False-Positive Meconium Test Results for Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters Secondary to Delayed Sample Collection

Meconium analysis for fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) is a validated method for identifying heavy prenatal ethanol (EtOH) exposure. This study investigated whether delayed sample collection can result in false-positive test results for FAEEs because of collection of samples potentially contaminated with postnatally produced stool.

Serial excretions were prospectively collected from neonates born to nondrinking mothers to capture the transition from meconium to postnatal stool. These were analyzed for FAEEs using headspace-solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Experiments involving incubation of samples with glucose or EtOH were performed to explore a potential mechanism of FAEE elevation.

A total of 136 samples were collected from 30 neonates during their first few days of life (median of 4 samples/baby over a mean period of 68.5 hours postpartum). Although the first-collected meconium sample tested negative for FAEEs in all babies, later samples tested above the 2 nmol/g positive cutoff in 19 of 30 babies. Median time to appearance of FAEE-positive samples was 59.2 hours postpartum. In vitro experiments demonstrated that FAEE levels can be further increased in late samples (likely containing postnatal stool) after incubation with glucose, and that FAEEs are readily formed in meconium in the presence of EtOH.

Collection of samples excreted later in the postpartum period can lead to false-positive test results for FAEEs, which could be because of contamination with dietary components of postnatally produced stool and EtOH-producing microorganisms. Clinically, it is critical to collect the earliest possible excretion for determination of FAEEs to ensure that the FAEE content is representative of in utero EtOH exposure.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: gkoren@sickkids.ca

Forecasting the Effect of the Amethyst Initiative on College Drinking

A number of college presidents have endorsed the Amethyst Initiative, a call to consider lowering the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA). Our objective is to forecast the effect of the Amethyst Initiative on college drinking.

A system model of college drinking simulates MLDA changes through (i) a decrease in heavy episodic drinking (HED) because of the lower likelihood of students drinking in unsupervised settings where they model irresponsible drinking (misperception), and (ii) an increase in overall drinking among currently underage students because of increased social availability of alcohol (wetness).

For the proportion of HEDs on campus, effects of large decreases in misperception of responsible drinking behavior were more than offset by modest increases in wetness.

For the effect of lowering the MLDA, it appears that increases in social availability of alcohol have a stronger impact on drinking behavior than decreases in misperceptions.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: bfitzpatrick@lmu.edu

Nucleus Accumbens mGluR5-Associated Signaling Regulates Binge Alcohol Drinking Under Drinking-in-the-Dark Procedures

Alcohol increases the expression of Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and their associated scaffolding protein Homer2 and stimulates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) within the nucleus accumbens (NAC). Moreover, functional studies suggest that NAC Group 1 mGluR/Homer2/PI3K signaling may be a potential target for pharmacotherapeutic intervention in alcoholism.

Immunoblotting was conducted to examine the effects of alcohol consumption under drinking-in-the-dark (DID) procedures on Group 1 mGluR-associated proteins in C57BL/6J (B6) mice. Follow-up behavioral studies examined the importance of Group 1 mGluR/Homer2/PI3K signaling within the NAC shell for limited-access alcohol drinking. Finally, immunoblotting examined whether the NAC expression of Group 1 mGluR-associated proteins is a genetic correlate of high alcohol drinking using a selectively bred high DID (HDID-1) mouse line.

Limited-access alcohol drinking under DID procedures up-regulated NAC shell Homer2 levels, concomitant with increases in mGluR5 and NR2B. Intra-NAC shell blockade of mGluR5, Homer2, or PI3K signaling, as well as transgenic disruption of the Homer binding site on mGluR5, decreased alcohol consumption in B6 mice. Moreover, transgenic disruption of the Homer binding site on mGluR5 and Homer2 deletion both prevented the attenuating effect of mGluR5 and PI3K blockade upon intake. Finally, the basal NAC shell protein expression of mGluR1 and Homer2 was increased in offspring of HDID-1 animals.

Taken together, these data further implicate Group 1 mGluR signaling through Homer2 within the NAC in excessive alcohol consumption.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: szumlinski@psych.ucsb.edu

Behavioral and Neurotransmitter Specific Roles for the Ventral Tegmental Area in Reinforcer-Seeking and Intake

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a pivotal relay site within the reinforcement circuit that has been shown to play a role in ethanol (EtOH)-motivated behaviors. The primary dopamine projections within this system originate in the VTA and innervate several areas including the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), and the PFC has afferent glutamate projections to the VTA and the NAc. The following studies utilized 2 different operant paradigms, one focusing on reinforcer-seeking and the other on reinforcer drinking (both with an EtOH and a sucrose reinforcer solution), to elucidate regulation of these behaviors by the posterior VTA, and the specific roles of dopamine and glutamate in this region.

The present experiments assessed the effects of microinjections of the glutamate (AMPA/kainate) antagonist CNQX and the dopamine D1-like antagonist SCH23390 in the posterior VTA, as well as transient chemical inactivation of this region using tetrodotoxin (TTX). In 4 separate experiments (2 dopamine, 2 glutamate, both with TTX), male Long Evans rats were trained to complete a single response requirement that resulted in access to 10% EtOH or 2% sucrose for a 20-minute drinking period.

Prior to microinjections, EtOH-reinforced subjects were consuming approximately 0.45 to 0.65 g/kg EtOH and making approximately 50 responses during intermittent nonreinforced artificial cerebrospinal fluid sessions (Sucrose groups had similar baseline response levels). Overall, TTX inactivation of the VTA consistently decreased reinforcer-seeking but not intake in all experiments. CNQX also dose-dependently decreased EtOH-seeking, with no significant effect on sucrose-seeking or reinforcer intake. SCH23390 had no significant effects on reinforcer-seeking, and very moderately decreased intake of both EtOH and sucrose.

Inactivation of the posterior VTA implicated this region in reinforcer-seeking as opposed to reinforcer intake. Overall, the present findings provide support for the importance of posterior VTA glutamate activity specifically in EtOH-seeking behavior in animals consuming pharmacologically relevant amounts of EtOH.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: cczachow@iupui.edu

The Impairing Effect of Acute Ethanol on Spreading Depression is Antagonized by Astaxanthin in Rats of 2 Young-Adult Ages

Ethanol (EtOH) abuse and insufficient ingestion of antioxidants are external factors that can alter brain electrophysiology. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the excitability-related brain electrophysiological phenomenon known as cortical spreading depression (CSD) was facilitated by chronic EtOH intake, and chronic treatment with carotenoids attenuated this effect. Here, we investigated the acute effect of a single EtOH administration on CSD in young and adult rats previously (1 hour) treated with 10 μg/kg of astaxanthin.

Male Wistar rats (5 young- and 5 adult groups, 60 to 80 and 150 to 180 days of age, respectively) were treated by 2 gavage procedures at 1-hour interval as follows: groups 1 and 2 received astaxanthin in gavage I combined with EtOH (group 1) or water (group 2) in gavage II; groups 3 and 4 received olive oil (the vehicle in which astaxanthin was dissolved) in gavage I combined with EtOH (group 3) or water (group 4) in gavage II; group 5 received water in gavage I combined with EtOH in gavage II. CSD was recorded on the cortical surface for 4 hours.

Compared to the respective water and oil controls (groups 2 and 4; CSD velocities: 3.73 ± 0.09 and 3.78 ± 0.07 mm/min in the young groups; 2.99 ± 0.10 and 3.05 ± 0.19 mm/min in the adult groups), a single dose of EtOH (groups 3 and 5) decreased CSD propagation velocities (3.29 ± 0.23 and 3.16 ± 0.10 mm/min in the young groups; 2.71 ± 0.27 and 2.75 ± 0.31 mm/min in the adult groups). Astaxanthin antagonized the impairing effect of acute EtOH on CSD (group 1; mean velocity: 3.70 ± 0.19 and 3.13 ± 0.16 mm/min for the young and adult groups, respectively).

The results showed an antagonistic effect of acute EtOH treatment on CSD propagation that was reverted by astaxanthin. The EtOH–astaxanthin interaction was not influenced by the age, as it was found in both young and adult animals.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: guedes.rca@gmail.com

Decreased Sensitivity of NMDA Receptors on Dopaminergic Neurons from the Posterior Ventral Tegmental Area Following Chronic Nondependent Alcohol Consu

The mesocorticolimbic dopamine system mediates the reinforcing effects of salient stimuli, including drugs of abuse. Nondependent chronic alcohol consumption modifies this system, resulting in an increased number of spontaneously active dopamine neurons in the posterior ventral tegmental area (VTA) of alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Enhanced responses of postsynaptic glutamate receptors may contribute to the increase in active dopamine neurons. Thus, excitations of putative dopamine neurons to locally applied N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA; glutamate receptor subtype agonist) were evaluated.

P rats were assigned to alcohol naïve (water only) or alcohol drinking (continuous access to 15% alcohol and water for 8 consecutive weeks) groups. Responses of 23 putative dopamine neurons from naïve rats and 19 putative dopamine neurons from drinking rats were assessed in vivo using microiontophoretically applied NMDA. Current–response curves for firing frequency and burst activity were constructed using nonlinear mixed effects models. Between-group comparisons were made for EC₅₀ (effective current producing a half maximal excitatory response), E_max (maximal excitatory effect), and C_DB (the current at which depolarization block—marked decrease in neuronal activity—occurred).

Drinking P rats steadily consumed alcohol over the 8-week protocol and did not exhibit signs of dependence or withdrawal. Putative dopamine neurons from drinking rats exhibited resistance to depolarization block (higher C_DB values) and required larger doses of NMDA to elicit moderate excitatory responses (higher EC₅₀ values), consistent with decreased receptor affinity. Maximal excitatory responses (E_max) did not differ between the groups, consistent with no change in receptor number. Blood alcohol was at undetectable levels at the time of experimentation.

NMDA receptor sensitivity is decreased on posterior VTA putative dopamine neurons in P rats on a nondependent schedule of alcohol consumption. Mechanisms underlying increased spontaneous dopamine neuron activity may be independent of changes in NMDA receptor function. Decreased NMDA receptor sensitivity may precede the development of dependence.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: smorzora@iupui.edu

A Mouse Model for Adolescent Alcohol Abuse: Stunted Growth and Effects in Brain

Adolescent alcohol abuse remains a serious public health concern, with nearly a third of high school seniors reporting heavy drinking in the previous month.

Using the high ethanol-consuming C57BL/6J mouse strain, we examined the effects of ethanol (3.75 g/kg, IP, daily for 45 days) on body weight and brain region mass (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, corpus callosum) during peri-adolescence (postnatal day [P]25 to 70) or adulthood (P180 to 225) of both males and females.

In control peri-adolescent animals, body weight gain was greater in males compared with females. In the peri-adolescent exposure group, ethanol significantly reduced body weight gain to a similar extent in both male and female mice (82 and 84% of controls, respectively). In adult animals, body weight gain was much less than that of the peri-adolescent mice, with ethanol having a small but significant effect in males but not females. Between the control peri-adolescent and adult cohorts (measurements taken at P70 and 225, respectively), there were no significant differences in the mass of the cerebral cortex or the cerebellum from either male or female mice, although the rostro-caudal length of the corpus callosum increased slightly but significantly (6.1%) between these time points.

Ethanol treatment significantly reduced the mass of the cerebral cortex in peri-adolescent (−3.1%), but not adult, treated mice. By contrast, ethanol significantly reduced the length of the corpus callosum in adult (−5.4%), but not peri-adolescent, treated mice. Future studies at the histological level may yield additional details concerning ethanol and the peri-adolescent brain.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: huangc@umkc.edu

Alcohol and Other Drug(AOD)-Related Databases

Following is a list of databases that may be useful to alcohol researchers. Many of these databases may be searched free of charge and are arranged by broad categories. A list of fee-based databases is also included. > > > > Read More

Alcohol Hangover Symptoms and Their Contribution to the Overall Hangover Severity

: Scientific literature suggests a large number of symptoms that may be present the day after excessive alcohol consumption. The purpose of this study was to explore the presence and severity of hangover symptoms, and determine their interrelationship.

A survey was conducted among n = 1410 Dutch students examining their drinking behavior and latest alcohol hangover. The severity of 47 presumed hangover symptoms were scored on a 10-point scale ranging from 0 (absent) to 10 (maximal). Factor analysis was conducted to summarize the data into groups of associated symptoms that contribute significantly to the alcohol hangover and symptoms that do not.

About half of the participants (56.1%, n = 791) reported having had a hangover during the past month. Most commonly reported and most severe hangover symptoms were fatigue (95.5%) and thirst (89.1%). Factor analysis revealed 11 factors that together account for 62% of variance. The most prominent factor ‘drowsiness’ (explained variance 28.8%) included symptoms such as drowsiness, fatigue, sleepiness and weakness. The second factor ‘cognitive problems’ (explained variance 5.9%) included symptoms such as reduced alertness, memory and concentration problems. Other factors, including the factor ‘disturbed water balance’ comprising frequently reported symptoms such as ‘dry mouth’ and ‘thirst’, contributed much less to the overall hangover (explained variance <5%).

Drowsiness and impaired cognitive functioning are the two dominant features of alcohol hangover.



Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: r.penning@uu.nl

Abstinence and ‘Low-Risk’ Consumption 1 Year after the Initiation of High-Dose Baclofen: A Retrospective Study among ‘High-Risk’ Drinkers

The aim of the study was to assess the proportions of ‘high-risk’ drinkers' abstinent or with ‘low-risk’ consumption levels 1 year after the initiation of high-dose baclofen.

This is a retrospective ‘open’ study; the outcome of this study was to assess the level of alcohol consumption in the 12th month of treatment.

Of the 181 patients included, a follow-up evaluation was possible in 132 patients. The initial alcohol consumption of the 132 patients analysed averaged 182 ± 92 g/day. After 1 year, 80% of the 132 (i.e. 58% of 181) were either abstinent (n = 78) or drinking at low-risk levels (n = 28) in their 12th month of treatment. The mean baclofen dose at 1 year was 129 ± 71 mg/day.

High-dose baclofen should be tested in randomized placebo-controlled trials among high-risk drinkers.


Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: laurent.rigal@parisdescartes.fr

MESAS: A review of the validity and reliability of alcohol retail sales data

This report reviews the validity and reliability of using alcohol retail sales data to estimate population alcohol consumption for the purpose of Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy.


Read Full Report (PDF)

SIPS brief interventions trial findings released

Findings from the SIPS trial, the largest UK alcohol screening and brief intervention study, have been released.

The study took place across key settings of Primary Care, Emergency Departments and Probation and tested the effectiveness of a range of brief intervention approaches and screening tools. A conference event took place on the 5th of March to launch the findings, with presentations available to download. > > > > Read More

Energy drinks mixed with alcohol: misconceptions, myths, and facts

Whilst energy drinks improve performance and feelings of alertness, recent articles suggest that energy drink consumption combined with alcohol may reduce perception of alcohol intoxication, or lead to increased alcohol or drug use. This review discusses the available scientific evidence on the effects of mixing energy drinks with alcohol.

A literature search was performed using the keywords “energy drink and Red Bull^®” and consulting Medline/Pubmed, PsycINFO, and Embase.

There is little evidence that energy drinks antagonize the behavioral effects of alcohol, and there is no consistent evidence that energy drinks alter the perceived level of intoxication of people who mix energy drinks with alcohol. No clinically relevant cardiovascular or other adverse effects have been reported for healthy subjects combining energy drinks with alcohol, although there are no long-term investigations currently available. Finally, whilst several surveys have shown associations, there is no direct evidence that coadministration of energy drinks increases alcohol consumption, or initiates drug and alcohol dependence or abuse.

Although some reports suggest that energy rinks lead to reduced awareness of intoxication and increased alcohol consumption, a review of the available literature shows that these views are not supported by direct or reliable scientific evidence. A personality with higher levels of risk-taking behavior may be the primary reason for increased alcohol and drug abuse per se. The coconsumption of energy drinks being one of the many expressions of that type of lifestyle and personality.


Read Full Text (PDF)

Recommendations on Privatization of Alcohol Retail Sales and Prevention of Excessive Alcohol Consumption and Related Harms - Community Preventive Ser

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends against privatization of alcohol retail sales in settings with current government control of retail sales, based on strong evidence that privatization results in increased per capita consumption of alcoholic beverages, a well-established proxy for excessive consumption and related harms.


Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: rhahn@cdc.gov

Effects of Alcohol Retail Privatization on Excessive Alcohol Consumption and Related Harms: A Community Guide Systematic Review

Excessive alcohol consumption is the third-leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. This systematic review is one in a series exploring effectiveness of interventions to reduce alcohol-related harms.

The focus of this review was on studies evaluating the effects of the privatization of alcohol retail sales on excessive alcohol consumption and related harms. Using Community Guide methods for conducting systematic reviews, a systematic search was conducted in multiple databases up to December 2010. Reference lists of acquired articles and review papers were also scanned for additional studies.

A total of 17 studies assessed the impact of privatizing retail alcohol sales on the per capita alcohol consumption, a well-established proxy for excessive alcohol consumption; 9 of these studies also examined the effects of privatization on the per capita consumption of alcoholic beverages that were not privatized. One cohort study in Finland assessed the impact of privatizing the sales of medium-strength beer (MSB) on self-reported alcohol consumption. One study in Sweden assessed the impact of re-monopolizing the sale of MSB on alcohol-related harms. Across the 17 studies, there was a 44.4% median increase in the per capita sales of privatized beverages in locations that privatized retail alcohol sales (interquartile interval: 4.5% to 122.5%). During the same time period, sales of nonprivatized alcoholic beverages decreased by a median of 2.2% (interquartile interval: −6.6% to −0.1%). Privatizing the sale of MSB in Finland was associated with a mean increase in alcohol consumption of 1.7 liters of pure alcohol per person per year. Re-monopolization of the sale of MSB in Sweden was associated with a general reduction in alcohol-related harms.

According to Community Guide rules of evidence, there is strong evidence that privatization of retail alcohol sales leads to increases in excessive alcohol consumption.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: rhahn@cdc.gov

The Impact of a 25-Cent-Per-Drink Alcohol Tax Increase

Excessive alcohol consumption causes 79,000 deaths annually in the U.S., shortening the lives of those who die from it by approximately 30 years. Although alcohol taxation is an effective measure to reduce excessive consumption and related harm, some argue that increasing alcohol taxes places an unfair economic burden on “responsible” drinkers and socially disadvantaged people.

To examine the impact of a hypothetic tax increase based on alcohol consumption and sociodemographic characteristics of current drinkers, individually and in aggregate.

Data from the 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey were analyzed from 2010 to 2011 to determine the net financial impact of a hypothetic 25-cent-per-drink tax increase on current drinkers in the U.S. Higher-risk drinkers were defined as those whose past-30-day consumption included binge drinking, heavy drinking, drinking in excess of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, and alcohol-impaired driving.

Of U.S. adults who consumed alcohol in the past 30 days, 50.4% (or approximately 25% of the total U.S. population) were classified as higher-risk drinkers. The tax increase would result in a 9.2% reduction in alcohol consumption, including an 11.4% reduction in heavy drinking. Compared with lower-risk drinkers, higher-risk drinkers would pay 4.7 times more in net increased annual per capita taxes, and 82.7% of the net increased annual aggregate taxes. Lower-risk drinkers would pay less than $30 in net increased taxes annually. In aggregate, groups who paid the most in net tax increases included those who were white, male, aged 21–50 years, earning ≥$50,000 per year, employed, and had a college degree.

A 25-cent-per-drink alcohol tax increase would reduce excessive drinking, and higher-risk drinkers would pay the substantial majority of the net tax increase.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: tim.naimi@bmc.org

Keeping Alcohol Out of War Zones

Nearly every combat outpost in Afghanistan is automatically part of a volatile mix: a hardened enemy, increasingly sophisticated and deadly land mines, nervous young soldiers, powerful weapons and machinery, suicide bombers, the stress of multiple deployments, searing heat, unfriendly locals, unfamiliar languages.

The U.S. Army has concluded that adding alcohol to that mix is unwise.

But now, with the massacre of 16 Afghan civilians, alcohol has been suggested as a possible causal factor in the killings, along with other stressors. Inquiries into the tragedy are ongoing; the facts remain unclear.

The banning of alcohol in war zones became an issue when the United States military entered combat situations in Muslim countries that frown on drinking, first in Afghanistan and later in Iraq. (Still, alcohol was easy to get in the Green Zone in Baghdad, for example, or in the more tolerant Kurdish areas of northern Iraq.) > > > > Read More

Alcohol News - 12/2012

Financial Times (Denmark) - Lundbeck’s alcoholism drug faces EU regulatory challenges

Lundbeck (CPH:LUN) and Biotie’s (HEL:BTH1V) drug for alcoholism will be scrutinized by the European drug regulatory authority as it failed to pass one bar of efficacy in a clinical trial, according to experts interviewed by BioPharm Insight.

Read more

IceNews (Finland) - Parliament speaker calls for an end to boozing MPs

Finland’s Speaker of Parliament has denounced MPs drinking on the job in the wake of several alcohol-related scandals.

Read more

GoodTherapy.org (Sweden) - Childhood Sexual Abuse Linked to Early Onset Alcoholism in Women

To shed more light on this subject, A. Magnusson of the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, conducted a study that looked at how genetics and childhood abuse affected the development of Type I and Type II alcoholism in men and women.

Read more

The Local.se (Sweden) - Swedish church's new recruitment ploy: wine

A Swedish church with dwindling parish numbers has turned to the pulling powers of alcohol in the hope of bringing in new members, and has invited people who’ve recently turned forty to come in for a wine tasting.

Read more

Travel News (Sweden) - Five out of ten want to avoid alcohol

Skyscanner asked 1205 Swedish travelers what they think about serving alcohol during flights. The entire 52 percent said they would like to see spirits free flights, for 13 percent it does not matter, and over a third want to keep the alcohol.

Read more

TheWip (Cambodia) - Despite Profits, Beer Companies Do Not Provide Living Wage For Cambodian Promoters

Entertainment venues are very popular in Cambodia. They are well supplied with beer and young women to serve it. Karaoke clubs and beer gardens are frequented by Khmer men who expect women to sit and drink with them. This can result in beer sellers drinking an average of five drinks a night according to independent researcher Ian Lubek. All this occurs despite assurances from beer companies that beer sellers are not expected to drink on the job.

Read more

Washington Post (USA) - Despite ban for US troops, alcohol still makes it way to bases in Afghanistan

The U.S. military bans alcohol for its troops in Afghanistan, but that doesn’t stop some soldiers from having a bottle or two stowed away in their gear — a fact highlighted by investigators’ probe into whether alcohol played a role when a U.S. sergeant allegedly carried out a killing spree that left 16 Afghans dead.

Read more

New York Times (USA) - Keeping Alcohol Out of War Zones

Nearly every combat outpost in Afghanistan is automatically part of a volatile mix: a hardened enemy, increasingly sophisticated and deadly land mines, nervous young soldiers, powerful weapons and machinery, suicide bombers, the stress of multiple deployments, searing heat, unfriendly locals, unfamiliar languages.

Read more

MiamiHerald.com (Brazil) - Brazil reaffirms support of alcohol sales at Wcup

Brazil's sports minister reaffirmed to FIFA that the government remains committed to approving the sale of alcohol inside World Cup stadiums, even though Congress is divided on the issue.

Read more

BBC News (UK) - 'Sobriety Orders' to be piloted by government

Offenders who commit alcohol-fuelled crimes are to be monitored with ankle tags and breath-tested to ensure they stop drinking, under government plans.

Read more

BBC News (Scotland) - Scottish Parliament supports alcohol minimum pricing bill

Plans for a minimum unit price for alcohol have been approved in principle by the Scottish Parliament.

Read more

Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) - Alcohol advertisers to be 'named and shamed' by new review board

A coalition of health campaign groups will today launch an independent Alcohol Advertising Review Board, claiming the industry has become out of control.

Read more

BBC News (Wales) - Alcohol Concern Cymru claims children exposed to drink advertising

Children are more likely to identify alcohol through advertising than popular food and snack brands, a health campaign group claims.

Read more

Medscape - Preop Alcohol Screening May Predict Postop Complications

A brief survey of drinking habits administered as long as a year before surgery might help identify patients at risk for longer hospital stays, more time in intensive care, and an increased need for a second surgery, according to results of a study published online January 12 and in the March print issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Read more

Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) - Alcohol kids' worst enemy

ALCOHOL is fast becoming the No. 1 threat facing Australian children and there is no adequate system in place to stop them being exposed to alcohol advertising, Australia's foremost child health expert, Fiona Stanley, says.

Read more

Irish Independent (Ireland) - Children 'recognise alcohol brands'

Children as young as 10 are more familiar with leading alcohol brands than those for popular snacks, according to a new survey.

Read more

Irish Times (Ireland) - Alcohol consumption increases

The amount of alcohol being consumed by Irish adults increased last year for the second year in a row, provisional figures from the Central Statistics Office and Revenue Commissioners show.

Read more

Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Proposal to ban alcohol sponsorship of sporting events 'by 2016'

A total ban on all sponsorship of sporting events by alcohol brands by 2016 is just one of a number of proposals that will be brought to Cabinet in the coming months.

Read more

CBC.ca (Canada) - Alcohol major factor in many northern deaths, coroner says

Addictions and mental health issues are almost always factors in the deaths she investigates, according to the Northwest Territories’ chief coroner.

Read more

U.S. News & World Report (USA) - Excessive Drinking Costs U.S. Colleges Millions Annually

The emergency room costs of treating college students with injuries associated with alcohol-induced blackouts can be more than half a million dollars a year at a university with 40,000 or more students, a new study found.

Read more

Medical Xpress - Long work hours linked to alcohol risk for nurses and midwives

It is well known that nurses and midwives work schedules are often irregular and involve shifts, now new research from the University of Otago, Christchurch in association with the University of Queensland has also shown that long hours and harmful alcohol use are linked.

Read more


Read Full Newsletter

Impairments in daily functioning after heavy and extreme episodic drinking in university students

Excessive consumption of alcohol is a major public health issue in university students. The dangers of heavy drinking are well known, with both acute and long-term consequences; however, there is limited information on patterns of extreme drinking (twice over the recommended threshold for low-risk drinking), and the differential effects of heavy versus extreme drinking on immediate consequent functioning in daily life. The current study investigated drinking patterns in a sample of university students and the association of different levels of alcohol consumption with self-reported physical, cognitive and emotional function the day after the drinking episode.

Data for this study were collected from a sample of 281 University of Otago students using a 21 day Internet-based daily diary. Participants reported on their drinking the previous night and their physical, cognitive and emotional functioning on that day.

Participants reported drinking on 26.8% days overall and consuming an average of 7.2 standard drinks per occasion. Only heavy drinking (7+standard drinks for men, 5+standard drinks for women) and particularly extreme drinking (14+for men, 10+for women) predicted significant decreases in physical and cognitive functioning the next day. However, low-risk drinking (≤ 6 drinks for men,≤ 4 for women) was not associated with next-day impairment.

Findings suggest that there are adverse, intermediate consequences of excessive drinking on dimensions relevant to students' lives. Drinking within low-risk guidelines is recommended.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: tconner@psy.otago.ac.nz

An exploratory cluster randomised trial of a university halls of residence based social norms intervention in Wales, UK

Excessive alcohol consumption amongst university students has received increasing attention. A social norms approach to reducing drinking behaviours has met with some success in the USA. Such an approach is based on the assumption that student's perceptions of the norms of their peers are highly influential, but that these perceptions are often incorrect. Social norms interventions therefore aim to correct these inaccurate perceptions, and in turn, to change behaviours. However, UK studies are scarce and it is increasingly recognised that social norm interventions need to be supported by socio ecological approaches that address the wider determinants of behaviour.

To describe the research design for an exploratory trial examining the acceptability, hypothesised process of change and implementation of a social norm marketing campaign designed to correct misperceptions of normative alcohol use and reduce levels of misuse, implemented alongside a university wide alcohol harm reduction toolkit. It also assesses the feasibility of a potential large scale effectiveness trial by providing key trial design parameters including randomisation, recruitment and retention, contamination, data collection methods, outcome measures and intracluster correlations.

The study adopts an exploratory cluster randomised controlled trial design with halls of residence as the unit of allocation, and a nested mixed methods process evaluation. Four Welsh (UK) universities participated in the study, with residence hall managers consenting to implementation of the trial in 50 university owned campus based halls of residence. Consenting halls were randomised to either a phased multi channel social norm marketing campaign addressing normative discrepancies (n = 25 intervention) or normal practice (n = 25 control). The primary outcome is alcohol consumption (units per week) measured using the Daily Drinking Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes assess frequency of alcohol consumption, higher risk drinking, alcohol related problems and change in perceptions of alcohol-related descriptive and injunctive norms. Data will be collected for all 50 halls at 4 months follow up through a cross-sectional on line and postal survey of approximately 4000 first year students. The process evaluation will explore the acceptability and implementation of the social norms intervention and toolkit and hypothesised process of change including awareness, receptivity and normative changes.

Exploratory trials such as this are essential to inform future definitive trials by providing crucial methodological parameters and guidance on designing and implementing optimum interventions.

Read Full Text (PDF)