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  • 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.

     

  • 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 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

     

  • Statistics Show Anti-Violence Measures Working

    Good news recently emerged about the number of violent incidents occurring at venues in NSW. According to BOCSAR (NSW Bureau of Statistics, Crime and Research) figures there has been a significant reduction in violence in venues, a fact that the industry attributed to better preventative practices.

    The number of assaults happening on licenced premises apparently fell 23.7 per cent according to the BOCSAR report.

    Between January 2007 and December 2012the number of assaults reported in licenced venues dropped significantly. BOCSAR however did caution that these figures may be exaggerated slightly because venues may fail to report incidents for fear of licence restrictions or loss under NSW disciplinary schemes.

    BOCSAR then reportedly tested the validity of the figures by analysing 1600randomly selected incidents that took place during the same period and found “no statistical significance” in the rate of reporting by RSA staff at venues with recognised violence history versus those without.

    This BOCSAR report comes shortly after the latest list of NSW’ most violent venues was released in March. The list featured the fewest venues since the program began which shows that perhaps the new measures are working.

    An article on TheShout recently discussed the decline in assaults in licenced venues in the state as reported by BOCSAR and interviewed The AHA’s NSW directors of policing and regulations John Green. He told TheShout.com that the new measures involving operators and authorities are having the desired effect. As far as they are concerned, BOCSAR’s report further solidifies that new measures are working. RSA staff are doing their bit, working with police and reporting incidents.

    He went on to explain in the article:

    “And if you consider assaults in and around licensed premises are now at their lowest level in over 15 years, it demonstrates that licensees are working with police to reduce violence in and around venues.”

    The precinct most thwarted by the increased focus on anti-social behaviour, Kings Cross, has seen significant changes, which CEO of the Kings Cross Liquor Accord Doug Grand says have made a big difference.

    “In regards to the new measures in Kings Cross one of the main issues was the lack of late night transport options to allow late night patrons to leave the area,” said Grand.

    “The major improvement under the Kings Cross Plan of Management has been the improved operation to the late night secure taxi rank in Bayswater Road and additional late night buses.

    “This, along with a higher visibility police presence, and a collaborative focus between venues and Government, is having a positive effect in driving down anti-social behaviour.”

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2013/08/07/article/Anti-violence-measures-working/ZMMXNFYASK.html

    It is important that employees of licenced venues continue to work with police and report violent episodes but it is also important that these staff do all they can to prevent situations escalating to this degree in the first place.

    In order to do this employees of licenced venues must complete the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) course – in addition to being a mandatory requirement in NSW it will also teach them what they need to know about serving alcohol responsibly so that customers do not become overly intoxicated and out of hand. Our homepage has more information about the RSA Course and how it can be completed today.

     

  • Driving under the influence facts and stats

    [media url=”tps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iGgRVl-WFE&feature=player_embedded” width=”600″ height=”300″ jwplayer=”autostart=true”]

    Source: https://www.serenitygroup.com/driving-under-the-influence-facts-and-stats

  • Police Investigate Perth Crashes

    A serious road crash in Perth recently has been linked to alcohol according to police.

    According to reports the driver’s vehicle left the road and capsized after he failed to negotiate a roundabout, possibly due to intoxication. He then hit into a parked car, a fence and power pole.

    This article on Yahoo News explains:

    Police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor in crashes in Perth’s east last night.

    About 11.58 pm, police were called to Wanaping Road in Kenwick where a 29-year-old Parkwood man had crashed his vehicle.

    It is believed that the man’s vehicle left the road and overturned after he failed to negotiate a roundabout.

    The man’s car proceeded to strike a parked car, a fence and a power pole.

    Police conducted a breath test on the man but the results are not yet known.

    Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/17617698/police-probe-alcohol-as-factor-in-crashes/

    A second accident on the same night occurred when a man’s vehicle left the road and crashed into the bushes. Breathalyser tests revealed that the man was intoxicated at the time. He was charged with drink driving.

    The article went on to state:

    In a separate incident in Bayswater, a Hyundai Elantra sedan also left the road and crashed into bushes on Wyatt Road and Higgins Way.

    Police were called to the crash around 4am and breathalysed a 55-year-old man.

    After failing the test, the male was charged with drink driving.

    Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/17617698/police-probe-alcohol-as-factor-in-crashes/

    One of the greatest road safety issues in Oz at the moment is the number of crashes being caused by drink driving.

    Most people enjoy a little drink from time to time and there is nothing wrong with this in fact even doctors recommend a glass of wine a day for good heart health.

    The problem comes in when people drink and behave irresponsibly, such as drinking and driving (when their blood alcohol level is above 0.05). Most people don’t realise that they are over the legal limit when they get behind the wheel after a drink or two. As a drinker you either need to know how much alcohol is contained in the drinks you consume to ensure you are not exceeding the limit or an even better idea would be to avoid driving altogether.

    People who drink and drive need to remember that alcohol, even in small quantities can have an effect on your driving.

    Alcohol doesn’t get digested like food but rather gets absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine as well as the stomach and colon. The blood transports the alcohol to your vital organs including the heart and brain – both of which are vital in the process of driving. These organs coordinate our activities and ability to drive.

    Some of the effects of alcohol on our driving abilities include:

    • Our perception is affected. People who drink are less likely to observe traffic signs, bikers, pedestrians or cars coming from the opposite side;
    • Drinkers have less control over their reactions in traffic situations; your eyes are slower and need to concentrate on the same object for a longer period of time than you would ordinarily.
    • When we drink our space perspective narrows and we tend to focus more to the front of us rather than looking to the left and right
    • Reaction times also increase as our reflexes become slower or diminish depending on how drunk we are. That means in an emergency stop situation or traffic it would take more time to respond fast and adapt accordingly.

    Drivers who drink before driving tend to be overconfident about their abilities and are less capable of good judgement. Often drinking also makes people drowsy which is probably what contributes to so many crashes where the drivers drove off the road and crashed into stationery objects such as fences, streets, poles etc. like in the 2 incidents mentioned earlier.