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Author: Peter Cutforth

  • Report Shows Drinking Habits of Uni-students and It’s Foreshadowing of Australia’s Drinking

    A recent survey of first-year university students in Canberra revealed that most of them (80 per cent) drink to get drunk. Of those surveyed, 63 per cent felt comfortable with how much alcohol they consumed.

    Advocacy group FARE (Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education) said the visibility of drunken behaviour has given students a distorted view of heavy drinking.

    They see visible binge-drinking and get the impression that this is normal at university.

    A study last month on global alcohol consumption revealed that heavy drinkers have a lower life expectancy. This alarming study doesn’t seem to be deterring university students from heavily drinking, a practice they often carry throughout their life.

    FARE says excessive drinking is a learned behaviour, so drinking moderately can also be learned.

    Let’s remember our role as servers of alcohol to serve alcohol in a moderate and responsible way. Find out more about Responsible Service of Alcohol training here.

    Source: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/drinking-habits-of-uni-students-highlight-australia-s-drinking-problem-20180511-p4zesk.html

  • Easy Tequila Cocktails

    Tequila cocktails can be just as suave and sophisticated as whisky cocktails. Just watch this video and see. Here are 3 sophisticated tequila cocktails for the discerning gent or lady.

  • Flair Bartending Tricks for Beginners

    If you’re looking to take your bartending skills to the next level, this video is for you.

    Even if you’re not looking to compete, here are some skills to impress your patrons or your friends.

  • Cocktails Garnishes to Finish off Your Drink

    No cocktail is complete without a garnish to match and compliment the taste.

    In this video you’ll learn some easy, cool cocktail garnishes and techniques that every bartender should know.

  • Teenage Athletes May be At Risk to Alcohol and Drug Addiction

    Following a new study that found that young people turn to alcohol and drugs to deal with regular and intense exercise, 2 experts have reacted to the study saying that teens turn to alcohol and drugs to deal with societal pressures as well as sporting pressures.

    The Royal Australian and New Zealand School of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), which surveyed almost 3500 teenagers,found that teenage athletes who worked out more than 4 times a week were more likely to develop substance-abuse issues.

    In response to these findings, Dr Matthew Dunn, a senior lecturer in public health at Deakin University, said it’s not new that children who play regular sport can develop addictions to drugs and alcohol. He said external pressures can lead active teens to turn to drugs and alcohol, particularly teens who are sponsored or belong to a team or club.

    Find out more https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/sport-focus/2018/05/12/teenage-sports-drug-alcohol-addiction/

  • A Cure to The Hangover May Finally Be Here

    Although a lot of people enjoy a tipple every now and then many people are deterred from drinking alcohol because of the hangover the next day. For some people all it takes is one drink to develop a throbbing headache or other hangover related symptoms. There may help in sight.

    A chemical engineering  professor and wine enthusiast Yufeng Lu from the University of California, Los Angeles decided to tackle this problem and help people enjoy a couple of drinks without the fear of a hangover.

    Lu developed capsules filled with natural enzymes usually found in liver cells to help the body process the alcohol quicker.

    Testing the antidote on mice has proven promising so far with the capsules decreasing blood alcohol levels in inebriated mice by 45 per cent.

    Find out more at: https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/a-hangover-pill-tests-on-drunk-mice-show-promise-20180511-p4zerk.html

  • Simple Rainbow Cocktail

    Rainbow cocktails are all the rage but you wouldn’t have any idea how easy they are to make, given how beautiful they look.

    In this video you’ll learn how to make a simple but delicious Rainbow Cocktail.

  • Alcohol and Drug Induced Violence against Paramedics Grows

    New South Wales paramedics are being subjected to verbal and physical abuse at the hands of alcohol and drug affected people while on duty, and many are now admitting the threat of violence is just part of the territory.

    At least sixty times this year, paramedics have been assaulted, verbally and physically, the New South Wales Ambulance Service has revealed.

    New safety guidelines have been introduced which are aimed at protecting paramedics during their shifts.

    NSW Health Services Union boss Gerard Hayes said paramedics being subjected to violence by patients and members of the public was the norm and these figures are in fact “grossly under-reported”.

    Paramedics are fearful to go out and do their job because of how they will be treated. Mr Hayes says they worry if they will actually make it home safely at the end of their shift.

    Mr Hayes wants the guidelines to address this under reporting of attacks and near-misses and wanted to ensure that paramedics were dispatched in teams of at least 2. Read more at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-29/assaults-on-ambos-increases-with-fear-just-part-of-the-job/9708608

  • Drinking Alcohol While Pregnant More Dangerous Than Cannabis use In The Long Run

    Recent data has shown that mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy are exposing their unborn babies to a greater long term risk than mothers who do hard core drugs while pregnant.

    Alarming statistics were released by ACT Health revealing that one baby is born addicted to drug, tobacco or alcohol every fortnight in Canberra.

    While more mothers are accessing services to help beat their substance abuse during pregnancy,many mothers are still drinking alcohol and exposing their babies to long term health risks.

    Since experts aren’t 100 per cent sure about what amount of alcohol is safe for consumption during pregnancy, it’s best to abstain completely. Find out more at https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/pregnant-women-drinking-alcohol-put-babies-at-greater-risk-than-those-abusing-drugs-20180413-p4z9hu.html

  • Alcohol Consumption Guidelines Insufficient – Review Called for

    While we’ve been told that having a couple beers a day is okay, and won’t affect our health, researchers are saying that the current thresholds for safer alcohol use may need to be lowered.

    According to professors Wayne Hall and Jason Connor from the University of Queensland’s Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, guidelines for safe alcohol use need to be lowered following a global study which spanned 5 decades and analysed the alcohol use of 599,912 drinkers in over 19 countries.

    The study, co-authored by over 100 academics worldwide, found that excessive alcohol consumption was linked to higher risks of stroke, coronary disease, heart failure, aortic aneurysm, and fatal levels of high blood pressure while drinking no more than 10 standard drinks a week, increased life expectancy.

    “Around half of people in the study reported drinking more than 100 grams (or 10 standard drinks) of alcohol per week and almost 10 per cent drank more than 350 grams per week.

    “The study suggests that reductions in alcohol consumption could increase life expectancy by up to two years in a 40-year-old drinker.

    “However, this gain in life expectancy is only seen when alcohol consumption is below 100 grams per week.”

    Source: https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2018/04/experts-urge-review-of-alcohol-consumption-guidelines

    At the moment alcohol consumption guidelines in Australia are in line with international guidelines, no more than 140 grams per week are the suggested limit. That equates to 14 standard drinks, or around 2 standard drinks a day.

    The study suggests that lowering the alcohol consumption guidelines is necessary globally, and that the recommended limit should be no more than 100 grams a week.

    “The study supports an adoption of lower limits of alcohol consumption than are recommended in most current guidelines across the globe – 100 grams per week maximum,” Professor Hall said.

    “These recommended drinking levels will no doubt be described as implausible and impracticable by the alcohol industry and other opponents of public health warnings on alcohol.

    “Nonetheless, the findings ought to be widely disseminated and they should provoke informed public and professional debate.”

    Source: https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2018/04/experts-urge-review-of-alcohol-consumption-guidelines

    Locally the National Health and Medical Research Council is currently undertaking a revision of the Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol 2009.

    Until the council has completed their review, we should stick to the current recommendations to avoid alcohol harm. The responsible service of alcohol is a key component of minimising alcohol harm throughout Australia, including long term health affects and short term risks.

    Under Responsible Service of Alcohol law, selling or serving alcohol to a person who is visibly intoxicated is an offence. To learn more about the law and how to complete mandatory Responsible Service of Alcohol training click here.