The feature of a stricter Irish alcohol policy seems uncertain after its champion minister of state for primary care Róisín Shortall has resigned, following a clash with the Minister for Health James Reilly. In her resignation statement she implied that decisions on health infrastructure and staffing are driven by other concerns then public health. … Read More →
As reported earlier, the Scottish plans for minimum pricing of alcoholic products is facing opposition from Europe. However, recently the United Kingdom’s government has publicly spoken out in support of the plans. Additionally, a Scottish court of Session has permitted Alcohol Focus Scotland to defend the government plans by submitting a dossier of evidence on … Read More →
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) recently held a national summit on Alcohol Marketing to young people at the Parliament House in Canberra. In association with 70 member organizations of the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol (NAAA) this summit was the stage for the release of a communique calling for action on alcohol marketing as … Read More →
The Scottish Government’s minimum alcohol price policy is under attack from Europe. The Bulgarian Government has lodged a formal complaint, which may lead to a blocking of the Scottish plans. The European Commission has been seeking views on the subject from its member states. The Bulgarian complaint means that this reflection period will be … Read More →
Squeezable pouches, in Europe mostly used as packaging for fruit juice, soft drinks and dairy products, seem to be the latest trend in alcohol packaging in the US. Marketing website AdAge explores this unlikely new trend. The AdAge article states that plastic pouches in the US are now containing wine, premixed cocktails and flavored … Read More →
Eurocare, the European Alcohol Policy Alliance, has sent out an open request to public health stakeholders to collect as many alcohol marketing as possible on Friday the 14th of September 2012. The aim of the call is to collect snapshots of alcohol marketing in various European countries. Eucam is supportive of the action taken … Read More →
This February saw Madonna, the queen of pop, release her new single Give me all your luvin’, the accompanying video clip features product placement by Diageo’s vodka brand Smirnoff. This development means an extension of the existing partnership between the pop star and drinks producer Diageo. In 2011 the pop diva signed a deal … Read More →
Vitas Matuzas, Lithuanian Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party, is allegedly suspected of accepting bribes in exchange for drafting three bills. Lithuania’s Special Investigation Service thinks Matuzas was paid to draft the Excise Law, the Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Prevention Act as well as the Alcohol Control Law. This last law blocked a … Read More →
The European Commission is currently evaluating the European Alcohol Strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm. Eurocare, The European Alcohol Policy Alliance, has published its recommendations on a future EU Alcohol Strategy, covering the period 2013-2020. One of the main points of the recommendations is that European alcohol consumption by 2020 should … Read More →
The Zurich branch of the Blue Cross, an international NGO focusing on preventing and reducing alcohol problems, last week launched a campaign to ban alcohol marketing at sports stadia and sports events. This goals is perused primarily to protect young people. “We are not killjoys,” said Stephen Kunz, the Zurich head of the Blue Cross, … Read More →