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Tag: drinking

  • Alcohol Abuse on The Rise, but Whats the Solution?

    While the quantity of alcohol being consumed is declining, as Australians opt for quality over quantity, those that are abusing alcohol are getting more drunk and causing more harm.

    Workers on the front line, such as those from the Broome sober-up shelter say people are drinking so severely that they cant even walk themselves in, they have to be brought in wheelchairs.

    They say over the 18 years since the shelter opened, the severity of intoxication has increased and breathalysing clients has revealed this increase in intoxication levels.

    One solution that has been put forward, is the introduction of a minimum floor price for alcohol.

    This would mean that alcohol could not be sold cheaper than the floor price set per alcohol unit.

    This method has proven successful in other countries like Canada and as a result, state governments such as the WA government are considering it as a solution to the alcohol abuse problem. There are some people that believe this would give rise to an even bigger problem, that of black market alcohol.

    As servers of alcohol we must ensure we aren’t contributing to the problem. We can do our part by adhering to Responsible Service of Alcohol rules.

    Find out more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-21/alcohol-floor-price-considered-tackle-abuse-wa/9071544

  • Did You Know You Could Be Allergic To Alcohol

    Do you frequently experience adverse effects to alcohol? It may be more than a hangover, you may actually be having an allergic reaction.

    You should see an allergist or your doctor if you suspect you may be allergic  to anything but experts have discovered a few common symptoms to look out for for alcohol allergies which includes red, hot skin as well as hives, trouble breathing and diarrhoea and nausea.

    Alcohol allergies are actually a genetic trait, so inquire with your family members if they have similar allergies.

    Read the full story here.

  • Beer Cocktails to Quench Your Summer Thirst

    If the Shandy has been the only beer cocktail you’ve had recently, you may want to give this Spicier Shandy a try.

    Ingredients include,

    • The juice of one lime
    • 100mL of very cold, good ginger beer
    • 100mL very cold beer
    • 1 lime round
    • A pinch of salt

    Then, fill a glass with ice and leave it to chill. Remove the ice add the lime juice, ginger beer and regular beer to the glass and gently stir with a long spoon.

    Add a little salt on a lime round and float it on top the glass.You can also add a shot of vodka or gin.

    For more beer recipes go to https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/10/these-beer-cocktails-will-keep-your-summer-sudsy/

  • How Does Alcohol Affect Your Hormone Balance

    Have you ever wondered whether alcohol affects your hormone levels?

    According to Amy Shah, M.D., a renowned functional medicine doctor and trained ayurvedic practitioner,alcohol consumption can increase estrogen but effects vary from person to person.

    Conversely alcohol consumption can decrease testosterone, but again this depends on how much you drink.

    Although these effects are usually minimal, heavy drinking on a regular basis can cause problematic hormone level changes in both males and females, experts warn. Some of the effects include weight gain, lowered testosterone levels in women and possible infertility in both men and women.

    Read more https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/is-drinking-alcohol-bad-for-hormone-balance

  • Teenage Drinkers are Fewer but Drink More per Session

    According to research, Australian teenagers are drinking an average of 13 alcoholic drinks per session with one in five even experiencing blackouts.

    Although fewer teens are drinking, those that are drinking are doing so to more alarming and dangerous levels.

    The new research from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre showed that almost half of Australia’s psychostimulant drug users reported mental health problems and one in five had taken unknown drugs.

    The study involving 3500 of the heaviest drinking teenagers between 14 and 19 found that they drank on average 13 standard drinks (males knocked back an average of 15 drinks and females 11 at a time).

    The study showed that more young people are opting not to drink but the younger ones are still drinking large quantities.

    As servers of alcohol it’s part of our responsibility to ensure we don’t serve alcohol to teenagers under the age of 18. We can make sure of this by asking for an ID every time.See more at http://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/teenage-drinkers-are-fewer-but-theyre-downing-more-in-a-session/news-story/7c0a380fea30c89bd74457ff7ee91aed

  • How to Drink More Mindfully

    Do you drink mindfully or do you simply drink according to your habits and the predominant culture?

    Well most drinkers can agree that drinking mindfully is easier said than done, especially if you’ve been heading to the bar for years, drinking and socialising go hand in hand for some.

    For some people it’s just the feeling of having something in their hands while they chat to their mates and for others it’s a way to loosen up and socialise.This often leads to us drinking more than we realise and not really even enjoying the drink itself.

    Drinking mindfully will help you enjoy the experience of drinking more and help you avoid drinking excessively which has its own slew of consequences.

    According to a post on HuffingtonPost.com.au it all starts with pausing and asking yourself whether or not you really want that next drink, weighing the pros and cons.
    It could also involve ordering one more expensive wine or cocktail instead of four of the cheapest house wines available.

    Read more at http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/grace-enright-burns/how-to-turn-mindless-drinking-into-mindful-drinking-and-taste-the-results_a_23215823/

  • Does Drinking Alcohol Kill The Germs it Comes into Contact With

    Does drinking alcohol kill germs? Although alcohol is a well-known disinfectant, can it help for treating stomach infections, throat infections etc? In fact in the past wine was known for its disinfecting and cleansing abilities and we even use it in alcohol.

    In a 1988 study, beer and carbonated drinks were tested and found to have an effect on bacteria such as E.Coli, Shigella and Salmonella but wine had the most effective result.

    Later studies found that red wine had intense antibacterial activity, partly due to its acid pH and alcohol concentration.

    The alcohol content plays an important role, the higher the alcohol concentration the greater the ability to kill bugs. Studies show that alcohol contents less than 40% had little effect on bacteria.

    But don’t turn to alcohol to kill germs in the stomach. In a recent study involving 47 human volunteers, different alcohol concentrations or saline, were directly added to the stomach and it was observed that the greater the concentration of alcohol the worse the damage to the stomach.

     

    Read more at http://theconversation.com/health-check-does-drinking-alcohol-kill-the-germs-it-comes-into-contact-with-83504

  • Study Shows Divorce Increases Alcohol Disorder Risk

    According to recent research, compared to married people, divorced people drink more and in more dangerous ways including binge drinking.

    Divorced people tend to engage in more alcohol related risky behaviours and also have a higher alcohol related mortality.

    The recent study which was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry and based on a Swedish population of 950 000 people born between 1960 and 1990, who had no alcohol use disorder diagnosis prior to marriage, found that after divorce the rates of first time alcohol use disorder increased in both men and women. In men it increased six times and in women it increased seven fold.

    Read more about this study at https://www.forbes.com/sites/zhanavrangalova/2017/10/16/divorce-increases-risk-for-alcohol-use-disorders-remarriage-lowers-it/

  • Study Shows Teens Avoiding Alcohol and Sex

    According to a recent study from psychologists Jean Twenge and Heejung Park, teenagers of today aren’t that interested in alcohol.

    The psychologists found that teenagers prefer to stay at home and spend their time on social-media apps instead, avoiding alcohol and drugs.

    The study, which was published in the journal Child Developments, revealed that nowadays teens are less likely to drive, work for pay, go on dates, have sex or go out without their parents.

    The study surveyed the behaviour of 8.3 million teens between 1976 and 2016. See more at http://www.businessinsider.com/generation-z-sex-alcohol-driving-study-2017-9

  • Drinking Behaviour of Australians Continues To Improve

    The drinking habits of Australians continues to improve, proof that Responsible Service of Alcohol efforts are working.

    A comprehensive study conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare at the end of 2016, looked into the drinking habits of 24,000 Australians, revealing that as a nation our alcohol consumption is steadily declining.

    More and more Australians, and 80 per cent of underage drinkers are now abstaining from alcohol.

    The survey also showed that the rate of drinking among pregnant women is also on the decline.

    More than 80 per cent of Australian drinkers drink within government within government risk guidelines. Read more at https://www.theshout.com.au/77895-2/