Get a Clue - Booze

Details: Published: 14 August 2024; Hits: 382

Key findings

Alcohol advertisements and the sale and delivery of alcohol are now inextricably linked, contributing to the significantly expanding availability of alcohol in Australia.
While advertising content and the sale of alcohol have traditionally been separate, alcohol companies now use online advertising as a store front, with advertisements directly linking to online retail sites and apps where alcohol is sold and rapidly delivered to people’s homes.
Of the 56,000 advertisements published on Meta platforms by companies that sell alcohol over a 19-month period, the majority (83.8%) contained a button encouraging people to engage with the advertisement.
Over a third of alcohol advertisements (39.2%) contained a button that directs people to an online platform where alcohol is sold. For example, advertisements directed people to online stores with a catalogue-style list of alcoholic products for sale, or directly to a product preview with an ‘add to cart’ prompt.
These advertisements rapidly convert exposure to an alcohol advertisement online, with the sale and delivery of alcohol directly into the home, bypassing the usual protections and speed bumps in place when alcohol is sold in traditional physical premises. This is particularly concerning when it comes to an addictive and harmful product like alcohol.
Current regulations for how alcohol is advertised and sold were developed for bricks and mortar stores and venues, with a number of jurisdictions now playing catch up and considering what changes are required to keep pace with an ever-evolving digital world.
Reforms must ensure harm minimisation protections are not bypassed in the digital environment. Online alcohol advertising in its current form is expanding alcohol availability and expediting sales and delivery contributing to alcohol harms. Therefore, it is important that alcohol laws and regulations are modernised. Policymakers should consider implementing measures that address the ways alcohol companies advertise through digital platforms.

For complete research

Details: Published: 01 August 2024; Hits: 506

1071 Heart Disease Prevention Alcohol Not a Solution Despite widespread beliefs, there is no data supporting the idea that alcohol consumption protects against heart disease. According to WebMD, recent research challenges the notion that moderate drinking can be beneficial for heart health. Studies have failed to find any conclusive evidence that alcohol consumption has protective effects on the heart.

In fact, drinking alcohol, even in moderation, can increase the risks of various heart-related issues such as high blood pressure, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Health experts caution against using alcohol as a preventive measure for heart disease and instead recommend focusing on proven strategies like a healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking.

Source: WebMD

Details: Published: 19 July 2024; Hits: 480

Alcohol Intake Above 12g/day Linked to Higher Hypertension Risk

bpm An article from Practice Update explores the relationship between alcohol consumption and the incidence of hypertension. Alcohol intake has been correlated with elevated blood pressure and a higher risk of developing hypertension, but the specific exposure thresholds and possible effect modifiers have remained uncertain.

Methods: Researchers conducted a systematic literature search through February 20, 2024, identifying 23 eligible nonexperimental cohort studies. They assessed the dose-response relationship between usual alcohol intake and hypertension incidence by computing risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a nonlinear meta-analytic model based on restricted cubic splines. This method allowed for an in-depth examination of the association between varying levels of alcohol consumption and hypertension risk.

Results: The study found a positive and nearly linear correlation between alcohol intake and hypertension risk. The risk ratios were 0.89 (0.84–0.94), 1.11 (1.07–1.15), 1.22 (1.14–1.30), and 1.33 (1.18–1.49) for alcohol intakes of 0, 24, 36, and 48 grams per day, respectively, using 12 grams of alcohol per day as the reference value.

Sex-Specific Analyses: In men, this association remained almost linear across the entire range of alcohol consumption. For women, however, the association was only observed above an intake of 12 grams per day, with a steeper increase in risk at higher levels of consumption compared to men.

Ethnicity and Geographical Variations: The increased risk of hypertension associated with alcohol intake above 12 to 24 grams per day was similar in both Western and Asian populations but considerably greater in White individuals than in Black individuals. This disparity was primarily driven by the strong positive association observed in women at moderate-to-high levels of alcohol consumption.

The findings support a causal relationship between alcohol consumption and hypertension risk, particularly above an intake of 12 grams per day. These results align with existing recommendations to avoid or limit alcohol consumption. Furthermore, sex and ethnicity are significant effect modifiers in the association between alcohol intake and hypertension risk.

Take-Home Message

This meta-analysis of 23 cohort studies demonstrates a positive and near-linear association between alcohol consumption and hypertension risk, especially with an intake of more than 12 grams of alcohol per day (less than one standard drink). These findings underscore the adverse health effects of alcohol and highlight the importance of reducing alcohol intake as part of comprehensive risk-reduction strategies, particularly for individuals with or at high risk for hypertension.

Source: Practice Update

Details: Published: 13 July 2024; Hits: 547

An article from Medium examines the impact of parental drinking habits on children. It highlights that children are highly observant and can be influenced by their parents’ behaviour, including their alcohol consumption. The piece cites studies showing that children who grow up in households where drinking is frequent are more likely to develop similar habits themselves.

The article also discusses the importance of setting a positive example and being mindful of how often and in what context parents consume alcohol in front of their children. It suggests that parents should consider the long-term effects their drinking habits might have on their children’s attitudes toward alcohol and overall well-being.

Also see

(Source: WRD News)

Details: Published: 13 July 2024; Hits: 504

Addiction 4 Profit Harms in Your Community: Alcohol Marketing – A commentary on alcohol marketing and the harms this ‘self-regulating’ sector promotes (Click Here for Video)