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  • Vic Police want Zero Alcohol Limit for Young Adults

    Police in Victoria have called for the alcohol limit for young adult drivers, aged under 25 to be dropped to zero. According to police in the state dropping the alcohol limit for drivers under the age of 25 is the best way of saving lives on our roads.

    Police say if this zero limit is initiated in the state, then other conditions such as P-plate licences and passenger number restrictions do not need to be addressed.

    Road crashes involving alcohol have become a major problem on Vic roads, especially affecting people between the ages of 22-25, according to traffic police.

    This article on Sbs.com.au explains further:

    Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill says too many people aged 22-25 are still being killed and injured in alcohol-related crashes.

    When a zero alcohol limit was imposed on P-plate drivers in 2009, it halved the percentage of alcohol-related crashes for drivers aged 18-22, from 40 per cent to 20 per cent.

    But Mr Hill says crashes by drivers aged 22-25 are still alcohol-related 40 per cent of the time, and the way to tackle it is to extend the zero alcohol limit.

    “There’s now medical research that indicates that our young people, our young males in particular, there’s a lack of maturity in the brain for these people, where they make impulsive decisions, not understanding the consequences of their actions,” Mr Hill told reporters in Melbourne.

    “Why compound that risk by having alcohol as part of the equation when they’re behind the wheel of a motorcar?”

    Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1769178/Vic-police-want-zero-alcohol-for-25yos

    Mr Hill went on to explain his desire for community discussion on the issue and that he was not immediately looking at reviewing other P-plate restrictions like passenger numbers and high powered vehicles. Hill is simply calling for removal of alcohol from the equation completely, because young people especially males between 22-25 are not able to judge whether they are within the legal limits when they decide to get behind the wheel.

    VicRoads is apparently also behind the proposal as well as TAC and the Department of Justice, but Hill has reiterated that the community’s support is still needed before the state government can consider change.

    Victoria has led the way in the past when it comes to road safety initiatives, previously introducing compulsory seat belts and random breath testing.

    The Vic Premier has said these measures will not just be introduced but will first be tested to ensure that they will indeed be beneficial to road safety before they can initiate change.

    In the article Hill and the Premier go on to explain:

    “We have seen major, major initiatives here in this state that have led the world in reducing road trauma. This is just the next logical step in my view in terms of trying to reduce road trauma in this state.”

    Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said the proposals should be put to the government’s road safety committee, headed by Police and Emergency Services Minister Kim Wells.

    “We are open to all suggestions that will improve road safety,” Dr Napthine told reporters.

    “They need to be tested and if they are efficacious, then we will implement them.”

    Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1769178/Vic-police-want-zero-alcohol-for-25yos

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol News: Police Sergeant Caught Drink Driving

    What happens when those meant to enforce the law are actually the ones breaking it?

    This is the question many Aussies on the Gold Coast are asking themselves following an incident this week.

    A crash involving an off-duty police sergeant shocked many people not because of the nature of the crash but because the police sergeant was apparently over the legal blood alcohol limit at the time. The policeman recorded a reading of 0.064, the legal limit is 0.05.

    The sergeant from the South Eastern Region has been given notice to appear for drink driving in Southport Magistrates Court in June.

    The crash occurred in the early hours of the morning and involved 2 other vehicles in addition to the one the sergeant was driving.

    Read what happened according to an article on TheAustralian.com.au

    Off-duty police sergeant allegedly recorded blood alcohol reading of .064 per cent after Gold Coast accident

    AN off-duty policeman has been caught drink driving on the Gold Coast this morning.

    A 53-year-old sergeant from the South Eastern Region has been given a notice to appear for drink driving after he was involved in a three-car crash at Helensvale on the Gold Coast about 5.30am.

    The officer was breath tested and subsequently charged with drink-driving after recording a blood alcohol reading of 0.064 per cent.

    He will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on June 19.

    Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/off-duty-police-sergeant-allegedly-recorded-blood-alcohol-reading-of-064-per-cent-after-gold-coast-accident/story-e6frg6n6-1226647838816

    Drink driving is always a risk because even if you aren’t involved in a crash, there is a chance that police may randomly stop you and ask you to take a breath test, which they are legally allowed to do at any time. However if a crash does occur, even if you are not the cause, you will most likely be blamed and will face other consequences – if you are lucky enough to survive.

    Although many people may feel 100 per cent fine after drinking and may believe that they can safely get behind the wheel of a car, science proves that alcohol alters our ability to drive or operate any machinery safely.Alcohol has been identified as the leading cause of car crashes in Oz and according to research drivers who tested over the limit doubled their chances of causing a crash, you would expect a member of the police force to be more aware of this than anyone.

    Many drivers arrange for transport home after a night of binge drinking but forget that alcohol stays in your body a long time and in fact it takes your body much longer to get rid of the alcohol than it does to absorb it. Therefore if you indulge in a heavy night of drinking and then drive chances are alcohol will still be present in your body and will affect your driving ability the next morning, as is likely what happened with the police sergeant.

    There is no need to stop drinking, alcohol in itself is not to blame for the alcohol fuelled issues we are experiencing such as violence and drink driving crashes. Alcohol is an excellent social lubricant and may even have some health benefits when consumed in moderation. The problem is when people drink irresponsibly and engage in dangerous behaviour such as binge drinking, underage drinking and drink driving.

     

  • America Urged to Cut Limit on Alcohol for Drivers

    A debate is raging in The United States about whether or not to lower the legal alcohol limit for drivers following a surge in road deaths caused by drink driving.

    According to an article on The New York Times website, thousands of people are killed on American roads each year by car crashes caused by drivers who have been drinking but have not reached the legal alcohol limit. Therefore these drivers are not actually “drink driving” because they are acting within the law, yet lives are still being lost.

    The National Transportation Safety Board said that it recommended states reduce the allowance blood-alcohol concentration by more than one third. It is currently 0.08 per cent BAC whereas it has been suggested that the USA drop this to 0.05, this is more in line with standards around the world, including in Oz.

    According to the group, the current standard is outdated, it was established over a decade ago and at present around 10,000 fatalities are happening on USA’s roads each year.

    Read what the article on NYTimes.com went on to discuss about the issue:

    “There are at least 10,000 reasons to tackle this issue,” said Deborah A. P. Hersman, the chairwoman of the board. Foreign countries with stricter standards have had substantially more success, according to the board.

    The board voted for a variety of recommendations. Some, like requiring that everyone convicted of drunken driving be required to install a Breathalyzer interlock in their car, which would prevent the vehicle from starting without an alcohol test, were focused on heavy drinkers and repeat offenders.

    Officials said they hoped that a stricter standard would reduce drinking and driving both among social drinkers and among heavy drinkers.

    Blood-alcohol concentration varies by body weight, gender, stomach contents and other factors, but generally speaking, a 180-pound man could consume four beers or glasses of wine in 90 minutes without reaching the current limit. At a limit of 0.05 percent, he could legally consume only three. A 130-pound woman could probably consume three drinks in 90 minutes and be legal under the existing standard; if the limit were lowered, she could consume only two.

    Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/us/legal-limit-drunken-driving-safety-board.html?_r=0

    However not everyone thinks reducing the BAC limit for drivers is such a good idea. Members of the American Beverage Institute have criticised it for failing to address the real problem, drunk drivers not drivers who are responsible by sticking to the limit. The post goes on to explain:

    The blood-alcohol recommendation faces opposition. Sarah Longwell, the managing director at the American Beverage Institute, a restaurant trade association, called the idea “ludicrous.”

    “Moving from 0.08 to 0.05 would criminalize perfectly responsible behavior,” she said. And “further restriction of moderate consumption of alcohol by responsible adults prior to driving does nothing to stop hard-core drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel.”

    Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/us/legal-limit-drunken-driving-safety-board.html?_r=0

    But government statistics have apparently been provided which show that people with a blood-alcohol level of 0.05 percent are 38 percent more likely to be involved in a crash than those who have not been drinking while people with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent are 169 percent more likely.

    Most American states only switched to a BAC of 0.08 in the year 2000 when Bill Clinton signed a law which withheld highway construction money from states that did not do so but the rest of the world agrees that 0.05 BAC is the acceptable limit and some countries like South Africa are even considering lowering it even further after a number of alcohol induced crashes.

     

  • Push To Tackle Alcohol-Related Violence in Sydney

    According to an article on Abc.net.au Sydney’s late night emergency services personnel have urged authorities to close all pubs and clubs in the state at 3am.

    According to the NSW Police Association president, all current methods of tackling alcohol fuelled violence have failed if the number of emergency call outs and people being arrested are anything to go by. According to the police, it is obvious that Sydney needs stricter rules governing late codes.

    This is what they are suggesting according to the article on Abc.net.au:

    The President of the New South Wales Police Association says it’s time to admit policies to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence have failed.

    Mr Weber says Sydney needs harsher restrictions.

    “We need to reduce trading hours back to 3am, put restrictions in regard to the sale of shots and heavy liquor and also make sure there is lock-outs at 1am,” he said.

    Nurses and health workers have joined the campaign calling for Sydney to follow the example of cities like Newcastle.

    Mr Weber says there’s a 1am lockout and restrictions on the sale of shots in Newcastle and similar rules should be imposed across Sydney.

    “We’ve seen a model up in Newcastle where there’s been a 37 percent reduction in regards to alcohol-related violence.

    “That is across the board. At licensed premises, out on the street and even domestic violence. A 37 percent reduction.

    “If we were talking about a road toll or cancer, it’d be implemented straight away,” he said.

    Read more at:

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-12/a-push-for-tougher-rules-to-tackle-alcohol-related-violence/4684216

    Although the NSW government has no current plans to implement heavier restrictions across Sydney’s venues, the Hospitality Minister George Souris says the so-called “Newcastle model” works because it covers a smaller area.

    Especially on the weekends police, ambulance and hospital staff find themselves scrambling to keep up with call outs and emergencies related to alcohol fuelled violence and misconduct, taking time away from other patients with natural diseases and illnesses.

    It is obvious that in NSW Responsible Service of alcohol is not being practiced as strictly as it should be. Anyone serving or selling alcohol has a responsibility to the community to enforce RSA rules when going about their job, to avoid the emergencies that we are seeing each and every weekend across the state.

    If the emergency services staff get their way and venues are forced to close at 3am, staff of licenced venues will suffer a financial knock because their hours of work may be affected which would resulted in fewer tips and less shifts. In order to avoid this staff of licenced venues should ensure that they enforce the RSA rules which they have been trained to do, including not serving alcohol to minors and never serving an unduly intoxicated patron.

    This can be difficult because while most intoxicated patrons show physical signs of being drunk, they may get someone else to purchase the alcohol on their behalf. Never the less look out for the signs – their eyes may become red and blood shot, their speech slurred or may even display signs of forgetfulness. Talking slowly or moving slowly is also a sign.  They also commonly show a lack of coordination, instability resulting in stumbling, swaying, falling down, dropping glasses etc.

    The person may stink of alcohol and sweat more than usual. Observe the early signs and avoid many of the consequences of over intoxication for the customer, yourself, your establishment and society in general.

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol News: Man Three Times over the Limit Involved in Crash

    A man more than 3 times over the legal alcohol limit was involved in a crash in Hervey Bay, last week.

    The man crashed his car while driving over the limit on Wednesday night.

    The man was trapped in the car which flipped and landed on its side. The man was treated at Hervey Bay hospital and then taken to a police station for a breathalyser test which returned a reading of over 0.150, the legal limit is 0.05.

    The man will have to appear in court over the incident but is lucky to be alive.

    FraserCoastChronicle.com.au reported this on the story:

    A MAN will have to face court after allegedly returning a blood alcohol reading more than triple the legal limit after crashing his car on Main St at Ghost Hill on Wednesday night.

    A Hervey Bay police spokesman said officers, who went to the crash about 8.30pm, found the driver trapped in the vehicle which was on its side.

    The man was freed from the vehicle and transported to Hervey Bay Hospital for treatment for injuries.

    After this, the man was taken to the police station for a breath test, the spokesman said.

    Even with the amount of time that had passed at the hospital, the man’s alcohol reading was alleged to still be over 0.150, the high alcohol limit.

    The man was given a notice to appear in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court, the spokesman said.

    Source: http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/man-appear-court-drink-driving-after-car-crash/1870577/

    It is sad to think that people not only have no respect for their own lives but endanger the lives of other road users as well by getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

    This driver was lucky to escape with his life but he is also extremely lucky to have not involved anyone else in the crash or the consequences could have been much more severe for him and an innocent life (or lives) may have been lost.

    Impaired vision, slowed reaction times, the inability to keep straight on the road or within one’s own lane are just some of the consequences of drink driving, anyone of which or a combination of which can lead to serious and possibly fatal crashes.

    Alcohol also has the ability to make a driver feel relaxed which may cause them to fall asleep at the wheel. A number of people have caused serious crashes in this manner and this may have been what caused this crash in Hervey Bay.

    Alcohol also gives people a false sense of confidence which results in increased risk taking behaviour which while driving can involve speeding, dangerous manoeuvres, running stop signs etc.

    If you are going to go out and drink please do the responsible thing and call a friend or taxi for a lift home.

    Bartenders and anyone serving alcohol should try to stop anyone who is inebriated from driving. Although this may seem like a difficult task to accomplish especially on a busy night in a crowded bar, try to keep somewhat of a record of how many drinks you serve any particular person. Encourage patrons to call for a lift home or do it for them. Also promote responsible drinking by limiting the amount of alcohol you serve to any one patron.

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol News: Drunken Women Assaults Police Officer

    An example of the effects of alcohol on some people has been demonstrated by an incident which happened on The Fraser Coast recently.

    A young woman, after taking a cocktail of alcohol and prescription medication became involved in a drunken brawl in a car parking lot in Pialba. The women then proceeded to assault one of the police officers intervening in the fight and had to be arrested.

    According to police who attempted to break up the fight the young woman continued to scream and cause a disturbance after police had broken up the fight. Police then decided to arrest the young woman who resisted, even kicking one officer in the leg. She refused to provide police with her personal details, showing defiance even after being arrested.

    Read what happened according to this post from www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au

    A YOUNG woman who kicked a police officer after a drunken brawl in the McDonald’s Restaurant car park in Pialba has avoided a conviction after pleading guilty in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

    Tara Kate Godfrey, 24, had committed the offence after she had mixed prescription medication and alcohol on February 17, the court heard.

    Police prosecutor Senior Constable Jeanette Grigoris said officers were called to attend a fight between a group of people in the carpark.

    They were speaking with a man after breaking up the fight and at that point, Godfrey created another disturbance, screaming abuse at some of the other girls in the car park.

    “I’m going to smash you, you f***ing sluts, f***ing c***s!” Godfrey shouted.

    Her abuse lead to her being arrested and charged with being a public nuisance, Snr Const Grigoris said.

    Godfrey tried to resist arrest, and kicked one of the police officers in the leg.

    She later failed to provide her identifying particulars to the police, the court heard.

    Source: http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/young-woman-finds-medication-alcohol-and-police-do/1872783/

    According to the lawyer representing Ms Godfrey, she was a troubled youth battling with depression and anxiety who had simply over medicated herself by mixing alcohol and medication.

    The lawyer explained that she acted out of the ordinary because of her self-medication. This highlights even further the dangers of mixing alcohol with prescription or illicit drugs which can result in people acting in ways they wouldn’t ordinarily especially displaying increased levels of aggression. In her sober state Godfrey was apologetic for her actions and had to pay a $800 fine but managed to escape a criminal conviction.

    The post went on to explain:

    Duty lawyer John Milburn provided material from Fraser Coast Medical Centre, detailing Godfrey’s struggles with depression and anxiety.

    Mr Milburn said Godfrey had been “over medicated” at the time and when this mixed with alcohol the resulting behaviour was out of character.

    Godfrey apologised to the court and police for the way she acted.

    Magistrate Graeme Tatnell accepted this, and warned Godfrey about the dangers of mixing alcohol with medication.

    He said this would be her last chance to avoid having a conviction recorded for this sort of offence.

    Godfrey was fined $800.

    Read more: http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/young-woman-finds-medication-alcohol-and-police-do/1872783/

     

  • Problems Associated with Drinking in Teenage Girls

    The problem of teenagers drinking excessively and then endangering themselves by engaging in activities such as unsafe sex, fighting and brawls and other criminal activity and misconduct has become a serious issue, in NSW and throughout Oz. There has also been a marked increase in the rate of girls jailed or under community-based supervision over the past 10 years in NSW, new national data shows which has been linked to alcohol.

    According to NSW Justice Minister Greg Smith, drugs and alcohol are to blame for this increase and abuse of these substances in particular needs to be dealt with. It was revealed in a recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report that there has been a 70 per cent increase in the number of underage girls being held in detention centres for some or the other reason.

    Read what an article on Smh.com.au explains about the spike:

    ”It is believed the rise in the rate of young female offenders under supervision by Juvenile Justice NSW can be attributed to a number of factors including drug and alcohol abuse and a rise in the number of serious crimes committed by young female offenders,” a spokeswoman for Mr Smith said.

    The head of the AIHW’s child welfare and prisoner health unit, Tim Beard, said it is too early to tell what is driving the trend among female 10- to 17-year-olds because the numbers were still small.

    ”This is really fascinating. It [the rate] has come down in the past year, but if you look at the longer term trend it has actually gone up,” Mr Beard said.

    In 2000-01, the number of female juveniles under supervision in NSW on an average day was 5.2 per 10,000, representing 193 detainees, increasing to 9.1 per 10,000 in 2011-12 (329), according to the AIHW report, Youth justice in Australia 2011-12: An overview, released on April 30. Supervision refers to community-based and detention orders.

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/alcohol-factor-in-rise-of-girls-in-detention-20130509-2jab2.html#ixzz2SsWwXpcn

    The data obtained is backed up research done by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research which indicates a 33 per cent increase in the number of underage female offenders in the last decade leading up to June 2009.

    According to statistics the rate of female juvenile offenders under supervision has increased slightly in Victoria and has increased more dramatically in Tasmania. The rate has dropped in the ACT, Queensland and South Australia.

    Facts such as these make it more evident as to why responsible service of alcohol is so important. RSA staff are often the only thing standing between minors and alcohol which makes their job even more important.

    It is vital the RSA staff such as bartenders, waitrons and licenced venue employees refuse alcohol to anyone who looks underage and anyone who is not able to produce an ID proving their age, especially if they look under the age of 25. Parents too play an important role and should teach their children the dangers of drinking too young and excessive consumption.

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol News: Fears that New Supermarket Liquor Laws Threaten Queensland’s Pubs

    Concerns have been raised by a hotel advisory firm, PJT Accountants that new laws under consideration by the Queensland Government may severely negatively impact the hotel industry. Under these new laws, grocery stores would be able to sell alcohol – a move which the firm fears will affect the hotel industry.

    Speaking to theShout.com.au a partner at the firm, Wayne Patten detailed how he had met with Attorney General, Jarrod Bleije who has responsibility for the state’s liquor and gaming portfolio, raising with him concerns for hotels.

    This year the Newman Government released a discussion paper which requested input on the future of Queensland’s liquor and gaming laws and one of the issues tabled was whether alcohol should be sold in supermarkets.

    This is what the article on TheShout.com.au reported on the interview with Patten:

    Patten said grocery operators such as Aldi and IGA claim to be unfairly discriminated against by not being able to sell alcohol in a similar way to mega chains Coles and Woolworths.

    He said he explained to Bleije that in order to obtain this competitive advantage, Coles and Woolworths were required to purchase a local hotel to obtain the necessary liquor licence, an astute move overlooked by smaller operators and a significant investment which saw positive growth in business valuations throughout the industry.

    “These businesses have committed hundreds of thousands of dollars into purchasing and setting up detached bottleshops, and in the process employing thousands of Queenslanders,” he said.

    Patten, who previously owned a pub himself and still represents many hoteliers through PJT’s specialist hotels division, said many Queensland hotels are currently “hanging on by a thread”.

    “In some cases bank valuations are just 50 per cent of the value they enjoyed just four to five years ago when the industry was booming,” he said.

    “Many hoteliers are committed to long-term leases, negotiated when the market was buoyant. In this much tougher market, margins are thin but the lease outgoings remain constant.”

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2013/05/13/article/Liquor-in-supermarkets-threatens-Queensland-pubs/YCPGKQDUBD.html

    Patten went on to explain that his firm’s belief was that the valuations of hotels were going to severely decline as a result of supermarkets being able to sell alcohol, an opinion which he says is shared  by leading banks and bank panel valuers. This is because as grocery stores begin to sell alcohol, there would be a reduction in bottleshops sales which will ultimately translate to a reduction in profits and therefore lessen the value of the hotel, according to Patten and his firm.

    Another important aspect to consider is the impact increased alcohol sales will have on the community. In order to minimise the damage done because of alcohol abuse and binge drinking, it is important anyone involved with the sale of alcohol undergo Responsible Service of Alcohol training.

    RSA training is a mandatory requirement for staff of licenced venues and if grocery stores do begin to sell alcohol, staff should undergo the training in order to minimise the impact on the community by learning how to serve alcohol in a responsible manner.

     

  • Which Nations Drink the Most

    Ever wondered which nations are the biggest drinkers? Although we may all have our own suspicions a new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found that surprisingly Canadians drink more than 50 per cent above the global average.

    Although alcohol advertising and alcohol abuse may seem to be on the rise, overall people around the world are abstaining from alcohol. According to an article on www.huffingtonpost.ca Canadians are drinking as much as the rest of the world’s drinkers are refraining.

    Although alcohol related problems are receiving a lot of attention, statistics show that globally people are becoming more health conscious which translates into less alcohol consumption. Canada however does not seem to be following in this trend, where figures show Canadians are drinking a lot more than other nations. This excessive drinking is becoming a serious problem for the country as the health services and society in generally are negatively impacted. This includes 200 types of diseases and injuries as well as suicides.

    This article from Huffingtonpost.ca explains:

    You might not be able to tell from all those beer commercials, but on a global scale, people are actually abstaining from alcohol. Even if the rest of the world isn’t downing pints, however, Canadians seem to be drinking on their behalf.

    A new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), found Canadians drink more than 50 per cent above the global average. And it’s no time to be imbibing — alcohol is now the third leading cause of the global burden of disease and injury.

    “The burden of disease and injury is measured when someone dies prematurely or before the life expectancy in a certain country,” explains Dr. Jürgen Rehm, study author and director of CAMH’s Social and Epidemiological Research Department. This is also impacted by anything that may disable a fully healthy body, for example, losing a body part or organ, he adds.

    In 2010, alcohol was responsible for 5.5 per cent of the overall burden, coming in third after high blood pressure and smoking. According to Rehm and his team, these types of injuries and diseases not only include common outcomes like liver cirrhosis (poor liver function) and traffic accidents, but other related diseases like certain types of cancers.

    The report also notes that alcohol consumption in 2010 was found to cause more than 200 different types of diseases and injuries — including everything from a slip or fall caused by intoxication to more fatal outcomes like suicide.

    Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/03/04/statistics-of-alcohol_n_2806184.htmlmn

    According to the World Health Organisation too few countries use effective policy options to prevent death, disease and injury from alcohol use. From 1999, when WHO (World Health Organisation) first began to report on alcohol policies, at least 34 countries have adopted some type of formal policies to reduce harmful use of alcohol. Restrictions on alcohol marketing and on drink–driving have increased, but there are no clear trends on most preventive measures. Many countries have weak alcohol policies and prevention programmes. Clearly much more needs to be done to overcome alcohol abuse around the globe but right here at home we can begin by enforcing the policies we do have, such as responsible service of alcohol laws. This can simply be done by denying alcohol to underage patrons and never serving alcohol to anyone who is unduly intoxicated, it is the first step in the global fight against alcohol abuse.

     

  • How to Enhance your Alcohol Enjoyment

    Alcohol has been referred to as the “nectar of the gods” that can enhance health, relaxation, pleasure and social interaction but consumed in excess, alcohol like all things in life can be detrimental. When you go to a party would you eat the entire cake by yourself? No, of course not so why is that some people think they can drink in excess without any consequences?

    So if getting drunk is bad for you why is that it is so socially and culturally acceptable? In Victoria for example 40 per cent of drinkers admitted to consuming alcohol for the sole purpose of getting drunk to the point of slurred speech and lost balance. This is an overwhelmingly high number of drinkers engaging in binge drinking and probably a large number of them also engaging in other alcohol related misconduct.

    According to a survey by the group FARE (The Foundation for Alcohol and Research Educations), two thirds of Aussies believe it is acceptable to get drunk. The survey also revealed that almost a quarter of Aussie drinkers report not being able to stop drinking once they start. They have most probably conditioned themselves to drink excessively over a period of time which is why they cannot stop at one or two drinks.

    FARE’s survey also revealed that 3.5million Aussies suffer from drinker’s remorse. This is indicative of a problem of self-control and a culture of excessive drinking engrained into people from a young age. Most Aussies don’t feel comfortable in a pub, bar or club without drinking and some (Around 25 per cent) drink until they can’t remember anything.

    Another problem identified by the survey which is contributing to the culture of “drunkenness” is pre-drinking. Around 50 per cent of drinkers drink at home before heading out to a club, pub or bar, many are already intoxicated when they get there.

    Here are some tips to combating excessive drinking:

    1. Know your limits and stick to it. In addition to knowing the legal limits and what constitutes a standard drink, develop a system to understand your limits and quit drinking before you get drunk.

    2. Eat food while you drink. It is particularly good to eat high protein foods such as cheese and peanuts, which help to slow the absorption of alcohol into the circulatory system.

    3. Sip your drink. If you gulp a drink for the effect, you are losing a pleasure of drinking, namely tasting and smelling the various flavours, for example in wine.

    4. Accept a drink only when you really want one. At a party if someone is trying to force another drink on you, ask for ice or drink a non-alcoholic beverage.

    5. Become a connoisseur,learn to choose quality rather than quantity. Learn the names of fine wines, whiskeys, and beers. Learn what beverage goes with what foods rather than just drinking the cheapest drinks so you can consume more and get more intoxicated.

    I came across an interesting saying which basically sums up responsible drinking it says, “Drinking responsibly means never having to feel sorry for what happened while you were drinking”.  Ultimately this means not becoming drunk.