In the news over the weekend - new measures to curb alcohol-fuelled violence in Perth’s entertainment precincts will be implemented by WA's Director of Liquor Licensing.

The measures will be rolled out in the entertainment precincts of Northbridge, Perth, Subiaco, Leederville, East Perth and West Perth.

Director of Liquor Licensing Barry Sargeant has written to licensees to notfiy them of the measures he intends to roll out, claiming that "the purpose of these conditions ... is to minimise the harm caused by the excessive consumption of liquor and to promote responsible practices in the sale, supply and service of liquor."

The directive included a number of actions, including something I think is pretty exciting: venues not being able to sell energy drinks mixed with alcohol.

We’ve long been warning people to be wary of mixing caffeinated drinks with alcohol – such as Red Bull and Jagermeister or vodka. Drinking a stimulant like caffeine (contained in energy drinks) with alcohol reduces a person's perception of being drunk, and can give users a false sense of alertness – resulting in ‘wide awake drunks’. As a result they don't realise how much alcohol they are consuming because the caffeine, guarana and sugar mask the sedative effect of alcohol.

Research from other parts of the world shows that young people who mix energy drinks and alcohol are at greater risk of harm through drink driving, violence, and unsafe sex.

Last year the AMA weighed in on the debate, claiming that energy drinks may need to be banned because too little is known about their effects, and that they could be fuelling drunken night violence in Melbourne.

We can only hope that Victoria will follow WA’s lead.

Until next Week,

Sarah Jaggard
Community Mobilisation Policy Officer

In early April, DrinkWise Australia convened a ‘National Youth Forum’ in Canberra, with the aim of ‘finding a middle ground for Australia’s youth drinking culture’.

Given that DrinkWise is funded by the alcohol industry, and half its board members are senior alcohol industry executives, why would they hold a forum in the first place? DrinkWise doesn’t need to ask young people why they drink – the alcohol industry knows very well.

In fact, they even commission research which tells them why young people find drinking appealing:

According to ‘Young people and alcohol: the role of cultural influences’ published by NCETA (2008) and funded by DrinkWise, the industry targets young people with designer drinks, lifestyle and image marketing, highly sexualised advertising, increased alcohol content in drinks and commodification of alcohol products to mimic psychoactive drugs.

Interestingly, participants critiqued a number of alcohol awareness campaigns but most fell short in the eyes of the participants. Participants also agreed that a mix of things is required to drive change including effective regulation and enforcement.

Sage recommendations which will no doubt be ignored, as advocating for evidence based strategies falls outside of DrinkWise’s remit.  

The National Drug Research Institute invites you to:

Current research and future directions of alcohol and other drug research

Friday 6 May, 2011
10.00am-3.00pm

Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre
54-62 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

This overview of policy relevant research being conducted at the National Drug Research Institute will consist of two parts. The first will provide specific examples of work being conducted in key areas. The second will consist of round-table discussions with NDRI research staff during which participants will be able to explore areas of particular interest to them.

A light lunch will be served.

RSVP to (08) 9266 1600 or email  NDRI by Friday 29 April, 2011.
 

DrugInfo is moving to a new system for email alerts, in preparation for the new DrugInfo website. Please re-subscribe by 12 noon, on Tuesday 19 April 2011 to continue receiving the alerts.

Thanks in advance!

Parents urged to keep teens away from alcohol
Perth Now, 6 April 2011
A Government guide is advising parents to only allow alcohol consumption after 15 years of age, but to delay it as long as possible. The launch of the ‘Young People and Alcohol’ booklet by the Drug and Alcohol Office and the Department for Communities’ Office for Youth outlines the latest research into the effects of alcohol on young people since its inception in 2007.

Lollipops used to combat violence
The Age, 6 April 2011
Thongs, bottled water and lollipops are the order of the day as Melbourne continues its fight against drunken street violence. The Youth Street Teams, a volunteer initiative launched by the Melbourne City Council and the Salvation Army in December, is making inroads in repairing the city's battered image after a spate of ugly incidents.

Queenslanders fatter, drinking more
Nine MSN, 6 April 2011
Queenslanders are getting fatter and drinking more despite a government pledge to help whip people into shape. The trends are revealed in an annual report, measuring gains and losses in 10 areas the state government wants to improve by 2020.

Are we ready to call 'time' when young people can no longer drink in moderation?
The Courier- Mail, 7 April 2011
Imagine our society without binge drinking, just for a moment - it is a fantasy, certainly a fairyland where alcohol is enjoyed, in the way booze company advertising recommends, in moderation.  It is served with meals and sipped in context. It is part of a party, not the centrepiece of it. It's an optional indulgence, not a compulsory social lubricant.

High sobriety
The Age, 10 April 2011
With an aching head and a sense of trepidation, Jill Stark decided to give up drinking for 12 weeks. The last thing she expected was to enjoy it. I was the binge drinking reporter. During the week I wrote about Australia's booze-soaked culture. At the weekends I wrote myself off.