Welcome to 2012. We hope that you have all had a restful break and are looking forward to the challenges that await us this year.

You are probably well on your way into febfast and may want to share some of your stories with us. Please send them to CAAN@adf.org.au.

Over the coming month you may notice some changes to GrogWatch and we welcome any feedback and suggestions. Please send them to CAAN@adf.org.au.

Your editorial team

You all know by now that it’s against Victorian law to serve alcohol in a private home to anyone under 18, unless their parents have given permission. People who break the law face fines over $7,000—the same amount a licensee would be fined for selling alcohol to a minor. There’s also an on the spot fine of around $700.

Over the coming months the Australian Drug Foundation (ADF), in partnership with VicHealth and the Victorian Department of Health, have a whole host of events coming up, which focus on the new laws, and strategies for parents to manage alcohol and their kids.

We’ve got two webinars coming up. This is your opportunity to listen to the experts and have all your questions answered.

• Our first webinar on 22 February looks at parenting strategies to prevent alcohol misuse, and it features Michael Carr-Gregg, Child Psychologist and Professor John Toumbourou.
• Our second webinar on 6 March covers the secondary supply legislation and safe partying, and features Sondra Davoren, public health lawyer, and Sergeant Wendy Cowling.

Then we also have a series of community forums coming up, which we’re running in conjunction with Leigh Bartlett from the Barwon Adolescent Taskforce (BATForce). The forums will look at the legislation, young people and alcohol related harm, and ways in which parents can manage teenage alcohol use. Aside from four metro forums, we’ll be visiting Geelong, Portland, Horsham, Shepparton, Swan Hill and Bairnsdale.

And last but definitely not least, we’ve just released a series of four podcasts, featuring experts talking about the legislation and all aspects of young people and alcohol.

So that should keep you busy for a while.

For further information, to register for the events, listen to the podcasts, or download the iPhone App visit the Teen Drinking Law website.

Over and out.

Sarah Jaggard
Project Officer – Secondary Supply Campaign

A new report has been released through the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research which reviews what pricing and taxation levers are available to reduce alcohol-related harms, and their effectiveness, for Australia. The report includes overviews of research, industry responses to several initiatives such as the alcopop tax, minimum pricing, bans on promotions.

Key points in the report include:

• Consumption of alcohol increases when income rises and decreases when income falls. The price of alcohol in Australia has gradually increased over the last two decades compared to other consumer goods, but its affordability has also increased by 40% between 1995 and 2008, and it’s affordability which drives consumer decisions, not price.
• Public opinion is also important—less than a quarter of Australians supported an increase in the price of alcohol to reduce alcohol-related harm. The public are more supportive of distal controls such as licensing.
• Australia needs to follow New Zealand’s lead and make data of price and quantity of alcohol sold publicly available.

Full report: Carragher N & Chalmers J 2011 What are the options? Pricing and taxation policy reforms to redress excessive alcohol consumption and related harms in Australia [PDF: 641KB], Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

febfast is a national health and fundraising initiative that challenges people to take a break from the booze during the shortest month in the year. Participants raise money that enables young Australians to take control of their lives and overcome alcohol and other drug problems.

febfast presses the "pause" button after the silly season so you can start the year with a clear head. The concept is simple: step away from the bottle in February and have friends, family and workmates sponsor you.

Visit the febfast website for more information.

Creating a Safer Night Time Environment: Addressing The Impact of Alcohol
The Yarra Drug and Health Forum (YDHF) and Yarra City Council are hosting a YDHF Community Forum on Creating a Safer Night Time Environment: Addressing The Impact of Alcohol. The forum will be held on 22 February from 10.00am–1.00pm in the Fitzroy Town Hall Reading Room. For more details or to RSVP visit the YDHF website.

Whole-of-government Victorian alcohol and drug strategy consultations
Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) has been funded by the Victorian Department of Health to undertake further community consultation into the development of the Whole of Government review of Victoria’s Alcohol and Drug Strategy. It is hoped that broader consultation will occur to enhance the many submissions that were received earlier in the consultation phase. Consultations close 19 February. More details about how to particpate are available at www.your-say.net.au.

Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) Consultation Forum
The ANCD is seeking views from non-government, community based, government, education, health and law enforcement staff on alcohol and other drug issues in Victoria. The consultation will be held at The Grand Chancellor Hotel, 131 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne on 21 February, 9.00–11.15am. RSVP by 13 February by tel. (02) 6166 9600 or email ancd@ancd.org.au.

Big boozing women seek fast solution
Sydney Morning Herald, 31 January 2012
The dominant participants in Febfast, the campaign that encourages people to abstain from alcohol in February, are heavy-drinking professional women in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

Call for compulsory alcohol education in schools
West Australian, 1 February 2012
Schoolchildren need compulsory alcohol education from the age of 9 or 10, according to Children's Commissioner Michelle Scott.

Alice alcohol laws surprise tourist
ABC Alice Springs, 1 February 2012
Are Alice Springs' alcohol laws the most restrictive in the Western world? One Danish tourist says so, after his family was refused service at a local bottle shop for failing to show their passports.

Pregnant women 'ignoring alcohol warnings'
WA Today, 2 February 2012
Women are continuing to place their unborn children at risk by drinking while pregnant, health experts have told a federal parliamentary inquiry.

Council push on outlets
Mercury, 4 February 2012
Aldermen on the Hobart City Council are continuing to push for the council to have some influence over the establishment of new bottle shops.

App to aid tipsy teens campaign
Herald Sun, 5 February 2012
An iTunes app spruiking changes made to alcohol laws has been launched by the Victorian Government.

New bars cop new rules
Melbourne Weekly, 6 February 2012
No existing Chapel Street bars will be forced to change their opening hours despite tighter licensing rules announced to curb late-night chaos. Laws designed to curb anti-social behaviour on the popular nightclub strip force new bars to close at 1am, and limit occupancy to 200.