RSA Course Online

Tag: alcohol consumption

  • RSA Training: Serving Alcohol to Minors – The Implications

    According to an article on www.thechronicle.com.au young drinkers that are dependent upon alcohol (in other words have an alcohol addiction) are nearly 10 times more likely to have had 10 or more sexual partners within several years than people who do not have an alcohol problem. The article was quoting a new study published in the journal “Drug and Alcohol Dependence” by author Dr Joseph Boden amongst others.

    Although the survey was conducting on New Zealand youth, the culture of binge drinking among young people is comparable to Australia’s.

    The new study shows that these young people are also nine times more likely to have committed violent offences than young people who have no alcohol abuse issues. The implication of this is great because it shows that quite a number of juvenile and violent young offenders are most likely to be misusing alcohol and if we remove alcohol from this equation, the young adult crime rate could drop by as much as 47 per cent.

    The research was conducted at the Otago University in Christchurch, New Zealand involving more than 1000 people who were part of the long term study.

    Read an excerpt from a post on www.thechronicle.com.au which explains more about the survey:

    The study’s authors, including Dr Joseph Boden, estimate in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence that the elimination of all alcohol misuse could reduce the young adult crime rate by up to 47 per cent.

    The research, from Otago University at Christchurch, is based on interviews with around 1000 members of a long-term study who were born in the city in 1977.

    The alcohol study draws on answers from when they were aged 21, 25 and 30.

    Five per cent met the clinical criteria for alcohol addiction. Up to a quarter had problems with alcohol that were less serious but still affected their daily life to some extent.

    Dr Boden said much alcohol research focused on the impact on teenagers – “because they do the most drinking, it peaks at age 21 and drops after that.

    Our study shows these adverse effects are occurring up to the age of 30″.

    He said earlier research by his group had indicated the risks of hazardous drinking patterns were now stretching further into adult life because of New Zealand’s trend of delaying parenthood, which now on average started in the early 30s.

    “It shows people are living this extended adolescence.

    Source: http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/multiple-partners-linked-alcohol-comnsumption/2008849/

    With people attempting to prolong their youth they are also doing a lot of partying which means doing the same things they did when they were younger such as binge drinking.  As people delay parenthood they are able to be more irresponsible because as the post explains, “parenthood knocks this stuff right out of people- the drinking, the drugging.” They normally don’t clean up their acts unless they have to.

    Dr Boden went on to explain that alcohol law changes passed by NZ Parliament last December were weak and didn’t sufficiently address the problem.

    New Zealand’s councils have been warned to take note of the survey’s findings in light of the new local policies they are currently developing.

     

     

  • Football Legend Suffers due to Excessive Alcohol Consumption

    The importance of Responsible Service of Alcohol training goes beyond just legal compliance, it has far reaching consequences on the community. That is why every worker in a licenced venue must undergo RSA training to ensure that they are equipped to handle serving alcohol to patrons in a responsible manner that will not negatively affect them or you.

    When we hear stories of people whose entire lives have been destroyed by alcohol, the real reason for RSA training sinks in. I recently read an article about legendary footballer Paul Gascoigne whose entire life has been destroyed by alcohol abuse.

    According to the media, Paul Gascoigne’s physical health is now being negatively affected. He is reportedly suffering from stomach pains because of his years of alcohol abuse. The ex-footballer even has to stay away of certain foods because they cause too much pain because of the damage already done to his stomach.

    In the article it is explained that the star has altered the way he eats and drinks because of the irreversible damage done.

    Read this excerpt from the article on DNAIndia.com which explains,

    Troubled football legend Paul Gascoigne is reportedly suffering from stomach pains because of alcohol abuse and cannot eat anything acidic because it gives him severe gut pain. Staff at the favourite watering hole of the former England star have said that they had to start watering down their smoothies which he loves to order as the drinks contain acidic fruits such as orange, apple and lemon.

    Revealing that Gascoigne would come in to the bar and drink their healthy smoothies in public, when presumably he was knocking back the alcohol in private, a barman said that the they had to water down their orange and apple juice as his stomach had rotted after all the boozing. According to the report, the England football legend, who went into rehab in the USA earlier this year to try to end his addiction for good, has been a major cause of concern for his family and friends.

    Read more at: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/1864579/report-gazza-s-tummy-has-rotted-due-to-chronic-alcohol-abuse

    Alcoholics not only suffer physically and emotionally but they often inflict suffering on others. Some engage in illegal activities such a stealing, robbery and brawling while others turn on the people closest to them. The article goes on to describe Gascoigne legal problems linked to his assault of his ex-wife and a security guard. The post goes on to explain:

    Gascoigne has been charged with two counts of assault on his ex-wife and a security guard, adding that he also has been charged with being drunk and disorderly. The former Newcastle United and Tottenham midfielder was arrested for assaulting his ex-wife Sheryl and a security guard at the railway station and was later released on police bail.

    Read more at: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/1864579/report-gazza-s-tummy-has-rotted-due-to-chronic-alcohol-abuse

    Although we all know the negative consequences associated with excessive alcohol consumption, it becomes even more real when we experience it first-hand or hear the stories of real people affected by these problems, such as Paul Gascoigne’s story, cases such as his highlight the need for RSA training.

     

  • Thousands sign petition for Secondary Supply Laws in WA

    Thousands have signed the petition for secondary supply laws in Western Australia, an initiative spearheaded by mother of four, Samantha Menezes.

    Menezes’ crusade has reached new heights with almost 6000 signatures which have now been tabled in Parliament after being formally backed by the Labour party with its own bill.

    Last week minister Mick Murray proposed changes to the Liquor Control Act to restrict the provision of alcohol to juveniles without consent from a parent or legal guardian. The Liquor Control Amendment Bill 2013 proposes penalties for guilty parties of up to $4000.

    This is not the first time a parent has taken on this cause. In November 2011, Victoria passed the secondary supply law and Bruce Clark was the key force behind this legislation after his son Leigh tragically passed away after consuming alcohol supplied at a private party supervised by a consenting adult.

    Minister Mick Murray had this to say about the bill, according to a post on Yahoo News site:

    Mr Murray said the laws would provide “parental back-up” when teens were told they could not drink and would help reduce out-of-control parties.

    Secondary supply laws, which other States have, are being considered in a wider review of the Act.

    “I don’t think we can afford to wait,” Mr Murray said, adding the review had been extended to September. “Before we run into the summer months, especially, when the parties start, we could have someone injured or die from alcohol poisoning.”

    Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/17565588/thousands-sign-alcohol-petition/

    According to a report on Yahoo News Southern River Liberal MP Peter Abetz tabled the petition, consisting of 5875 signatures on behalf of Mrs Menezes and expressed his confidence that secondary supply laws would be recommended in the review especially when you consider the overwhelming support it has received from the community.

    According to Mrs Menezes, most of the people who signed the petition were of the impression that the laws were already in place.

    The post on Yahoo News went on to state:

    Mr Waldron reiterated his support for any plan that would mean less harm to children, but said it would be irresponsible to pre-empt the review.

    People can still sign the petition at change.org.

    Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/17565588/thousands-sign-alcohol-petition/

    The Australian Drug Foundation was amongst the organisations lending their support to the bill and on their website (http://www.adf.org.au/policy-advocacy/secondary-supply) they explained why. According to them by the age of 17, some 95 per cent of students have tried alcohol. 42 per cent drink every week and only 45 per cent of these underage minors say their parents gave them their last drink.

    They went on to explain why they support these secondary supply laws:

    The ADF supports the NHMRC alcohol guidelines and believes secondary supply legislation, with the following features, is required in every jurisdiction:

    that an adult must not supply alcohol to a minor at a private place unless the adult is a parent or legal guardian of the minor, or has specific permission of the parent or guardian; and

    that any alcohol consumption by minors should be controlled by their parent, or equivalent, in order to reduce young people’s access to alcohol, and to reduce the likelihood of harm in instances where young people do drink alcohol.

    Source: http://www.adf.org.au/policy-advocacy/secondary-supply

     

  • Can Excessive Drinking be Harmful to would-be Dads?

    A recent study looked into the harm that excessive drinking can do to men and the children they have later on. WA researchers have urged men to limit their alcohol consumption before starting a family because a link has been identified between alcoholic spirits and childhood brain tumours.

    While the negative effects of pregnant women drinking excessively on their children has been well documented, it has only now emerged that men’s drinking habits too could affect children. This is even more motivation for men to drink in moderation.

    The WA study looked into 690 Aussie families with a child suffering from either acute lymphoblastic leukaemia or childhood brain tumours and discovered that men who consumed up to seven drinks a week in the 12 months before conception increased the risk of childhood brain tumours by almost 50 per cent.

    An article on Yahoo News website explains more about the study and its findings:

    The Telethon Institute for Child Health Research study also found men who drank 21 or more beers a week might also be placing their future children at greater risk of leukaemia and brain tumours.

    Study authors Elizabeth Milne and Carol Bower said with recent data showing 8 per cent of men between the ages of 30 and 39 consumed at least four standard drinks a day, “a large number of men may be putting their future offspring at risk”.

    The study concluded that men, as well as women, “should limit their alcohol intake when planning a pregnancy”.

    Professor Bower said while there was a great deal of research on the impact that women drinking while pregnant had on babies very few studies had looked at the effects of paternal alcohol consumption.

    “We don’t know too much about the causes of leukaemia or brain tumours, so there will certainly be a lot more work being done in this area,” she said.

    Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/16931166/alcohol-alert-for-dads-to-be/

    According to Prof. Bower our entire society is drinking too much and there is evidence that suggests this drinking in fathers, especially of spirits in the year prior to conception may have a negative effect on the child.

    Surprisingly the study found no evidence linking maternal alcohol consumption before pregnancy with cancer in children, but of course there may be other serious consequences for mothers who drink during pregnancy.

    The study also showed some evidence linking wine consumption to a reduced risk of both childhood brain tumours and leukaemia, but according to researchers this did not change the fact that drinking while pregnant should be avoided.

    The article went on to explain:

    Mike Daube, director of the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth, said the study was significant and carried important messages.

    “This will certainly need to be further explored, but it shows just how far-reaching the impact of alcohol can be,” he said.

    “While many people – though not enough – are aware that women should avoid alcohol in pregnancy, this tells us that men as well as women should exercise great caution about alcohol use if they are thinking about having a child.” He said the message was especially important because about half of all pregnancies in Australia were unplanned.

    Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/16931166/alcohol-alert-for-dads-to-be/

     

  • Researchers Concern at Rising Alcohol Harm despite Fall in Consumption

    An informative article I recently read on the website http://theconversation.com discussed how despite falling alcohol numbers, alcohol induced harm is still on the rise. This seems quite paradoxical considering that when the consumption of something decreases, the effects of that substance are also expected to decrease, not so with alcohol it seems.

    Previously we have viewed alcohol induced harm as directly correspondent to level of alcohol consumption in a community but this is not necessarily the case, according to new research by Michael Livingston, post-doctoral research fellow in the Drug Policy Modelling Program at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and a research fellow in the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre.

    The research looked into countries drinking habits such as Sweden where per capita alcohol consumption has fallen in the last five years while the rates of harm associated with alcohol has remained fairly consistent.

    A similar phenomenon was experienced in Britain where alcohol consumption has apparently decreased since 2004 yet harm induced by alcohol consumption has remained high and Australia seems to be in the same boat as Sweden and England.

    Read an excerpt from the article below which explains further:

    Over the last decade or so, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics have shown almost no change in the amount of alcohol consumed per person in Australia. In 2000/01, it was 10.15 litres of pure alcohol, while in 2010/11 (the most recent year for which data are available), it was 9.99 litres. In contrast, rates of alcohol-related harm are increasing.

    Recent studies in Victoria of both adults and young people have found sharp increases in a range of problems from alcohol. This includes rates of alcohol-related hospitalisations, presentations at emergency departments due to intoxication, late-night assaults, domestic violence involving alcohol and alcohol treatment.

    And a national study of alcohol-related harm between 1995 and 2006 found increases in alcohol-related hospitalisations in all states.

    http://theconversation.com/alcohol-fuelled-violence-on-the-rise-despite-falling-consumption-9892

    Recently the issue of hospitalisations due to alcohol induced harm have become a matter of particular concern, costing the economy millions and taking up beds in hospitals that could be occupied by people with serious natural illnesses.

    One thing these findings make very clear, vilifying alcohol is not the answer. Drinking alcohol is not the source of the violence and harm but the few people who are still abusing alcohol are the problem. Alcohol consumed responsibly and moderately is good for you, both in terms of mental and physical wellbeing but abusing alcohol and binge drinking which has become a part of our culture is the real culprit and needs to be tackled.

    Another painfully obvious part of these findings is that people whose responsibility it is under the law to ensure alcohol is sold and served in moderation are not doing so well enough. Responsible Service of Alcohol is a vital part of the plan to tackle alcohol induced harm in Australia and it can only be successful if the staff of every licenced venue across Oz does their part.

     

  • RSA Update: Does Liquor Outlet Density Affect Residents Health?

    A question that often faces the community and authorities in charge of issuing liquor licences is whether or not the density of liquor outlets and licenced venues in a neighbourhood has an effect on the health of people in that neighbourhood.

    Many believe that the more licenced venues and outlets an area has, the more difficult it is to enforce responsible service of alcohol laws.

    Now new research by the University of Western Australia has determined that people with more liquor outlets in their neighbourhood do in fact have higher levels of harmful/ binge drinking and also suffer from worse mental health that those who live a further distance away from outlets.

    The study funded by Healthway was published in a prestigious online US journal called PLOS One and is important because most research on alcohol outlet density in the past has focused only on violence, crime, safety and vehicle crashes. The findings of the research are particularly significant because it supports the plan by the WA Health Department to establish a healthier WA,part of the plan is to limit the density of alcohol outlets.

    The research found that the rate of alcohol consumption and harmful alcohol consumption in particular increased as the number of alcohol outlets in the neighbourhood also increased. This also has an effect on the mental health of the neighbourhood as well because the study shows that more people had to be treated for anxiety, depression and stress in areas that were more densely filled with liquor outlets.

    What the research proves is that authorities concerns about alcohol outlet density is valid and limiting the number of outlets in a particular area is warranted.

    Read the post below which elaborates on the research from www.news.uwa.edu.au:

    Co-author Associate Professor Lisa Wood, Deputy Director of UWA’s Centre for the Built Environment and Health, said the study reinforced the WA Health Department’s five-year plan for a healthier WA.

    “One of the suggestions in the five-year plan is limiting the density of alcohol outlets,” she said.

    “We found that the average number of standard drinks per day and the rate of harmful alcohol consumption increased for each additional alcohol outlet in a neighbourhood.”

    The researchers also found that the likelihood of being treated in hospital for anxiety, stress or depression increased as the number of alcohol outlets within walking distance (1600m) of home increased.

    “While the association between alcohol outlet density and injury, crime and violence are well documented, this is one of the first studies internationally to specifically look at how this might impact on mental health disorders,” Associate Professor Wood said. 

    The study was based on Department of Health survey data from nearly 7000 Perth-based adults, and used geographical mapping to link this to the location of all licensed alcohol outlets in Perth.

    “Our findings underscore the importance of limiting both the number of liquor store licences and the geographic density of outlets as a way to improve mental health and reduce other alcohol-related harm,” Associate Professor Wood said.

    Source: http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201301235382/research/health-issues-linked-nearby-liquor-outlets

     

  • Alcohol Consumption Down Since the 70’s

    The Shout – 18/7/11

    The latest ABS research found that Australia’s alcohol per capita consumption in 2008/2009 was significantly lower than it was in the mid 1970s.

    “In 1960-61 Australians consumed the equivalent of 9.3 litres of pure alcohol per person, climbing to a high of 13.1 litres in 1974-75,” it states.

    ”Consumption started to fall in the early 80’s, hitting a low of 9.8 litres in 1995-96. Since then, it has crept up again to 10.4 litres in 2008-09, which is still a fifth lower than the 1974-75 peak.”

    There has also been a drop in per capita alcohol consumption in 2010 compared to 2009, down from 10.4 to 10.37 litres of pure alcohol / capita – a decline of over 18 percent since 1979.

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