You may recall (because I talk about it so much, most likely) that in most parts of Australia (including Victoria) there is no legislation to protect young people from alcohol-related harms, so in those states and territories any person can give your child an unlimited amount of alcohol without your permission or knowledge.

Secondary supply laws would make it illegal for anyone, other than a parent or guardian (or with the permission of a parent or guardian), to supply alcohol to a minor in a private setting.

Secondary supply laws give control back to parents.

Our next public campaign will be happening mid November and we need your help.

What we are doing:

• Running a media campaign to raise public awareness and garner support for this important law to protect our kids
• Sending information to schools for parents about the harms alcohol does to the growing brain and what can be done
• Meeting with politicians about the need for this legislation to be extended nationwide to support parents and protect kids

What you can do to help:

• Email us your accounts of other adults supplying your kids with alcohol – What happened? How did you feel? What did you do?
• Let us know if you would be willing to talk to the media about this issue
• Write polite and respectful letters to relevant politicians
• Talk to people and let them know why secondary supply legislation is so important
• Forward GrogWatch onto your friends
• And if you haven’t already, subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter, GrogWatch
• Join our database of supporters – email CAAN@adf.org.au

Thanks – the more support we have, the greater impact we can make.

Sarah Jaggard
Community Mobilisation Policy Officer
Australian Drug Foundation

Dear GrogWatch,

My son was 16 when he went to a birthday party with mainly football mates in a private home last year. The Mother went around and asked the kids if they were allowed to drink and supplied all the alcohol for the night. I knew nothing about this until I went to pick up my son at midnight. Of the 25 or so kids there, only 3 or 4 including my son said they did not drink.

What hope have we got when you've got parents like this!

After winning the grand final at footy my son's team had a party last year (16 year olds) at a private home. Most of the kids were staying the night (a Sunday) and having the next day off school so were all drinking. We did not let our son stay and he didn't take any alcohol with him.

My son was invited to an after Deb party (17 year olds) in a private home. The kids were told to BYO but to limit the drinks to 4 each. There were over 100 kids there and only a very small number did not drink. I could not believe it.

I feel we are in the minority. What is wrong with these parents. They can not say no to their kids.

Kind regards,
Bronwyn, VIC

Dear GrogWatch,

I briefly examined this article and note poor methodology. I'm surprised this isn't a focus of the public health response to such a worrying pro-alcohol media slant.

For instance, the 95% confidence intervals for odds ratios for the specific outcome on 5-year behavioural difficulties - trumpeted here - includes 1 and is hence statistically insignificant when controlling for several of the major confounders - such as socioeconomic differences between the drinking categories.

The authors even identify this as a significant weakness, and that it undermines any conclusions of causality - although downplaying it in their own best interests.

An example of incompetent science/medical journalism by the papers involved - the conclusions in the commercial media articles are clearly incorrect, misleading and misrepresentative.

Keep up the good work,

Sincerely,
Mathew, WA
 

On Wednesday 6th October a troupe of us braved appalling weather and headed out to Ballarat to look at ways in which we can help we can assist the community reduce alcohol and drug related harm.

The forum was delivered in two sessions, the first focusing on young people and alcohol related harm, and the second on alcohol management & policies in sports clubs.

A number of fantastic presenters ensured the day was a success:

YOUNG PEOPLE AND ALCOHOL RELATED HARM
Jodie Downey, SSMART Network, City of Ballarat
Jayne Stinton, Reduce2two program
Sarah Jaggard, Community Action Alcohol Network, Australian Drug Foundation
Bruce Clark, Leigh Clark Foundation

ALCOHOL MANAGEMENT & POLICIES IN SPORTS CLUBS
Rod Glenn-Smith, Good Sports State Manager, Australian Drug Foundation
Inspector Bruce Thomas, Victoria Police
Bob Barby, Australian Drug Foundation Community Safety Consultant

Thanks to all who presented and all who attended. We’ll be holding more regional forums next year – if you’re interested in us visiting your area, email CAAN

Presenter:  Dr Kypros Kypri, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle

10am-11am, Thursday 25 November 2010

Metcalfe Auditorium, State Library of NSW, Sydney (entry off Macquarie St)

Heavy episodic alcohol consumption is a leading behavioural risk factor for injury and a range of other health and social outcomes including crime. Increasing the minimum purchase or drinking age is being considered in several jurisdictions as a strategy to reduce alcohol consumption in late adolescence. The presentation will examine the research evidence on the effects of changes in the purchase or drinking age with particular reference to New Zealand, where the purchase age was lowered in 1999, and where further legislative change is likely to occur soon.

RSVPs are essential for catering purposes. Please email  or ring 02 9231 9190.
 

Call for harsher liquor licence penalties
Sydney Morning Herald, 19 October 2010
The AMA Victoria wants the major political parties to commit to tougher penalties for alcohol licence breaches in the lead-up to the November 27 election.

Judges fed up with drunken violence clogging our courts
Sydney Morning Herald, October 17, 2010
Judges and magistrates in NSW are appalled at the epidemic level of alcohol-fuelled crime in their courts, which accounts for more than half of their work and includes violence they never imagined when they started on the bench

Call to cut pub hours, raise drinking age
The Mercury, 16 October 2010
PUBS and clubs should close earlier to help curb alcohol-fuelled violence, a Parliamentary inquiry has been told.
And the legal drinking age should be raised to 21, the Legislative Council committee inquiring into community violence heard yesterday.

Alcohol cheaper to buy than water – study
NZ Herald, 15 October 2010
Alcohol has become so affordable that it is cheaper than bottled water and approaching the price of milk, says a study made public today.

Police to lead liquor law reforms
ABC News, 14 October 2010
The ACT Government's new agreement with the Australian Federal Police will require police to lead reforms in the liquor industry.

Booze culture rampant in Whitehorse
Whitehorse Leader, 13 October 2010
WHITEHORSE is brimming with booze as the city is binging on a cocktail of hundreds of licensed premises and bottle shops. And the high numbers of venues serving alcohol are fuelling community violence, says Whitehorse Police and Liquor Licensing Inspector Bob May.

Jail not the answer for alcohol abusers
ABC News, 12 October 2010
The new Chief Justice of the Northern Territory has signalled long jail terms will not be used to deter habitual drunks.