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  • Drink Driving Leads to Crash in Milton

    According to Roads Transport and Maritime Services NSW, drink driving is a factor in about one in every five crashes in NSW where someone loses their life. Of the drink drivers who are killed, 97 per cent are men and 64 per cent are under the age of 40.

    The consequences of driving while under the influence of alcohol have once again been demonstrated by an incident that took place in Milton last month. A man driving while intoxicated has been charged after causing a crash on the Princes Highway.

    The middle aged man was charged after being found with an alcohol reading of point 060. This type of behaviour is however not uncommon, another driver in Ulladulla has been found driving almost 2 times over the legal limit.

    Powerfm.com.au reports:

    A man has been charged with drink driving after a crash in Milton last month.

    The crash happened about 8PM on Sunday April 21 at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Matron Porter Drive.

    A 49 year old Morton man who was driving a Flacon Ute has been charged with drink driving after returning a blood alcohol reading of point 060.

    He has been ordered to appear in Milton Court next month.

    Meantime a 58 year old Ulladulla man has been charged with drink driving after returning a reading more than twice the limit.

    He was stopped in Petty’s Ave Ulladulla.

    Source: http://www.powerfm.com.au/nowra/index.php/news/36921-drink-drive-charge-after-crash

    One of the most important issues to remember is that you don’t have to be drunk to be affected by alcohol. You might feel normal but no one drives as well as they should after drinking alcohol. Also Roads Transport and Maritime Services NSW reminds road users that novice drivers in particular should not drink before driving, even though the legal limit is 0.05, learner drivers should refrain from alcohol altogether because they are at a much higher risk of crashing than more experienced drivers. It is for this reason that learner and provisional licence holders are restricted to a zero alcohol limit.

    Another misconception is that by drinking coffee, eating a meal or apples you can bring down your alcohol level. Sobering up takes time and no amount of coffee, food, physical activity or sleep will speed up the process. Police will take any excuses if your blood alcohol level is over the limit.

    In NSW, police have the power to stop drivers at random to test for alcohol and subsequently arrest drivers who have an illegal blood alcohol level. They may also arrest drivers they believe are impaired by drugs including alcohol and conduct a blood and urine test. Police may require a driver to undergo a sobriety test in certain circumstances. Do not think that you can get away with drink driving, last year NSW police conducted millions of breath tests (around 4.5 million).

    The Random Breath Test has been highly successful in deterring drink driving and stopping accidents since its inception in 1982. According to statistics provided by The Roads Transport and Maritime Services fatal crashes involving alcohol have dropped from around 40 per cent of all fatalities to the current level of 19 per cent since breath testing has been introduced.

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol Update: Serving Alcohol to Underage Minors

    An incident which occurred in Wollongong, Fairy Meadow recently should serve as an example for staff of licenced venues about the consequences of serving alcohol to minors.

    Under Responsible Service of Alcohol law serving alcohol to minors carries major fines for workers, management and owners of establishments, but the real cost of serving teenagers are the social consequences, such as teenage drink driving, teenage pregnancy and teenage violence.

    There are also serious consequences for RSA staff if they are caught. Two liquor store employees have narrowly escaped criminal convictions after their actions allowed alcohol to get into the hands of a minor in Fairy Meadow.

    An article on www.illawarramercury.com.au detailed what happened:

    Wollongong Local Court magistrate Alison Viney yesterday released Fairy Meadow BWS employee Nicholas Jason Field, 25, and store licensee David Claydon, 46, on separate good behaviour bonds after the pair admitted their momentary lapses of judgment allowed the incident to occur on September 8 last year.

    The court heard Claydon was outside having a cigarette and Field in the store speaking on the phone when the under-age person approached the counter with two bottles of Sol beer.

    Defying company policy, which directs employees not to take phone calls when serving customers, Field continued with the call while the young person dropped the cash on the counter and walked out of the shop.

    The incident was observed by an off-duty police officer who knew the young person was under age.

    Field was charged with supplying liquor to a minor on a licensed premises and Claydon charged with allowing liquor to be sold to a minor as a licensee.

    Advocating on behalf of the men yesterday, barrister Jane Healey said they both deeply regretted the incident.

    Read more: http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1436726/no-conviction-for-selling-alcohol-to-minor/

    This incident highlights the need to check identification before serving alcohol in order to avoid selling to minors. But as this incident proves failing to do so can have severe consequences not only for the youth who are served by also for the employees that serve them, including facing criminal charges in some cases.

    It also highlights the importance of Responsible Service of Alcohol training. Every worker in a licenced venue must undergo this training in order to learn about what the law says about serving alcohol responsibility and how to enforce RSA regulations.

    It should be noted that all it takes is one lapse in judgement for an incident such as the one above to occur. RSA staff most often do not purposely serve alcohol to minors but in certain situations servers may make a mistake, one which could land them and their employer in hot water. For example during peak times when the bar is busy, servers may fail to ask for an ID hoping for the best and having lots of impatient customers to serve, it is in these circumstances that these lapses in judgement may occur.

    An even more problematic issue that affects teens who drink are teens that develop a habit of alcoholism. Alcoholism is a substance abuse disorder in which the sufferer has problems managing how much alcohol they drink, and their lives as a result.

     

  • Healthy Lifestyle Ads Blocked

    The issue of alcohol advertisements and promotions which certain members of the public say “entice” young children into drinking have once again come under the spotlight as a father has been blocked by the AFL and Cricket Australia from taking out advertisements promoting healthy living because sporting bodies feel it would conflict with their sponsorships from alcohol companies.

    The incident has public health experts up in arms and they have accused sporting codes of “bowing down to corporate bullies”.

    Read about the controversy below, taken from TheHerald.com.au:

    Tasmanian Aaron Schultz tried to buy advertising space at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval to promote his ”Game Changer” campaign against the marketing of junk food and alcohol towards children through sport.

    He hoped to run four 30-second advertisements on the big screens during the North Melbourne versus Sydney game on April 13 at a total cost of $1500, but was told via email by North Melbourne that the AFL ”could not accommodate” the ad.

    It carried the slogan ”tackling unhealthy advertising in sport” and the gamechanger.org.au website.

    Mr Schultz also approached Cricket Tasmania, which have permanent signage rights at the ground, willing to pay up to $15,000 for a space.

    But an email response from Cricket Australia sent on March 26 said; ”Unfortunately your campaign contradicts with some of our contracted partners.”

    Public health expert Mike Daube, director of the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth, said he was amazed sporting bodies would censor public health messages.

    ”It is appalling that alcohol and junk food companies can prevent the communication of healthy messages,,” he said.

    Source: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1478342/sports-reject-healthy-living-ad-series/?cs=2373

    Schultz launched the “Game Changer” campaign in January this year after he became concerned that advertisements during sporting events was having an impact on his children who displayed an interest in cricket and began to watch it a lot on television and live in Hobart. He then realised that high levels of alcohol and other junk foods products being promoted were sending the wrong message to children and in fact all Australians.

    The article on TheHerald.com.au also went on to discuss the recent analysis of 3 AFL final series games where alcohol promotions were shown an average of 244 times which worked out to more than 20 minutes a match.

    A spokesman for the AFL said that the code had no contracts with any of its partners or sponsors that banned advertisements such as Game Changer but the advertisement did oppose the beliefs of the AFL because according to the AFL people should make their own decisions about what they drink and eat and also do so on behalf of their families. He also said that the AFL supported messages around responsible use of alcohol but not imposing restrictions.

    The spokesman went on to say:

    A Cricket Australia spokesman said the responsible drinking category was already filled.

    ”Cricket Australia and Carlton & United Brewery’s ‘Know When to Declare’ responsible use of alcohol advertising is the only advertising of this type we carry,” he said.

    Source: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1478342/sports-reject-healthy-living-ad-series/?cs=2373

     

  • Tips for Responsible Drinking

    Practicing responsible drinking is the only way to enjoy alcohol, binge drinking on the other hand leaves behind negative effects that can be felt long after the “buzz” has worn off.

    It is important that drinkers learn about the ways to keep their alcohol intake in check and learn how to drink responsibly.

    Being a responsible drinker involves making sure you’re safe, making sure those around  you are safe, actively avoiding dangerous situations, minimising the risks to yourself and others andhaving a positive overall drinking experience.

    How can you ensure a responsible drinking experience?

    • Be knowledgeable about what you’re drinking. Know what a standard drink is and use it as a way of keeping track of how much you’re drinking. Consider the alcohol content in each drink you consume and make sure that you space out your drinks throughout the night instead of downing them one after the other. Alternate one alcoholic drink with one non-alcoholic one or a glass of water to sustain you over the night. It takes up to an hour for your body to process each unit of alcohol. So have a break between drinks.
    • When drinking shooters or shots, keep in mind that they usually have a higher alcohol content. Also drink water between your drinks to help you keep hydrated and keep the hang over at bay.
    • Avoid mixing alcohol and other drugs. The impact of mixing alcohol and other drugs whether medication or recreational can be devastating and land you in the emergency room. If you’re on medication, check the information in the box to see what it says about drinking alcohol.

    Some of the side effects of combining drinking and drugs include death from internal bleeding, heart problems, difficulty breathing, headaches, drowsiness, fainting and loss of coordination, problems only made worse when behind the wheel of a car.

    • Arrange safe transport home. Don’t drink and drive. Alcohol is a depressant drug which slows down your reaction speed, which means if you need to think and act fast, you probably won’t be able to.  If you’re going out with a group of friends have a designated responsible driver who remains sober and make sure everyone gets home safely.  If no one wants to have a sober night, bring enough money for a taxi.
    • Wait until you’re old enough. Underage drinking is not only against the law, but can be detrimental to your health and physical as well as mental development. Under Responsible Service of Alcohol law serving alcohol to minors carries major fines for workers, management and owners of establishments, but the real cost of serving teenagers are the social consequences, such as teenage drink driving, teenage pregnancy and teenage violence. Teenagers who attempt to buy alcohol can also be fined, as can other parents who attempt to provide alcohol to their children’s friends without their parents’ consent.
    • Finish your drink too quickly and you’ll feel pressured to get another. Instead, make your drink and your evening last longer. Enjoy your drink and your night out by chatting, sipping, snacking, drinking water and getting fresh air.

     

  • Risks Involved with Drink Driving

    One of the aspects of responsible drinking is ensuring that you arrange safe transport home and do not engage in drink driving.

    Although most people think they can handle driving after a few drinks, countless studies (and statistics) have proven that alcohol reduces a person’s ability to drive safely. Even those who show few visible signs of alcohol in their system do not drive as well as usual after drinking. This is because alcohol affects most areas of the brain, and these effects are wide-ranging and impossible to compensate for. The brain being responsible for your movements and reflexes, it becomes difficult to engage in complex tasks once it has been affected by alcohol.

    It is also because alcohol is a depressant which means it has the following effects:

    • Slowing brain function making it difficult to respond to situations, make decisions or react quickly.
    • Reduces a person’s ability to judge how fast they are travelling or the distance from other cars.
    • It gives a person false confidence. People take greater risks because they think their driving is better than it really is.
    • Makes multi-tasking difficult. When it comes to driving, while you concentrate on steering, you could miss seeing traffic lights, cars entering from side streets or pedestrians.
    • Affects the sense of balance which is especially important for motorcycle riders.
    • Causes sleepiness.

    From these effects it becomes obvious that operating any machinery or vehicles once intoxicated is not only irresponsible but selfish because you could do more harm to others than you do to yourself. It is not only car or truck drivers that can injure or kill people and damage property as an incident in Brisbane recently proved. An elderly man was charged with operating his motorised wheelchair while intoxicated. The man was without any remorse although being found to be 4 times over the legal limit. It seems the man’s motorised wheelchair overturned probably due to speeding or reckless driving.

    Read what this post on Brisbanetimes.com.au reported on the incident:

    Ray Vivian Hodges, of Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, recorded the alcohol reading after police found him sprawled on the ground, shirtless and mumbling incoherently, beside his overturned scooter at Mooloolaba in late March.

    With the aid of a walking stick, Mr Hodges has faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court for what was his fourth drink-driving charge since 2008.

    Mr Hodges who admitted consuming 10 large glasses of wine, recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.209.

    He had “taken offence” at some police allegations particularly the categorisation of his scooter as a vehicle, saying “on this occasion, the wheelchair was my legs [and] as my legs, it was the only way I could get home”.

    Mr Hodges was disqualified from driving for 18 months and sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for two years.

    Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/elderly-man-nabbed-drink-driving-on-motorised-wheelchair-20130416-2hx8b.html#ixzz2QhgXkVBE

    The magistrate said that in light of the recent death of a scooter rider, Kim Horrigan, who was hit by a van at Currimundi, people like Mr Hodges need to be stopped before they kill themselves or someone else.

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol News: Huge Cost of Alcohol Harm

    We often consider the emotional and physical costs of alcohol abuse on the community and individuals in particular when discussing alcohol harm but we seldom consider the huge financial cost alcohol related harm has on the Australian society.

    A recent article on www.caboolturenews.com.au discusses a study which estimates alcohol related harm at more than $14 billion in 2012, which was double the amount of revenue collected in tax and excise.

    The study by researchers at Griffith University undertook the study on behalf of the Australian Institute of Criminology. This huge financial cost of alcohol related harm was the key finding of the report.

    The authors of the study have suggested a substantial amount of the government’s revenue generated from alcohol taxes should go towards diversion and prevention strategies to tackle the issue head-on and at the root rather than having to deal with the consequences.

    Read more about the study below with an excerpt from the post on www.Caboolturenews.com.au :

    The Commonwealth raised $7 billion in total tax revenue in 2010 from alcohol products through excise and GST revenue.

    Matthew Manning, a co-author of The Societal Costs Of Alcohol Misuse In Australia, said the paper built on a series of costings carried out over the past decade by David Collins and Helen Lapsley and showed the extent of damage that alcohol caused to the economy.

    Of the $14.352 billion estimate, $6.046 billion involved costs to Australian productivity, $3.662 billion were costs associated with traffic accidents, $2.9 billion comprised costs to the criminal justice system and $1.686 billion represented costs to the health system.

    Dr Manning made the point the total did not incorporate the negative impacts on others – estimated at more than $6 billion – associated with someone else’s drinking.

    Productivity losses, which accounted for almost half of the total cost, were calculated as the sum of reduced workforce and household labour due to premature death, reduced household labour due to sickness and reduced workforce participation due to absenteeism.

    The criminal justice system costs were made up of police (38% of total), child protection and support services (8%), prisons (21%), plus insurance administration (1%), to courts (3%) and other organisations such as detox, counselling and victims services, associated with addressing violence (29%).

    Source:http://www.caboolturenews.com.au/news/alcohol-harm-cost-us-more-twice-tax-revenue-raised/1817693/

    Servers of alcohol should never underestimate the role they play in keeping this high financial cost to the country down. Employees of the hospitality industry that are involved with the sale of alcohol must ensure that they do not contribute to the alcohol fuelled problems and therefore cost to the economy.

    As an RSA worker, you must constantly ask yourself whether or not you have done all you can reduce the numbers of alcohol fuelled incidents and minimise the huge financial impact on the community and Australian society in general. Have you fulfilled your duties by, not serving minors, not serving intoxicated patrons, recognizing the signs of intoxication and acting accordingly?

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol Update: Is Mixing Alcohol and Energy Drinks a Problem?

    There has been a lot of talk in the media recently about the dangers of mixing alcohol and energy drinks but is there any truth or even proof to these allegations?

    Energy drinks have taken off on the market since 1997 and now we can find them everywhere from supermarkets to petrol stations. It is estimated that the market for energy drinks is around $9 billion American dollars each year (around $8.6 billion Australian dollars).

    One of the risks associated with energy drinks especially for alcohol drinkers is that energy drinks contain an exceptionally large amount of caffeine. For this reason drinkers can stay awake longer and continue drinking even well beyond legal and safe limits, thereafter they begin to jeopardise their health and the present a risk to others if they become violent.

    A standard cup of coffee has about 100 milligrams of caffeine, a cup of tea 50 milligrams and a can of cola 35-55 milligrams. Energy drinks usually have more. A single serving of an energy drink can have anywhere from 50 to 500 milligrams of caffeine and the addition of Guarana (a South American plant extract that contains additional caffeine) ups the caffeine dose even more.

    Caffeine is a stimulant and massive caffeine overdoses can cause reduced blood flow to the heart and abnormal heart rhythms, whereas alcohol is a relaxant and is meant to do the opposite of what caffeine does, this is dangerous for the body.

    Also most energy drinks also contain sugar which the body uses to fuel work but can also mean extra calories which if not used will be stored and result in weight gain.

    Every drink alcoholic or not, energy drinks or just sodas should be consumed in moderation. Anything consumed in excess is bad for human health and normally results in complications. The same goes for alcohol, it can be an excellent relaxer but consumed in excess it can present a very real danger to health and safety and when combined with energy drinks the consequences can be even worse.

     

  • Mixing Up your Cocktail Menu – How to make a Victorian Martini

    Cocktails are a favourite of many drinkers and bartenders around the world, but where exactly did this idea come from, after all drinks are perfectly delicious on their own, why the need to combine a number of drinks in order to make a new concoction, known as a cocktail?

    Well the modern cocktail is thought to have developed from earlier versions of Toddies, Fizzies and Juleps. There is no definite story around the history of the cocktail but it is thought to date back to the 1800s and there are number of stories (some quite far-fetched) about how people first decided to mix drinks. The modern version spread due to popularity in the United States but it probably first started in London.

    (Read this story that claims cocktails developed in London http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ultratravel/9741140/The-surprising-history-of-the-cocktail.html)

    Wherever its origins we can all be thankfully that it spread because while we can appreciate a good shot of whisky or bourbon neat, there are some settings where nothing can replace a cocktail (like lying on a beach in The Carribean).

    And since cocktails most probably were born out of a need for something new and exciting, it makes sense that we are inventing new and exciting cocktails everyday. Just like fashions, trends in cocktails change with each season, so whether you’re inventing your own or copying some international trend, have fun playing around with different ingredients and mixtures.

    Here is a simple and delicious recipe you can try.

    http://youtu.be/7yJpVFzSteU

     

  • Alcohol Crime Takes Too Much of Police Time

    According to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione alcohol fuelled crimes are up and are taking a huge amount of the police’s time and resources. The Commissioner says the police are spending around 70 per cent of their human resources on alcohol related crime in NSW, an issue that will feature high on the agenda at the 6th Australian Drug and Alcohol Strategy Conference which will begin on Wednesday.

    The conference will aim to tackle issues in Australia relating to alcohol abuse. The Commissioner who kickstarted the conference told the press that police spent most of their time dealing with offenders, victims and motorists in incidents induced by alcohol.

    It is interesting that Mr Scipione said the number of young people binge drinking was lower but those who were still binge drinking were consuming even larger amounts of alcohol. The Commissioner has urged parents and fathers in particular to educate their kids about the dangers of binge drinking and how to drink moderately and responsibly before they even reach their teen years.

    Read what this post from News.com.au says about the Commissioner’s complaints:

    ALCOHOL-RELATED crime takes up 70 per cent of all police work in NSW, Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says.

    The 6th Australian Drug and Alcohol Strategy Conference kicked off on Wednesday in Sydney with top police brass and academics to deliver presentations and share ideas over the next three days.

    After opening the conference, Mr Scipione told reporters that police on the streets spent the majority of their time dealing with offenders, victims and motorists in incidents that involved alcohol.

    “The reality is about 70 per cent of police time on the streets … is in some way connected to the abuse or misuse of alcohol,” he said.

    “Alcohol is the number one issue on the agenda for police commissioners across this nation.”

    Mr Scipione said the number of people under the age of 25 who were binge drinking was in decline but those who engaged in heavy drinking were consuming larger amounts of alcohol.

    He stressed that parents, especially fathers, should educate their children about alcohol before they became teenagers.

    Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/alcohol-related-crime-takes-up-cops-time/story-e6frfku9-1226601388764#ixzz2O3ck3mjv

    An interesting issue highlighted by the Police Commissioner is the role of parents in educating young people about alcohol before they are old enough to make mistakes involving alcohol. 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.

    Particularly in Australia alcohol is tolerated as socially acceptable but it should be remembered that it is still a drug.  It should be noted that alcohol is responsible for most drug-related deaths in the teenage population in Oz and many other countries around the world.

    Additionally alcohol can be associated with a variety of serious health risks which for a teenagers developing body can be detrimental.  It’s difficult to prevent teenagers from experimenting with alcohol, but parents can encourage sensible drinking habits.

     

  • How to Avoid Binge Drinking this Weekend

    So you’re planning an evening out with your mates but usually an evening out means an evening of binge drinking and nothing but regrets the next morning.

    Most people don’t intend to get hammered on a night out but once you down your first few drinks, it’s like you can’t say no, somehow alcohol helps us lose our inhibitions and leaves us worse for wear the next morning. So how do we avoid excessively drinking and just enjoy one or two drinks without it turning into an all-out binge? Here are a few pointers on how to drink moderately and responsibly:

    • Lose bad company. The old saying about birds of feather really is true when it comes to habits like binge drinking. The biggest cause of binge drinking is culture and peers. Most people drink because all their friends drink and when we go out especially on the weekend, we tend to want to get intoxicated together, not many people enjoy getting drunk alone, unless they have a drinking problem. So lose the bad company until you are strong enough to say no and drink according to your own limits. Remember what your friends can handle may not necessarily be what you can handle.
    • Be extra cautious when you are drowning your sorrows or when you are celebrating. Make sure that you are in control and aware that you may be using alcohol to feel better. Be mindful as you can end up feeling even more depressed when it wears off. If you suspect that you are possibly depressed and not coping, then seek advice and help instead of masking it with drinking. If you are drinking to cope with a setback be responsible and arrange safe transport home.
    • Consciously monitor the amount of alcohol you consume on a night out. Make it a rule and a habit to have a glass of water in between every drink and eat a hearty meal before drinking. Set a limit for yourself and stick to it. If you are a woman, make sure that you are consuming less than your male friends because it takes less to get you drunk than it does them.
    • Remember that we get very thirsty when we drink because alcohol is a diuretic and the trick is to drink water. If we don’t, we tend to drink more alcohol to quench the thirst, making the problem worse.
    • Have “small” drinks and dilute in as much soda or water as you can. Find the drink that you enjoy the taste of and sip it. If it is a wine or beer and if your chosen drink is a spirit, dilute it in water or soda, this will keep the added sugar content down.
    • If drinking with a group of friends, make sure there is a designated driver that doesn’t drink even one drink. Not only can this person drive you home but they can look out for your safety and wellbeing while you drink. They can also monitor how much you drink and help you stick to your limits because they are thinking clearly whereas you will probably not be after a few drinks.