Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Monday, August 20, 2012

Alcohol News - 34/2012

Addiction (Finland) - Living in proximity of a bar and risky alcohol behaviours: A longitudinal study
Moving place of residence close to or far from a bar appears to be associated with a small corresponding increase or decrease in risky alcohol behaviour.
Sverige Radio (Sweden) - Government split over home alcohol delivery
Three out of the four parties in the Swedish center-right government coalition would like to allow the state liquor monopoly to take online orders and make home deliveries. But one party says no.
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health (Norway) - Alcohol-related hospital admissions: Missed opportunities for follow up? A focus group study about general practitioners’ experiences
Hospital admittances provide important opportunities for change, but hospital care is seen as fragmented and poorly communicated to the GPs. For shared responsibility and follow up, all participating agents, including the patient, must be sufficiently informed about what has happened and what will follow.
Baku Today (Latvia) - Residents of Latvia to pass the “points” on trade in alcohol
Within two months of inhabitants of Latvia have taken an active part in the creation of an interactive map “dots”, which is the illegal trade in alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs. This result was obtained after each was able to announce on Latvian site of State police www.vp.gov.lv on places where illegally selling alcohol, cigarettes or drugs. Such anonymous messages automatically sent to those residents police stations on the territory of these addresses. During this time, the map was 1007 sites with “points”.
Unity (Latvia) - Saeima to discuss alcohol consumption restriction among young people
Deputies of the Saeima Social and Labour Issues Commission and Defenсe, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee will gather on a joint meeting on Wednesday, August 22, to discuss the work group’s proposals on alcohol consumption restrictions among young people.
Gallup.com (USA) - Majority in U.S. Drink Alcohol, Averaging Four Drinks a Week
Americans' drinking habits held steady in the past year, with 66% saying they consume alcohol and drinkers consuming just over four alcoholic drinks per week, on average. Beer continues to be Americans' preferred drink, although wine remains a close second, with liquor favored by 22%.
Telegraph.co.uk - Study shows marriage stops men drinking – as their wives hit the bottle instead
Far from encouraging men to patronise a local pub to escape from domestic duties, marriage actively reduces their alcohol intake, according to research being presented at the American Sociological Association today.
Daily Mail - Alcohol mixed with energy drinks can raise risk of heart problems and other conditions
Youngsters who mix alcohol with energy drinks risk heart palpitations and disturbed sleep, researchers warn. A study found that the highly-caffeinated drinks used by millions to make them extra-alert on a night out raised the odds of a range of health problems.
Retford Today (UK) - Poor areas 'hit harder by alcohol'
Poorer communities have substantially higher levels of alcohol-related ill health, anti-social behaviour and premature deaths than their wealthier neighbours, research has suggested.
Medical Xpress - Both early alcohol use and early intoxication can herald trouble for college students
An early age at first drink (AFD) has been linked to later alcohol-related problems, which is one of the reasons behind the legal drinking age of 21 in the U.S. It is unclear, however, if increased risk is primarily due to initiation of any drinking, or initiation of heavier drinking.
MedPage Today - When Mom Boozes, Baby Has Effects for Years
The effects on growth and body composition of heavy prenatal exposure to alcohol are largely determined at birth and persist at least until age 9, researchers reported.
Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - MPs want to keep alcohol age at 18
Parliament is expected to vote on parts of the Alcohol Reform Bill next week, and MPs will have a conscience vote on whether to keep the purchase age at 18, move it back up to 20, or split the age to 18 for on-license venues such as bars and restaurants and 20 for off-licenses such as supermarkets and bottle stores.
Decoded Science - Age at First Drink: A Measure of Impending Problems
Teens may see experimenting with alcohol as a rite of passage to adulthood, but research by Dr. Meghan Rabbitt Morean of Yale University demonstrates that the age at which the experimentation occurs may make a big difference in the life of a young person.
Voxy (New Zealand) - Alcohol interlocks a step forward in drink driving battle
Associate Minister of Transport Simon Bridges launched the devices at Parliament today and, from September, judges will have the option to sentence a repeat drink driver or anyone caught at double the legal blood alcohol limit to have an alcohol interlock installed in their car.
ABC Online (Australia) - Alcohol plain labels needed, but lobby too powerful: campaigner
The Federal Government has finally won its battle for plain packaging on cigarettes. So host Jon Faine wants to know, why not alcohol? Rob Moodie is the Professor of Public Health at the Melbourne School of Population Health. He says the public needs to be pushed towards safer products, and wants tighter regulation of alcholic content as well as alcohol labelling and marketing.
GoodTherapy.org - New Study Explores Ways to Motivate the Unmotivated Problem Drinker
Alcohol dependency is increasing across the globe. The physical consequences of problem drinking are well known. And the relational and psychological damage that alcohol addiction causes are those that affect entire families.
AsiaOne (South Korea) - Korea counts the cost of cheap alcohol
Binge-drinking in Korea was once viewed as a relatively harmless deviation among the nation's workaholics, but its burden on public money and social capital is starting to prompt action.
TheChronicleHerald.ca - Alcohol consumption may be election issue
Nova Scotia’s chief public health officer has been quite outspoken about the province’s problems with binge drinking, its common pairing with violence in Halifax’s downtown and its link to cases coming into the emergency room on weekend nights.
Bloomberg (US) - Drivers Twice Limit Involved In Most Drunk-Driving Deaths
Most drunk drivers causing fatal crashes in the U.S. have consumed about twice as much alcohol as laws allow, the top U.S. auto-safety regulator said.
Otago Daily Times - Booze worse than legal highs - health experts
Health professionals have told the Government that allowing the sale of alcohol while ruling out potentially less-damaging "legal highs" is farcical.