So I included a link to this article in last week’s GrogWatch, but I think it’s worthy of a bit more than that!

factorie, a clothing outlet in Geelong (one of about 100 across Australia and NZ), and a division of Cotton On, are selling hip flasks as a fashion accessory. More specifically, they’re being marketed at young women, because I’m thinking there’s not many men out there who want a lavender or floral hip flask that says “It Girl” on it.

The flasks are cheap (around $15) and small enough to tuck into a pocket.

I’m not such a cottonwooller that I’d kick up a fuss over a hip flask in a shop.  But really, this should be of concern to all parents:

When queried by the Geelong Advertiser, local teens said the flasks would appeal to girls aged between 13 and 16 years-old and would probably be filled with alcohol specifically spirits to take to parties and functions. Several girls asked where they could buy one.

The latest Government guidelines state that consumption of alcohol is not safe for people under the age of 18, and for people under the age of 15 it's a definite no. Products such as small girly hip flasks normalise alcohol and potentially introduce kids to the idea of alcohol consumption at an unsafe age.

The rate of teenage alcohol-related hospital admissions in the Geelong and Barwon region is higher than the State average.  Is it fashionable to pass out, covered in vomit? Why provide a connection between alcohol and fashion at a time when we’re struggling to reduce such problems?

It’s also interesting that a retail outlet is selling a hip flask that appeals to underage young people, when we’re on the cusp of a change in legislation around secondary supply. 

The article was originally forwarded to me by a colleague based in Geelong, and we both agreed the blasé attitude of the community (as noted by the usual nanny state comments following the article) is also a little disturbing.

Uh hello – they’re marketing these hip flasks to your children!

We’d like factorie to stop selling these items – and a little community support would go a long way.  What do you think?  Nanny state or valid call?  If you think it’s a valid call, contact factorie and let them know about it.

Until next week,

Sarah Jaggard
Community Mobilisation Policy Officer

Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Centre and the Australian Drug Foundation invite you to:

Developing an Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Treatment Strategy for Victoria: What do we need? Symposium

When: Wednesday 21 September 2011
Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: William Angliss Institute Conference Centre, 555 La Trobe Street, Melbourne

As the Victorian Government works on a whole-of-government Alcohol and Drug Strategy, it is timely to consider the key issues in terms of alcohol and drug use in our community. Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Centre and the Australian Drug Foundation will present a full-day symposium to consider the opportunities and challenges for a whole-of-government approach.

Speakers will explore what existing evidence suggests will be most effective in terms of opportunities for prevention, treatment responses, system and service configurations, community engagement and population-based approaches. The symposium will seek ideas and proposals from attendees, as well as identify key issues from all sectors of government.

Register here.
 

Date: Sunday 25th September 2011 – 9am to 3pm, Registration from 8am

Venue: Public Health building, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston (corner of Wyndham Street and Herston Rd)

The theme of this workshop is New ways forward for injury: bringing together researchers, advocates, leaders and policy makers. This forum is aimed at researchers, practitioners, advocates and leaders interested in sport, physical activity, alcohol management, injury prevention and public health. The workshop will challenge injury prevention strategies and prioritise and promote injury prevention in Australia.

Presenters include our very own Lachlan Sherrington, Regional Manager of the Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports Program in Queensland, amongst a host of others.

Further information can be found here.

Lloyd B 2011 Trends in alcohol and drug-related ambulance attendances in Melbourne: 2009/10, Fitzroy, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre

Dorrian J, Skinner N, Pisaniello S 2011 Work-related predictors of psychological distress, work-family interaction and alcohol consumption, Adelaide: Centre for Work + Life, University of South Australia

Convenience store liquor push
Herald Sun, 5 September 2011
Convenience stores are fighting to be able to sell alcohol under a plan to take on supermarket liquor shops. An industry body representing thousands of stores nationwide is pushing for the grog green light.

Older people 'most likely to drink daily'
Nine MSN, 5 September 2011
Older Australians are the hidden statistics of those at risk of alcohol and drug addiction, a health group says. The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) says people aged 60 and over are the largest users of prescribed drugs and most likely to drink daily.

O'Farrell muddles his own policy on lobbyists, now Labor's off to ICAC
Sydney Morning Herald, 5 September 2011
The Premier, Barry O'Farrell, broke his own ban on appointing lobbyists to government boards by approving the appointment of the former hotels association executive, Brian Ross, to the Casino, Liquor and Gaming Control Authority.

Punch-drunk and looking for answers
Sydney Morning Herald, 3 September 2011
Raging bulls on the footy field, drive-by shootings, a glassing epidemic with women the perpetrators, nightclub bouncers accused of viciousness, old women bashed for their pension change, battered wives, English mayhem, authorities sinking under the weight of terrible child abuse.

Police to target violence hot-spots
Sydney Morning Herald, 2 September 2011
Police will develop tailor-made licence restrictions for venues in violence hot-spots after Barry O'Farrell pledged to back whatever proposal the police brought to him.As the government announced tougher regulation of the security industry after the alleged bashing of a teenager at the Ivy nightclub early on Sunday, the Premier said he would ''back the police with whatever solution they believe is required for a particular area''.

Boredom blamed for teen woes in Bunbury
Bunbury Mail, 31 August 2011
Australian Rules Footballer and Bunbury born Kyle Reimers has blamed boredom for local youth turning to drugs and alcohol. In an article published in Fairfax publication The Age, Mr Reimers said he was lucky to have survived his teenage years.