RSA Course Online

Author: Peter Cutforth

  • Liquor Stores Association says No Link between Outlet Density and rate of Domestic Violence

    According to the Liquor Stores Association of NSW (LSA NSW) the claims by anti-alcohol advocates that the density of alcohol outlets is contributing to crimes like domestic abuse are false.

    The LSA NSW lashed out after the NSW Greens MP John Kaye recently made what they described as unsubstantiated claims that the number of bottle shops correlates to more domestic violence. The LSA said this statement is incorrect and unfounded.

    According to the LSA NSW, the recent Report on the Statutory Review of the NSW Liquor Act 2007 proved that alcohol related domestic assaults were dropping despite the number of liquor licences increasing. The following excerpt from TheShout.com.au explains:

    Without quoting any evidence, NSW Greens MP John Kaye this week said that “increasing the number of bottle shops correlates to more domestic violence”, an argument that LSA NSW has labelled “just plain wrong”.

    “According to the November 2013 Report on the Statutory Review of the (NSW) Liquor Act 2007, the facts are that alcohol-related domestic assaults fell 12 per cent between 2008 and 2012, while the number of NSW Packaged Liquor Licences increased by 30.5 per cent in the same period,” the association said.

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2014/01/10/article/No-link-between-outlet-density-and-domestic-violence-Bottleshops/DOCFXLXEIP.html

    The statistics do seem to support the LSA NSW’s claims. According to the latest ABS data, the number of packaged liquor licensed in NSW has increased over the last half a decade and there was an overall drop in the total volume of pure alcohol sold for the second year in a row. During the same time per capita consumption also dropped. According to LSA NSW CEO Terry Mott the per capita consumption dropped by 5.4 per cent since 2008.

    The organisation went on to state:

    “No-one can disagree that it is a tragedy when any person (young or old) is killed or injured by the mindless actions of someone out on a night intending to inflict harm on others – however jumping to emotional and simplistic responses may not be the answer,” LSA NSW said.

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2014/01/10/article/No-link-between-outlet-density-and-domestic-violence-Bottleshops/DOCFXLXEIP.html

    The LSA NSW suggested sustained education programs to directly engage the community particularly those groups that are under high risk. This will over time result in the modification of people’s behaviours which will alter the problematic drinking culture. One of the problems that seem to be engrained in or culture is that people drink with the intention of getting drunk. The only way to tackle this is with a sustained effort aimed at educating the community, the LSA claims. The post goes on to explain:

    The association said that effective and sustained education programs to directly engage the community, especially those groups vulnerable to high risk drinking behaviours with the specific intent of modifying people’s behaviour over time, will help to create a cultural change for the healthy enjoyment of alcohol as opposed to ‘drinking to get drunk’.

    “This needs to also be complimented with a targeted Policing approach to enforce current legislation with those individuals who do go out with the intent of inflicting harm on others and also sentencing by the courts for those convicted in these cases, which is seen as appropriate by the community,” it said.

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2014/01/10/article/No-link-between-outlet-density-and-domestic-violence-Bottleshops/DOCFXLXEIP.html

     

  • Indigenous Organisations call for Inquiry into Drinking

    Indigenous communities have called for an effective inquiry to be launched into alcohol abuse in their midst.

    The communities want community consultation to be included in the new federal government inquiry into alcohol consumption in Indigenous communities.

    The new parliamentary inquiry which was originally intended to delve into the issue of alcohol related violence across the country, has now been adjusted to deal with Indigenous communities in particular.

    Health groups in Indigenous communities are hoping that the inquiry will help the government develop better strategies for dealing with alcohol abuse. They are also hoping that Indigenous communities are included as part of the process.

    According to an article by Michael Kenny on Sbs.com.au, the inquiry is to be conducted by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs which is to be chaired by Liberal MP Sharman Stone. The inquiry will examine patterns of supply and demand for alcohol in these communities and the problem of alcohol fuelled violence also prevalent among Indigenous communities – as well as non-Indigenous communities across the country.

    The inquiry is also expected to examine how alcohol consumption impacts babies both unborn and newborn. Strategies of other countries in dealing with alcohol abuse will also be examined.

    The Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister, explained that the point of the inquiry was not to victimise Indigenous Australians, he went on to explain:

    “This is about poverty, not ethnicity. But I acknowledge that there have always been and we have never really seen a break, particularly in reports of domestic violence, defence injuries, alcohol, deaths through alcohol…. through cars….and violence.”

    Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/02/19/inquiry-alcohol-abuse-indigenous-communities

    The inquiry will also apparently examine socio-economic backgrounds and how they are linked to alcohol abuse. Meanwhile the opposition labour party in the NT has criticised the inquiry saying it is an insult to Indigenous Australians.

    Although the inquiry has received some criticism, some believed it could be a good way to begin tackling alcohol abuse.

    The medical officer with the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Dr John Boffa who has worked with Indigenous communities for over 2 decades says that the inquiry is “long overdue”. The article went on to explain:

    “This is a useful inquiry. Alcohol problems are obviously very prevalent in Aboriginal communities. But I think if the inquiry is done well, it’s got the potential to provide some solutions that will address alcohol misuse, not just amidst Aboriginal people but amongst the broader population as well.

    Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/02/19/inquiry-alcohol-abuse-indigenous-communities“

    Even the chairman of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Justin Mohamed said that the inquiry would be a valuable opportunity to examine what policy approaches are working and those that are not when it comes to alcohol abuse among Indigenous Australians.

    The article goes on to quote Mr Mohamed as saying:

    “You need to look at the community. You need to engage the community in the initiatives and the things that can work have to be owned and obviously embraced and I think once you achieve that, the more successful things that I’ve seen, heard about and read about have been ones where there’s been some real leadership from within the community and from the leaders and organisations that are obviously providing services and looking after their community interests.”

    Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/02/19/inquiry-alcohol-abuse-indigenous-communities

  • Free Drinks “Pub” films Strangers consuming “Alcohol”

    A clever new study done at London South Bank University involved the setting up of new pub where drinkers could enjoy alcohol for free but there was a catch, the pub wasn’t actually real, not all the drinks were alcoholic and there were cameras rolling the entire time.

    Drinker’s every movement was tracked with little cameras as they drank what they thought were free drinks at the new pub on campus. The psychology students are actually going to be tracking how drinkers get drunk and their behaviour.

    The pub cost £20,000 ($37,000) and is actually the new home of the psychology lab, as this excerpt from Gismodo.com.au explains:

    At London South Bank University’s shiny new pub, the drinks are free, but they, uhh, may or may not actually contain alcohol. And it’s not a real pub, actually. Oh, and there are little cameras all over the place tracking your every movement.

    If that doesn’t like quite the greatest night on the town, that’s because it’s actually the university’s newest psychology lab, built to the tune of £20,000 ($37,000). With psychology students as bartenders and CCTV cameras hidden throughout, room J-407 will be used to study how people get drunk and interact.

    Source: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/02/scientists-built-fake-pub-to-film-strangers-drinking-alcohol/

    The psychology faculty went to great lengths to mimic an actual pub, even playing sounds to make it sound like a real pub and rubbing glasses with ethanol so that the pub smells authentic as well.

    The pub also features several props that you would find in an ordinary pub, although the “props” also play a part in the study. For example the cleverly placed jukebox is meant to help psychology students determine what type of music makes people drink etc.

    The fun’n’games that normally keep you at the bar also double as research props. As described by The Guardian, “Props include a fruit machine, to test risk-taking behaviour, and wire loop games will test eye-hand co-ordination. There will, eventually, be a juke box to determine what kind of music makes people drink more quickly.”

    Source: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/02/scientists-built-fake-pub-to-film-strangers-drinking-alcohol/

    The article on Gizmodo questioned the ethics behind the pub as people would be unaware that they weren’t in a real pub or that their behaviour was being studied. Also the researchers say they won’t allow people at the pub to get drunker than the law allows drivers to drink, in case the test subjects get behind the wheel. The post goes on to explain:

    This brings us all back to the beers. They will contain unknown amounts of alcohol to study how the it affects patrons-slash-subjects. When it comes to psychology research, there is also a little thing called ethics, so the pub won’t get people drunker than the legal driving limit. I guess they won’t be studying true drunks then? As for pubs not sanctioned by a university research committee, well, now you know where to find them. [The Guardian]

    Source: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/02/scientists-built-fake-pub-to-film-strangers-drinking-alcohol/

     

  • Financial Toll of Excessive Alcohol Consumption

    Although we often hear of the damage done by alcohol abuse to the community and people in general, we seldom consider the huge financial toll of excessive drinking and problem drinking on the economy and on individuals.

    According to a recent American based study, the toll of excessive drinking in the United States is about American $2 per drink (Aus $2.22). It may seem like a small figure but when you consider the amount of alcohol that is consumed, altogether it is a staggering amount and this is just the cost of the expenses caused as a result of drinking not including the cost of the drink itself.

    According to the study conducted by the CDC (Centres for Disease Control), the $2 is accounted for by medical expenses and other costs to society.

    The study by the CDC calculated the societal costs of binge drinking and heavy drinking, excluding what consumers actually pay at the liquor store or licenced venue.

    The study also took into consideration lost productivity at work, property damage from car crashes, expenditures for liver cirrhosis and other alcohol-associated medical problems as well as the money spent on incarceration of drunk drivers and criminals using alcohol. Although the study relates to figures in the U.S it can be compared to the cost of drinking in Oz. The following excerpt from an article on New York Daily News website I found quite informative,

    The CDC estimated excessive drinking cost society nearly $224 billion in 2006, the most recent year for which all necessary statistics were available. That worked out to about $1.90 per drink, 80 cents of which was spent by federal, state or local governments, the researchers estimated. The rest came from drinkers, their families, private health insurers, employers, crime victims and others.

    Most of that was related to binge drinking, in which four or five alcoholic beverages are consumed on one occasion.

    “Binge drinking results in binge spending,” said CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden.

    Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/toll-excessive-drinking-works-2-drink-medical-expenses-societal-costs-article-1.964157#ixzz2sr7uKTi3

    The study’s officials also noted a very important point which drinkers should keep in mind – drinking in moderation can have health benefits whereas none have been associated with excessive alcohol consumption.

    Drinkers should remember that when they drink excessively the costs involved are more than those associated with the actual cost of the bottle of wine or can of beer, there are numerous indirect costs and these costs are exaggerated when drinking is done in excess. The article on NYDailyNews.com explains further:

    CDC officials noted that while some health benefits have been associated with, say, a glass of wine each day, there are no health benefits linked to excessive drinking. They also said the new study likely represents an underestimate of the total cost.

    Smoking has been estimated to cost society about $193 billion annually. An older study estimated the cost of not exercising to be around $150 billion.

    Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/toll-excessive-drinking-works-2-drink-medical-expenses-societal-costs-article-1.964157#ixzz2sr7uKTi3

     

  • Experts Want Liquor Figures Publicised

    Experts in NSW want liquor figures publicised because they believe monitoring consumption is the key to combating problems associated with alcohol.

    According to a leading alcohol researcher Professor Tanya Chikritzhs, from the National Drug Research Institute, the NSW government is oblivious to the amount of alcohol being consumed in the state, so it cannot effectively monitor whether alcohol related policies are working.

    The government is now being urged to force the liquor industry to hand over its sales data which Prof Chikritzhs says is vital to monitor whether alcohol related policies were actually working, especially when you consider the great lengths the state government has gone to implement the new alcohol measures in Sydney.

    According to the professor the fact that researchers don’t have even basic information on alcohol use in NSW is unacceptable. Researchers don’t even know whether alcohol use is higher than expected or desired or different for different communities.

    The Australian Bureau of Statistics collects national data using tax information but doesn’t define alcohol consumption by communities or areas.

    ”It’s quite a bizarre situation when you consider it’s a regulated substance and nobody’s actually watching how much of it is being sold,” she said.

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/alcohol-sales-experts-call-for-figures-to-be-publicised-20140120-314w8.html#ixzz2sr3qpZrq

    Apparently states and territories routinely collected alcohol sales data until 1996 however this came to an end when the High Court ruled they could no longer levy taxes on alcohol. The only states who continued to collect the date were Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory and now the ACT has joined in the Project run by Professor Chikritzhs to collect the information.

    Currently the Victorian Justice Department is deciding whether to restart data collection. That would leave NSW, Tasmania and SA as the only states where data is not collected. According to Professor Chikritzhs the reluctance of the liquor industry to participate is the reason for this.

    Chikritzhs went on to explain:

    ”I think there’s concern which is yet to be fully mitigated that it’s an unfair imposition on the industry,” she said. ”And I suspect there are quarters of the industry that resist quite strongly governments having more knowledge about what’s happening with their industry.”

    Meanwhile, public health expert Dr Alex Wodak said he would ”wager a huge amount of money that the word ‘tough’ would be used in the cabinet announcement 20 times and there would not be a single evidence-based recommendation”.

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/alcohol-sales-experts-call-for-figures-to-be-publicised-20140120-314w8.html#ixzz2sr3qpZrq

    The NSW government held alcohol summits in 2003 and 2013 but according to the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) there has been little progress since then. Following these summits, just 19 of 107 preventative recommendations were adopted. Most of the measures that were implemented were awareness promoting measures which have made little impact. FARE supported making the liquor figures known. The article on Smh.com.au went on to explain:

    FARE policy director Caterina Giorgi said that knowledge about what could work in relation to alcohol abuse had grown in 10 years yet the challenge was making governments rely on evidence and break away from the hotels and alcohol lobby.

    Dr Wodak said it was clear the government ”has outsourced alcohol policy to the liquor industry and that’s really why we have the Thomas Kellys and Daniel Christies”.

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/alcohol-sales-experts-call-for-figures-to-be-publicised-20140120-314w8.html#ixzz2sr3qpZrq

     

  • Examining What Determines Alcohol Behaviour

    I’ve always wondered why some people are more prone to alcohol abuse than others. Why is it that some of us can have a drink and not get addicted while others seem to be addicted from their very first glass?

    Well according to researchers from the UK, our drinking habits may be predetermined by a gene called Gabrb1 which they think regulates alcohol consumption. When that gene becomes mutated we may be more prone to alcohol abuse.

    Researchers in a joint research project between 5 UK based universities found that they could actually drive mice to drink.

    Students at Imperial College London, Newcastle University, UCL, University of Dundee, and University of Sussex found that a mutation in the Gabrb1 gene caused mice to drink enough alcohol in 1 hour to render them intoxicated and unable to move properly.

    The study which was published in the journal, Nature Communications revealed that Gabrb1 is the alcohol-regulating gene. The research showed that those mice with a mutated Gabrb1 gene preferred alcohol as their daily fluid intake over water whereas ordinary mice had no interest in alcohol but opted for normal water.

    The following excerpt explains the background for the research:

    The gene was isolated when researchers from the Imperial College London, supervised by Professor Howard Thomas, worked at the MRC Mammalian Genetics unit to randomly introduce subtle mutations into the mice’s genetic code. Afterwards, they tested the mice for alcohol preference.

    The researchers were then able to identify the Gabrb1 gene, and found that mice carrying one of two mutations in the gene preferred drinking alcohol (10% ethanol – close to the strength of wine) to ordinary water. This led the researchers to conclude that the mutated gene had a strong influence on the test subjects’ alcohol preference.

     In fact, the gene’s influence on the mice was strong enough to make them exert physical effort just to get to the alcohol, as the mice had to push a lever to gain access to the drink.

    Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/337619/scitech/science/mutant-genes-may-trigger-alcoholism-study-shows

    As the research shows, even a small change in the code of just one gene may have a profound impact on complex behaviours such as alcohol consumption. UK researchers then determined that the mutated Gabrb1 caused a receptor in the brain called GABAA to spontaneously activate even in the absence of its usual trigger, the inhibitory chemical messenger GABA.

    This research is most fascinating because of its implications for explaining alcoholism in human beings. The researchers also explained:

    According to Professor Thomas, previous studies had already shown that the GABA system has a hand in controlling human alcohol intake.

    “Our studies in mice show that a particular subunit of GABAA receptor has a significant effect and most importantly the existence of these mice has allowed our collaborative group to investigate the mechanism involved. This is important when we come to try to modify this process first in mice and then in man,” said Thomas.

    Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/337619/scitech/science/mutant-genes-may-trigger-alcoholism-study-shows

    It is expected that this research could be helpful in treating alcoholism in humans or even combating it altogether. If the future research shows a similar mechanism is present in humans as is present in mice, it could help researchers identify those people most at risk of becoming addicted to alcohol.

  • Curfews and Harsher Penalties part of Crackdown on Violence in Sydney

    The hotel industry isn’t too happy about the new measures introduced by the government to crackdown on alcohol fuelled violence in Sydney’s entertainment district and in particular the 3am alcohol curfew. Pubs and clubs have called the measures harsh and “radical”, fearing that the impact it will have on their businesses will be crippling.

    The hotel industry has also warned that the crackdown by O’Farrell’s government would harm the “night-time economy”. Those in the legal field have also criticized the measures.

    The measures were announced last Tuesday and under them dozens of late night trading venues in central Sydney will have to lock out new customers from 1:30am and will have to stop serving alcohol altogether from 3am.

    According to Barry O’Farrell’s new measures, liquor license fees will be subjected to a risk based system throughout NSW and bottle stores will be forced to close by 10pm.

    Perhaps one of the laws that has gotten the biggest response from the public, some against it and others praising it, is the one-punch law. This law carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 8 years jail time for fatal assaults where drugs and alcohol were a factor and the maximum penalty is 25 years jail time.

    The following excerpt from an article on Smh.com.au explains more about the new measures:

    Police will be given powers to test violent offenders for drugs and alcohol and intoxication will be removed as a mitigating factor in sentencing.

    Legislation for the sentencing changes will be introduced next week and the government expects to have them in place by February 1. Mr O’Farrell said he hoped the new trading laws would be operating by the end of April and would be independently reviewed in two years.

    ”This is not about penalising responsible drinkers,” he said. ”It is about attacking the irresponsible acts of those who allow themselves to be intoxicated, whether by drugs or alcohol.”

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/premier-pledges-to-take-action-on-alcoholfuelled-violence-20140121-316y0.html#ixzz2rAMGpmVY

    Licensed venues are being warned that the new restrictions will be in addition to those already in place for pubs and clubs on the violent venues list or subject to the plan of management already in place in Kings Cross.

    The new laws were announced after the government faced increasing pressure to act on the violence in the district following the New Year’s Eve death of 18 year old Daniel Christie. Christie, like Thomas Kelly was a young man killed in the area during a violent assault. Christie’s killer administered just a single punch but it proved fatal.

    But not everyone is pleased with the new laws. The president of the NSW Bar Association, Phillip Boulten, condemned the mandatory sentencing as a “one size fits all form of justice”, which failed to take account of the circumstances of each case. He went on to explain:

    ”The government’s suite of practical measures aimed at reducing the availability of alcohol on our streets is the appropriate response to the problem of alcohol-related violence, rather than the knee-jerk changes to the criminal law that have been tagged on to the package,” he said.

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/premier-pledges-to-take-action-on-alcoholfuelled-violence-20140121-316y0.html#ixzz2rAMGpmVY

     

  • Booze Cruise Staff to Complete Responsible Service of Alcohol Training

    Staff on booze cruises are no different than those employed in pubs and bars and so aren’t exempt from Responsible Service of Alcohol rules, however senior police officials in NSW say these party boats on Sydney Harbour are operating as “pubs without rules”. Police say these party boats should be held to the same liquor laws and regulations as other licensed venues.

    Some of the boats operating on Sydney harbour carry up to 900 people and the manner in which some of them serve alcohol is becoming a problem to police in the area. According to one police officer, the boats get people intoxicated by serving them multiple shots and then “dump them” at wharves where they become a problem to local police with their menacing behaviour.

    The police officer was quoted as saying,

     “They can be a nightmare,’’ one senior police officer said. “Many go out for four and five hours at a time where people drink non-stop and then (they) turf them out at Darling Harbour and Circular Quay and then it’s our problem.’’

    Read more at: http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/harbour-party-fun-boats-face-new-controls/story-fnii5s3x-1226821950057

    This article highlights an important issue – the need for Responsible Service of Alcohol training.

    RSA training applies not only to the employees of pubs, clubs and bars but also to those working on booze cruise party boats. Each boat’s employees must have a responsible service of alcohol certificate according to the law and although they currently are some slipping under the radar because of little policing on boats, authorities are likely to begin cracking down on these vessels as their fight against alcohol fuelled violence grows stronger, one officer suggests scanning customers getting on boats.

    Although most operators are abiding by RSA rules, there are some that are getting away with irresponsible practices, the following excerpt from the post on News.com.au explains:

    Most boats dock between 10pm and midnight but operators admit there are rogues in the business.

    “We have security guys on our vessels but there are a few operators out there who cater to the backpacker market and give a $50 all-you-can-drink package,’’ one employee of a well-known harbour vessel company said.

    “They are pretty much no-holds-barred and they don’t care what goes on.’’

    Read more at: http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/harbour-party-fun-boats-face-new-controls/story-fnii5s3x-1226821950057

    It is likely that as government cracks down on alcohol fuelled violence in entertainment districts, party boats will also come under the spotlight.

    With the measures announced by government last week, included 3am last drinks calls and 1:30am lockouts, greater regulation of party boats were also announced.

    The following is a quote from a licensee who runs a harbour cruise and said that boats were safer than pubs and clubs,

     “We’re very wary we don’t want a volatile situation on a boat so it’s pretty much a code within the charter boat industry that we take exceptional control in alcohol usage,” he said.

    “I’m not interested in making an extra five, 10, 20 bucks out of a person when they’re going to create havoc and start spewing all over the boat and there’s no area to kick them off.”

    Read more at: http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/harbour-party-fun-boats-face-new-controls/story-fnii5s3x-1226821950057

    If you or your venue is not complying with RSA laws it is vital that you do so before the government’s scrutiny of party boats hea

  • Man Six times over Alcohol Limit Crashes Car

    The consequences of drink driving can be severe even if they do not prove fatal, as they often do, you could be left paralysed, brain damaged or cause serious injury or death to others, sadly many people are ignoring the risks and choosing to drive while intoxicated. This irresponsible behaviour was the cause of crash which place at Clifton recently. A driver who was 6 times over the legal alcohol limit was injured in a crash.

    The man was subsequently charged after police received the results of the blood test which they administered on the man which demonstrated that he was well over the legal alcohol limit. The man’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.321 and the legal limit is 0.05 per cent.

    The article on www.warwickdailynews.com.au explains:

    BLOOD taken from a man who was injured in a crash at Clifton has revealed he was more than six times over the legal alcohol limit, according to police.

    Clifton police officer-in-charge Sergeant Guy Smidt said he charged the 45-year-old man on Tuesday after receiving the results of the blood test.

    Sgt Smidt said the man’s blood was sampled after the car he was driving ended up on the railway line in a single vehicle crash at the intersection of Clark St and Wiedman Rd about 3pm on December 1, last year.

    He said tests indicated the man had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.321.

    The man was charged with driving under the influence of liquor as well as driving a vehicle that was not fitted with an interlock device.

    Source: http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/crash-driver-six-times-over-limit/2134535/

    According to a police sergeant the reading was particularly high. He expressed his frustration that drivers are simply not getting the message when it comes to the dangers of drink driving.

    The culprit was transported to hospital for treatment after the crash. The man will appear in court on 19 February. The post goes on to explain:

    “It is an extremely high reading,” Sgt Smidt said.

    “We just can’t get the message through.”

    He said at the time of the incident, the man had been taken to Toowoomba Hospital for treatment to injuries to his lower spine and sternum.

    Source: http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/crash-driver-six-times-over-limit/2134535/

    Despite the fact that alcohol slows down your brain functions and causes drivers to react slower and affects decision making negatively too many drivers are making the wrong choices.

    Alcohol reduces your ability to judge your speed and distance, so you don’t notice how close other cars and objects are to you. It is important that before we even pick up a drink we should ensure we have a safe way home.

    But sadly, alcohol makes you more confident than you would be normally, leading you to think it is safe to drive and resulting in more dangerous and reckless driving behaviour.

  • Adjustments to Beer and Spirit Excise

    Responsible Service of Alcohol staff should be aware of changes to the beer and spirit excise which has been announced by the federal government recently.

    The federal government announced over the weekend that its’ half yearly increase on duty rates for alcoholic excisable goods would include an increase in beer and spirit excise as well as ready to drink products.

    An article on the hospitality website www.theshout.com.au detailed more about the excise hike:

    The latest data on the consumer price indices for the December Quarter 2013 reveals that new rates of duty on beer and spirits increase the price of full-strength beer by 29 cents per case, light beer by 11 cents per case and a 700ml bottle of spirits by 38 cents.

    A case of ready-to-drink products will also see a hike in price, increasing by 66 cents.

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2014/02/05/article/Government-lifts-beer-spirits-excise/MFAPKJXDXZ.html

    The article on TheShout.com.au also went on to quote the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia’s spokesman, Stephen Riden who explained more about the impact of the excise hike on the consumer,

    The Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia’s (DSICA) information and research manager Stephen Riden said that the distilled spirits consumer was paying more tax on their drink of choice.

    “The latest excise hike sees a standard 700ml bottle of whiskey pay just under $22 in alcohol tax alone, before adding GST or any other costs,” Riden told TheShout. 

    “And as usual, the distilled spirits consumer is being treated inequitably over those drinking beers and wines.”

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2014/02/05/article/Government-lifts-beer-spirits-excise/MFAPKJXDXZ.html

    One of the reasons for the hikes is the level to which people in Oz are binge drinking and abusing alcohol. While most people are drinking responsibly and moderately, those who have developed a culture of binge drinking are doing so more frequently and dangerously.

    It is important that as RSA staff we can easily recognise these alcohol abusers and binge drinkers so as to avoid serving them more alcohol than is necessary – this is a vital part of our RSA duties.

    Denying service to unduly intoxicated patrons is one of the cardinal rules of alcohol service and failure to do so may result in fines and further misconduct by these drunken patrons, either within the venue and/or on the streets of our entertainment districts.

    To learn more about Responsible Service of Alcohol legislation and your duty of care as a server of alcohol, you must complete formal RSA training.

    According to federal law people in the hospitality industry who work in venues where alcohol is sold, must be in possession of a RSA certificate. However this need not be a long, complicated and tedious process involving face-to-face training, RSA training is most commonly completed online, obviously because of the convenience of doing so but also because it is makes economic sense (online training costs a fraction of traditional training).

    To learn more about the RSA course or to register, please visit our homepage today or contact us for more information.