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Summary of key findings:
Universities and schools are being urged to join a growing movement in Ireland and the UK that seeks to drive out the alcohol industry from any influence on public health advice on alcohol use and harm.
A campaign in Ireland has led to educational programmes funded by the alcohol industry being removed from schools. But industry backed groups still provide alcohol education in UK schools, including a theatre group funded by alcohol giant Diageo – the Smashed program.
Universities are also targeted: Drinkaware, an alcohol industry front group funded by major alcohol producers and retailers, venues, and restaurant groups, funds freshers’ education materials, including a free cup to measure alcohol units.
The public health community is calling for an Ireland-style ban on materials by industry associated charities because they normalise alcohol use, are poorly evaluated, and take up space that otherwise could be filled by truly independent and more evidence-based initiatives.
Alcohol industry funded “education” programs do not treat alcohol as a harmful substance, normalise alcohol use, and take up space that otherwise could be filled by programs that do not cause harm and provide independent, evidence-based information.
Following Ireland’s lead
Ireland’s clear stance on removing the alcohol industry from schools and universities follows a campaign led by the Irish Community Action on Alcohol Network (ICAAN), set up in 2021 out of a collective desire to eradicate industry influence from education.
ICAAN wrote to 700 schools across Ireland asking for information about Drinkaware in Ireland’s education programme but received no replies. Neither teachers nor Drinkaware were able to provide programme materials for scrutiny by independent experts. The Department of Education in Ireland said it had not seen the resources or evaluated the programme.
- 15 000 Irish students had been through an alcohol industry funded, school based, education programme
- But parents had never seen the programme or been asked to give permission
The ICAAN campaign got Ireland’s prime minister and the Department of Education to issue a statement telling school principals not to allow Drinkaware into schools.
(Source: For complete article go to Movendi Science Digest)
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Macular Disease Foundation warns more than one drink a day can lead to vision loss
Aussies who consume more than one glass of wine or beer a day are putting themselves at serious risk of developing a debilitating disease. #alcoholawareness #soberinspiration
A couple of beers after work or a half-bottle of wine at dinner is a beloved Aussie tradition, but new findings from a leading eye vision organisation suggests that second glass of booze could put Australians at greater risk of suffering serious health issues.
The Macular Disease Foundation says consuming more than 12g of alcohol a day, which is less than one large glass of wine or a large beer, is linked to a larger risk of age-related macular degeneration or irreversible vision loss.
More than 1.5 million Australians are affected by AMD and the foundation led a systematic review of alcohol consumption, dietary patterns, food and nutritional supplements linked to the disease.
It found a second beer or wine had a “detrimental effect” on AMD and likely increased the probability of developing the disease.
Excessive alcohol intake can contribute to oxidative stress and inflammation in the body, the foundation states, which are believed propel the development and progression of AMD.
Macular Disease Foundation chief executive Kathy Chapman recommends consumers cut back on their booze intake.
“We know that cutting back on alcohol has many benefits, including reducing the risk of developing liver disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, as well as positive effects like boosting mood, keeping a healthy weight and saving money,” she said.
“But what our review is telling us – and what many people don’t realise – are the significant benefits drinking less alcohol has on maintaining healthy eyes and lowering the risk of developing or progressing AMD.”
(for more Source: news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site)
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Heavy drinking is an important risk factor for depression and suicide…Reducing alcohol consumption (both total consumption as well as binge drinking) is arguably the most important modifiable way to promote cognitive and neurological health and prevent or reduce brain harms.
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FASD & Me – Teens Peer Mentoring Program: In an inspiring initiative that addresses the complex needs and celebrates the strengths of children and youth living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), Adopt4Life has launched the bilingual program “FASD & Me: Strengthening My Community.” This innovative program is a beacon of hope and support for hundreds of families navigating the challenges of obtaining accurate diagnoses and developing strategies for long-term success for their children affected by FASD.
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Listen to four expert speakers, Nason Maani, Blanca Lorente, Emil Juslin, and Juliet Namukasa, discuss how the alcohol industry keeps people in the dark about alcohol and cancer and what we can do about it. And we explore insights and lessons from both science and community action in countries such as Sweden, Uganda, and Colombia to chart an ambitious way forward for alcohol policy action to support cancer prevention and increase public recognition of the magnitude of alcohol’s contribution to cancer cases and deaths.
(Listen here Movendi Podcast )