s and 30s because of heavy boozing, according to new research. etc. Source: Alcohol Reports, 5/09/11)

School prevention programs aimed at curbing alcohol misuse in children are somewhat helpful, enough so to deserve consideration for widespread use, according to a large, international systematic review.
The most significant program effects were reductions in episodes of drunkenness and binge drinking, reviewers found.
„School-based prevention programs that take a social skills-oriented approach or that focus on classroom behavior management can work to reduce alcohol problems in young people,“ said David Foxcroft, lead review author. „However, there is good evidence that these sorts of approaches are not always effective.“ … (Source: Medical News Today, 5/11/11)

Mark Hunter, chief executive of Britain’s largest brewer Molson Corrs, has suggested an ‚alcohol minister‘ should be considered to lead on a more cohesive alcohol strategy, including further action on price and taxation. Writing in the Morning Advertiser, Hunter criticised elements of current alcohol policy as dis-jointed, citing curbs on the promotion of lower strength products. Current advertising codes mean that brand owners cannot promote reduced strength drinks, which Hunter argues undermines policy to promote these through reduced taxation.
Hunter said he was „baffled“ by „policy decisions, such as the 7.2% duty rise on beer, that seem entirely disconnected from the alcohol responsibility and economic growth strategies emerging from Government.“ He spoke out against a policy that will continue to see the beer and pub trade decline further, depsite its vital role in providing as much as one million jobs:…
„… the most dramatic change in UK drinking behaviour over the past 30 years has been the systematic decline of beer from a 70% share of alcohol to 40%, while higher strength drinks have prospered supported by one of the most lenient tax environments, relative to beer, in the world (spirits tax up circa 15% since 1995).“ (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 5/09/11) Alcohol Reports, 5/9/11

Teenagers who drink alcohol spend more time on their computers for recreational use, including social networking and downloading and listening to music, compared with their peers who don’t drink.
Results of an anonymous survey of 264 teenagers were reported in the online edition of the journal Addictive Behaviors in a study authored by Weill Cornell Medical College public health researcher Dr. Jennifer Epstein.
„While the specific factors linking teenage drinking and computer use are not yet established, it seems likely that adolescents are experimenting with drinking and activities on the Internet. In turn, exposure to online material such as alcohol advertising or alcohol-using peers on social networking sites could reinforce teens‘ drinking,“ says Dr. Epstein, assistant professor of public health at Weill Cornell Medical College. „Children are being exposed to computers and the Internet at younger ages. For this reason it’s important that parents are actively involved in monitoring their children’s computer usage, as well as alcohol use. … (Source: Medical News Today, 5/10/11

Efforts by alcoholic beverage makers to boost sales by appealing to younger drinkers contribute to drinking patterns that are harmful to health, said experts at a panel discussion on “Alcohol, Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases and Public Health,” held this week at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
While alcoholic beverage makers say their ads are aimed only at consumers who are at or over the legal purchase age, research shows that viewing of alcohol ads by under-age youths has increased by nearly 70 percent over the past decade, said David Jernigan, associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 5/9/11)