ALCOHOL REPORTS

Monday, August 26, 2013

Alcohol News - 34/2013

YLE.fi (Finland) - Ministry memo: Tighter controls, higher taxes for alcohol

Finland's Ministry of Social Affairs and Health issued a memorandum on Wednesday intended as the basis for revisions to alcohol legislation. Among the measures proposed are shorter sales hours, higher taxes on alcohol, and possibly lowering the permitted alcohol content of beers, ciders and pre-mixed drinks.

ScienceNordic (Sweden) - Alcohol intoxication major risk factor for dementia

Young-onset dementia has usually been blamed on genetic causes, but a Swedish study has revealed nine other risk factors for the illness – with alcohol intoxication being the worst.

The Copenhagen Post (Denmark) - Children trained to binge drink

After newspaper reveals that nightclubs are holding 'Young Club' events that teach children drinking games, children's minister calls for a stop.

IceNews (Finland/Estonia) - Finnish alcohol purchasing helps fund Estonian cultural activities

Finns taking the short boat ride to Estonia to stock up on alcohol is helping fund Estonian cultural activities and literature, as a percentage of alcohol taxes in the nearby country is put towards culture foundations.

The Moscow Times (Russia) - Alcohol Sales Could Be Restricted to Card-Only-Payments, Report Says

A State Duma Deputy has drafted a bill that would only allow alcohol to be purchased using bank cards, a news report said Monday. "Russia remains one of the world leaders in per capita alcohol consumption," said Oleg Mikheyev in an explanatory letter accompanying the bill. Mikheyev said the measure would allow the sale of alcohol to be better controlled, hindering sales to minors, Izvestia reported.

BG News - Alcohol abuse in college can cause brain damage, memory loss

While some freshmen may look forward to drinking during college weekends, they should be aware of the damage they will be doing to their brain.

National Institutes of Health - NIH study finds chronic alcohol use shifts brain’s control of behavior

Chronic alcohol exposure leads to brain adaptations that shift behavior control away from an area of the brain involved in complex decision-making and toward a region associated with habit formation, according to a new study conducted in mice by scientists at the National Institutes of Health.

Xinhua (Netherlands) - Feature: Dutch organization fights alcoholism troubles with alcohol

A volunteer organization in Amsterdam has found a new, unorthodox method to deal with alcohol addicts causing trouble in public parks, by providing beer in exchange for cleaning public spaces.

Independent Online (South Africa) - Ministers clash over alcohol ad bill

A proposed bill banning alcohol advertising has pitted two ministers against each other, triggering the Cabinet to intervene. The low-intensity war between Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini and Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula is brewing, as the latter argues that the government may lose half a billion rand if alcohol advertising is banned, as proposed in the bill.

International Business Times (USA) - 1 Out Of 3 ER Visits Are Alcohol Related: Here’s What The Patients Drank

Nearly one-third of all emergency-room visits for injuries in the U.S. are alcohol related. And a new study has found that certain types and brands of alcohol are more likely to be implicated.

AllAfrica.com (Uganda) - Uganda: Activists Want Another Five Percent Tax On Alcohol

Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA) wants a 5% tax increase on alcohol and the proceeds set aside as a rehabilitation fund for victims of alcoholism.

Payvand (Iran) - Tehran Allows Test Run Of Alcohol Addiction Treatment Center

Tehran has issued a licence for the establishment of the city's first alcohol rehabilitation centre. ISNA reports that the head of the Public Health Department's Addiction Prevention Centre announced that the licence is for a pilot project for the treatment of alcoholics.

Irish Health (Ireland) - Concern on alcohol spend figures

Alcohol Action Ireland has called on the Government to address our harmful relationship with alcohol. The call came after Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures revealed an increase in Ireland's alcohol spend in 2012.

The Costa Rica Star (Costa Rica) - Costa Ricans Not Able To Consume Alcohol In Moderation, Study Reveals

7 out of 10 Costa Ricans believe that Ticos are not able to consume alcohol in moderation, is the conclusion of a study by Educalcohol Costa Rica, for the Escuela de Estadística de la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) – School of Statistics at the University of Costa Rica.

Southeast European Times - Alcohol a large growing problem in the region

According to a recent report, people in the EU drink 10.2 litres of alcohol per year, while the average in Serbia is even higher, 11 litres per inhabitant annually. Experts in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) warn that consumption in that country ranges from 9.6 to 40 litres, as there is no solid data. Macedonia treats only one tenth of its addicts.

Read Full Newsletter

Acute alcohol effects on subtypes of impulsivity and the role of alcohol-outcome expectancies

It is well established that alcohol acutely impairs the ability to inhibit a pre

-potent response (motor impulsivity), but its effects on cognitive impulsivity, including temporal (delayed gratification) and reflection (decision making) impulsivity, are not clear. An important factor contributing to the effects of alcohol is cognitive expectancies of alcohol-related outcomes.

The current study investigated the effect of alcohol, and alcohol outcome expectancies, on subtypes of impulsivity.

Impulsivity was tested using the Stop Signal, the Single Key Impulsivity and the Information Sampling Task for motor, temporal and reflection impulsivity, respectively. Participants (n = 48) received placebo, a low (0.4 g/kg) or high dose (0.8 g/kg) of alcohol, before completing the impulsivity measures.

Motor impulsivity was affected by alcohol dose; participants receiving a high dose displayed reduced inhibitory control. Reflection impulsivity was affected by cognitive alcohol expectancies, but not by alcohol condition; participants expecting greater cognitive and behavioural impairment by alcohol exhibited low impulsivity. Temporal impulsivity was not affected by either alcohol dose or outcome expectancies.

These data suggest that the effects of alcohol on the subtypes of impulsivity are dissociable. Motor impulsivity is sensitive to the pharmacological effects of alcohol, whereas the reflection subtype is affected by cognitive alcohol expectancies. The findings have implications for the understanding of impulsive behaviour under the influence of alcohol.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: t.duka@sussex.ac.uk

Alcohol attenuates amygdala–frontal connectivity during processing social signals in heavy social drinkers

Convergent evidence shows that alcohol exerts its effects on social behavior via modulation of amygdala reactivity to affective stimuli. Given that affective processing involves dynamic interactions between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex (PFC), alcohol’s effects are likely to extend beyond regional changes in brain activity to changes that manifest on a broader functional circuit level.

The current study examines alcohol’s effects on functional connectivity (i.e., "coupling") between the amygdala and the PFC during the processing of socio-emotional stimuli using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

In a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects cross-over design, 12 heavy, social drinkers performed an fMRI task designed to probe amygdala response to socio-emotional stimuli (angry, fearful, and happy faces) following acute ingestion of alcohol or placebo. Functional connectivity between the amygdala and PFC was examined and compared between alcohol and placebo sessions using a conventional generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI) analysis.

Relative to placebo, alcohol reduced functional coupling between the amygdala and the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) during processing of both angry and fearful faces. Alcohol also reduced functional coupling between the amygdala and left OFC during processing of happy faces.

These preliminary findings suggest that alcohol’s effects on social behavior may be mediated by alternations in functional connectivity between the amygdala and OFC during processing of emotional faces.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: klphan@uic.edu

Alcohol consumption enhances vection

We assessed changes in forward vection following alcohol consumption, and found that alcohol consumption enhanced vection. This result indicates that alcohol can affect psychophysical processes responsible for self-motion perception.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: seno@design.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Gender-Specific Gene–Environment Interaction in Alcohol Dependence: The Impact of Daily Life Events and GABRA2

Gender-moderated gene–environment interactions are rarely explored, raising concerns about inaccurate specification of etiological models and inferential errors.

The current study examined the influence of gender, negative and positive daily life events, and GABRA2 genotype (SNP rs279871) on alcohol dependence, testing two- and three-way interactions between these variables using multi-level regression models fit to data from 2,281 White participants in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism.

Significant direct effects of variables of interest were identified, as well as gender-specific moderation of genetic risk on this SNP by social experiences. Higher levels of positive life events were protective for men with the high-risk genotype, but not among men with the low-risk genotype or women, regardless of genotype.

Our findings support the disinhibition theory of alcohol dependence, suggesting that gender differences in social norms, constraints and opportunities, and behavioral undercontrol may explain men and women’s distinct patterns of association.

Read Full Abstract

Requet Reprint E-Mail: breaperry@uky.edu

Genetic and Neurophysiological Correlates of the Age of Onset of Alcohol Use Disorders in Adolescents and Young Adults

Discrete time survival analysis was used to assess the age-specific
association of event-related oscillations (EROs) and CHRM2 gene variants on the onset of regular alcohol use and alcohol dependence.
The subjects were 2,938 adolescents and young adults ages 12–25.

Results showed that the CHRM2 gene variants and ERO risk factors had hazards which varied considerably with age. The bulk of the significant age-specific associations occurred in those whose age of onset was under 16. These associations were concentrated in those subjects who at some time took an illicit drug.

These results are consistent with studies which associate greater rates of alcohol dependence among those who begin drinking at an early age.

The age specificity of the genetic and neurophysiological factors is consistent with recent studies of adolescent brain development, which locate an interval of heightened vulnerability to substance use disorders in the early to mid teens.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: chorlian@hbnl.downstate.edu

Sunday, August 25, 2013

FASD News - 33/2013

NEWS and ARTICLES

Wort.lu (Luxembourg) - 16 percent of women in Luxembourg admit to drinking alcohol during pregnancy

According to a survey carried out by the Health Ministry at the Bohler Clinic and the Maternité Grande-Duchesse Charlotte between August and October 2012, 16 percent of the polled pregnant women consumed alcohol during their pregnancy.

KCSG (USA) - Aims To Raise Awareness During FASD Month With Launch Of Free Service For Pregnant Women

It’s been 40 years since Kenneth Lyons Jones, MD, and David Smith, MD, first identified Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) after examining several children with similar traits who had all been born to chronic alcoholic mothers. Today, despite the well-documented spectrum of negative physical and mental effects alcohol can have on the developing fetus, Jones says it’s a “major public concern” that 1 in 13 women still drink alcohol during pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

StarPhoenix (Canada) - Justice system needs to address FASD

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is a "major issue" that the justice system in our province needs to face, says a University of Saskatchewan law professor.

HealthCanal.com (Australia) - Boost for research and clinical care into Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

University of Sydney researcher, Professor Elizabeth Elliott, has had critical input into the federal government's $20 million grant announced today to fund research and prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

PR Web - The Arc Reacts to New Book on Pregnancy Risks, Including Drinking Alcohol: “Why Risk It?”

As the leading organization supporting people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), The Arc is pushing back on the claims put forward in this book that could lead women to believe that light drinking during pregnancy is statistically safe.

The Herald - Alcohol and Pregnancy Advice in New Book is Flawed and Harmful

A new book, Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong-and What You Really Need to Know, misrepresents the risk of alcohol use during pregnancy by concluding that light drinking is completely safe, according to the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS).

MATERIALS and VIDEOS

CNSAAP - Essentials of … Women and Problematic Substance Use

Although the majority of women in Canada do not use substances problematically, the personal harms vary for those who do and include physical; psychological, emotional or behavioural; social; spiritual; familial; and legal consequences.

FASD Patient Education Video - Newborn Channel Version

This patient education video, produced by ACOG District II, addresses the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders FASD. The piece was picked up by the Newborn Channel, which is available in more than 1,000 hospitals across America -- including nearly 80 hospitals in New York State and reaches more than 2.5 million new mothers every year.

RESEARCH

Journal of Research and Practice in Children's Services - Canadian Children and Youth in Care: The Cost of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

The study findings can be used to demonstrate the substantial economic burden that FASD places on the child welfare system. Attention towards the needs of this population and prevention efforts to reduce FASD incidence in Canada, and other countries are urgently needed.

CDC - Key Findings: The effects of alcohol use during pregnancy and later developmental outcomes: An analysis of previous studies

The journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research has published a meta-analysis of multiple studies examining how drinking patterns of women during pregnancy (such as low-to-moderate alcohol use or binge drinking*) can affect the development of their children.

International Journal of Circumpolar Health - An Examination of the Social Determinants of Health as Factors Related to Health, Healing and Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in a Northern Context – The Brightening Our Home Fires Project, Northwest Territories, Canada

This project drew 30 participants from: Yellowknife, Lutsel ‘ke, Behchoko¨ and Ulukhaktok. These four different communities across the NT represented Dene and Inuit culture. The qualitative data analysis offered themes of importance to women’s health in the north including: land and tradition; housing; poverty; food; family; health, mental health and trauma, and travel. Photovoice provides a non-threatening way to engage in dialogue on complex health and social issues.

International Journal of Circumpolar Health - Prenatal alcohol exposure among Alaska Native/American Indian infants

Recent reports indicate a decline in rates of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) among Alaska Native and American Indian (AN/AI) infants. Nevertheless, AN/AI infants remain disproportionately impacted by the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.

Uknowledge - THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS AND THE DIAGNOSIS OF DIFFERENCE

This dissertation is based on an ethnographic study of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and the racial, cultural and political considerations that shape the meaning of diagnosis for Alaska Native individuals and families in Anchorage, Alaska.

J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol - Alcohol Consumption Among Women

Alcohol (ethanol) consumption in pregnancy is the etiology of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a leading cause of congenital disability worldwide. Hence, any attempt to prevent or manage FASD must start from comprehensive understanding of alcohol consumption by women in general, and by women of reproductive years in particular.

Alcohol - Neonatal ethanol exposure results in dose-dependent impairments in the acquisition and timing of the conditioned eyeblink response and altered cerebellar interpositus nucleus and hippocampal CA1 unit activity in adult rats

Exposure to ethanol in neonatal rats results in reduced neuronal numbers in the cerebellar cortex and deep nuclei of juvenile and adult animals. This reduction in cell numbers is correlated with impaired delay eyeblink conditioning (EBC), a simple motor learning task in which a neutral conditioned stimulus (CS; tone) is repeatedly paired with a co-terminating unconditioned stimulus (US; periorbital shock).

Pediatrics - Facial Dysmorphism Across the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Classic facial characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are shortened palpebral fissures, smooth philtrum, and thin upper vermillion. We aim to help pediatricians detect facial dysmorphism across the fetal alcohol spectrum, especially among nonsyndromal heavily exposed (HE) individuals without classic facial characteristics.

Alcoholism - Impact of Combined Prenatal Ethanol and Prenatal Stress Exposure on Anxiety and Hippocampal-Sensitive Learning in Adult Offspring

Prenatal ethanol (EtOH) and prenatal stress have both been independently shown to induce learning deficits and anxiety behavior in adult offspring. However, the interactive effects of these 2 developmental teratogens on behavioral outcomes have not been systematically evaluated.

Alcoholism - Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Results in Long-Term Serotonin Neuron Deficits in Female Rats: Modulatory Role of Ovarian Steroids

Previous studies on male rodents found that prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) decreases the number of serotonin immunoreactive (5-HT-ir) neurons in the brainstem. However, data on the effects of PAE in females are lacking.

Alcoholism - Sensory-Motor Deficits in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Assessed Using a Robotic Virtual Reality Platform

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is associated with a large number of cognitive and sensory-motor deficits. In particular, the accurate assessment of sensory-motor deficits in children with FASD is not always simple and relies on clinical assessment tools that may be coarse and subjective.

Alcoholism - Prenatal Ethanol (EtOH) Exposure Alters the Sensitivity of the Adult Dentate Gyrus to Acute EtOH Exposure

Prenatal ethanol (EtOH) exposure results in a spectrum of structural, cognitive, and behavioral abnormalities, collectively termed “fetal alcohol spectrum disorders” (FASDs).

Alcoholism - The Association of Mild, Moderate, and Binge Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Child Neuropsychological Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis

The objective of this review is to evaluate the literature on the association between mild, moderate, and binge prenatal alcohol exposure and child neurodevelopment.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Eurocare - Protecting the unborn baby from alcohol (17 September 2013)

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is the leading known cause of birth defects and developmental disorders in the EU. The event is being held in partnership with the European FASD Alliance (EUFASD).

First International Conference on Prevention of FASD (September 23-25, 2013)

The first international conference to address the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention approaches to FASD.

NOFAS - Living with FASD 12-day Teleseminar (September 9, 2013)

The purpose of this telesummit is to provide families with information about practical strategies to implement at home, based on the newest FASD research. Speakers have been specially selected because they have experience on a professional level and also have first-hand experience raising children with FASD.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES

Derwesten.de (Germany) - Soester Adoptiveltern scheitern mit Klage

Die Adoptiveltern eines alkoholgeschädigten Kindes sind mit einer Schadenersatzklage gegen die Stadt Soest vor dem Oberlandesgericht Hamm gescheitert. Die Ansprüche seien verjährt, entschied jetzt der 11. Zivilsenat.

Borgestadklinikken (Norway) - Magasin om FASD

Som ledd i vårt informasjonsarbeid om alkoholrelaterte fosterskader har vi produsert et magasin med tema FASD. Fagfolk, forskere og brukere deler kunnskap og erfaringer.

Read Full Newsletter

Sex-Specific Differences in the Development of Acute Alcohol-Induced Liver Steatosis in Mice

Results of several animal studies suggest that similar to humans, female rodents are more susceptible to chronic alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD). The aim of the present study was to determine whether female mice are more susceptible to acute alcohol-induced steatosis than male mice and to investigate possible mechanisms involved.

Male and female C57BL/6J mice received one single dose of ethanol (6 g/kg bodyweight) or isocaloric maltose-dextrin solution intragastrically. Plasma alcohol concentration, markers of hepatic steatosis, activation of the TLR-4 signaling cascade and triglyceride export as well as lipid peroxidation and of iron metabolism were measured 12 h after acute alcohol intake.

In male and female ethanol-treated mice, plasma alcohol concentrations were still markedly increased 12 h after the alcohol challenge, which was associated with a significant accumulation of lipids in the liver and increase of transaminases in plasma; however, lipid accumulation was ∼3-fold higher in females in comparison with male animals. Expression of MyD88 was only found to be significantly induced in livers of female alcohol-exposed mice, whereas protein levels of ApoB were found to be significantly lower only in livers of female mice exposed to ethanol. Levels of 4-HNE protein adducts and ferritin were induced in livers of male and female ethanol-treated mice.

Taken together, these data suggest that female mice are also more susceptible to acute alcohol-induced liver steatosis and that this involves an increased activation of TLR-4-dependent signaling pathways in the liver.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: ina.bergheim@uni-jena.de

Biochemical Predictors of Delirium Tremens in Patients in Alcohol Withdrawal

To study whether routine blood parameters in patients with alcohol syndrome predict the risk of developing delirium tremens.

Biochemical parameters were collected and analysed in 212 patients attending a psychiatry department for inpatient alcohol detoxification treatment.

Differences between those who did, and did not, develop delirium were observed in baseline platelet count , total leucocyte count , red cell distribution width , serum bilirubin , aspirate amino transferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) . Baseline platelet count predicted the development of delirium.

Baseline platelet count was an independent risk factor for delirium tremens. Serum AST and total WBC count , although not significant as independent risk factors, showed high specificity and predictive value in conjunction with low platelet count and/or previous history of delirium tremens. A normal baseline platelet count nearly rules out development of delirium tremens in patients with alcohol withdrawal in this population.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: devavrat.harshe@gmail.com

Blood Ethanol Levels of Nonabstinent Japanese Alcoholic Men in the Morning After Drinking and Their ADH1B and ALDH2 Genotypes

Genetic polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B, rs1229984) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2, rs671) affect ethanol (EtOH) metabolism and susceptibility to alcoholism.

We evaluated associations between ADH1B/ALDH2 genotypes and the blood EtOH levels of 805 Japanese alcoholic men in the morning after they had drunk within the previous 34 h.

Age-adjusted usual alcohol consumption did not differ according to ADH1B/ALDH2 genotypes. Higher blood EtOH levels persisted for longer periods in the ADH1B*1/*1 carriers (n = 246) than in the ADH1B*2 carriers (n = 559). Blood EtOH levels did not differ by ALDH2 genotype. The blood EtOH levels ≥0.3 mg/ml (criterion for drunk driving in Japanese law) were observed (40% vs. 14–17%, P < 0.0001) in a higher proportion of the ADH1B*1/*1 carriers than of the ADH1B*2 carriers after a 12.1-to-18-h interval since the last drink. Multivariate analyses showed that the EtOH levels heightened by 0.500 mg/ml in the presence of ADH1B*1*1 and by 0.248 mg/ml in the presence of cirrhosis, and lowered by 0.120 mg/ml per 10-year age increase, by 0.087 mg/ml per 10-kg body-weight increase and by 0.673 mg/ml per 10-h interval since the last drink. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for an EtOH level ≥0.3 mg/ml was 3.44 (2.34–5.04) in the presence of ADH1B*1/*1, 2.01 (1.28–3.14) in the presence of cirrhosis, 0.59 (0.49–0.71) per 10-year age increase, 0.80 (0.68–0.95) per 10-kg body-weight increase and 0.10 (0.07–0.15) per 10-h interval since the last drink.

The longer-than-expected EtOH lingering in the blood of the ADH1B*1/*1 alcoholics may exacerbate alcohol-related problems, including drunk driving.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: a_yokoyama@kurihama1.hosp.go.jp

Saturday, August 24, 2013

'Making recovery a reality through integrated mental health, drug and alcohol services'

A recent briefing on mental health, drug and alcohol services urges commissioners to tackle the poorly integrated support received by those with overlapping substance misuse and mental health needs, or 'dual diagnosis'.

The two page report was produced by The Centre for Mental Health, Drugscope and Alcohol Concern.

The briefing explores the idea of 'recovery', the new commissioning landscape and opportunities for improving services. It highlights five recommended actions:

First, that health and wellbeing boards should include people with both mental health conditions and substance misuse problems in joint strategic needs assessments.
Second, that joint health and wellbeing strategies should focus on the groups whose needs are least well met.
Third, that health and wellbeing boards should nominate a 'recovery lead' to build up local partnerships to support neglected groups of people.
Fourth, that clinical commissioning groups and directors of public health should ensure they jointly commission integrated support for people with overlapping mental health and substance use problems.
And finally that both sets of services focus on helping people to achieve recovery on their own terms. > > > > Read More

Critique 121: Differences between wine and other alcoholic beverages in terms of adverse consequences of alcohol consumption

The present study was based on questionnaire data related to alcohol intake that were obtained from just over one half of military conscripts from the general population who were invited to participate. Their average age was just over 19 years. “Risky single occasion drinking” (RSOD) was defined as consuming at least six standard drinks (10-12 g of alcohol/drink), and “At risk RSOD” was defined as risky drinking episodes at least once a month. Beverage preference was based on reporting that 2/3rds or more of the total intake of a subject came from one type of beverage. The intake of apertifs, alcopops, beer pops, wine pops, chillers, and coolers were all classified as “other preferences.” Overall, 31.7% preferred beer, 5.4% preferred wine, and 11.5% had “other preferences.”

Only 0.3% of subjects reported an average intake of > 21 drinks/week. Hence, these young subjects were primarily light drinkers or “binge” drinkers.

Many previous studies have shown healthier outcomes associated with the consumption of wine than of other alcoholic beverages. Such beneficial effects are generally attributed both to the polyphenols and other constituents of wine, other than alcohol, as well as to the drinking pattern and more moderate other lifestyle factors of wine consumers. > > > > Read More