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  • 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.

     

  • NZ Student Dies in Car Crash fuelled by “Lethal” dose of Alcohol

    It seems that not a day passes when we don’t hear about the consequences of drink driving in the media in the form of a car crash somewhere in the world. Sadly despite the media being so rife with these “warnings” people are still risking the lives and the lives of other innocent road-users by engaging in the dangerous, irresponsible and reckless act of drink driving.

    Unfortunately drink driving isn’t the only risky behaviour, it seems that pedestrians who are intoxicated are also being run over by vehicles more often. Obviously excessive amounts of alcohol is never good but particularly so when you’re going to be out on the street, whether driving or walking, your cognitive and motor functions are impaired and that places you at risk.

    The latest tragedy involves a university student who coroners say had consumed lethal amounts of alcohol before he was hit by a car and killed.

    The young man, Geoffrey Nicholas Peren was a 20 year old Victoria University student who was hit by a car while crossing a street in central Wellington in June 2011.

    According to the coroner Mr Peren had been to a party the night before and had consumed a large amount of spirits before he left without telling anyone where he was going.

    The young man contacted his girlfriend at 10pm that night in a disorientated state, thinking that he was in Dunedin. While on the phone with his girlfriend he was hit by a car and his girlfriend heard a loud bang and Mr Peren did not say anything further. His girlfriend then ended the call.

    The young man was wearing dark clothing and crossing against the pedestrian signal when he was hit by a car being driven by a woman.

    Tragically the man suffered serious injuries to the head and died in hospital. The blood alcohol test showed Mr Peren had a level of 305 milligrams per litre of blood. The coroner explained this amount of alcohol is “clinical extreme” and potentially lethal. It also reinforces why Responsible Service of Alcohol is so important, so that we do not see more cases of this nature occurring every time a patron leaves a bar or pub.

    Most workers in the alcohol service industry are aware of the need to undergo responsible service of alcohol training however RSA training should not be looked at as just a mandatory requirement that employers force you to undergo because then you will not have incentive to enforce it (other than the legal one).

    People should look at RSA training as a service to society. Staff of licensed venues who undergo responsible service of alcohol training and enforce the rules learnt are contributing to a better society and helping people who would otherwise be put in harm’s way, risking their own health and safety and that of others.

    Servers of alcohol who perform their duties according to RSA regulations provide a duty of care that also promotes job satisfaction. Workers who are serving customers responsibly and performing their duty are happier employees and so are more productive.

     

  • Campaign urges parents not to give their children alcohol

    The issue of parents giving alcohol to their underage children has once again come under the spotlight.

    This time the Western Australian state government is urging parents to think about the dangers of underage drinking before supplying alcohol to their children.

    The state government has launched a new campaign which will feature on the radio, television as well as print advertisements and will highlight the effects of alcohol on the brain of young people. This follows research which reveals that a disturbingly high number of young people are obtaining alcohol from their parents.

    The following is an excerpt from a post on Abc.net.au which explains more about the campaign and the government’s warnings:

    The State Government has launched a new campaign warning parents about the dangers of supplying alcohol to children.

    The television, radio and print advertisements highlight the effects alcohol has on brain development in young people.

    The government says the latest data shows almost a third of young people got their last alcoholic drink from their parents.

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-10/alcohol-ads/5081760

    There is an overwhelming body of evidence which proves that alcohol can be damaging to the developing brain of a teenager, yet many parents fail to recognise the risks and continue to provide their children and their children’s friends with alcohol.

    Either parents are too ignorant of the risks to their children ‘s health or they are trying to teach their teens to drink responsibly however the problem with this approach is that it fails to recognise that even moderate amounts of alcohol can damage the brain of a young people, most times irreversibly.

    The post also goes on to explain:

    The Mental Health Minister Helen Morton says the evidence that alcohol can damage a young person’s brain and body is clear.

    Mrs Morton says the advertisements coincide with end-of-school year celebrations, when some parents consider providing alcohol for their children.

    “I believe parents haven’t had the awareness or the understanding around the impacts of alcohol and the damage it can cause to young people’s brains and bodies,” she said

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-10/alcohol-ads/5081760

    I am reminded of a recent study discussed in an article on British website Dailymail.co.uk which detailed the findings of a study conducted by psychologist, Dr Aric Sigman.

    Dr. Sigman explained that delaying alcohol introduction to children is best because alcohol can do long lasting neurological damage to their developing brains and bodies.

    The psychologist has appealed to British parents and parents across the EU to refrain from giving their children alcohol until they are of 18 years old age. In fact he believes people shouldn’t drink until they are 25.He also explained that the earlier in life a child begins drinking, the more likely they are to develop a drinking problem.

    Sigman warned parents that for the health of their children they should wait till their children are at least 16 before they introduce them to alcohol at home. Obviously it is best to wait till teenagers are of legal drinking age (18 in Oz) before allowing them to drink alcohol but those parents who want to teach their children responsible drinking should not do so until they are at least 16.

    For more on Sigman’s research read the full post at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2320218/Under-18s-banned-having-ANY-alcohol-Warning-attempts-introduce-children-drinking-risks-turning-alcoholic-later-life.html

     

  • Epidemic of Female Alcohol Abusers Rapidly Spreading

    The number of women drinking alcohol, especially those binge drinking alcohol has seen a dramatic rise across the globe. In most developed countries female drinkers are the ones driving growth in alcohol markets. Globally, the richer the country the more drinkers and the smaller the gap between male and female consumption.

    The alcohol industry is aware of the fact that women are driving the growth and are capitalising on this. Alcohol advertising is increasingly being aimed at the female market with multiple brands competing for the loyalty of women, fruit and berry flavoured vodkas, coolers, alcohol lemonades, low calorie drinks etc.

    Unfortunately many still think of alcohol abuse as a male-dominated problem but an increasing number of women are becoming addicted to alcohol.

    Alcohol dependency and addictions have long been thought of as a male dominated problem but the truth is more and more females are falling victim to this epidemic, as an increasing body of research is proving.

    In a recent article on News.com.au one writer describes her journey into alcohol abuse and how alcohol subtly takes its place in our lives as we go through ups and downs, one glass a day turns into two, then three, then a bottle a day until we become totally dependent on that drink to cope.

    “Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol” by Ann Dowsett Johnston tells the story of Ann, an accomplished writer and mother who used alcohol to get through the difficult times in life that we all experience.

    There is an interesting portion of the article on News.com.au which gives us more insight into not only female drinking habits and motivations but drinking by different generations. Read an excerpt from the article below:

    Preeminent American alcohol researcher Sharon Wilsnack, of the University of North Dakota, believes we are now witnessing a “global epidemic” in women’s drinking. In 2011, Katherine Keyes, now an assistant professor at Columbia University, reviewed 31 international studies of birth-cohort and gender differences in alcohol consumption and mortality. Her conclusion? Those born after the Second World War are more likely to binge drink and develop alcohol-use disorders than their older counterparts.

    “Those born between 1978 and 1983 are the weekend warriors, drinking to black out,” Keyes says. “In that age group, there is a reduction in male drinking, and a sharp increase for women.”

    Meanwhile, women who are in their 40s and 50s have a very high risk in terms of heavy drinking and weekly drinking. “We’re not saying, ‘Put down the sherry and go back to the kitchen,’ ” says Keyes. “But when we see these steep increases, you wonder if we are going to see a larger burden of disease for women.”

    Source: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/female-alcohol-abuse-is-a-global-epidemic/story-fneuzlbd-1226734156286

    This increase may explain why so much of today’s alcohol marketing is aimed at women.

    Another reason is because women are increasingly being accepted into male dominated circles, this increases their opportunity to drink to keep up with their male counterparts. This also increases their risks of alcohol abuse disorders.

    Women should remember that it takes less alcohol to get them intoxicated than it does males and size also has something to do with it. The other factors that influence the effects of alcohol include:

    • Persons size, weight, age, gender,
    • The type and quantity of alcohol consumed
    • Persons unique body chemistry
    • Amount of food in the persons stomach
    • The drinking experience a person has
    • The mental health status of the individual
    • Health conditions that could be increased or made worse by alcohol

     

     

  • Do you think Underage Teens should be allowed to serve alcohol?

    The NSW Restaurant and Catering Association (R&CA) wants the state government to implement changes to the law which would allow minors to serve alcoholic drinks.

    Although 16 year olds can’t legally buy alcohol if these controversial changes are passed they may be able to serve alcohol in restaurant bars and dining areas to overcome staff shortages. Currently under NSW law, staff of licensed venues must be at least 18 years old to serve alcohol.

    The NSW R&CA represents 11,500 venues in the state and wants the government to follow in the footsteps of Queensland and allow minors to serve alcohol.

    According to the chief executive officer John Hart, the move would help restaurant and bar owners desperate for additional staff.

    He was quoted on the website www.dailytelegraph.com.auas saying,

    “So long as a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) course has been completed, junior staff – 16 or someone in Year 11 or 12 – should be allowed to serve booze,” he said.

    “At the moment, you’ve got a situation where someone orders a beer and a burger and junior staff can only serve the burger and has to get someone else to serve the beer.”

    Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nsw-restaurant-and-catering-association-calls-for-underage-teens-to-be-able-to-serve-alcohol/story-fni0cx12-1226718539061

    Every 5 years the NSW government has a review of the liquor laws, this time around scores of submissions have been put forward, one of which being the NSW Restaurant and Catering Association’s (R&CA) request for staff as young as 16 to be able to serve alcohol.

    The post on DailyTelegraph.com.au tells of one licensee, Cresent Head Tavern’s director Darren Gunn who claims that finding staff to work at his venue in the small mid-north coast town is a battle. He is calling for people as young as 15 years old to be trained to work in the bar to fill staff gaps. He is currently training a number of 15 year olds to work in the restaurant, with food but he is unable to train them to work in the bar because of the state laws. He says once these staff are of legal age they leave the small town to find full time work elsewhere.

    The post goes on to state,

    Brooke Mozeley, 17, who has been working at the Crescent Head Tavern three nights a week and during school holidays since she was 15, said it was frustrating not being able to serve alcohol.

    “People will call out and ask to be served and I have to tell them that I can’t,” she said.

    “It would be easier if we could serve drinks as well.”

    Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nsw-restaurant-and-catering-association-calls-for-underage-teens-to-be-able-to-serve-alcohol/story-fni0cx12-1226718539061

    Community groups also want laws changed to allow staff of licensed venues to drink on the premise after hours. The Government is due to table its report into the review in December. These are some of the proposed changes for the state’s liquor laws,

    • Venue licences revoked after five violent incidents

    • Lower age of bar staff to at least 16

    • After-work drinks for staff

    • Ban patrons from “stockpiling” drinks

    • “Water bars” and “chill out rooms” at venues

    Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nsw-restaurant-and-catering-association-calls-for-underage-teens-to-be-able-to-serve-alcohol/story-fni0cx12-1226718539061

     

  • Discussion on Parliamentary Enquiry Suggestion to Clampdown on Parents who Supply Alcohol

    Most adults would agree that alcohol can be seriously damaging to young people, to their health, safety and wellbeing. Many parents choose to forbid their children from drinking alcohol at all but there are many that choose to provide alcohol to their kids so that they can “control” the amount they consume, rather than have them just sneaking around drinking with their friends with the possibility of them abusing it even more. Obviously there are those that don’t limit the amount of alcohol they provide for their kids and don’t teach them to be responsible drinkers, which is where the problem comes in.

    In fact according to a NSW parliamentary committee, parents or guardians who do not behave responsibly when it comes to giving alcohol to minors should be forced into counselling in the hopes that this will make them more responsible when providing alcohol to minors.

    It is not expected to be met with much criticism because most people agree that many adults aren’t cautious enough about providing alcohol to minors, which is breeding a problem.

    The clampdown on parents has been pushed by the committee and others who believe that in order to tackle a problem of this magnitude it is vital that parents also be dealt with. Alcohol abuse among young people is growing, this is obvious from statistics and the number of minors being checked into rehabilitation centres. Also many adult users began their unhealthy relationship with alcohol at a young age.

    At the moment, parents and guardians are legally permitted to supply alcohol to their children as well as children placed in their care as long as their parents give consent.

    Read what this excerpt from an article on TheHerald.com.au had to say:

    The parliamentary committee wants to add the mild proviso that any such supply be made “in a manner that is consistent with responsible supervision”. Relevant factors would be the child’s age, whether the adult or child was drunk, whether the child was drinking alcohol with food, the amount and type of alcohol and the time over which it was supplied.

    Fair enough, but debate on such a minor legal tweak shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow much bigger and more important questions in the overall alcohol debate.

    Newcastle Community Drug Action Team chair Tony Brown has correctly noted, for example, the large volume of unregulated online liquor promotions that are directed at teenagers.

    Read more: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1775920/editorial-children-drinking-alcohol/?cs=303

    According to the team the saturation of the Aussie alcohol market has led the alcohol industry seeking other opportunities for sales growth, to look to the youth market. Alcohol companies understand that market growth is limited and requires them to “groom” the younger generation to become drinkers, it is the only untapped or underdeveloped market at the moment.

    The post goes on to explain:

    If policymakers are genuinely concerned about this possibility then they should by all means consider enforcing greater accountability for parents and guardians. But tackling liquor advertising and promotion and considering other factors such as price and availability would bring a bigger dividend for the effort involved.

    Read more: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1775920/editorial-children-drinking-alcohol/?cs=303

     

  • Are Women More likely to Suffer from Alcohol Blues?

    It is generally accepted that women are the more emotional sex but now research shows that they may be more emotional drinkers as well.

    According to research conducted at the University of Southern Denmark, there are happy drinkers, miserable drinkers, tearful drinkers and even angry drinkers. And it could all be determined by your gender. Women have a tendency to be emotional after drinking than men.

    The research shows that women and men react differently at the end of a booze filled night. Men tend to be happier after drinking all night while women peak at a certain point before they start getting emotional.

    Researchers conducted the study on 230 high school students who were given alcohol and monitored to see how the alcohol content affected their mood.

    This post from British website metro.co.uk explains further:

    And your sex could well determine which you tend to be at the end of the night. Alcohol can put a smile on young men’s face all night – while ladies peak at a certain point before they get tired and emotional.

    Researchers in Denmark threw a party for 230 high-school students to examine how their blood alcohol content affected their mood. The revellers, aged 15 to 20, were checked for their cheerfulness, sluggishness and how easily they were distracted.

    Prof Marie Eliasen, of the University of Southern Denmark, said: ‘We found that low to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with increased cheerfulness among adolescents attending high-school parties. Extensive alcohol consumption leading to high BACs was associated with decreased cheerfulness among girls, while this was not found for boys.’

    Source: http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/18/why-women-are-more-likely-to-be-hit-by-booze-blues-4150334/

    Researchers weren’t as clear on what the possible cause of these emotional differences between girls and boys could be but they speculated that it could be because boys may have been more exposed to alcohol in their lives and may have built up a higher tolerance to alcohol than girls which may translate to girls being more emotional.

    According to the Professor responsible for the research, alcohol education needs to move away from the normal scare tactics which are often used, to a way of having fun without drinking excessively.

    The post goes on to explain:

    The different reactions could possibly be explained by binge-drinking boys who had built up a better tolerance to alcohol than girls.

    Prof Eliasen said alcohol education should move away from scare tactics to promoting how to have fun without excessive drinking.

    Although some students had trouble focusing, most had low to moderate alcohol levels in their blood. This could be used ‘to challenge the idea the majority of adolescents drink in excess’, Prof Eliasen added. Her findings will be published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

    Source: http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/18/why-women-are-more-likely-to-be-hit-by-booze-blues-4150334/

    This research is particularly relevant for parents of teenagers who wish to understand their children better and encourages them to teach their teens to drink moderately and responsibly rather than forcing them to abstain completely.

     

  • Alcohol Fuelled Violence Rate in Newcastle improves

    Newcastle’s bad night life reputation seems to have been shed, supposedly due to measures implemented to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence, according to Newcastle City local area commander Superintendent John Gralton.

    The city’s top cop said that it had finally shed the “bloodbath” after dark reputation when speaking at the Community Drug Action Team Conference at City Hall.

    The top cop also told the Newcastle Herald that the city’s police were now hunting for trouble rather than what they previously did when they were overwhelmed with the violence and prevalence of drunken misconduct.

    Superintendent John Gralton said that “Five years ago the city was described as a bloodbath after dark”.

    He went on to explain, according to a post on www.theherald.com.au

    “Now, anecdotally, my police are telling me there is far less violence in and around the city and the streets are calmer.

    “Whereas previously they wouldn’t have had time to stop someone urinating on the streets because they were too busy dealing with violence, they now tell me they are hunting for people (causing trouble) in the streets.”

    Superintendent Gralton highlighted figures released by Hunter New England population health director John Wiggers at the conference.

    These figures showed Newcastle had maintained a 33 per cent reduction in reported assaults since bringing forward pub and club closing times to 3am in 2008.

    “Since that time we’ve focused on consequence policing which means making sure someone receives a consequence for poor behaviour in the city,” Superintendent Gralton said, also crediting the group banning and scanning system in the city’s entertainment precinct and police and industry working closer together.

    Source: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1780469/alcohol-bloodbath-over-conference/?cs=303

    The cop went on to explain that there has since been a significant reduction in malicious damage. He also explained that it is not the police’s intention to stop people from having fun but they want people to feel comfortable and safe when they go out. There has been a significant positive change in the city since the police stepped up their game and patrons in entertainment districts who are out to have a good time responsibly will benefit from this.

    During the conference an Associate Professor from Deakin University, Professor Peter Miller said that the decline in Newcastle’s booze filled violence was attributed to less people indulging in the dangerous practice of heavy pre-loading before hitting the town.

    According to a study which looked at evidence from Newcastle and Geelong, it was common for drinkers to consume a lot of alcohol before they left home so that they could get drunk while spending less money before even leaving home. Statistics showed that this quadrupled drinker’s chance of getting in brawls.

    The post went on to explain:

    “We conducted interviews with patrons and it showed changes in culture (in Newcastle) with declining levels of pre-drinking and people going out earlier,” he said.

    The lock-out and earlier closing times meant people had to be in the city earlier, so could not drink as much at home.

    The two-day conference will wrap up on Tuesda, with Dr Adrian Dunlop, the director of Hunter New England Health’s drug and alcohol clinical services, among the speakers.

    Source: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1780469/alcohol-bloodbath-over-conference/?cs=303

     

  • Alcohol Fuelled Patients Clog up Ambulance Services

    It appears the number of alcohol related call outs in Geelong has gotten out of control and is putting even more pressure on ambulances than any other region in Victoria, according to reports.

    According to an article on the Geelong Advertiser website, a report released by Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre earlier this year revealed that over 200 call outs a month in regional Vic are as a result of alcohol abuse or misuse.

    According to the report paramedics in greater Geelong attended almost 500 alcohol fuelled incidents in 2011-2012. Most of these cases are from self-inflicted injuries caused by alcohol as is actually risking the lives of other people in the area because it is diverting lifesaving resources away from the people that really need it.

    The article had this to say about the report’s findings:

    Greater Geelong paramedics attended 497 alcohol-related incidents in 2011-12, more than doubling the workload of areas such as La Trobe (190), Ballarat (178), Greater Shepparton (153) and Greater Bendigo (148).

    The report, released by Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre in May this year, found ambulances attended more than 200 call-outs per month in regional Victoria due to alcohol abuse.

    Ambulance union state secretary Steve McGhie said self-inflicted cases were diverting lifesaving resources away from patients with genuine health issues.

    “Geelong should be concerned,” he said. “It’s something we have to address together.

    “People get angry about illicit drugs and its toll on the community but alcohol abuse is much worse.”

    The Surf Cost recorded 46 alcohol-related call-outs, Colac Otway 30, Golden Plains 10 and Queenscliff five.

    Read more: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2013/10/14/374443_news.html

    A spokesperson for the Minister for Mental Health, Mary Wooldridge said the situation is a major social problem, especially considering that it is likely to increase if it is not dealt with. In the past 10 years, the number of alcohol related ambulance attendances increased every year,

    The government is committed to tackling this problem by reducing the impact of alcohol and drug abuse in the community – this is the only way to alleviate the problem of alcohol related attendances wasting valuable medical resources.

    The article goes on to explain:

    “The (whole-of-government strategy) plan includes initiatives to promote healthier attitudes to excessive drinking and drunk behaviour, as well as measures to effectively regulate alcohol supply with strengthened reforms to liquor licensing laws,” the spokesperson said.

    Labor secretary for health Wade Noonan said the report showed paramedics were being sent into dangerous situations and that people were left “dangerously exposed”.

    “The increase in alcohol and drug-related ambulance attendances is leading to some serious incidents involving our respected paramedics, including assaults,” he said.

    Source: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2013/10/14/374443_news.html

    As the spokesperson explained the huge alcohol related caseload is adding enormous pressure to the ambulance service which is already under stress. In fact the situation is so serious that one in four ambulances already failed to response to life-threatening emergencies within 15 minutes – the government’s target response time.

    A spokesperson for the Health Minister David Davis denied that the Ambulance service was failing to keep up with the high demand and cited a 13.7 per cent increase in ambulance shifts operating in the Geelong area. He says, the Geelong has more paramedics now than it’s ever had.

    What does this mean for RSA Staff?

    As RSA staff we have a duty to serve alcohol in a socially responsible manner so as not to contribute to the high number of alcohol related incidents tying up ambulances and other medical services, keeping them from seeing to patients with “real” non-self-inflicted problems. We can do this by completing the Responsible Service of Alcohol course and adhering to all RSA rules.

     

  • 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.