RSA Course Online

Author: Peter Cutforth

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol Update: Is Mixing Alcohol and Energy Drinks a Problem?

    There has been a lot of talk in the media recently about the dangers of mixing alcohol and energy drinks but is there any truth or even proof to these allegations?

    Energy drinks have taken off on the market since 1997 and now we can find them everywhere from supermarkets to petrol stations. It is estimated that the market for energy drinks is around $9 billion American dollars each year (around $8.6 billion Australian dollars).

    One of the risks associated with energy drinks especially for alcohol drinkers is that energy drinks contain an exceptionally large amount of caffeine. For this reason drinkers can stay awake longer and continue drinking even well beyond legal and safe limits, thereafter they begin to jeopardise their health and the present a risk to others if they become violent.

    A standard cup of coffee has about 100 milligrams of caffeine, a cup of tea 50 milligrams and a can of cola 35-55 milligrams. Energy drinks usually have more. A single serving of an energy drink can have anywhere from 50 to 500 milligrams of caffeine and the addition of Guarana (a South American plant extract that contains additional caffeine) ups the caffeine dose even more.

    Caffeine is a stimulant and massive caffeine overdoses can cause reduced blood flow to the heart and abnormal heart rhythms, whereas alcohol is a relaxant and is meant to do the opposite of what caffeine does, this is dangerous for the body.

    Also most energy drinks also contain sugar which the body uses to fuel work but can also mean extra calories which if not used will be stored and result in weight gain.

    Every drink alcoholic or not, energy drinks or just sodas should be consumed in moderation. Anything consumed in excess is bad for human health and normally results in complications. The same goes for alcohol, it can be an excellent relaxer but consumed in excess it can present a very real danger to health and safety and when combined with energy drinks the consequences can be even worse.

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol News: Lengths Alcoholics Resort To in Order to Fuel their Habits

    For non-alcoholics it may seem strange the lengths alcoholics will go to feed their addiction. Some people have been known to rob their own family members or even their employers to obtain money to buy alcohol. Others have engaged in illegal activities such as prostitution in order to get the money to feed their habits. An example of this strange and dangerous behaviour occurred in Sydney last year when a woman with an alcohol addiction walked out of a Sydney hospital where she was being treated without being discharged.

    A search then ensued for the woman who was later found intoxicated in Paddington a week later. The woman seemed disillusioned when the police caught her, claiming she thought she had been away from the hospital for only a few hours when in fact it was a week.

    The police claimed that the woman had been breaking into homes and stealing alcohol during the time she went missing. She was then charged for breaking into 3 houses and robbing them of alcohol.  Luckily this person did not cause any harm to any other persons  but this incident could have turned out much worse.

    The story does however have somewhat of a hopeful ending because the woman involved is currently undergoing rehabilitation and will hopefully be able to overcome her addiction.

    Read what this post from Abc.net.au had to say about the incident:

    A woman who sparked a police search when she walked out of a Sydney hospital last year has admitted stealing alcohol while her family and friends were looking for her.

    Belinda Burcham walked out of St Vincent’s Hospital on the 30th of December without being discharged, sparking a large police search and an online campaign by her family and friends.

    It is understood the one-time businesswoman is an associate of Moses Obeid.

    Burcham was found drunk in Paddington about a week after she disappeared. She later told police she thought she had only been gone for a few hours.

    Police say that while she was missing, Ms Burcham was breaking into Paddington houses and stealing alcohol to support her addiction.

    The 40-year-old was charged with six offences relating to three break and enters on the same street.

    Documents tendered to Waverley Local Court allege Belinda Burcham stole two bottles of wine valued at $1600. The owner is looking for compensation.

    The documents also state she was crying so much when police tried to interview her that they had to stop.

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-18/woman-who-sparked-search-admits-alcohol-theft/4579252

    Overcoming an addiction is an ongoing battle and most alcoholics require professional help and rehabilitation in order to kick the habit. But prevention is better than cure especially when it comes to addictions, that is one of the reasons why Responsible Service of Alcohol training is so important.

    Every worker in a licenced venue must be in possession of a Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate not only for legal compliance but also to ensure they have the knowledge and skill needed to avoid serving too much alcohol to customers or contributing to alcohol fuelled violence or addictions.

     

  • Mixing Up your Cocktail Menu – How to make a Victorian Martini

    Cocktails are a favourite of many drinkers and bartenders around the world, but where exactly did this idea come from, after all drinks are perfectly delicious on their own, why the need to combine a number of drinks in order to make a new concoction, known as a cocktail?

    Well the modern cocktail is thought to have developed from earlier versions of Toddies, Fizzies and Juleps. There is no definite story around the history of the cocktail but it is thought to date back to the 1800s and there are number of stories (some quite far-fetched) about how people first decided to mix drinks. The modern version spread due to popularity in the United States but it probably first started in London.

    (Read this story that claims cocktails developed in London http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ultratravel/9741140/The-surprising-history-of-the-cocktail.html)

    Wherever its origins we can all be thankfully that it spread because while we can appreciate a good shot of whisky or bourbon neat, there are some settings where nothing can replace a cocktail (like lying on a beach in The Carribean).

    And since cocktails most probably were born out of a need for something new and exciting, it makes sense that we are inventing new and exciting cocktails everyday. Just like fashions, trends in cocktails change with each season, so whether you’re inventing your own or copying some international trend, have fun playing around with different ingredients and mixtures.

    Here is a simple and delicious recipe you can try.

    http://youtu.be/7yJpVFzSteU

     

  • Alcohol Crime Takes Too Much of Police Time

    According to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione alcohol fuelled crimes are up and are taking a huge amount of the police’s time and resources. The Commissioner says the police are spending around 70 per cent of their human resources on alcohol related crime in NSW, an issue that will feature high on the agenda at the 6th Australian Drug and Alcohol Strategy Conference which will begin on Wednesday.

    The conference will aim to tackle issues in Australia relating to alcohol abuse. The Commissioner who kickstarted the conference told the press that police spent most of their time dealing with offenders, victims and motorists in incidents induced by alcohol.

    It is interesting that Mr Scipione said the number of young people binge drinking was lower but those who were still binge drinking were consuming even larger amounts of alcohol. The Commissioner has urged parents and fathers in particular to educate their kids about the dangers of binge drinking and how to drink moderately and responsibly before they even reach their teen years.

    Read what this post from News.com.au says about the Commissioner’s complaints:

    ALCOHOL-RELATED crime takes up 70 per cent of all police work in NSW, Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says.

    The 6th Australian Drug and Alcohol Strategy Conference kicked off on Wednesday in Sydney with top police brass and academics to deliver presentations and share ideas over the next three days.

    After opening the conference, Mr Scipione told reporters that police on the streets spent the majority of their time dealing with offenders, victims and motorists in incidents that involved alcohol.

    “The reality is about 70 per cent of police time on the streets … is in some way connected to the abuse or misuse of alcohol,” he said.

    “Alcohol is the number one issue on the agenda for police commissioners across this nation.”

    Mr Scipione said the number of people under the age of 25 who were binge drinking was in decline but those who engaged in heavy drinking were consuming larger amounts of alcohol.

    He stressed that parents, especially fathers, should educate their children about alcohol before they became teenagers.

    Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/alcohol-related-crime-takes-up-cops-time/story-e6frfku9-1226601388764#ixzz2O3ck3mjv

    An interesting issue highlighted by the Police Commissioner is the role of parents in educating young people about alcohol before they are old enough to make mistakes involving alcohol. Some of the worst case scenarios that can result from teen drinking is binge drinking, drink driving and unsafe sex which is why abstinence is best for teenagers.

    Particularly in Australia alcohol is tolerated as socially acceptable but it should be remembered that it is still a drug.  It should be noted that alcohol is responsible for most drug-related deaths in the teenage population in Oz and many other countries around the world.

    Additionally alcohol can be associated with a variety of serious health risks which for a teenagers developing body can be detrimental.  It’s difficult to prevent teenagers from experimenting with alcohol, but parents can encourage sensible drinking habits.

     

  • Police Weekend Blitz Yields Hundreds of Arrests

    Last weekend saw police making hundreds of arrests related to alcohol fuelled misconduct. In addition to numerous arrests, many people had to be hurled away in stretchers as this video demonstrates. According to the video the numbers of alcohol fuelled incidents have decreased however, they are still unacceptably high. Binge drinking in entertainment districts is still a major problem with partygoers continuing to abuse alcohol and refuse to behave appropriately.

    http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/watch/eef2554e_edd6_33d0_afc9_f2b23fc7c54b/police-blitz-on-alcohol-related-violence/

    Alcohol servers in these districts have a major role to play bringing down the volume of alcohol fuelled incidents. This can be done by not serving alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age and never serving alcohol to unduly intoxicated patrons.

    Serving alcohol to a person that is already intoxicated is contributing to the violence and assaults that are so rife in the entertainment districts each weekend. Servers who continue to serve alcohol to unduly intoxicated patrons are not only harming the person but the public as well who may be injured or affected by the person’s intoxication, people end up in hospital, jail, or even dead because of the consequences of binge drinking.

  • How to Avoid Binge Drinking this Weekend

    So you’re planning an evening out with your mates but usually an evening out means an evening of binge drinking and nothing but regrets the next morning.

    Most people don’t intend to get hammered on a night out but once you down your first few drinks, it’s like you can’t say no, somehow alcohol helps us lose our inhibitions and leaves us worse for wear the next morning. So how do we avoid excessively drinking and just enjoy one or two drinks without it turning into an all-out binge? Here are a few pointers on how to drink moderately and responsibly:

    • Lose bad company. The old saying about birds of feather really is true when it comes to habits like binge drinking. The biggest cause of binge drinking is culture and peers. Most people drink because all their friends drink and when we go out especially on the weekend, we tend to want to get intoxicated together, not many people enjoy getting drunk alone, unless they have a drinking problem. So lose the bad company until you are strong enough to say no and drink according to your own limits. Remember what your friends can handle may not necessarily be what you can handle.
    • Be extra cautious when you are drowning your sorrows or when you are celebrating. Make sure that you are in control and aware that you may be using alcohol to feel better. Be mindful as you can end up feeling even more depressed when it wears off. If you suspect that you are possibly depressed and not coping, then seek advice and help instead of masking it with drinking. If you are drinking to cope with a setback be responsible and arrange safe transport home.
    • Consciously monitor the amount of alcohol you consume on a night out. Make it a rule and a habit to have a glass of water in between every drink and eat a hearty meal before drinking. Set a limit for yourself and stick to it. If you are a woman, make sure that you are consuming less than your male friends because it takes less to get you drunk than it does them.
    • Remember that we get very thirsty when we drink because alcohol is a diuretic and the trick is to drink water. If we don’t, we tend to drink more alcohol to quench the thirst, making the problem worse.
    • Have “small” drinks and dilute in as much soda or water as you can. Find the drink that you enjoy the taste of and sip it. If it is a wine or beer and if your chosen drink is a spirit, dilute it in water or soda, this will keep the added sugar content down.
    • If drinking with a group of friends, make sure there is a designated driver that doesn’t drink even one drink. Not only can this person drive you home but they can look out for your safety and wellbeing while you drink. They can also monitor how much you drink and help you stick to your limits because they are thinking clearly whereas you will probably not be after a few drinks.

  • New “Booze-Pill” to cut Effects of Alcohol

    Researchers from The University of California claim to have created a pill that can not only reduce the visible effects of intoxication but can actually lower blood alcohol content and therefore reduce liver damage caused by excessive drinking.

    The miracle “booze pill” study was published in the Nature Nanotechnology journal recently and documented how scientists combined 2 enzymes and tested their ability to act as an alcohol prophylactic and antidote.

    The study was conducted on mice that were given a combination of the enzymes. The mice recorded lower blood-alcohol content over time. Although human beings are different to mice, the study has been used to develop the “booze pill” which it is hoped will have similar results on humans.

    Read what this post on Yahoo News reported on the new pill:

    In a study published in the Nature Nanotechnology journal today, scientists combined two enzymes and tested their ability to act as an alcohol prophylactic and antidote. Intoxicated mice given a combination of the enzymes recorded lower blood-alcohol content over time.

    Researchers from the University of California found the blood-alcohol concentration reduced 10.1 per cent 45 minutes after the alcohol intake, by 31.8 per cent at 90 minutes and 36.8 per cent at three hours – compared with smaller reductions when the mice were given alcohol followed by just one of the enzymes.

    To test the pill’s antidote potential, the team injected intoxicated mice with the two enzymes 30 minutes later. The mice were found to have healthier livers and a significant reduction in blood-alcohol concentration, compared with those injected with one enzyme.

    Research author Yunfeng Lu said the work suggested that the artificially produced “nanocomplexes” could provide a method for preventing liver injury arising from the over-consumption of alcohol.

    “Excessive consumption and abuse of alcohol are associated with a range of organ injuries and social problems,” Professor Lu said.

    Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/16163205/tablet-cuts-effects-of-alcohol/

    But drinkers shouldn’t get too excited about the prospect of drinking to their hearts content without any consequences. According to WA Professor, Mike Daube from the McCusker Centre for Action in Alcohol and Youth, the drug is still a speculative concept and cannot be hailed as the answer to society’s drinking problems. According to the professor the problem of excessive drinking is a theoretical one rather than scientific and mice are very different from human beings so it is not guaranteed that the same results will repeated in people.

    In the immediate future, the Professor suggests in the article that tackling the issues of alcohol pricing and accessibility are more important than addressing long term drinking. He also warned that most experimental pills seldom go beyond the laboratory, so relying on this “booze-pill” is not the answer.

    Fostering a culture of responsible drinking is the only way that we are going to achieve a solution to the alcohol fuelled social problems in Oz. One of the ways to do this is by enforcing responsible service of alcohol laws. Don’t serve alcohol to underage patrons or patrons that are unduly intoxicated. Promote responsible drinking in your bar or pub by encouraging people to drink in moderation and not to drink and drive.

     

  • Drink Drivers Cars to be fitted with Interlock

    All drink driver’s cars will be fitted with interlock devices at their own cost under a new reform of Vic’s road laws.  The crackdown on drink drivers is expected to catch about 17,000 motorists a year who exceed the legal alcohol limit. This is a serious issue in a state where 20 to 30 per cent of road deaths are a result of drunk drivers.

    The interlocks stop the car’s engine from starting if the driver drinks over the legal limit and attempts to drive.

    The Herald Sun newspaper conducted a survey into whether citizens were in favour of the new reforms of not and 83 per cent consented to the increased use of interlocks. The survey convinced the State Government of the public’s support of the interlocks and toughening drink driving laws.

    The interlock costs the driver around $400 to install and $160 a month to maintain and also requires the driver to undertake a re-test while driving, cost and inconvenience that I’m sure everyone wants to avoid. And by forcing users to pay, it was a deterrent to drink driving because nobody wants to part with their own money. Use of the interlock device costs $1049 for six months and over a four year period it would cost the person $6509. If a driver attempts to start the vehicle while drunk and the car doesn’t start, the attempt is still recorded. This is an important deterrent as authorities believe that most drink drivers are repeat offenders of will be. In fact 30 per cent of drink drivers will attempt to drink drive again.

    Read what this post by HeraldSun.com.au had to say about the issue:

    “This will also bring about a strong cultural change and it will save lives,” Mr Ryan told Fairfax Radio today.

    “People get killed on our roads not because of accidents – it happens because people make poor choices and the issue here is do not drink and drive.”

    The law will apply to all drink-drivers, unless they are able to convince a court “exceptional circumstances” exist in their case.

    Interlocks protect not only the community and would-be drink-drivers, but the drink-drivers from themselves

    Work has already started on drafting the legislation and the Government will enact it as soon as possible.

    “Some may argue these are harsh penalties for drink-drivers,” Mr Ryan said.

    “But people should remember interlocks aim to stop more families from suffering the pain of losing loved ones. Interlocks protect not only the community and would-be drink-drivers, but the drink-drivers from themselves.”

    Currently, only repeat offenders, drivers who blow more than .15, and those aged under 26 who blow .07 or more have interlocks fitted.

    The duration ranges from six months to four years depending on the blood alcohol reading and on whether the driver is a repeat offender.

    Read the full story at: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/toughest-clamp-on-drink-drivers-since-booze-bus/story-fnat79vb-1226584586165

    592914-interlock-device

    This infographic from HeraldSun.com explains more about the interlock:

    Source: HeraldSun.com

    Recognising the signs that indicate intoxication is vital to people who serve alcohol because as an RSA worker you want to ensure you do not contribute to the problem of drink driving or any other form alcohol fuelled misconduct. The RSA Course is the first step in ensuring your contribution to safer and healthier Australia by helping you recognise your responsibilities and duties according to the law and how to carry them out. If you notice a person is unduly intoxicated or has had a significant amount of alcohol, encourage them to take public transport home or call them a taxi.

     

  • Alcohol Advertising Targeting Children According to Study

    The damage that alcohol can do young people is a topic that is particularly relevant to workers in the RSA industry because they play such an important role in making sure minors don’t get their hands on alcohol.

    Anyone whose work involves selling or serving alcohol to the public, need to consider the negative effects of alcohol on teenagers and the legal consequences of serving minors. Anyone in a position to serve alcohol to underage minors needs to be aware of the consequences of their actions, which can be detrimental to young person because it may instil in them a drinking problem later in life.

    Studies have already proven that the younger a person starts drinking, the more likely they are to binge drink at a later stage in life. Now a new study in the UK has confirmed what many have suspected even here in Oz, that children are more exposed to alcohol advertising than their parents.

    Although the study was arranged by the European Commission and surveyed children in the UK, similarities can be drawn to Oz. Even here alcohol advertising has been criticised as targeting children with its themes and timeslots, especially during big sporting events.

    Another interesting finding by the report was that social media advertising of alcohol is on the rise which may have a greater impact on young people as they are the ones who predominantly use social media.

    According to the New Zealand based Alcohol Action group alcohol advertising encourages young people to start drinking and for those that are already alcohol consumers, marketing encourages them to drink more. The group are afraid that these advertising and marketing messages are saying to youth that alcohol is the way to happiness and success.

    Read about the study below, the post was taken from Tvnz.co.nz:

    Youths are more exposed to alcohol advertisements than their parents, according to a new study.

    A new study for the European Commission found that children in the UK are more exposed to alcohol marketing than adults are, with 10 to 15-year-olds seeing 10% more alcohol advertising on television than their parents do, and 50% more ads for pre-mixed drinks.

    The report also warned of the expansion of alcohol marketing on social media like Twitter and Facebook, which many young people use.

    Alcohol Action New Zealand says alcohol marketing increases the likelihood that teenagers will start drinking and encourages those who already drink to consume more.

    It said in a statement that alcohol advertising helps to maintain the country’s “damaging drinking culture through influencing the population, especially the next generation, to believe that drinking alcohol is the path to happiness and success”.

    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/kids-see-more-alcohol-marketing-than-adults-study-5360443

    The consequences of underage drinking go beyond the physical impact that alcohol has on the developing body of a teen, but it also affects the choices they make, which often can impact their entire lives.

    The Responsible Service of Alcohol regulations dictate that any person who looks young must be asked for their ID by alcohol servers, especially people who appear under the age of 25. Serving alcohol to minors can result in a fine for the server, the venue and even the young person, so be sure that you aren’t contributing to the problem by asking young people for an ID and ensuring that they are over the legal drinking age.

     

  • New Website to Educate Teens about Alcohol

    Out tonight? Party Right

    A new website has been launched to hopefully educate teenagers about the dangers of binge drinking. The website launched by the State Government is trying to spike the interest of youngsters in Narromine and Trangie by helping them discover and understand the potential consequences of drinking alcohol. Dubbo MP Troy Grant is alerting senior high school students to the creation of www.partyright.nsw.edu.au

    The program was developed by the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing and the Department of Education and Communities and is aligned with the NSW school curriculum. The website’s lessons include video games and guide to learning “how to have fun, celebrate safely and stay on the right side of the law”

    Read more about the new program below with an article from www.narrominenewsonline.com.au

    In highlighting the website to the community, Mr Grant said he was not being approached by concerned constituents.

    “However, given my background in policing and my current role as a member of the legislative assembly committee’s public hearings into under-age drinking, I am aware of a growing trend in this issue,” he said.

    “The drinking of alcohol by minors causes serious risk to their brain development and puts their general safety at considerable risk.

    “That is why I support any effort to promote awareness and deter underage drinking wherever possible.”

    Mr Grant said the online program’s lesson topics included binge drinking and partying, sexual activity and alcohol, and drinking and your health.

    NSW minister for hospitality George Souris launched the website this month and committed the government to implementing measures to help reduce high-risk drinking and alcohol-related assaults.

    “Our whole-of-government approach includes strong regulation of licensed venues, including targeting irresponsible venue operators through our Three Strikes disciplinary scheme,” he said.

    Source: http://www.narrominenewsonline.com.au/story/1319578/website-to-focus-on-downside-of-teenage-drinking/?cs=1238

    Statistics show that around 90 per cent of Australian teenagers have tried alcohol at least once. Some of the worst case scenarios that can result from teen drinking is binge drinking, drink driving and unsafe sex which is why abstinence is best for teenagers. Not only are teens at risk of teenage pregnancy, contracting STDs, being involved in drink driving crashes and other violence but they are also damaging their health which could have long term consequences.

    Especially in Australia teenage consumption of alcohol is tolerated as socially acceptable but it should be remembered that it is still a drug. It should be noted that alcohol is responsible for most drug-related deaths in the teenage population in Oz and many other countries.

    Additionally alcohol can be associated with a variety of serious health risks which for a teenagers developing body can be detrimental.  It’s difficult to prevent teenagers from experimenting with alcohol, but parents can encourage sensible drinking habits, especially if they are going provide the alcohol.

    According to the minister educating teenagers about responsible drinking and safe attitudes toward alcohol is important in educating the next generation and safe guarding them against alcohol related harm, that is plaguing this generation. Hopefully initiatives such as these will help teenagers make better decisions when it comes to alcohol and help RSA staff fulfil their responsibilities in not serving alcohol to minors.