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Tag: Responsible Service of Alcohol

  • Why so many road crashes are caused by Alcohol

    It seems that drink driving is one of those problems that is universal, no matter where you go in the world you will probably find drink drivers, in some places the problem may be worse than in others.

    Recently in New Zealand a woman was killed in an early morning crash which left another 3 people injured. We seldom hear of people drink driving in the early morning unless they are still on a buzz from the night before. It is not known whether the driver involved in this incident was intoxicated from the night before or began drinking early in the morning, the accident took place in Auckland around 5:30am.

    The vehicle was apparently travelling quite slowly at below 50km per hour but passengers weren’t wearing seatbelts and the driver may have been intoxicated which is what is suspected to have caused the crash and resulted in a fatality.

    The accident happened when the vehicle carrying 4 people collided with another vehicle before smashing into a power pole. The driver of the vehicle, a 20 year old woman died and the other occupants of the vehicle were injured. The second car’s occupant was not injured.

    The occupants of the first vehicle were trapped and had to be freed from the wreckage by firefighters. The injured were taken to Auckland Hospital for treatment. The article on Fullyloaded.com.au goes on to explain,

    However, speed may not have been a factor, as police told 3News it was believed the car was not travelling at more than 50 km/h.

    Police will investigate whether alcohol was involved, with toxicology tests due to be taken during a post-mortem tomorrow.

    Bottles of alcohol were found inside the vehicle, Senior Sergeant Matt Knowsley said.

    “Whether that alcohol was actually involved in the operating of the vehicle we don’t know. We’re trying to firm it up.”

    Mr Knowsley said police suspected the occupants of the crashed car were not wearing seatbelts.

    A number of people witnessed the crash, who were being interviewed by police.

    “It’s not a nice thing to see on a Sunday morning, or at any time, for that matter,” Mr Knowsley said.

    Police were in the process of formally identifying the deceased woman and notifying her next of kin.

    “The message here is, as with most accidents, they are avoidable,” Senior Sergeant Logan Christian said.

    Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11135642

    As this incident proves, intoxicated drivers do not need to be travelling over the speed limit to get into or cause a crash. This vehicle was travelling below the speed limit when it crashed and even cars travelling at moderate speeds can be involved in fatal accidents. This is a warning to all drivers about the dangers of drink driving and a reminder to RSA staff to ensure that customers who are intoxicated are not allowed to get behind the wheel. If you notice that they are intoxicated ask them if you can assist by calling a cab or a friend for them.

  • WA Police Commissioner says Parents giving Alcohol to Kids are like Drug Dealers

    The Police Commissioner of Western Australia has labelled parents who provide alcohol to their underage kids as being like drug dealers.

    Karl O’Callaghan, the WA Police Commissioner said at a school in Perth that parents who supply alcohol to minors are like drug dealers, the controversial statement was made while launching “Ocsober”. Now more than ever parents need to openly discuss alcohol and related issues with their children because alcohol harm associated with young people is higher than its even been. In fact alcohol has been named as the leading cause of teenage deaths in Australia.

    Ocsober is a fundraising initiative which is aimed at tackling youth drinking issues by encouraging young people to abstain from alcohol for the month of October, hopefully addressing these problematic issues and saving lives.

    The Commissioner made the statement while speaking to year 6 students at the Ocsober launch. The Commissioner also reiterated that alcohol continues to be the most abused drug in Western Australia.

    According to an article on Abc.net.au he went on to explain:

    “If alcohol is a drug, then let me tell you that your parents are the primary dealers of that drug because we know from research that most teenagers in Western

    Australia get their alcohol from their parents,” he said.

    “Their parents give it to them without knowing the impact it has on their brains and without knowing the impact it has on their bodies.

    “And, if we want to make a difference to binge drinking, we have to start with educating kids and parents.”

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-16/commissioner-likens-parents-who-give-alcohol-to-kids-27drug-de/4961080

    Donations for Ocsober will go towards continuing Life Education’s alcohol and drug awareness programs which run throughout WA’s primary schools.

    Mr O’Callaghan has also renewed his call on federal authorities to ban alcohol advertising during televised sports broadcasts because of the number of children that are exposed to it during these times.

    The post went on to quote O’Callaghan:

    “All of these kids are able to watch the footy final [this weekend] and all of these kids will be able to watch alcohol advertising during live sport because alcohol advertising is permitted during live sport in Australia,” he said.

    “If you’re going to change the culture, you’ve got to change the messages you send to our kids, and when I asked how many of these kids were going to watch the football on the weekend, all of them without exception put their hands up.”

    “I don’t think we’ve got any hope of changing the culture with these young people, unless we’re prepared to limit their exposure to messages about alcohol.”

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-16/commissioner-likens-parents-who-give-alcohol-to-kids-27drug-de/4961080

    With all the attention and effort being put into this Ocsober initiative and others trying to educate teens about drinking it is important that RSA do not undo all the good work done.

    Anyone serving alcohol needs to ensure that they never serve alcohol to an underage person. The best way of ensuring this is asking everyone for an ID if they look young (under 23) and ensure that if they cannot prove their age, you refuse them alcohol.

  • NSW Fines low but Drivers still drink driving

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/04/3056724.htm?site=sydney

    A police officer issues a breathalyser test to a passing motorist

    Despite the best efforts of police, the number of drink drivers in NSW is still alarmingly high and authorities are concerned.

    Dubbo police have expressed their disappointment over catching drivers with high levels of alcohol in their blood.

    On an article on www.DailyLiberal.com.au the Orana Local Area Command duty officer, Inspector Bran Johnston was quoted as saying that during the 3 day operation dubbed “Drink Drive 2” thousands of drivers were issued breathalyser tests. 2829 drivers were subjected to the random breath tests and of those 2 drivers were charged.

    One of the drivers charged was a 37 year old Dubbo woman who was charged with a mid-range PCA (prescribed contents of alcohol). She was caught in a roadside test late on Thursday.

    The 2nd person charged on Thursday evening was a 26 year old man who was charged with driving while disqualified, driving an uninsured vehicle which was also unregistered. The man’s licence was suspended until 2035.

    The following day a 26 year old Vic man was charged with a mid-range PCA offence.

    The article went on to quote Inspector Johnston as saying,

    “It’s disappointing people will still drink and drive,” Inspector Johnston said.

    “But if they do we will continue to charge them,” he said.

    Across the state, police charged nearly 200 people during the three-day operation targeting drink driving after carrying out more than 150,000 breath tests on drivers across the state.

    Source: http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/1901222/fines-low-but-nsw-cops-still-critical-of-drivers/?cs=112

    During the operation 2 Wagga Wagga drivers were also apprehended. The Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley explained that the majority of drivers on NSW roads are doing the right thing but there are a few who refuse to heed the warnings of police. These perpetrators will be caught and will be forced to face the consequences.

    The Assistant Commissioner Hartley raised an important point, it only takes one driver to drink too much and get behind the wheel a vehicle for innocent lives to be lost, one drink driver or driving offence is one too many.

    The article on DailyLiberal.com.au goes on to state some of the offences committed which police detected during the operation,

    About 3.30am on Sunday, a 17-year-old female learner driver was stopped on Trail Street at Wagga Wagga.

    She was driving without her headlights on and had three teenage passengers who were not wearing seatbelts.

    Police also stopped a 35-year-old man in Bourke Street, Turvey Park near Wagga Wagga.

    The man allegedly stopped short of a random breath test site and turned his headlights off. He returned a breath analysis of 0.106.

    His car was found to be unregistered.

    At 5.20pm on Saturday police from Gundagai Highway Patrol detected an 18-year-old Punchbowl man driving north along the Hume Highway at Mundarlo at 144km/h.

    The p-plater has been charged with driving in excess of 45km/h over the speed limit and had his licence suspended.

    Source: http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/1901222/fines-low-but-nsw-cops-still-critical-of-drivers/?cs=112

  • Kings Cross Hotels Resist Trial to Reduce Alcohol Violence

    According to an article on Smh.com.au Kings Cross hoteliers are pushing to restrict the introduction of a new system of identity scanners in their venues which is required under a state government initiative to curb alcohol fuelled violence after the tragic murder of Thomas Kelly in the district last year.

    The identity scanners are supposed to be trialled over a 12 month period which is set to begin in large pubs and nightclubs in Kings Cross in time for the peak summer trading period.

    Kings Cross licensees want the system to be restricted to Friday and Saturday nights.

    The system involves patrons being required to have photo ID scanned before entering a venue, this it is hoped will prevent patrons who are thrown out or denied access to club to immediately enter another.

    Part of the licensee’s objection is that the scanners are to be paid for by the venues. They will also be used to enforce bans that could be imposed on customers from entering Kings Cross venues for 48 hours or up to a year under the new laws which are currently before the NSW Parliament.

    Smh.com.au stated this about the trial,

    The trial will apply to all late-trading Kings Cross venues with a capacity of more than 120 people but the hotels association is understood to be arguing it should apply only to venues with a history of violence.

    The industry is believed to be warning that any broader application – such as extending the use of scanners to other weekdays and the daytime – risks driving away business.

    Publicans are also concerned about costs associated with staffing the scanners with security guards. They say the responsibility for complying with bans should rest with the individual, not the hotels.

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hotels-resist-trial-aiming-to-cut-alcohol-violence-20130913-2tq90.html#ixzz2fB7thhfT

    The Kings Cross trial was prompted by the success of the voluntary introduction of scanners by 5 venues in Newcastle. The article on www.smh.com.au went on to explain:

    Hospitality Minister George Souris confirmed that he and relevant government agencies ”had met with the Kings Cross Precinct Liquor Accord and Australian Hotels Association to discuss issues relating to the introduction of ID scanners”.

    However, he said a bill before Parliament did not specify the hours and days of operation, despite the request by the Kings Cross Liquor Accord.

    ”The matter remains under active consideration,” he said.

    The chief executive of the NSW branch of the AHA, Paul Nicolaou, said the association met with the government, police and regulators ”to discuss alcohol-related street violence in Kings Cross – we are keen to ensure any measures adopted are targeted, appropriate and evidence-based.”

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hotels-resist-trial-aiming-to-cut-alcohol-violence-20130913-2tq90.html#ixzz2fB7thhfT

    According to this system, those who breach or attempt to breach a 48 hour banning order may be liable to a maximum penalty of $5500 or a $550 fine. Those who breach or attempt to breach a long term banning order, the maximum penalty is also $5500 or a $2200 fine.

     

  • Health Experts Warn WA Govt. against Downgrading Rehab Services

    Health experts in WA have warned the state government not to downgrade any drug addiction services in the state in the midst of a merger of 2 vital government health departments, especially because recent figures have revealed that clinics are having to cope with increased cases of alcohol and cannabis problems including an increase in helpline calls from parents.

    According to statistics alcohol related hospital admissions rose by almost 40 per cent since 2007 until last year.

    The WA governments Drug and Alcohol Office annual report shows treatments in 2012-2013 rose 16 per cent to almost 33,000. The report shows that services at sobering up clinics increased 28 per cent to more than 15,000.

    Also increasing are the number of calls to the 24 hour Alcohol and Drug Information Service hotlines and the Parent Drug Information Service. The number of calls about cannabis increased dramatically in the last five years – almost doubling.

    An article about the report was posted on http://au.news.yahoo.com, the following excerpt from the post explains further:

    The report said WA’s rate of risky drinking was higher than the national average and though fewer children drank alcohol, those who did consumed more.

    Curtin University professor of health policy Mike Daube said the figures heightened concerns about the State Government’s planned merger of the DAO with the Mental Health Commission and argued it was crucial neither lost funding.

    Mental Health Minister Helen Morton announced five months ago that the two agencies would amalgamate to improve prevention and treatment services.

    She said the sectors had a big overlap, with studies showing half those with mental illness also had a drug or alcohol problem.

    Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/19130339/more-want-help-for-alcohol-and-drug-woes/

    According to the Drug and Alcohol Office’s chairman Gary Geelhoed, services in WA are under an increasing amount of pressure and the work that they are doing is vital, it cannot be stopped.

    Young people are an area of particular concern because they are increasingly being exposed to drugs and excessive alcohol. Alcohol and drug addiction have become major problems among the younger members of the population. Binge drinking is one of the issues that are fuelling the problem.

    The planned merger should not be allowed to interfere with drug and alcohol treatment in any way, according to Professor Daube. He went on to explain that although Minister Morton did have a strong commitment to the cause, the merger seemed to put drug and alcohol issues on the backburner and thereby downplay their importance.

    The post went on to explain:

    He said it was an odd time to downgrade, particularly with more parents worried about alcohol. He was frustrated that the Liquor Control Act review to address concerns had been delayed again.

    The Australian Medical Association said it discussed with Mrs Morton concerns about the merger and still had reservations about the decision.

    It warned the move could send the wrong message to people seeking medical help through the two sectors.

    Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/19130339/more-want-help-for-alcohol-and-drug-woes/

  • Can Regular Drinking be Harmful to Women?

    By now we all know that pregnant women should refrain from alcohol but can regular drinking be harmful to other women as well?

    According to some experts having that glass of wine at the end of the day may not have much effect on you now but it could resurface in the form of a problem decades later.

    According to researchers, the dramatic increase in the number of young women binge drinking is worrying because it is a daily occurrence which rises in prevalence as the woman ages.

    According to Dan Lubman, a professor of addiction studies at Monash University, alcohol has a range of functions for us – including using it to celebrate, relax and unwind, dealing with stress and even helping us fall asleep but the problem comes in when this becomes a daily experience.

    The following excerpt from a post on www.watoday.com.au explains:

    In the decade to 2011, the proportion of women drinking daily at risky levels rose from 9 per cent to 13 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

    Foundation for Alcohol Research Education chief executive Michael Thorn said daily drinking tended to kick in when women hit their 30s. They started having a couple of glasses of wines a night instead of drinking themselves into oblivion once a week as they may have done in their early 20s.

    Women aged 55 to 64 are the most likely to be daily drinkers, with 13 per cent of this age group drinking more than the recommended two standard drinks a day. One in 10 women aged 35 to 44 are daily drinkers, rising to 11.5 per cent of 45 to 54 year olds. More than 70 per cent of women cite wine as their favourite drink, according to the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research.

    Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/national/health/daily-drinking-a-hidden-time-bomb-for-women-20130921-2u6ix.html#ixzz2ff50SJ00

    Experts warn that the bad effects of binge drinking are immediately apparent such as hangovers but the health risks of binge drinking every night may only show after 20 years.

    According to the professor the general consensus is that you can drink every day without getting drunk and this is acceptable but there are “hidden health harms” associated with this kind of drinking that women should be aware of.

    The professor said drinking on a daily basis can lead to diseases in women later in life such as osteoporosis, liver disease and cancer. Also surprisingly one fifth of breast cancers are caused by alcohol. Drinking daily may also increase women’s risk of anxiety and depression as they age.

    Groups such as FARE are lobbying the federal government to have warning labels put on bottles of alcohol, such as wine which states that alcohol causes cancer, because this is not something that is widely known.

    Moderate drinking has been recommended by researchers in the past but this should not be an every-day occurrence and binge drinking should be avoided altogether because of its immediate and long term effects on health and safety.

  • Alcohol Affects Brain Circuitry in Pregnant Women

    As if women needed any more motivation to avoid drinking during pregnancy a new study has been released by neuroscientists and the University of California which proves that alcohol affects the brain circuitry of pregnant women. And for the baby the effects are even greater, prenatal exposure to alcohol, the study found disrupts major features of brain development and can lead to increased anxiety and poor motor functions.

    According to the groundbreaking study conducted by the team at University of California, Riverside, prenatal exposure to alcohol significantly altered the expression of genes and the development of a network of connections in the neocortex which is the part of the brain responsible for high-level thought and cognition, vision, hearing, touch, balance, motor skills, language, and emotion.

    When tested on mice prenatal exposure caused the wrong areas of the brain to be connected with each other, the researchers found. These findings contrast the belief widely held by some that small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy is acceptable.

    The following excerpt from an article on ucrtoday.ucr.edu explains:

    “If you consume alcohol when you are pregnant you can disrupt the development of your baby’s brain,” said Kelly Huffman, assistant professor of psychology at UC Riverside and lead author of the study that appears in the Nov. 27 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, the official, peer-reviewed publication of the Society of Neuroscience. Study co-authors are UCR Ph.D. students Hani El Shawa and Charles Abbott.

    “This research helps us understand how substances like alcohol impact brain development and change behavior,” Huffman explained. “It also shows how prenatal alcohol exposure generates dramatic change in the brain that leads to changes in behavior. Although this study uses a moderate- to high-dose model, others have shown that even small doses alter development of key receptors in the brain.”

    Source: http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/19363

    This research is significant because although researchers in the past believed that ethanol exposure from a pregnant woman’s consumption of alcohol would impact the child’s brain and cognitive development, researchers have now proven that there is a connection between exposure to alcohol and the disruption of neural networks, resulting in changes in behaviour.

    The post also explains:

    Huffman’s team found dramatic changes in intraneocortical connections between the frontal, somatosensory and visual cortex in mice born to mothers who consumed ethanol during pregnancy. The changes were especially severe in the frontal cortex, which regulates motor skill learning, decision-making, planning, judgment, attention, risk-taking, executive function and sociality.

    Source: http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/19363

    As researchers explained the neocortex region in mammals is similar, so in mice and humans it can be compared however human processing is more complex.

    For pregnant women it is best to abstain from alcoholic drinks completely rather than choose to have one or two drinks every now and then because as research proves even moderate drinking may have an impact on the foetus and even if it doesn’t, it is better to be safe than sorry.

    Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a growing disorder and the side effects and symptoms are varied in the children it affects including facial deformities, cognitive, behavioural and motor disorders because of neurobiological damage during the brain’s early development as well as mental retardations, reduced intelligence, learning disabilities, anxiety and depression later in life.

     

  • Discovering What Type of Drinker you are

    According to new VicHealth research which examined the state’s alcohol culture drinkers can be categorised according to their drinking habits.

    The research attempted to put the states alcohol culture under the microscope to examine it in a non-judgemental way to determine why alcohol is such a central part of people’s lives.

    The research is aimed at informing a new conversation about alcohol which moves beyond simply blaming individuals.

    It is hoped that the project will help us to alter our attitudes towards harmful drinking and improve the health of people in the state.

    The research was conducted by RMIT University with a grant from VicHealth Innovation Research. To determine your own drinking profile click on the link, it may open your eyes to your own drinking habits.  The profile helps you to track your drinking over time and see how your drinking evolves and hopefully figure out why and what motivates your drinking behaviour.

    It is also useful in showing just how much you drink over periods of time which may surprise you. For example while we may be aware of how much we drink in a day, when we examine our drinking over a week or a month we may be surprised.

    Take the Quiz no to find out Your Drinking Profile

    http://www.yourdrinkingprofile.com.au/

     

  • Focus on Making our Streets Safe Again

    Police in Queensland are doing their best to keep Queensland’s city streets safe over the weekend and as we approach the Christmas holiday season. In this light they have issued a stern warning to partygoers and revellers to behave, or face the consequences.

    The latest in the police’s operations was an operation dubbed “Operation Lima” which involved a clamp down on alcohol related violence and misconduct in Capricornia’s licenced venues in Rockhampton.

    Data clearly shows that in the province alcohol fuelled violence surges on the weekends and holidays in particular, affecting mostly males between the ages of 15 and 25. This age group is most at risk of being the victims of assaults but are also more likely to be the perpetrators of alcohol induced assaults.

    The following excerpt from www.themorningbulletin.com.au explains more about the Operation,

    Acting Detective Inspector Ben Carroll said the district operation was designed to reinforce the national Operation Unite, which occurs from November to December each year.

    “It’s important that police reinforce with the community that alcohol-related problems cannot be tolerated,” he said.

    “We know this time of year it gets a lot busier in the CBD area…we’ve allocated more police presence in those areas.”

    Police are hoping the increased presence will help people make better judgement calls and prevent split-second decisions which could ruin lives.

    Source: http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/police-put-regions-revellers-on-notice/2066554/

    Police are warning people that visit entertainment districts to not only be vigilant about their own safety but also to drink responsibly and not become a menace and contribute to alcohol fuelled violence.

    Remember that an intoxicated person is not only a threat to the safety of others, but is also more vulnerable to attacks because they are less aware and not in the right mental or physical state to defend themselves or act rationally.

    Police have warned that as we approach the festive season drunken misconduct will not be tolerated. It is important that licenced venues also get involved and do their part in minimising the number of alcohol fuelled incidents taking place, especially on the weekends. This can be done be firstly ensuring that all employees, regardless of position have completed their Responsible Service of Alcohol training and also by ensuring that all staff are abiding by RSA rules and enforcing them each day while serving alcohol to patrons.

    Also keep in mind that during this time of year when people are visiting Queensland on holiday and licenced venues are busier than they are at other times of the year, when employing causal staff to fill in for the summer, that they too have completed RSA training. Whether casual workers, temporary staff or people on a working holiday VISA – all must complete Responsible Service of Alcohol training and enforce the principles learnt everyday on the job.

     

  • Group wants Stronger Action to end Alcohol Fuelled Violence

    Community members and businesspeople in Byron Bay want stronger action implemented to curb alcohol fuelled violence in the area. The group, Byron Liquor Accord want the voluntary measures taken to end anti-social behaviour in Byron Bay to be made mandatory.

    The group set up by community members and businesses in the town want to combat alcohol fuelled violence in their area. The group plans on arguing for the change to be made permanent before a NSW Upper House Inquiry into alcohol abuse among young people.

    The group made their presentation before a special session of the inquiry at the Byron Sports Complex last Tuesday, October 8th.

    The following excerpt from a post on NorthernStar.com.au explains more about the group’s position:

    “Research and the experience of other places, both in Australia and overseas, indicates that a significant drop in violence can be achieved by a package of measures including a modest reduction of late-trading hours, purchase limits on drinks and the prohibition of shots and doubles,” Last Drinks at 12 spokesman Mick O’Regan said.

    “We recognize the initiative of the Byron Bay Liquor Accord in this area, although the voluntary nature of the arrangements makes enforcement a real issue.

    “Recent investigations revealed that serious breaches of the Liquor Accord occurredwithin weeks of it being signed. We need these voluntary measures to be made mandatory for all late night trading licensed venues.”

    Two Byron Bay venues – Aquarius Backpakers and LaLa Land – have landed in strife for breaching liquor laws during a Liquor Accord trial aimed at stemming the violence issue.

    Source: http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/tougher-steps-needed-end-drunken-violence-group-sa/2037751/

    Even though these 2 venues have breached liquor laws related to violence, members of the Liquor Accord are pleased that there has been a drop of 25 per cent in alcohol-related incidents during the trial so far. The trial is set to run for another 6 months, so even more improvement is anticipated.

    One of the members of the group, Mr O’Regan attributed most of Byron Bay’s alcohol woes to the “over-supply of alcohol after midnight” which he said has contributed to serious and ongoing problems which are now plaguing the community. The post on NorthernStar.com.au goes on to explain:

    Mr O’Regan said alcohol-related violence was a serious problem with far-reaching ramifications.

    “The statistics on alcohol-related violence for our community are shocking in themselves, but they don’t reveal the full story,” he said.

    “People at the frontline such as police, doctors, hospital staff and emergency personnel, have to deal with direct effects of alcohol-related harms.” 

    Source: http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/tougher-steps-needed-end-drunken-violence-group-sa/2037751/

    Byron Bay locals have also come forward and told of their experiences of alcohol related violence and anti-social behaviour, many of these people’s experiences are in addition to those reflected in the statistics. O’Regan also urged other residents to come forward to tell their stories about alcohol related violent experiences which the group hopes will shed more light on the issue.