British newspaper The Independent reports that ‘street drinker event’ have dropped with 49 per cent, after the sale of super-strength alcohol was banned in the town of Ipswich. The results come from a voluntary program which was launched six months ago by the local police and retail chain Co-op. The ‘Reducing the Strength’ campaign … Read More →
Reuters reports on the growing acceptance of female alcohol consumption in India. According to the press agency women who drink are becoming a ‘big business in socially conservative India’. The article states that the female market segment of drinks consumers is growing twice as fast as the overall sector. In India’s $10 billion drinks industry … Read More →
Fiona Ryan, chief executive of Alcohol Action Ireland, said policymakers know what needs to be done to combat the alcohol problem, but “don’t want” to do it. Ryan made her statement at a seminar organised by Alcohol Action Ireland and Depaul Ireland, which works with the homeless. Also speaking was health expert Professor Joe … Read More →
The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister David Cameron has told he will “deal with” cheap alcohol being sold in supermarkets in England and Wales. His remark follows unofficial statements that the government plan for a 45 pence per unit minimum alcohol price has been dropped. When Tory Member of Parliament Sarah Wollaston called on Cameron … Read More →
More than 70 health organisations from across the UK have backed a new independent alcohol strategy calling for the UK Government to prioritise Minimum Unit Pricing, amongst a set of key policies aimed at curbing the nation’s drink problem. The strategy is put forward in the report, Health First: An evidence-based alcohol strategy for … Read More →
School children from the northern region of the UK delivered a petition to their government at Downing Street last week, calling for increased regulations on alcohol marketing. During their visit to the UK capital, a group of students presented their petition – signed by more than 6,000 North Easterners – and talked about alcohol … Read More →
In Norway and in Sweden there is still a ban on alcohol advertising on TV, but due to broadcastings from abroad alcohol marketing is seen daily on Swedish TV. The situation has occurred despite national regulations, and some argue that alcohol marketing on TV is a result of the implementation of the EU Audiovisual Media … Read More →
Last week (21st February) the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) in the European Parliament has voted on the report examining the implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) -Piotr Borys (PL, EPP; own initiative report (2012/21329INI)). Some Members of Parliament have kindly submitted amendments addressing the ineffectiveness of self- regulatory codes in relation … Read More →
Four Loko, a fruit flavored malt beverage previously linked to hospitalizations and deaths among American youngsters, will soon be packaged with a label clearly describing information on serving sizes as well as being resealable. This new development stems from the final settlement between Four Loko’s producer Phusion Projects and the Federal Trade Commission. The … Read More →
Earlier this month a group of concerned public health professionals, health scientists and NGO representatives have submitted a Public Statement of Concern to the World Health Organization Secreatariat. The Statement is a response to global alcohol producers who have recently issued a set of commitments to reduce the harmful use of alcohol worldwide, ostensibly in … Read More →