In the news this week – German discount supermarket Aldi will begin stocking its shelves with $1 beers - including 80c cans of light - across 34 New South Wales outlets from next year, despite objections from NSW Health.

That’s cheaper than a can of coke!

The coalition of Newcastle inner city resident groups, small businesses and concerned citizens is disappointed their concerns regarding the Aldi liquor licenses were ignored when the NSW government announced its approval on Sunday.

Coalition member Tony Brown says it’s sheer madness that the NSW government is actively promoting an increase in the number of liquor outlets and discounting the price of alcohol.

I have to agree.

Continued increases in alcohol availability will result in increases in the rates of alcohol related problems and substantial costs to the community.  Then combine that with the fact that cheaper alcohol tends to be bought more by harmful drinkers than moderate drinkers, and is appealing to young people.

Increasing the number of packaged liquor outlets is bad enough – but selling ridiculously cheap packaged liquor is just a recipe for disaster.

One thing I love about working in the alcohol sector - there’s a finite number of effective strategies used to address alcohol related harm, which leaves little room for confusion.

So what can we do? 

By reducing the number of alcohol outlets, we reduce the availability of alcohol, thereby reducing alcohol related harm.  If we set a minimum price for alcohol, we counter the fact that cheaper alcohol tends to be bought more by harmful drinkers and thus may be particularly effective in reducing consumption amongst this group.

Problem solved!

Ah, if only it were that easy.

Until next week,

Sarah Jaggard
Community Mobilisation Policy Officer

Dear GrogWatch,

Having worked in the AOD sector for over 20 years and being a great advocate of harm minimisation, I read with interest the article on “Taking one for the team”. 

Whilst I empathise with the issues your friend raises about the risks of alcohol use and spending a night on the tiles, I couldn’t help but wonder if she and others had considered using assertive communications skills to stick with low or non-alcoholic beverages, or be able to decline the pressure of indulging in the usually hazardous mix of beer and spirits.

Perhaps some workplace education and awareness raising about the harms and risks associated with alcohol use, couched in “OHS” training could be a creative way to assist staff with the dilemma of TGIF celebrations?

Jen, NSW

***********

Dear GrogWatch,

My husband works for a specific government agency. We are both non drinkers and the other night he returned home to inform me he had spent $60 on cartons of beer for colleagues upon his graduating one level to another, as was the expected ritual.

The point was he would have been ostracised and labelled tight if he had not participated, and so spent our (much needed might I add) money on alcohol he did not even drink, due to the inherent drinking culture of the agency.

His colleagues have drinks at the end of every roster and various occasions; in fact all they seem to do out side of work is drink. Inside work hours there are a number of rituals that result in the employee being “obligated” to buy a carton- promotion, getting caught on camera in the course of duty, arriving at a new team, leaving a team, and various occurrences during the course of their work.

This culture results in many drinking sessions and pressure on all workers, willing or not to purchase, provide and consume alcohol with colleagues.

Tanya, WA

The Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs 2011 Conference (13-16 November 2011, Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, Tasmania) will feature a rich program of national and international speakers sharing new insights in neuroscience, interventions, policy innovations and emerging challenges for our sector.

For the first time, the conference will include a satellite program from our sister organisation, the European Opiate Addiction Treatment Association, which will bring extra opportunities to interact with our international colleagues.

In addition, it will offer a range of presentations and workshops that have international relevance.

For more information please visit the conference website, www.apsadconference.com.au or email apsad@wsm.com.au.

Numbers are filling up fast and this is your last chance to register for the 2nd Tasmanian Conference on FASD on the 28th & 29th Nov 2011

and/or the highly recommended 2 day FASD Training Workshop with Diane Malbin, internationally recognised authority on FASD on the 30th Nov & 1st Dec 2011

Picture ID dangerous drinkers
The Advertiser, 24 October 2011
Picture ID for alcohol sales together with a dangerous drinker register would help cut crime, MP Bob Such says. He has introduced legislation to Parliament which would ban people with a record of domestic violence, drink-driving and other crimes from buying takeaway alcohol - mirroring a Northern Territory scheme.

Defence force 'less alcohol dependent'
AAP, 21 October 2011
Australian Defence Force (ADF) members have a lower rate of alcohol dependence than the general community, but think about committing suicide more often, a new study shows.

Anger at Aldi's booze for a buck
The Sunday Telegraph, 21 October 2011
Discount supermarket giant Aldi will begin stocking its shelves with $1 beers - including 80c cans of light - across New South Wales from next year, despite objections from NSW Health.

Plan to sell alcohol in petrol stations damned
Lakes Mail, 20 October 2011
An extraordinary Australia-wide proposal to turn every fuel station in the country into a potential 24-hour liquor outlet has been condemned by Wyong Shire Council as "social dynamite". Wyong councillor Greg Best said the entire shire already had 145 liquor outlets, and council would fight the controversial proposal by the Australian Association of Convenience Stores.

Early treatment for mental health, drugs, alcohol
The Canberra Times, 19 October 2011
Imagine a plateau; a straight line that then becomes a slippery slide. At the end of the curve is an X. That X signifies the end of the ride for a young person suffering from mental illness, or drug and alcohol problems. It can mean a damaged future, or even death.