Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Saturday, December 25, 2010

Alcohol laws punish those already drinking responsibly



Another year, another silly season. Over the past few weeks we have seen the inevitable reports of people getting drunk and behaving badly. During schoolies week it was images of teenagers celebrating the end of school by drinking too much. And on the eve of the new year, we will no doubt see more reports of people drinking to excess and creating a headache for society. Inevitably, anti-alcohol groups have responded as they always do - by attacking the product rather than the behaviour.

Whether it is schoolies, Christmas or New Year, the argument is that if we limit the availability or type of alcohol, increase the tax or close the pubs early, the problems associated with alcohol misuse will surely start to vanish.

These measures penalise most Australians who drink responsibly. They ignore the obvious if rather inconvenient truth: it is not what people drink but how they drink that results in drunkenness and the associated bad outcomes, including alcohol-related violence.
As producers of alcoholic beverages, we actively encourage responsible consumption and share the concerns about alcohol misuse, but isn't it time we tackled the issue at the source? > > > >  Read More