Vol. 21 No. 4 November 2007 This month saw the launch of the Alcohol Health The recently published World Alliance, a group that will lobby in the UK with the Cancer Fund report is reviewed aim of reducing alcohol related harm through higher on pages 15-19, with an analysis taxation, limiting hours of sale and restricting or by R. Curtis Ellison. banning alcohol advertising. Following the launch of Harvey Finkel’s article asks ‘Do Drinkaware, and other governement initiatives this we need alcohol in our wine?’ year, and at a time when excessive drinking statistics and Creina Stockley reviews the appear to be falling, our lead article questions why new Australian alcohol guidelines the group is being formed now. issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Contents (Click on an item/ page no. to be taken directly to your choice of article) News from around the world 2 ◊ US impaired driving still common amongst Lead article: Alcohol Health Alliance - high school seniors 12 why now? by Helena Conibear 3 ◊ Miller publish ‘Sustainable Development Report’ 12 Social and Policy News 5 ◊ Delaware forms underage drinking task force 13 ◊ Alcohol Health Alliance launched in UK 5 ◊ US designated driver study 13 ◊ The Lancet calls for a framework convention on alcohol control 5 Diet, drinking, lifestyle and cancer risk - a comprehensive review 15 ◊ Ofcom and ASA publish research on the impact of alcohol advertising rules 6 Commentary on World Cancer Fund report by R. Curtis Ellison 17 ◊ UK industry standards review 7 Food, nutrition, physical activity, and the ◊ Diageo responsibility advertising in UK 7 prevention of cancer: a global perspective 17 ◊ Don’t let a good night turn into a bad one 7 Do we need the alcohol in our wine? by ◊ First Alcohol Awareness week in Scotland 8 Harvey E. Finkel, MD 20 ◊ Call for research into attitudes to alcohol in Review of the National Health and Medical Scotland 9 Research Council’s Australian Alcohol Guidelines by Creina Stockley 21 ◊ Alcohol and sport drinkaware.ie guide 9 ◊ European Alcohol and Health Forum Medical News - next steps 10 ◊ Does moderate drinking lower risk of heart ◊ New film competition to explores Irish failure? 15 attitudes to alcohol 10 ◊ Moderate alcohol consumption make be ◊ Pernod Ricard USA launch social beneficial for lung function 19 responsibility campaign 10 ◊ Abstracts related to alcohol consumption from ◊ Canadian campaign to encourage students the scientific sessions of the American Heart to drink responsibly 11 Association 22 ◊ New road laws in Ontario affect drink International Medical Advisory Group Conference 26 drivers 11 Book Review - ‘Addiction Proof Your Child’ by ◊ ‘Saving Faces’ research into binge drinking 11 Dr Stanton Peele 26 www.aim-digest.com www.drinkingandyou.com NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Australia Ukraine AIM Digest PO Box 2282 The New South Wales Government A drinks trade body in Ukraine BATH, BA1 2QY, UK says it will spend an extra $3.6 has proposed a minimum price for T: +44 (0)1225 471444 million to reduce alcohol-related F: +44 (0)1225 427444 vodka in the country, according to crime as it implements its new local reports. E: [email protected] liquor laws. Web sites: www.aim-digest.com The Union of Alcohol and Tobacco www.drinkingandyou.com The laws will allow more small Wholesalers (SOVAT) has proposed Annual Subscription to AIM: venues to operate, but also provide to the Ukrainian government that GBP £ 600- greater legal powers to deal with it introduce a floor of UAH11.15 USD $1,200- problem venues and increase Euro 900- (US$) per half-litre bottle of vodka penalties for providing alcohol to Corporate Sponsorship Level: in the country. minors. Silver GBP 1,500- The association set the price The state’s Gaming and Racing USD $3,000- for vodka with an abv of 40% Euro 2,300- Minister, Graham West, says minimum. Gold GBP £3,000- the laws will be complemented USD $5,000- by education campaigns about A ‘lowest price’ for spirits had been Euro 4,500- responsible drinking and better in effect in Ukraine up until 2005, Platinum level available on request. late night transport schemes to get the agency said, although this was Please contact Sherry.Webster@aim- patrons home safely. West says the disbanded “to harmonise a domestic digest.com for information about AIM’s sponsorship levels. laws can only be put into practice legal framework in line with WTO requirements”. Please make cheques/drafts in British with the help of the community. pounds sterling, dollars or Euros payable “Where we need to be continually A minimum price for vodka would to AIM Digest at the above address working is the responsible stem the rise of counterfeit and consumption of alcohol,” he said. illegally-made versions of the spirit, Peter Duff – Chairman, T: +44 (0)1225 471444 “That’s not something the SOVAT has suggested. E: [email protected] Government can do alone, it’s The proposal has received the Helena Conibear – Executive Director, something we’ve got to do working backing of the country’s Ministry T: +44 (0)1300 341601 with the community and with of Agricultural Policy, which has E: [email protected] things like local liquor accords. But drawn up a draft law setting a Alison Rees - Deputy Editor also with this money we can help lowest retail value for all spirits in E: [email protected] educate young people, especially the Ukraine of UAH46.63 per litre Sherry Webster – Finance and around some of the dangers of Administration Director of 100% abv equivalent. excessive alcohol consumption T: +44 (0)1225 471444 E: [email protected] and encourage them to keep our community safe.” The publisher takes reasonable care to New Zealand ensure the accuracy of quotations and other information contained herein, but is not Alcohol-related antisocial behaviour The liquor ban from Christmas to responsible for any errors or omissions. on the Mahurangi Peninsula in Easter was passed at the first full Opinions and recommendations quoted New Zealand has resulted in many herein are usually excerpted, digested or public meeting of the new Rodney condensed, may be edited for continuity, popular beaches and holiday spots District Council. It was supported and are only part of the opinions and introducing an overnight summer by a 1027-signature petition from recommendations expressed in the original sources, which should be consulted for alcohol ban. Mahurangi residents following a details. rise in reported public disorder © AIM Digest 2001. All rights reserved. incidents between Christmas and Material may be reproduced with Easter during the past four years. attribution to AIM. Published by: AIM Digest, PO Box 2282, BATH, BA1 2QY. AIM DIGEST PAGE LEAD ARTICLE Alcohol Health Alliance - why now? by Helena Conibear, Executive Director, AIM The Alcohol Health Alliance a made in server training, and are drinking moderately however, group of 24 bodies, that includes banning drunken and rowdy and nearly 50% of 11–15 year olds medical associations and charities customers via Pubwatch and public now do not drink at all (up from such as Alcohol Concern and The private partnerships to improve 35% in 1994) - a promising start. British Liver Trust, was launched on the environment and street safety The health ramifications of the the 13th November. The Alliance (Citisafe and Best Bar none), growth in heavy drinking in the will serve as a lobbying group with coupled with on the spot fines, 1980’s and 90’s, particularly among the aim of reducing alcohol related stricter laws and more diligent young women will continue to harm in the UK through higher policing. Similarly selling to under be seen for a number of years. taxation, limiting hours of sale age drinkers by all sectors of the Experts believe that heavy drinking, and restricting or banning alcohol trade has reduced dramatically combined with an increase in advertising. The launch of the through ‘Challenge 21’ and the obesity in this period, will lead to Alliance is considered surprising formation of the Retail Standards a continued growth in incidence of in the light of the formation of the Group in 2005. As a result, those fatty liver and cirrhosis, not always pioneering Drinkaware Trust last underage are buying and drinking attributable to alcohol. year. Both Alcohol Concern and less. Designated driver campaigns The Royal College of Physicians are More to be done Trustees of this public facing body An area that remains of concern, is whose role, with industry funding Although trends are in the right the number of breath test failures is specifically to reduce alcohol direction, much of the work in which has remained largely static related harm. reducing public drunkenness and at approximately 84,000 a year disorder has been ‘preventative’ – since 1992. As a percentage of The government has also whether getting drunk as a legitimate undertaken to comprehensively the population, convictions have and aspirational social pastime has dropped (there has been a 3 million review the pricing advertising and decreased in attractiveness in the promotion of alcoholic drinks population growth in that time) but UK is debatable, and although there inspite of ‘repeat offenders’, perhaps in the UK in a systematic and is much more information available evidence based manner (contracted the time is right for a powerful ‘don’t for consumers on responsible drink and drive’ initiative combined this November). With these steps drinking via labels, websites, school and the programmes laid out in with more designated driver and and college projects, more can be safe ride home programmes. ‘Safe. Social. Sensible’ that show a done, especially in the retail, school proactive and active Alcohol Harm Drinking and driving must remain and college sector.