Week #25 Global Alcohol Policy Round-Up
WORLDWIDE WEEKLY ALCOHOL POLICY, SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Welcome to another week of carefully curated alcohol policy news, latest science updates, exposing Big Alcohol, and new blog post about new tactics of the alcohol industry.
Content
For week 25, our Global Alcohol Policy Round-Up contains:
- Alcohol policy updates come from Scotland (with good news), Estonia (with bad news), the West coast of the United States (about alcohol’s adverse impact on local food production and biodiversity), Germany and France.
- Fresh science updates cover the lack of awareness about alcohol and breast cancer and the relationship between parental attitudes and children’s alcohol use.
- Our Big Alcohol monitor exposes alcohol industry interference in MUP in Wales, Amazon joining Big Alcohol in the United States.
- From our Global Voices Blog Portal, Tharaka dissects a new tactic of the alcohol industry to reach young people.
Scotland: Alcohol Sales at Lowest Level in 25 years
Alcohol sales in Scotland have fallen to their lowest level in 25 years after the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol, according to new government data.
In 2018, Scotland was finally able to introduce minimum pricing for all alcoholic drinks, after overcoming numerous of lawsuits of the alcohol industry.
Estonia: Parliament Adopts Alcohol Tax Reduction
Riigikogu, the Estonian parliament, has passed a bill lowering alcohol excise duty rate by 25%.
At its third and final reading, the Riigikogu voted 70-9 in favor of a bill that will lower the alcohol excise duty rates for beer, cider and hard liquor by 25%. The policy change comes into force already on July 1, 2019.
Alcohol Production Degrades Farmland
A letter to the editor of The Seattle Times details how increased alcohol production will degrade farmland and jeopardize local food production and the eco-system.
The Metropolitan King County Proposed Ordinance 2018-0241, on updating development regulations for wineries, breweries and distilleries in unincorporated King County, will degrade farmland.
Germany: Rising Interest in Alcohol-Free Lifestyle
As many as one in 15 beers of the estimated annual 6.2 million hectolitres of beer consumed in Germany is alcohol-free.
France: Understanding Substance Use in Youth
The French Observatory for Drugs and Addiction (OFDT) issued a new report on substance use trends among French youth. Accordingly smoking cigarettes and cannabis is decreasing in popularity while vaping is increasing. Alcohol use, however, is also still popular with French youth.
The Acceptability of Addressing Alcohol Consumption as a Modifiable Risk Factor for Breast Cancer: A Mixed Method Study Within Breast Screening Services and Symptomatic Breast Clinics
Research article
Addressing Alcohol Consumption as a Modifiable Risk Factor for Breast Cancer
The Relationship between Parental Attitudes and Children’s Alcohol Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Research article
Relationship between Parental Attitudes and Children’s Alcohol Use
Wales: MUP Delayed Until 2020
Plans to implement minimum unit price (MUP) in Wales have been delayed till at least 2020. Another EU member state has held up the process. MUP was supposed to come into effect this summer.
Portugal intervened and issued a ‘detailed opinion’ on MUP in Wales, which is a method used by member states to object to other EU country’s plans.
Amazon Joins Big Alcohol
Amazon has joined Big Alcohol and will soon be delivering alcohol to customers in San Francisco.
Big Alcohol Wants Youth To Avoid Hangover. A New Strategy Of Pushing Alcohol Culture On Youth
Big Alcohol Wants Youth To Avoid Hangover: A New Strategy Of Pushing Alcohol Culture On Youth
