A couple of weeks we started ramping up our secondary supply campaign. A call for personal experiences has seen a glut of emails from anxious parents arrive in my inbox.

In the following, Kate recounts what happened when her son went to a work Christmas party last year.

*****

“My fifteen year old son had a casual position with a fast food chain. A manager at this store, who was a middle aged lady, had given out invitations for a staff Christmas BBQ which was to be held at her house in the evening.

The invitation had the company logo on it, although I was aware that it was to be held at a private house.

My son has not been to many parties. He does not drink and we do not drink in our household. As I thought this was an organized BBQ and would be attended by staff and management (who were I thought mature adults who would act responsibly towards their much younger staff), I allowed him to go.

My husband and I dropped him off, along with the non alcoholic lemon lime and bitters we bought him.

We returned at around 10.30 to pick up our son. My husband went to the door had a brief chat to the lady manager. As we left, my husband commented that she appeared to be drunk.

Shortly afterwards it became apparent that my son was affected by alcohol when he
told us that he had to be sick. As it was not safe to stop at that moment he had to be sick out of the window. A short while later he had to go to the toilet and we managed to pull into a truck rest stop. I got out of the car and walked with him up to a certain distance, as he was really disorientated and I was worried that he could be hit by traffic as we were still on the freeway.

The next day he told us that the manager had lined up shots on the bar for everyone and was encouraging them all to drink and making fun out of the younger staff that had become intoxicated.

I asked him whether at any stage did the adults present question or make any comment about whether the younger staff should have any alcohol, and he said no, it was encouraged as a form of entertainment.

My son told me at one stage another boy went to phone the police, I am not sure why; my son said it was for a joke as this boy was also drunk. The manager said not to call the police as she would get into trouble.

I was aware that there was no legislation to protect my son in Victoria and felt disempowered as a parent because of this. Had there been legislation, I think I would have felt that I had the law behind be in making a complaint.

I strongly believe that Victoria needs to introduce this legislation. We are decent people who make sure we know what our kids are doing and would never encourage alcohol or drug use, particularly in a minor. This behavior of other adults towards our children is unacceptable.”

*****

Have you had a similar experience to Kate? Email CAAN@adf.org.au

Researchers have long been puzzled by the steady growth in alcohol-related harms relative to Australia’s seemingly stable alcohol consumption.

However, a new study shows Australians are drinking more than they were a decade ago after it was revealed the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has not been accounting for a rise in the alcohol content of wine.

This has renewed calls for all state and territory governments to provide wholesale sales data and enable informed policy-making.

The study ,conducted by Associate Professor Tanya Chikritzhs (incidentally the ADF’s newest board member), has been published in November’s Medical Journal of Australia. It contains alarming revelations that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has been inadvertently publishing incorrect data in regards to the amount of alcohol being consumed by Australians each year.

Read the article here

Our intrepid Churchill Fellowship traveller, Clancy Wright, has departed the warmth of a Melbourne Spring to travel to London, Glasgow, and Dublin. During his travels, Clancy will investigate how cultural change around alcohol can be realised by mobilising and harnessing community support to drive legislation. A mouthful, but an important one.

Read Clancy’s blog here

6th International Conference on Drugs and Young People: Making the Connections
May 2-4, 2011, Melbourne

Connecting the many complex factors which influence and impact on young people, this conference will provide access to current research, practice, community action, resources and networks.

Keynote speakers include:

• Associate Professor Kim Schonert-Reichl (Canada) on adolescent social and emotional development
• Professor Iain McGregor, (Sydney) on long term effects of addictive drugs and alcohol on behaviour and brain function.
• Aram Barra (Mexico) on youth activism in drug policy
• Dr Jane Burns (Inspire Foundation ) on the role of the Internet and social media
• Scott Wilson (ADAC) on young Indigenous people and alcohol and drug issues

Call for Presentations closes this Friday, 12th November.

For more information please visit www.adf.org.au or contact us via email

Activist hits back
Newcastle Herald, 27 October 2010
Community activist Tony Brown said people questioning his right to speak out about hotels and alcohol-related violence were part of a relentless campaign of "smear, character assassination and criminal behaviour".

Drunken thugs stay at home
Herald Sun, 28 October 2010
Police say they have won the opening battle, but the war is not over on alcohol-fuelled thuggery in our city. Rolling annual figures to September released show reported CBD assaults dropped 14 per cent while overall crime across the state is down 3.8 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Tough territory for problem drinkers
Sydney Morning Herald, 1 November 2010
The country's toughest alcohol laws will aim at problem drinkers in the Northern Territory. Police will have unprecedented powers to ban people from buying and drinking takeaway alcohol for up to a year.

Fight over beer billboard near school
The West Australian, 2 November 2010
WA health groups have complained about a billboard for Pure Blonde Naked beer which, they say, breaches guidelines because it is opposite a high school and could entice teenagers to drink.

Alcohol and teens - a dilemma for parents
The Pulse, 4 November 2010
As we gear up for end-of-year parties, formals and schoolies week, the issue of managing teen alcohol consumption looms large for many parents. Campaigns have urged families to delay their kids' first drinks, so as to protect developing brains. But how seriously should parents take this message?

Time to get over booze blindness
The Age, November 7, 2010
Since pointing out last week that alcohol is more harmful than any other drug, I have been painted as an alcohol prohibitionist or, conversely, as someone who wants to legalise all drugs. Neither is true, and this misrepresentation is testament to how sterile the drug debate has become. We must get beyond this.

Booze bear chasing our kids, says health lobby
Sydney Morning Herald, 7 November 2010
Bottle shops should be banned from operating near schools and alcohol advertising should be removed from public transport to prevent the liquor industry targeting children, public health campaigners say.