www.alkoholpolitik.ch

16-year-olds can currently buy beer and wine in stores, but must wait until they are 18 to be served in bars.
In an Opinion poll of 1,126 Danes conducted for Retail Institute Scandinavia, 73 percent said it was “a good idea” or “a very good idea” to forbid the sale of alcohol to individuals under 18.
Sharing that opinion was the health minister, Astrid Krag of the Socialistisk Folkeparti (SF).
“Danes’ high alcohol consumption is to blame for poor health and a lower life span, and especially among the younger population we have a problem that we must tackle,” Krag said to Berlingske newspaper. “Therefore, I’m happy to the see the opinion results and I believe that the age limit is one of the things we should adjust.” … (Source: Alcohol Reports – News, 01/09/12) theCopenhagenpost, 01/06/12

Headline: Alcohol and Non-Communicable Diseases
Also in this issue:
Action needed to reduce health impact of harmful alcohol use
UK Government proposes deal with drinks industry to tackle alcohol harm
EU Focus on Alcohol and Cancer
Liver experts’ consensus: European citizens are drinking themselves to death
Medical Evidence ‘Shows Drinking Age Should Be 21’ …
(Source: ias.org.uk

The government is planning to raise the drinking age to 21, up from 18 years. The law also restricts sale of alcohol in supermarkets and other public premises.
Even Nacada is not clear on what happens on November 27 when the law is expected to come into effect.
The new law on alcoholic drinks, expected to come into effect next weekend, will be implemented in nine months but some aspects take immediate effect.
The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Authority (Nacada) says the renewal or issuance of new liquor licences has been put on hold until the new Act comes into effect. Reacting to media reports last week claiming there was uncertainty and confusion on effecting of the new law, Nacada — in a Sunday advertisement — says the government will give the sector a transition period of nine months to adapt to the new law. The law will become effective as soon as the implementation date is gazetted by the Minister for Internal Security. (Source: Alcohol Report, 11/16/10) Daily Nation, 11/15/10

The South Dakota House Commerce Committee rejected a bill that would have lowered the state’s legal drinking age from 21 to 19, the Associated Press reported Feb. 22.
The measure went down to defeat on a 10-3 vote. Bill sponsor Rep. Tim Rounds had proposed allowing 19-year-olds to drink in certain clubs where only beer was sold, saying the measure would provide a controlled environment for young drinkers and cut down on drunk driving. (Source: Join Together, 2/23/10)

A new study finds that adults who legally were able to purchase alcohol before the age of 21 in their states are more likely than others are to be alcoholics or addicted to drugs. Researchers are not certain how to explain the difference, but it is possible that a higher drinking age could cut back on the intensity of alcohol use before the age of 21, said lead study author Karen Norberg, M.D., a research instructor in psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis. (Source: Medical News Today, 9/19/09)