A study where 200 employees at pubs and nightclubs in Stockholm has showed that half of those between 20 and 25 years have so big drinking problems that they could have need for treatment. The average in the whole population is three precent. 74% of men and 84 percent of women was categorized “risky alcohol habits”, 33 percent of men and 40 percent of women could also placed in the group “problmatic alcohol habits” and 14 % of men and 16 % of women was seen to have “very problematic …

Britains Chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, published his annual report last week where he among other things advocated minimum prices on alcoholic beverages. In the report he also put much emphasis on the harm alcohol use have on others than the drinker him- and herself.

In the effort of curbing smoking second-hand smoking or passive smoking has been one of the strongest arguments. Donaldson says that when he in an earlier report called for passive smoking to be taken seriously it was because common knowledge was not being translated into …

ESPAD – the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs – released their report for 2007 on march 26th. Data is collected on substance use among 15-16 ear old european in 35 countries. This is the fourth report of it`s kind.

Among the findings are that 82% of the students have drunk alcohol last 12 months, 61 last 30 days, which are more or less the same as in previous studies. Heavy episodic drinking have increased though from 35% in 2003, to 42% in 2007. During the last 15 …

While Gordon Brown has spoked against a minimum prize on alcohol, the SNP government in Scotland has included it in their plans for reducing alcohol harm in Scotland. Originally it was ment to be brought forward as part of a combined Criminal jsutice and Licensing Bill. But after coming under pressure from opposition the minority government has decided to separate the two. This means that the changes probably will be delayed.
Besides a minmum prize, the SND government also propose to ban discount deals on alcohol and restrict the display and …

After Finland lowered their alcohol duties in 2004 with 33% they experienced a rapid increase in consumption and harm from alcohol use. Police reported of an 25% increase in drunk-driving, alcohol-ralated violence increased with 20% the year after the tax reduction, and consumption increased with around 20%.
Since then taxes has been raised, and now the finish governement again has announced an a ten per cent increase from october. Duties on spirits will rise more than those on mild beverages.