The Government has called for community input to its whole of government Alcohol and Drug Strategy.

The Strategy's objectives are to:

• Decrease the current rates of alcohol and other drug abuse in Victoria.
• Reduce the amount of harm that alcohol and other drug abuse causes in the community.
• Increase access to treatment options so that people with an alcohol or drug problem can get help when they need it.

Prevention of alcohol and drug related harms is a key priority.

The Government is seeking your ideas and views on the priorities for action and how to tackle the harms caused by alcohol and drugs.

They are particularly interested in your ideas and experiences on how to:

• Strengthen partnerships and integration across sectors, and between the government and the community.
• Improve the legislative and regulatory arrangements impacting on the supply and use of alcohol and drugs.
• Improve community education to support young people, adults and families to better understand the impact of substance dependence and alcohol and drug misuse.
• Improve alcohol and drug treatment delivered in primary care, hospitals and specialist treatment agencies.
• Support agencies and programs to work together more effectively to improve recovery pathways for those seeking help with alcohol and drug problems.
• Define and measure the success of the Strategy.

Submissions need to be received by 5pm on Wednesday 21 September 2011.

You can lodge your submissions in the following ways:

• Emailed to aodstrategy@health.vic.gov.au
• Mailed to level 17, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000

For further information on the community consultation, click here

I thought this was a joke when this popped up in my emails this week:

“I write to advise that the Tobacco and Alcohol Party of Australia Ltd has been formed…The Tobacco and Alcohol Party of Australia intends to run a full field of candidates at the next Federal Election, both in the House of Representatives and the Senate.”

According to the missive, the party has been formed for a number of reasons.

Broadly, they state, they are concerned about the trend towards “nanny state politics” and policies that “erode the free choice of everyday Australians”.

What they’re saying there is that they disagree with policies that target the majority instead of the minority.  Two words:  prevention paradox.  It would appear the industry has a hard time dealing with the fact that it’s the majority that can take credit for the bulk of alcohol related harms.

They say that they’re opposed to excessive consumption of legal products that can damage an individual’s health, and will promote policies to support endeavours to minimise harm for excessive users of any legal product.

Excellent!  We can all look forward to the Party promoting a set of policies that align with their alcohol interests.  In short, anything that puts the responsibility back on the drinkers, or so called ‘soft approaches’ that have minimal impact on their sales.

More information about the Tobacco and Alcohol Party of Australia can be found at their  website.

Local government and community organisations can apply for grants of up to $500,000 for projects that will help to reduce risky drinking as part of the Gillard Government’s National Binge Drinking Strategy.

Grants of up to $300,000 are available for individual projects by incorporated community groups or local government organisations, and up to $500,000 for proposals from partnerships, under the Australian Government’s $103.5 million National Binge Drinking Strategy.

Further information is available online at the Australian National Preventive Health Agency’s website, including application forms and program guidelines.

Applications close at 2.00 pm on Friday, 28 October 2011.

Current statistics are crucial for understanding the nature and extent of drug use and drug trends and for mapping drug problems generally and for particular populations.

They provide topical and relevant evidence of drug use and drug issues workers need when developing policy submissions and funding requests for their services. 

The latest annual Victorian Drug Statistics Handbook shows that:

• Alcohol was the most widely used drug by Victorians in 2007, particularly among males.
• The majority (83%) of people aged 14 and over identified as current drinkers and almost half (47%) reported drinking regularly.
• A significant proportion (34%) of people aged 18 and over reported drinking at risky levels. In 2007–08, however, Victoria recorded the lowest rate (11%) of risky drinking for long-term harm compared with all other Australian States and Territories.
• In 2008, lifetime alcohol use by Victorian secondary school students remained relatively stable among 16 to 17 year olds, with a steady decline in lifetime consumption observed among students aged 12 to 15 years.
• Risky drinking patterns decreased (19% in 2005 to 16% in 2008 for males, and 26% in 2005 to 19% in 2008 for females) among 12 to 15 year old secondary students in 2008.
• In Melbourne, alcohol-related ambulance attendances remained relatively stable compared with 2008 and continued to be highest in the LGAs of Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra.
• Alcohol-related inpatient hospitalisations and bed days increased in 2008–09 (by 4% and less than 1% respectively), with alcohol-related mental and behavioural conditions accounting for more than a third of each.
• Consistent with previous years, in 2008–09 alcohol was the most common drug of concern among clients of Victorian government-funded specialist alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services, accounting for nearly half of all clients (49%) and courses of treatment (COT) (45%).

Aggressive Aussie ladettes 'on the rise'
Sydney Morning Herald, 4 August 2011
Young Australian women are now as commonly involved in alcohol-fuelled aggression as young men, a new study shows. Young women are increasingly heading out on the town with the intention of getting drunk, leaving some of them at risk of harm, forensic psychologist Dr Gavan Palk says.

Drunken bashings up despite booze campaign
The Age, 7 August 2011
Alcohol-related domestic violence, assaults and hospital admissions have risen sharply despite attempts to turn Victoria's binge drinking culture around. A report to be released by the state government today shows a 15 per cent jump in booze-fuelled domestic violence cases, with police called out to more than 10,000 incidents a year - or 28 a day.

$10m for anti-binge drinking projects
WA Today, 7 August 2011
The Federal Government is spending $10 million on community projects to combat binge drinking among young people. Health Minister Nicola Roxon said from today, local government and community organisations could apply for grants of up to $500,000 for projects aimed at reducing risky drinking.

Licensed venues hit by new laws
Daily Advertiser, 7 August 2011
Wagga pubs and clubs will soon face tough new legislation designed to stamp out alcohol-fuelled violence. The newest weapon in the fight against boozy brawls is the state government’s ‘three strikes’ policy to go through Parliament soon.

Foster's friendship slogan to accentuate the positive
Sydney Morning Herald, 8 August 2011
Foster’s will use its newly launched corporate slogan ''Raised in Friendship'' to improve community and government attitudes towards the consumption of beer while distancing the company from the more adverse imagery around alcohol-fuelled violence and the sale of hard spirits.