RSA Course Online

Tag: Responsible Service of Alcohol

  • Study Finds Chronic Alcohol Use Shifts Brain’s Control of Behaviour

    A study conducted by scientists at the National Institutes of Health in the United States has confirmed what we have long suspected, that chronic alcohol use affects the way our brain’s function and control our behaviour.

    According to the study, which was conducted on mice, excessive alcohol use leads to brain adaptations that shift behaviour control away from an area of the brain involved in complex decision-making and towards the region responsible for habit formation.

    The research finally helps us explain why alcoholics and alcohol dependent people display drastic changes in behaviour and why they battle to break the habit of chronic alcohol use.

    Read what an excerpt from a post on www.nih.gov reported on the study,

    The brain’s prefrontal cortex is involved in decision-making and controlling emotion, while the dorsal striatum is thought to play a key role in motivation and habit formation. Past studies have shown that alcohol dependent individuals show problems with skills mediated by the prefrontal cortex such as impulse control. These same individuals often show exaggerated neural response in the dorsal striatum to alcohol-related cues.

    To investigate whether changes in the dorsal striatum might account for these observations, researchers led by Andrew Holmes, Ph.D., in the Laboratory of Behavioural and Genomic Neuroscience at NIAAA, measured changes in the brains of mice that were chronically exposed to alcohol vapours.

    He and his colleagues found profound changes in the dorsal striatum of these mice, including the expansion of neuronal dendrites, the branching projections of the nerve cell that conduct signals. Such changes are also seen with chronic exposure to drugs such as amphetamine. These structural changes were associated with changes in synaptic plasticity, the brain’s ability to change in response to experience, and reduced activity of endocannabinoid receptors, which are part of a signalling system that may play a role in sensation, mood, and memory.

    Read more at http://www.nih.gov/news/health/aug2013/niaaa-22.htm

    The research shows that these findings provide insight into how too much alcohol can affect learning and behavioural control at a neural level. According to a lead researcher, D Kenneth R Warren, the shift to increased striatal control over behaviour may be a critical step in the progression of alcoholism.

    The findings also suggest that chronic alcohol consumption may trigger a concerted set of adaptions in this area of the brain which produced a bias for striatal control over behaviour. The changes may be responsible for the changes in habits and compulsive behaviour displayed by alcoholics.

    This research also helps us understand how to treat alcoholism but suggesting that the best treatment may be one designed to normalize striatal function.

    The researchers also went on to explain that when it comes to drug abuse, the brain’s functions are simply impaired but are complexly adapted and deteriorate the functioning of some areas of the brain while amping up other areas.

    Yet more evidence that proves moderate alcohol consumption is best, not only for your immediate safety but for your health and brain functioning as well as to avoid developing dangerous alcohol habits.

     

  • Serving Alcohol Responsibly: Illegal “Home Bottle Store” Seized

    Police are targeting home bottle stores since the discovery of an illegal home shop last week. Police found numerous bottles of alcohol in the house and discovered that the homeowners were actually running an illegal alcohol shop, charging as much as $100 for a bottle of spirits and $150 for a block of beer. This is despite the ban on full strength take-away alcohol in the area since 2007.

    This post from Yahoo News explains further:

    Fitzroy Crossing police are targeting illegal home bottle shops after alcohol was seized from a house in the Junjuwa community last week.

    Officers executed a search warrant on the home and uncovered 52 bottles of bourbon, 21 bottles of wine, 14 bottles of scotch, four bottles of rum and seven blocks of beer throughout the house.

    Sen. Sgt Andrew Stevens said the homeowners were charging $100 for a bottle of spirits and $150 for a block of beer.

    A ban on full-strength takeaway alcohol came into force in Fitzroy Crossing in 2007.

    Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/18767879/police-seize-alcohol-from-home-bottle-shop/

    One of the reasons why home bottle stores are so bad for the community is because in addition to not adhering to tax laws, these operators are not adhering to Responsible Service of Alcohol laws.

    Regulation of these illegal shops is impossible so they can sell alcohol to minors, to alcoholics or drunk customers and can cause violence to erupt in the community without authorities having any means of recourse if they do not know where these illegal home shops are being run.

    This community was noted for alcohol fuelled problems which is why a ban on full strength take-away alcohol was implemented in the first place and any positive change seen by this ban is often erased by unscrupulous illegal traders, taking advantage of members of the community by charging exorbitant prices for alcohol.

    There is a reason why it is so important that people who serve or sell alcohol are trained to do so, it is so that the community is not harmed by this. This is precisely why Australian legislation dictates that anyone who sells or serves alcohol complete the Responsible Service of Alcohol course.

    The course covers the following important topics

    1. An introduction to RSA – teaching you the principles of serving alcohol responsibly.
    2. RSA legislation – covering the skills and knowledge necessary to sell or serve alcohol according to NSW legislation. Here you will learn about the legal requirements of RSA.
    3. The impact of alcohol – including the risks to your patrons, including long-term health problems, associated with alcohol consumption. You will also learn how alcohol impacts on personal and community health.
    4. The section on RSA strategies will provide you with a range of skills that will help you to comply with the requirements of the liquor laws.  This section helps workers practically apply what they have learnt by looking at role plays demonstrating best practice in RSA strategies.

     

     

  • Parents Supplying Teens with Alcohol under NSW Laws

    An article on Illawarra Mercury’s website recently discussed the NSW law which allows parents to supply alcohol to their children and supply alcohol to the children’s friends with their parent’s permission.

    Under the current law in the state, parents can provide alcohol to the kids and authorise other adults to give their children alcohol.

    A NSW mother, Fiona Morgan speaks about the importance of weighing the issue, even though she would not give alcohol to her son Adam, her 15 year old son however she did agree with the law in principle.

    She went on to explain in the post on www.Illawarramercury.com.au

    “If it comes through parents and permission is being provided, you know what and how much they’re drinking,” she said.

    “If not, kids will get alcohol elsewhere and it won’t be in a controlled environment, and that’s when it gets dangerous.”

    The NSW Legislative Committee on Social Policy is conducting an inquiry into the appropriateness of laws relating to provision of alcohol to minors, with the hot-button issue being the ability of parents to either directly supply, or allow another adult to supply, their children with alcohol.

    Lance Barrie, research manager at the University of Wollongong’s Centre for Health Initiatives, said the issue of “secondary supply” was one of the biggest problems around minors and alcohol.

    “In NSW, there is no limit on the amount of alcohol that can be supplied,” he said.

    “NSW has better laws than some other states but they could definitely be tightened up.”

    Read more at: http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1636606/teen-drinking-should-parents-be-allowed-to-supply-alcohol/?cs=12

    According to the National Health and Medical Research Council it is best that parents delay drinking among their teens for as long as possible for their health and safety, especially because of its effect on their developing brains and nervous system.

    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.

    How does this NSW law regarding teenage drinking affect RSA Staff?

    The fact of the matter is that anyone employed in a licenced venue should not be serving alcohol to minors and may be at risk of receiving a fine of up to $11,000 and possible jail time for breaking this law.

    A person must not obtain liquor from licensed premises on behalf of a minor unless the person is the parent or guardian of the minor. Anyone who fails to adhere to this law may receive an $11,000 fine or 12 months imprisonment (or both). They are also at risk of receiving an on-the-spot fine of $1,100.

    Parents, while it’s difficult to prevent teenagers from experimenting with alcohol, you can encourage sensible drinking habits, especially if you are going provide them the alcohol.

     

  • NZ Alcoholic Couple Neglects Children

    The consequences of alcoholism has been highlighted by an incident which happened in New Zealand recently, the incident highlights the importance of Responsible Service of Alcohol because RSA staff play an important role in denying alcohol to people who demonstrate a drinking problem – to avoid incidents such as this one.

    A NZ couple reportedly neglected their 4 children by failing to provide them with food and medical care but rather prioritised alcohol, drugs and parties. Police arrested the parents for their neglect who placed having a good time ahead of taking care of their 4 children.

    The parents were subsequently sentenced to community service and intensive supervision for neglecting their children, all of whom are under five years old.

    This sad and shocking story was reported by News.com.au as follows:

    In January, police found the children, all under five, at a Hutt Valley home, unkempt, hungry and sick with skin sores that required hospitalisation.

    Police were alerted by concerned neighbours who saw children running out on to the street unsupervised during a party.

    On arrival, police found the adults extremely intoxicated and aggressive in a “fairly chaotic scene”.

    “This was not an issue of poverty for this family, these parents simply prioritised alcohol, drugs and parties ahead of the needs of their children,” Hutt Valley Inspector Mike Hill said.

    Both parents pleaded guilty to four charges of neglect, one for each child, in May.

    On Monday, Judge Susan Thomas sentenced the father to six months of community detention, between the hours of 7pm and 6am, along with 80 hours of community work and 18 months of intensive supervision.

    Source: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/parents-neglected-kids-for-alcohol-police/story-e6frfkui-1226672472853

    The mother was arrested and sentenced to 160 hours of community work and 18 hours of intensive supervision. Both mother and father must also undertake intensive drug, alcohol, parenting and budgeting courses.

    The young children, ages 4,3,2 and seven months were extremely neglected and being so young were obviously not able to take care of themselves. Despite the young age of the children, the home contained no baby formula or food for the children, there was also no beds or furniture for them to sleep on.

    Unsurprisingly the kids were removed from their parent’s custody. It is sad that innocent children suffer because of the irresponsibility of parents. But this inability of many adults to control how much they drink is one of the reasons why Responsible Service of Alcohol training is so important.

    Often once people become intoxicated they cannot control themselves, this leads to excessive drinking as well as a plethora of other consequences such as violence, medical conditions and alcoholism as well as the decline of the family unit.

    If staff of licenced venues pay more attention to their patrons and begin enforcing RSA rules more closely, we should see a decline in alcoholism and alcohol misconduct.

    Responsible service of alcohol training teaches workers how to identify intoxicated patrons and how to deal with them. It also teaches RSA staff the consequences they and their employer may face if RSA laws are breached.

     

     

  • Liquor and Gaming Laws in NSW under Review

    The government of New South Wales have called for public submissions on liquor and gaming laws under review. A government official recently announced that the review would report on the public consultation process.

    The review will be tabled in parliament late this year and will assess whether the liquor laws introduced in 2008 are effective at the moment, including consideration of whether increased penalties, new offences, expanded regulatory powers etc. are continuously effective.

    TheShout.com.au reported on the NSW liquor and gaming law review:

    The New South Wales Government has called for public submissions as part of five-year statutory reviews of the Liquor Act 2007 and the Gaming and Liquor Administration Act 2007.

    Minister for Hospitality George Souris on Friday said the review will report on the public consultation process and is to be tabled in Parliament by December 13 this year.

    “The new liquor laws introduced in July 2008 represented the biggest change in quarter of a century and this review will go a long way to assessing their effectiveness,” he said.

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2013/07/10/article/NSW-reviewing-liquor-and-gaming-laws/STMPZOPGGY.html

    The post went on to describe the changes that were made to the laws in 2008 aimed at reducing alcohol harm among the community including the establishment of a liquor licensing body to replace the previous system which was court-based. The post goes on to explain:

    “Those changes included increased penalties, new offences, expanded regulatory powers, a Community Impact Statement process for liquor licence applications and establishment of an administrative-based liquor licensing body to replace the previous court-based system.”

    Souris said the review will be led by Michael Foggo, a lawyer and Commissioner of the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing for three years before retiring from that position four years ago.

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2013/07/10/article/NSW-reviewing-liquor-and-gaming-laws/STMPZOPGGY.html

    The review which will take its course over the next 5 years attempts to ensure that the policy objectives and terms of the legislation are still as valid today as they were when they were implemented and allow the community to voice their opinions on relevant issues.

    The post on TheShout.com.au goes onto explain:

    Submissions should be sent via email to [email protected] or sent to:

    Statutory Reviews

    Policy & Strategy, NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing

    GPO Box 7060

    SYDNEY NSW 2001

    The final date for submissions is August 30, 2013.

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2013/07/10/article/NSW-reviewing-liquor-and-gaming-laws/STMPZOPGGY.html

    While the laws governing liquor and gaming may change, one aspect which is unlikely to change is Responsible Service of Alcohol laws.

    RSA law dictates that every worker in a licenced venue needs to undergo specific RSA training to enable them to serve alcohol according to liquor laws in their state. The basic rules of RSA include not serving alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age- 18 and not serving alcohol to unduly intoxicated patrons.

    Workers already in the industry who have not yet undergone this training or others wishing to enter the industry can register and complete the course online from the comfort and convenience of their home. Simply visit our homepage for more information on how to register.

     

  • Dutch Have New Unorthodox Way of Dealing with Alcoholics

    An interesting new method of dealing with problem drinkers has emerged from The Hague. A volunteer organisation in Amsterdam has found a new, totally unorthodox method of dealing with alcohol addicts who steer up trouble in public areas by providing them with beer in exchange for them cleaning up public spaces.

    It appears the problem of alcohol addicts spending their days in public parks has gotten out of hand in the city which is why these addicts are being gather in community centres for a day of work, cleaning up the parks and are rewarded with a beer with which to start their day.

    An excerpt from a report on http://news.xinhuanet.com explains:

    It is 9 a.m. and Tom can’t wait to have another beer. Tom is one of the first alcohol addicts today who gather at the community center for another day of work. And while most workdays in the Netherlands start with a fine cup of coffee, he and the others team members start their day of work with a can of tepid beer.

    Tom a member of the special cleaning force composed of 19 alcohol addicts. While most of them used to cause trouble in the neighborhood by being publicly drunk and shout at people, now they pick up the rubbish from the bushes. The reward for their public service is beer.

    “That cupboard over there is our treasury,” Tom says while pointing at the large cupboard behind the round table. The storeroom is ceiling-stuffed with beers and Tom impatiently gazes at the six-packs piled up to the top.

    “Here you are,” team leader Gerrie says, distributing one can for each worker in the room, while accurately ticking off the names on the list.

    Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-08/24/c_132659967.htm

    It is unlikely that such an approach would ever be adopted by other nations but what exactly is the reasoning behind the strange approach?

    Well apparently it is a way of providing structure to these drinkers’ days which would normally just be wasted drinking in the park.

    The initiative focuses rather on exchanging drinker’s work with 5 cans of beer, a warm meal, a tobacco pack and 10 euros for each day’s work. These people are finally being reached despite numerous attempts. There are around 82,000 alcohol addicts in the Netherlands and every year almost 30,000 people with an alcohol problem are treated.

    In the Netherlands there are numerous professional treatment facilities available for problem drinkers with an emphasis placed on early intervention and outpatient treatment.

    Most participants of the programme have experience living on the street and many of them have serious health issues which costs the economy millions. So giving alcohol does not sound like a responsible thing to do in the first place but Dutch counsellors believe their method is effective, having experienced a positive change in the last year from these methods.

     

  • Sobering Up Centres opened in Sydney to Crack down on Alcohol-fuelled Violence

    In an attempt to crackdown on alcohol related violence the New South Wales government have opened the first of its “drunk tanks”.

    Police in Sydney’s CBD and Randwick were the first to start operating the tanks last week. But drinkers and visitors to entertainment districts do not need to fear, the centres are reserved exclusively for violent or nuisance drunks, so those who are ‘well behaved’ have no need to worry about being locked up.

    Those who should be concerned are people who are intoxicated in a public place, refuse to move on direction by police and behave in an anti-social manner that may endanger themselves or others. These people will be detained and kept in a drunk tank (or sobering up centre).

    The first night of the sobering up centres resulted in 5 men aged from their late teens to early twenties being locked up and fined $200 each before being released the next morning.

    The tough new conditions were spurred on by the death of a teenager in July last year. Thomas Kelly’s death in Sydney’s Kings Cross District resulted in a range of new regulations including a ban on the sale of shots after midnight. The teenager was hit while walking in the district with his girlfriend last year and died in hospital a few days later.

    In the wake of the new sobering up centres, the State Government also announced further legislation to curb alcohol-related violence, including bans for disorderly behaviour, ID card scanners and greater supervision at high-risk venues.

     

  • Alcohol Legislation to address abuse in the Pilbara

    Pilbara is one of those places that is battling to come to terms with alcohol abuse and its effects on the community. I recently came across an article on Abc.net.au which discussed the problem and why legislation is being passed which would prohibit some communities from obtaining alcohol at all.

    The article explained the damage done by alcohol from the perspective of a chief executive of the Bloodwood Tree Association, Bon Neville. Neville in the article explains how his organisation sees at least 80 people a week coming in to use the sobering up service which he runs. The organisation offers drug and alcohol counselling to the community by a team of dedicated community service workers. Some of the communities the organisation offers their services to are Yandeyarra, Marble Bar and Warralong.

    Services such as the Bloodwood Tree Associated are much needed because the level of alcohol abuse in Pilbara has been described as alarming, the reason for the new legislation.

    According to a report that was released last year, alcohol was shown to be a factor in nearly 77 per cent of all domestic assaults in the West Pilbara. The report also indicated that Pilbara residents were almost 3 times more likely to be involved in an assault (presumably related to alcohol) than people in other parts of the state. The problem of drivers driving over the legal alcohol limit was also a huge problem in the area.

    Not only were the people in the region more liable to sustain immediate harm, the report showed they were also twice as likely to be diagnosed with alcohol liver cirrhosis and 3 times more likely to have a stroke.

    The report’s release resulted in new liquor restrictions being impose on 18 towns in the region.

    The article also went on to explain that new legislation may soon be passed which would change things in the remote Warralong settlement which would make it an alcohol-free community. The legislation would dictate that the residents of the town would not be able to consume, possess or supply alcohol within a 20km radius of the settlement. These changes could come into effect as soon as the end of this month.

    The article on Abc.net.au went on to explain:

    The former officer-in-charge of the nearby Marble Bar police station Sergeant Peter Vale, says he was approached about a year ago by concerned elders in Warralong who were already imposing the restrictions themselves.

    He says the number of police call-outs has already dropped since then.

    “There were all sorts of issues, mainly alcohol issues, a number of assaults, woundings and things like that where people were getting intoxicated and females were getting bashed by their partners and sometimes fairly serious offences,” he said.

    “If there was alcohol in the community, it was very difficult to control.

    “It was just mayhem out there with drunks walking around everywhere and kids not being looked after or not going to school.

    “I believe it’s definitely reduced the amount of violence and domestic violence occurring.”

    Mr Waldron says if the Governor, Malcolm McCusker, signs off on the legislation, Warralong could officially be dry by the end of the month.

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-06/election-live3a-the-final-day/4939722

     

  • Alcohol Blamed for Baby Bashing Policeman’s Behaviour

    Alcohol has once again been blamed for the bad behaviour of a person who behaved in an unacceptable manner. This time a Chinese man who is actually a policeman, drank alcohol before conducting himself in such bad behaviour that he injured a baby.

    The incident, almost too bizarre to understand took place in China’s Zhengzhou, Henan province. The policeman apparently drank alcohol before throwing a baby to the ground.

    It seems that alcohol is once again being given a bad rap by irresponsible adults who do not know how to conduct themselves, of course alcohol is an easy scapegoat but this incident highlights the importance of being a responsible drinker.

    People cannot continue to blame alcohol for their bad behaviour especially since they are the ones who chose to drink alcohol and probably excessively for it to affect the way they act. That is why it is so important that responsible service of alcohol is enforced in Oz, so that incidents like this one reported on news.xinhuanet.com can be avoided:

    An initial investigation found that on the evening of July 18, GuoZengxi took a 7-month-old baby girl from her parents and hurled her to the ground at the entrance of a karaoke club in Linzhou City after dining and drinking alcohol with friends at a local restaurant.

    Linzhou police said there had been no conflict between Guo and the baby’s parents before he threw the baby to the ground.

    The child was rushed to a local hospital and later transferred to Anyang Regional Hospital for further treatment. She suffered multiple brain injuries, including a bone fracture and bruising, said Li Pengqiang, a doctor with the hospital in Anyang.

    The baby girl was discharged from the hospital on Aug. 5. Though temporarily out of danger, Li said the girl could suffer aftereffects from the trauma.

    “She is very easily startled and clings to me when she hears cars passing by,” said RenWenli, mother of the child.

    “She is now very afraid of strangers and sometimes vomits,” Ren added.

    Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-08/19/c_132643018.htm

    The article goes on to explain that the police department has covered the baby’s medical bills, but this is little consolation to a mother and family who are uncertain of whether their child sustained any long term damage. Tests are currently being organised for the child in Beijing to try and find out.

    This incident also highlights how the situation can get out of hand when alcohol is abused and it can escalate to involve numerous members of the public. The drunken police officer had to be hospitalised after he was beaten by locals at the scene who witnessed his behaviour. He was also sentenced to 15 days in jail.

    Shockingly this is not the first incident of this nature to have taken place in China recently, although it is not known whether alcohol was a factor in the previous incident,

    Police in Anyang City, which governs Linzhou, opened an investigation into the case following netizens’ anger over the incident. Guo was detained on suspicion of intentional injury Saturday and was transferred to a detention center in Anyang City on Sunday, according to GuoFajie, head of Anyang Public Security Bureau.

    In another July incident, a man killed a toddler in Beijing by lifting her from her carriage and throwing her to the ground after arguing with and physically attacking the baby’s mother.

    Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-08/19/c_132643018.htm

     

  • 11 Cubans Die from Alcohol Poisoning

    Havana Cuba is the latest to be hit by a series of cases of alcohol poisoning which have claimed the lives of 11 people last week.

    The 11th person died after consuming the methyl alcohol (commonly referred to as methanol) in an eastern Havana suburb.

    In addition to the 11 dead, another 4 people are still in hospital in a serious condition. 2 of the patients are undergoing haemodialysis to remove the toxins from their blood.

    At least 60 people were hospitalized this month from alcohol poisoning symptoms in Havana with only 15 being discharged from hospital. All the others are still in hospital, some in a stable condition while others are still battling for their lives.

    The media reported that victims suffered from nausea, headaches, vomiting, weakness and distorted vision.

    Authorities managed to narrow down the toxic alcohol to a western neighbourhood of Havana, La Lisa where a resident is suspected to have home brewed the liquor with methanol.

    Methanol is commonly used in laboratories and research centres as a reactive agent to make anti-freeze. It is extremely toxic to the human body which is why people should never drink bootlegged alcohol or alcohol from an unknown source.

    Consumption of methanol often leads to blindness and then death. Quite a number of people have died this year alone from methanol poisoning around the world.