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Author: Peter Cutforth

  • Residents in Country NSW Hit Hard by Alcohol

    Alcohol is also leading to more motor vehicle accidents in rural NSW, where alcohol is a factor in 85 per cent of crashes.In major cities its just 17 per cent.

  • Alcohol 101- A Lesson in Alcohol History

    Are you a drinker without any idea of how the drinks you consume are being made or how they came to be apart of our everyday lives?

    Here’s an helpful video from National Geographic that explains more about the history of alcohol dating back thousands of years.

  • Low-Alcohol Cocktails to Enjoy Throughout Summer

    If your resolution is to drink more responsibly this year, you may want to opt for more low alcohol cocktails that can be enjoyed throughout Summer and even into Autumn.

    Some of the best low alcohol cocktails include

    • low alcohol beer
    • Rosemary and bitters mimosa
    • Riesling spritz
    • Mojito mocktail
    • Vermouth
    • Aperol Float

    Read more at: https://www.abc.net.au/life/low-alcohol-cocktails-and-drinks-for-summer/10627708

  • Push to Ban $1.50 Alcohol via Afterpay

    The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) says at risk people are being  lured into purchasing alcohol by the extremely low upfront costs made possible by the growth of “buy now pay later” services.

    FARE and other health groups are calling for government intervention on  the issue and want a ban on the sale of alcohol through services like zipPay and Afterpay. These services allow people to buy alcohol and receive the purchase immediately but only make payment for the purchase over time.

    In a submission to a Senate inquiry into credit and financial services targeting Australians that are battling financially, the health group said these services were becoming increasingly available and making it easier to access alcohol products.

    The risk is even greater to these consumers because it will simultaneously increase their alcohol dependency and credit dependency.

    Source: https://www.smh.com.au/national/increased-harm-the-push-to-ban-sales-of-1-50-alcohol-via-afterpay-20181219-p50nab.html

  • Study Finds Dry January Helps People Stay Sober Even Months Later

    A recent study found that partaking in Dry January helps people stay sober, even months later. Dry January is a health initiative conducted each year in The UK.

    As dry January draws to a close, if you did take part, you may be currently considering the effectiveness of the exercise for you personally.

    The good news is that a study conducted in the UK found that people who attempted to abstain from drinking alcohol in January 2018, as part of the public health campaign in that country, continued to drink less alcohol in the following 8 months.

    Whether you’re abstaining completely or just cutting down as part of your 2019 resolutions, it’s always wise to drink moderately and be responsible.

    Read more at https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2019/01/dry-january-helps-people-lay-off-alcohol-even-months-later-study-finds/

  • Driver involved in Fatal Crash Four Times Over The Limit

    The horrific consequences of drink driving have been highlighted by a tragic fatal crash in Adelaide’s south, where a driver 4 times over the legal limit, struck and killed a pedestrian.

    Police allege the 23 year old male driver struck and killed a 21 year old man walking along Black Road at Flagstaff Hill with his friends.

    The pedestrian died on the scene.

    The driver was arrested by Major Crash investigators and charged with  causing death by dangerous driving and drink driving. He had apparently returned a breath test of 0.191.

    Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-29/drink-driver-pedestrian-crash-sa-road-toll-lowest-record/10673096

  • Qatar Doubles the Price of Alcohol Overnight

    The hosts of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar has implemented a massive tax on alcohol, doubling the price overnight.

    The country introduced ‘sin tax’ on January 1st and the latest announcement was that a 100 per cent tax would be introduced which resulted in long queues of consumers stocking up on alcohol.

    The Muslim Gulf state announced just weeks ago that it would introduce a levy on health-damaging goods.

    Here are some of the new prices,

    • a 100cl bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin will now cost 340 Qatari riyals ($AU135)
    • a 75cl of Shiraz wine from South Africa now costs 86 riyals ($AU34)
    • a 24-pack of Heineken 330ml beers now costs 384 riyals ($AU152)
    If you’re headed to Qatar for the World Cup you should know that drinking in public is illegal however it is legal to buy  alcohol with a permit and to drink in licenced bars, clubs and hotels.

    See more at https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/qatar-introduces-100-per-cent-sin-tax-doubling-price-of-alcohol-overnight/news-story/04a48ce9f97e66db02b00bf1a9cc9a47

  • Truck Driver Warns of Alcohol Risks After Eating a Hot Cross Bun

    If you have a fancy for hot cross buns you may want to take it easy on these treats before driving.

    With Easter approaching, a truck driver is warning motorists to be careful when they eat hot cross buns and drive because of the alcohol content.

    The driver posted a video demonstrating eating a hot cross bun and then taking a breathalyser test, showing that the confection can impact your blood alcohol level.

    She warned truck drivers to be careful, especially if you had a hot cross bun for breakfast.

    In her breathalyser test she tested 0.018 after eating a hot cross bun.

    See more at: https://www.qt.com.au/news/could-eating-hot-cross-bun-and-driving-get-you-arr/3615962/

  • Irish People Try America’s Strongest Alcohol

    The Irish know their alcohol, bringing us such world loved brands as Baileys and Guinness but what would they think of America’s strongest alcohol? In this video Irish people try a drink that’s 95% alcohol, let’s see what’s the verdict.

  • The 5 Types of Problem Alcohol Drinkers

    According to new research from Penn State University, there isn’t just one type of problem drinker. In fact  there are as many as 5 distinct types of problem drinker profiles.

    Researchers found that disordered drinking can vary from person to person.

    For one drinker, problem drinking may involve falling over and getting themselves in dangerous situations while for others it may not seem to interfere with their lives at all.

    Scientists also found that certain drinking profiles were more common at different life stages, for example young adults may be more likely to experience adverse effects such as hangovers and withdrawal symptoms while older drinkers may struggle with alcohol-related injuries more often.

    Researchers outlined the following 5 problem drinking profiles, which may help you identify a problem drinker among your friends, family or patrons,

    1. Alcohol-induced injury: In addition to drinking too much, people in this profile reported getting into risky situations during or after drinking that may have resulted in injury.

    2. Difficulty cutting back: People in this group struggled with wanting to cut back on their problematic drinking but being unable to.

    3. Highly problematic, low perceived life interference: While people in this group reported experiencing many symptoms, they said their drinking did not interfere with their family, friends, work or hobbies.

    4. Adverse effects only: People who fit this profile reported experiencing hangovers or withdrawal symptoms in addition to drinking too much.

    5. Highly problematic: People in this group reported experiencing every symptom of alcohol use disorder.

    Read more at https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/five-types-problem-alcohol-drinkers-one-151748286.html

    According to an assistant research professor at the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, Ashley Linden-Carmichael, author of the groundbreaking study, the findings may have crucial implications for how alcoholism is understood and treated in the future.

    Linden-Carmichael says the research shows that we should think beyond whether a person has an alcohol use disorder and look specifically at what they’re struggling with and whether they’re in a particularly risky category.

    Alcoholism can affect many aspects of a person’s wellbeing, including their physical and mental health.

    According to statistics, the number of people admitted to hospital with alcohol-related behavioural disorders has grown over the past decade by a staggering 94% for people between 15-50 years and by 150% for people over 60 years old.