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Tag: Alcohol

  • America Urged to Cut Limit on Alcohol for Drivers

    A debate is raging in The United States about whether or not to lower the legal alcohol limit for drivers following a surge in road deaths caused by drink driving.

    According to an article on The New York Times website, thousands of people are killed on American roads each year by car crashes caused by drivers who have been drinking but have not reached the legal alcohol limit. Therefore these drivers are not actually “drink driving” because they are acting within the law, yet lives are still being lost.

    The National Transportation Safety Board said that it recommended states reduce the allowance blood-alcohol concentration by more than one third. It is currently 0.08 per cent BAC whereas it has been suggested that the USA drop this to 0.05, this is more in line with standards around the world, including in Oz.

    According to the group, the current standard is outdated, it was established over a decade ago and at present around 10,000 fatalities are happening on USA’s roads each year.

    Read what the article on NYTimes.com went on to discuss about the issue:

    “There are at least 10,000 reasons to tackle this issue,” said Deborah A. P. Hersman, the chairwoman of the board. Foreign countries with stricter standards have had substantially more success, according to the board.

    The board voted for a variety of recommendations. Some, like requiring that everyone convicted of drunken driving be required to install a Breathalyzer interlock in their car, which would prevent the vehicle from starting without an alcohol test, were focused on heavy drinkers and repeat offenders.

    Officials said they hoped that a stricter standard would reduce drinking and driving both among social drinkers and among heavy drinkers.

    Blood-alcohol concentration varies by body weight, gender, stomach contents and other factors, but generally speaking, a 180-pound man could consume four beers or glasses of wine in 90 minutes without reaching the current limit. At a limit of 0.05 percent, he could legally consume only three. A 130-pound woman could probably consume three drinks in 90 minutes and be legal under the existing standard; if the limit were lowered, she could consume only two.

    Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/us/legal-limit-drunken-driving-safety-board.html?_r=0

    However not everyone thinks reducing the BAC limit for drivers is such a good idea. Members of the American Beverage Institute have criticised it for failing to address the real problem, drunk drivers not drivers who are responsible by sticking to the limit. The post goes on to explain:

    The blood-alcohol recommendation faces opposition. Sarah Longwell, the managing director at the American Beverage Institute, a restaurant trade association, called the idea “ludicrous.”

    “Moving from 0.08 to 0.05 would criminalize perfectly responsible behavior,” she said. And “further restriction of moderate consumption of alcohol by responsible adults prior to driving does nothing to stop hard-core drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel.”

    Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/us/legal-limit-drunken-driving-safety-board.html?_r=0

    But government statistics have apparently been provided which show that people with a blood-alcohol level of 0.05 percent are 38 percent more likely to be involved in a crash than those who have not been drinking while people with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent are 169 percent more likely.

    Most American states only switched to a BAC of 0.08 in the year 2000 when Bill Clinton signed a law which withheld highway construction money from states that did not do so but the rest of the world agrees that 0.05 BAC is the acceptable limit and some countries like South Africa are even considering lowering it even further after a number of alcohol induced crashes.

     

  • How to Enhance your Alcohol Enjoyment

    Alcohol has been referred to as the “nectar of the gods” that can enhance health, relaxation, pleasure and social interaction but consumed in excess, alcohol like all things in life can be detrimental. When you go to a party would you eat the entire cake by yourself? No, of course not so why is that some people think they can drink in excess without any consequences?

    So if getting drunk is bad for you why is that it is so socially and culturally acceptable? In Victoria for example 40 per cent of drinkers admitted to consuming alcohol for the sole purpose of getting drunk to the point of slurred speech and lost balance. This is an overwhelmingly high number of drinkers engaging in binge drinking and probably a large number of them also engaging in other alcohol related misconduct.

    According to a survey by the group FARE (The Foundation for Alcohol and Research Educations), two thirds of Aussies believe it is acceptable to get drunk. The survey also revealed that almost a quarter of Aussie drinkers report not being able to stop drinking once they start. They have most probably conditioned themselves to drink excessively over a period of time which is why they cannot stop at one or two drinks.

    FARE’s survey also revealed that 3.5million Aussies suffer from drinker’s remorse. This is indicative of a problem of self-control and a culture of excessive drinking engrained into people from a young age. Most Aussies don’t feel comfortable in a pub, bar or club without drinking and some (Around 25 per cent) drink until they can’t remember anything.

    Another problem identified by the survey which is contributing to the culture of “drunkenness” is pre-drinking. Around 50 per cent of drinkers drink at home before heading out to a club, pub or bar, many are already intoxicated when they get there.

    Here are some tips to combating excessive drinking:

    1. Know your limits and stick to it. In addition to knowing the legal limits and what constitutes a standard drink, develop a system to understand your limits and quit drinking before you get drunk.

    2. Eat food while you drink. It is particularly good to eat high protein foods such as cheese and peanuts, which help to slow the absorption of alcohol into the circulatory system.

    3. Sip your drink. If you gulp a drink for the effect, you are losing a pleasure of drinking, namely tasting and smelling the various flavours, for example in wine.

    4. Accept a drink only when you really want one. At a party if someone is trying to force another drink on you, ask for ice or drink a non-alcoholic beverage.

    5. Become a connoisseur,learn to choose quality rather than quantity. Learn the names of fine wines, whiskeys, and beers. Learn what beverage goes with what foods rather than just drinking the cheapest drinks so you can consume more and get more intoxicated.

    I came across an interesting saying which basically sums up responsible drinking it says, “Drinking responsibly means never having to feel sorry for what happened while you were drinking”.  Ultimately this means not becoming drunk.

     

  • Report claim Advertisers Exploit Broadcasting Loophole

    According to a report on ABC.net.au, health groups say a new report analysing alcohol advertising during the finals series of the AFL and NRL revealed thatthere are an alarming number of instances where advertisers exploit a loophole in broadcast regulations.

    Not long ago a Sydney hospital expressed its concern over the number of patients with alcohol related issues taking up hospital beds and medical attention which they believed called for radical steps including addressing loopholes in broadcasting regulations which allowed alcohol advertisements during the biggest matches.

    Even Police Commissioner Karl O’Collaghan has expressed his concerns about the increase in alcohol marketing specifically targeting young people and children.

    The analysis done has proven that the public are inundated with alcohol advertising, especially during sporting events. The main concern is the exposure that young children and teenagers are getting to alcohol messages which according to experts in the report, contribute to adopting drinking earlier in life and can contribute to problem drinking.

    Although there is a lot of support for closing this loophole to ban alcohol advertising especially during sporting events, some argue that alcohol advertising is not causing alcohol related problems, people are. This is evident by the fact that the overall amount of alcohol consumed in Oz has decreased.

    Watch this video from ABC which explains allegations that advertisers are taking advantage of a loophole in regulations:

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-27/alcohol-advertisements-exploit-boradcast-loophole/4655064

     

  • Brutal Glassing Incident Culprit Escapes Prison

    An alcohol related crime committed in 1988 has once again come under the spotlight as the person convicted for the murder has again escaped prison after gaining parole for the incident in 1988 and now escaping jail time for the recent fight.  The man was involved in an assault while on parole for the first incident but this time received a suspended sentence.

    The convicted murderer was sentenced to 21 years in prison after smashing in the head of another patron at a nightclub in 1988 and killing him. Once released on parole in 2010, the man was involved in yet another incident in a bar in Melbourne where he glassed a security guard. Surprisingly the man has managed to escape prison because security cameras showed that he was initially the victim and the glassing was just a case of mistaken identity. The man thought he was glassing his attackers when in fact he was glassing the security guards who were trying to help him.

    TheShout.com.au reported on the incident, see below what the article had to say:

    Jeffrey Alan Thomas served 21 years in prison for the 1988 murder of a fellow nightclub patron, who he killed by repeatedly dropping a large rock on his head at the climax of a scuffle that occurred upon leaving the venue.

    Thomas was on parole in November 2010 when he became involved in a fight while drinking at the Cubby House Lounge Bar in Moonee Ponds in Melbourne’s north west. Security camera footage showed that Thomas was initially the victim in the incident. Following a verbal altercation, he was set upon by a group of up to eight men who punched and kicked him while he was on the ground.

    When security intervened to protect him, Thomas, who has poor eyesight and had lost his glasses in the melee, attacked one of the security guards, first punching him in the head before repeatedly striking him in the head with a glass he had subsequently picked up off the bar.

    As a result of the assault the security guard sustained several deep lacerations to his head. He received stitches and was discharged from hospital later that evening.

    The County Court of Victoria sentenced Thomas on March 26 this year. Judge Marilyn Harbison had heard evidence that Thomas had made strong progress in his rehabilitation in his latter years in prison and upon re-entering the community.

    Read more http://www.theshout.com.au/2013/04/22/article/Glassing-offender-avoids-prison-sentence/PMGJKKXMRE.html

    The judge in this case expressed her concern over the recent increase in violent incidents especially glassings occurring on licenced premises.

    According to the prosecutor, Thomas is a threat to the safety of the community however the judge pointed out that his previous offence of murder occurred under similar circumstances and that the man and the others involved had been drinking and so the incident was fuelled by alcohol. She then ruled that the three-year prison sentence she imposed on Thomas should be fully suspended.Thomas was warned that if he committed any crimes like this again he would definitely be sent back to prison.

     

  • Risks Involved with Drink Driving

    One of the aspects of responsible drinking is ensuring that you arrange safe transport home and do not engage in drink driving.

    Although most people think they can handle driving after a few drinks, countless studies (and statistics) have proven that alcohol reduces a person’s ability to drive safely. Even those who show few visible signs of alcohol in their system do not drive as well as usual after drinking. This is because alcohol affects most areas of the brain, and these effects are wide-ranging and impossible to compensate for. The brain being responsible for your movements and reflexes, it becomes difficult to engage in complex tasks once it has been affected by alcohol.

    It is also because alcohol is a depressant which means it has the following effects:

    • Slowing brain function making it difficult to respond to situations, make decisions or react quickly.
    • Reduces a person’s ability to judge how fast they are travelling or the distance from other cars.
    • It gives a person false confidence. People take greater risks because they think their driving is better than it really is.
    • Makes multi-tasking difficult. When it comes to driving, while you concentrate on steering, you could miss seeing traffic lights, cars entering from side streets or pedestrians.
    • Affects the sense of balance which is especially important for motorcycle riders.
    • Causes sleepiness.

    From these effects it becomes obvious that operating any machinery or vehicles once intoxicated is not only irresponsible but selfish because you could do more harm to others than you do to yourself. It is not only car or truck drivers that can injure or kill people and damage property as an incident in Brisbane recently proved. An elderly man was charged with operating his motorised wheelchair while intoxicated. The man was without any remorse although being found to be 4 times over the legal limit. It seems the man’s motorised wheelchair overturned probably due to speeding or reckless driving.

    Read what this post on Brisbanetimes.com.au reported on the incident:

    Ray Vivian Hodges, of Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, recorded the alcohol reading after police found him sprawled on the ground, shirtless and mumbling incoherently, beside his overturned scooter at Mooloolaba in late March.

    With the aid of a walking stick, Mr Hodges has faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court for what was his fourth drink-driving charge since 2008.

    Mr Hodges who admitted consuming 10 large glasses of wine, recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.209.

    He had “taken offence” at some police allegations particularly the categorisation of his scooter as a vehicle, saying “on this occasion, the wheelchair was my legs [and] as my legs, it was the only way I could get home”.

    Mr Hodges was disqualified from driving for 18 months and sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for two years.

    Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/elderly-man-nabbed-drink-driving-on-motorised-wheelchair-20130416-2hx8b.html#ixzz2QhgXkVBE

    The magistrate said that in light of the recent death of a scooter rider, Kim Horrigan, who was hit by a van at Currimundi, people like Mr Hodges need to be stopped before they kill themselves or someone else.

     

  • 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.

     

  • 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

     

  • 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.

     

  • Alcohol Suspected in Car Wreck in which 5 were injured

     

    A woman whose state of mind was impaired by alcohol is alleged to have been the cause of a car crash in which 5 people were injured. The woman crossed the centre line of the road, going over onto oncoming traffic and striking another vehicle. The woman was also travelling over the speed limit and according to police was not wearing her seatbelt. In addition to being injured herself, the driver also caused the injuries of other innocent road users, an example of the real cost of drink driving, in addition to the financial costs of fines and penalties.

    Read about the accident below with a post from www.news-record.com:

    Eden police said they suspect a woman was impaired from drinking alcohol when she crossed the center line and crashed into another vehicle Thursday evening, injuring herself and four other people.

    Eden police said Rhonda Reid Wood, 49, of Eden was driving her Chevy Malibu above the speed limit west in the 100 block of East Aiken Road about 7 p.m. when she crossed the center line and struck a Toyota Camry.

    Wood and the driver of the Camry, a 29-year-old Eden woman, were taken by helicopter to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Wood was listed in serious condition Friday morning. The driver of the Camry had been released from the hospital.

    The three passengers in the Camry — a 36-year-old man, a 7-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy — were taken to Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden.

    The adult passenger was later released. Information about the children was not immediately available.

    Source: http://www.news-record.com/news/787889-63/number-of-victims-unknown-in

    Although this incident occurred in The USA, similar situations are occurring on a regular basis in Australia and it is a relevant topic because statistics for Oz show that almost all fatal crashes involve drink drivers.

    Responsible service of alcohol employees need to understand the role they play in ensuring patrons do not drink and drive. Not serving too many drinks to the same person and stopping patrons from driving if you are aware that they are intoxicated or over the legal limit are part of a server’s responsibility, whether you are a waiter, bartender or sommelier. Any worker of a licenced venue as well as licensees need to undergo Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training in order to understand their duties and RSA responsibilities.

    The fact that 30 per cent of all fatal drink drive crashes occur between 9 pm and 3 am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights indicates that RSA staff need to be extra vigilant at these times, which could be a challenge because bars and pubs are usually most crowded around these times.

    RSA staff should assist patrons that are visibly intoxicated to call for transport home, whether it bea taxi, a friend or family member and encourage them not to drive. If necessary call the transport for them and do your part to keep our roads safe for all Australians.

     

  • How do You Know When you’ve had Enough

    Knowing when to quit is an important quality that we need to develop in order to become responsible drinkers. But the problem with this is that once we start drinking, the alcohol relaxes us and gives us a sense of euphoria which is difficult to quit. So the more we drink, the more we want and often we don’t feel inebriated until it’s too late. For this reason it’s best to count the number of standard drinks we consume, set ourselves a limit before we even start drinking and stick to it.

    Calculating a standard drink is the next thing we need to learn. It’s not rocket science and rather than counting glasses or bottles counting the number of standard drinks we consume is a more reliable way of keeping track of the actual quantity of alcohol we have already downed.

    Bottles, glasses and cans contain varying amounts of alcohol and so counting these can be misleading and not give us any indication of where we are in terms of the legal limits. Whereas a standard drink is a unit of measurement for measuring how much alcohol is contained in a drink, so it is a more reliable way of keeping track of the alcohol we consume.

    A standard drink by Australian standard is any drink containing 10 grams of alcohol. One standard drink always contains the same amount of alcohol regardless of the container size or alcohol type consumed. The number of standard drinks in an alcohol beverage is always shown on the label of the container.

    This is how you calculate it:

    Volume of container in litres

    X % alcohol by volume (ml/100ml)

    X 0.789*

     =number of standard drinks

    (Multiply the volume of the container in litres by the alcohol volume and multiply that by 0.789.)

    This will allow you to plan your consumption more carefully and be a responsible drinker.