april is alcohol awareness month online alcohol training … · 2018. 4. 19. · no phone calls...

Control State News

MI: Michigan Liquor Control Commission Approves TIPS Online Alcohol Training Programs for Stadiums and Casinos

License State News

AK: Bethel Holds Its First Alcohol Task Force Meeting

DE: Delaware Lawmakers Design Ban on Powdered Alcohol

International News

United Kingdom: 'Higher crime' in areas where alcohol is most available, says study

Canada: Supreme Court decision on 'free-the-beer' case lands today (Excerpt)

United Kingdom: U.K. Cracks Down on Drunk Passengers With Proposal to Put Alcohol in Sealed Bags

Asia: Vietnam's overnight alcohol ban proposal unfeasible: experts

Canada: Alcohol sales coming to Vancouver grocery stores

Public Health News

Alcohol abuse among seniors is more common than you think

Industry News

Heineken warns ad ban could cost broadcasters billions

Russia mulls ban on western alcohol imports

What whipped cream vodka can teach us about the bourbon business

Daily News

Alcohol Awareness Month and College Drinking

Can you really blame drinking if you get extra after a few shots?

Editorial: A sobering look at the risks of drinking

April 19, 2018

APRIL IS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

JOP OPPORTUNITY

Alcohol Policy and Legal Research Analyst

NABCA has an immediate opening for an Alcohol Policy and Legal Research Analyst to assist the Sr. VP, Public Policy/ Communications and the Sr. VP/General Counsel in providing research support for NABCA’s regulatory policy, research, communications goals and legal affairs. The Alcohol Policy and Legal Research Analyst identifies and tracks new and emerging legislative, regulatory and legal issues, analyzes new and proposed regulations, and monitors external research and policy developments for NABCA.

No phone calls please; submit resume, cover letter and salary history to [email protected] by April 25, 2018.

For more details about the position, click here.

SAVE THE DATE

APRIL 30–MAY 1, 2018 2018 RRForum National Conference - hosted by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and will be held in Detroit.

MAY 21-24, 2018

!REGISTRATION IS OPEN !

81st Annual Conference will be held at the Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, AZ. Theme: Bridging Divides; For more information, visit www.nabca.com website.

JUNE 3-5, 2018 2ND Annual Beverage Alcohol Retailers Conference - Denver, Colorado Registration is open and sponsorship information is available at www.BevRetailersConference.com. Secure your early bird rate before prices increase on February 9.

Seating is limited.

https://careerhq.asaecenter.org/jobs/10936217/alcohol-policy-and-legal-research-analyst

http://www.nabca.org/meetings

http://www.nabca.org/meeting/2018-annual-conference

NABCA Daily News Update (4/19/2018)

2

JULY 18-20, 2018 8th Biennial Northwest Alcohol & Substance Abuse Conference Riverside Hotel, Boise Idaho

The Pre-Conference Sessions are on Wednesday. The official conference kicks off Thursday morning. Visit NorthwestAlcoholConference.org for more information.

NABCA HIGHLIGHTS

New! The Public Health Considerations of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (Whitepaper)

Native American Nations & State Alcohol Policies: An Analysis

Alcohol Technology in the World of Tomorrow - (White Paper)

The Control State Agency Info Sheets. Please view website for more information.

NABCA Survey Database (members only)

Upcoming NABCA Meetings

Statistical Data Reports

www.NABCA.org


3

CONTROL STATE NEWS

MI: Michigan Liquor Control Commission Approves TIPS Online Alcohol Training Programs for Stadiums and Casinos

PR Newswire News Provided by Health Communications, Inc. April 18, 2018

ARLINGTON, Va., April 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Communications, Inc. (HCI) today announced that eTIPS Concessions – Michigan and eTIPS Gaming – Michigan, both online responsible alcohol training and certification programs, were approved by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC). Since 2001, the MLCC has required alcohol server training for licensees obtaining new on-premise licenses or transferring more than 50% interest in existing on-premise licenses. TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) classroom training was one of the first approved alcohol server training programs in Michigan. Prior to 2014, the only way to obtain MLCC-approved certification was through classroom sessions conducted by certified TIPS trainers. In 2014, eTIPS On Premise was approved by the MLCC. eTIPS On Premise is tailored for bartenders and servers in restaurants, bars, and hotels, while eTIPS Concessions is designed for concessionaires who serve and sell alcohol in stadiums, arenas, and festivals, and eTIPS Gaming is tailored specifically for casino employees.

Since 1982, TIPS has trained and certified more than 250,000 individuals in responsible alcohol service in the state of Michigan. In addition, TIPS has certified more than 2,500 trainers in Michigan. TIPS helps Michigan licensees comply with jurisdiction-specific liquor laws, and teaches strategies to ensure responsible alcohol service and prevent illegal alcohol sales to underage and/or intoxicated guests. Additionally, the TIPS program can help Michigan licensees reduce exposure to alcohol liability lawsuits, lower insurance rates, and improve customer satisfaction. "eTIPS offers Michiganlicensees a convenient option for obtaining MLCC-approved certification. Promoting responsible service in stadiums and casinos comes with its own unique challenges," said HCI's Vice President Trevor Estelle. "Our concessions and gaming programs address the challenges unique to these types of venues by including specific videos and scenarios."

The eTIPS program is a self-paced, innovative approach to alcohol server training. It allows participants to obtain practical and valuable training anywhere and at any time. Our Michigan courses are customized to deliver information on the laws and regulations unique to the state of Michigan. Through interactive lessons, scenarios and quizzes, eTIPS, gives servers the knowledge and confidence they need to recognize potential alcohol-related problems and teaches them to effectively intervene to prevent alcohol-related tragedies.

About Health Communications, Inc.

Health Communications, Inc. (HCI) was founded in 1982 by Dr. Morris Chafetz, founding director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. HCI is a nationally recognized expert in the field of alcohol server training. Its flagship program, TIPS, was the first of its kind and continues to set industry standards for responsible alcohol service training. TIPS has certified over 5 million participants in all 50 states and more than 50 different countries. Numerous public officials and government agencies have recognized and endorsed TIPS training as lifesaving and critical to the progress made in reducing alcohol-related injuries and deaths. Proven effective by third-party studies, TIPS is a skills-based training program designed to prevent intoxication, underage drinking, and drunk driving. To learn more, visit the www.gettips.com.

Contact: Trevor Estelle

703-524-1200 ext. 357 [email protected] SOURCE Health Communications, Inc.


4

LICENSE STATE NEWS

AK: Bethel Holds Its First Alcohol Task Force Meeting

KYUK By Christine Trudeau April 18, 2018

The city's first Alcohol Task Force in recent history met Tuesday night at Bethel City Hall. Municipal, tribal, and business leaders were there to come up with ideas for addressing alcohol-related problems.

The Alcohol Task Force set a list of goals with Bethel Mayor Richard Robb, who led the meeting. Community leaders attended, but not many members of the public were present.

The idea of the Task Force was put forward by the Association of Village Council Presidents as the city considered applications for its third and final liquor license last year. Villages have gone so far as to request a declaration of emergency from the Governor because of increases they see in alcohol-related problems since legal alcohol sales began in Bethel. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is actively exploring the idea of a special meeting to be held in Bethel concerning these issues.

Those who attended included AVCP Board Chairman Raymond Watson, Tundra Women’s Coalition Executive Director Eileen Arnold, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation President and CEO Dan Winkelman, Orutsararmiut Native Council Interim President Walter Jim, Bethel Police Chief Burke Waldron, Bethel City Manager Peter Williams, Mayor Richard Robb, Bethel City Council Member Mitchell Forbes, Bethel City Council Member Mark Springer, Bethel City Council Member Leif Albertson, Bethel City Clerk Lori Strickler, Bethel Search and Rescue President Mike Riley, YKHC Vice President of Hospital Services Jim Sweeney, Alaska Commercial Store Manager Seth Madole, Kusko Liquor’s Cezary Maczynski, and Lieutenant Lonnie Gonzales with the Alaska State Troopers.

The Task Force outlined five objectives: A "no sale" or “ban” list and a limit on sales for types of liquors and sale volumes per purchase; a public education campaign; tighter enforcement in villages; collecting and analyzing the data various agencies already have on alcohol-related problems; and keeping the area's legislators in the loop with an eye toward proposing legislation.

Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation President and CEO Dan Winkelman said that it has been decades since there has been a survey to assess the impact of Bethel liquor sales on the surrounding communities, and that YKHC plans to conduct one with Recover Alaska.

State Trooper Lieutenant Lonnie Gonzales suggested involving the District Attorney. Both Bethel Search and Rescue and the Tundra Women’s Coalition suggested public information campaigns.

Bethel AC Store Manager Seth Madole said that the company has been looking into creating a ban list, as other communities have done. The new ban list would block sales to repeat domestic violence offenders, for example. The Task Force discussed improving their system of tracking the number of bottles sold in a day to any single person.

The tone of the meeting was constructive, and the hopes of many might have been reflected in what AVCP’s Raymond Watson said. He gave up drinking in the 80s and began working in alcohol recovery treatment in the 90s.

“When you heal, it’s like a broken net: the mesh comes together and heals over time, and becomes very powerful over time. And that’s what we want to see in this town, for our children and our grandchildren,” said Watson. “We want the best for them. Every caring mother and father would want that for their children and that’s what I see this group doing. We want the best for our community.”

The next Alcohol Task Force meeting will be held May 15 and is open to the public.


5

DE: Delaware Lawmakers Design Ban on Powdered Alcohol

WBOC 16 By Cate Douglass April 18, 2018

DOVER, Del. -- Lawmakers in the first state have designed a bill that would ban the sale of powdered alcohol in Delaware.

The bill was created by Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Representative Trey Paradee and Senator Margaret Rose Henry. The proposed legislation, House Bill 372, that they announced Wednesday would add the state to a list of others that have already enacted bans on the substance.

The Lt. Governor's office said the American Medical Association (AMA) has already called for a nationwide ban on powdered alcohol. According to the AMA, the substance can be misused in the form of inhaling or ingesting it, or adding it to alcoholic drinks. The association also says their concerns come from underage people already abusing alcohol in its original form.

“Powdered alcohol products requiring only the addition of water pose a potentially serious public health hazard. It could be disastrous, especially for our underage populations. The ease with which the powdered alcohol can be concealed or transported would have a particular appeal to them,” said Lt. Governor Hall-Long said in a statement.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

United Kingdom: 'Higher crime' in areas where alcohol is most available, says study

BBC News April 19, 2018

Crime rates were highest in areas where there are a large number of pubs, clubs and shops selling alcohol, according to a new report.

Researchers found neighbourhoods in Aberdeen, Moray and South Ayrshire were among those with highest crime rates.

In those regions crime rates are almost eight times higher in areas with the most alcohol outlets, compared with those with the least.

Alcohol Focus Scotland called for action on the availability of alcohol.

The charity said the information in the report should be used by local licensing boards to curb any increase in licensed premises in problem areas.

And it said the new research should inform Scottish government policy on preventing harm by alcohol.

The report compared neighbourhoods with the highest number of licensed premises across Scotland to those with the least.

It found that, in those with the most pubs, clubs and off-licences:

• Crime rates were, on average, four times higher

• Alcohol-related deaths were twice as high

• Alcohol-related hospitalisation rates were almost twice as high.

But it also discovered an even more worrying picture at local levels:

• In Dundee City and East Ayrshire, the alcohol-related death rate is almost five times higher

• In parts of East Lothian, the alcohol-related death rate is almost four times higher


6

• Alcohol-related hospitalisations are more than four times higher in parts of Argyll and Bute

• In Perth and Kinross and South Ayrshire, alcohol-related hospitalisations are almost four times higher.

The researchers from the Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH) also found that there were 40% more alcohol outlets in the most deprived neighbourhoods than in the wealthiest parts of the country.

They found a relationship between alcohol availability and harm even when other factors such as age, sex, and income deprivation had been taken into account.

It comes after the Scottish government introduced a minimum price for alcohol sold north of the border.

Alison Douglas, the chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said it was time to take action on how "readily available" alcohol is in Scotland.

She added: "The implementation of minimum unit pricing will save the lives of hundreds of Scots, but if we are to truly turn the tide of our alcohol problem tackling availability must also be part of the mix.

"This new research should be used to help inform the Scottish government's next steps on alcohol prevention which are due to be published this summer."

She added: "The research will also be valuable for licensing boards who are the cornerstone of locally-led systems for controlling alcohol availability.

"Boards are responsible for promoting the licensing objectives, including preventing crime and disorder and protecting and improving public health.

"The local evidence will help them assess the overprovision of licensed premises in their areas.

"There is no action that a licensing board can take to reduce the number of licensed premises, however, they do have the ability to prevent further increases.

"It is their duty to act in the public interest and where their communities are suffering, they should be applying the brakes."

Leading voices in healthcare and crime prevention echoed the charity's demands following the publication of the report.

Will Linden, the acting director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, said: "We know that Scotland has a toxic relationship with alcohol that fills up our A&E departments and prisons. Around half of violent crime in Scotland is linked to alcohol.

"We must address the current over provision of alcohol in our towns and cities and create a more positive environment for everyone, especially our children.

"The licensing system has a crucial role to play in creating safe and healthy communities. We all pick up the tab for alcohol harm."

Dr Tara Shivaji, consultant in public health with NHS Grampian, said one in four people in Scotland drink at potentially harmful levels.

She said: "While many in public health are working to minimise alcohol consumption and harm, we live in an environment that normalises and encourages consumption through marketing and increased access.

"We must consider the impact of the overall availability of alcohol in Scotland and address the overprovision of alcohol in areas with high levels of alcohol-related harm."


7

Canada: Supreme Court decision on 'free-the-beer' case lands today (Excerpt)

CBC News By Karina Roman April 19, 2018

The Supreme Court of Canada will issue a ruling today on whether Canadians have a constitutional right to buy and transport alcohol across provincial borders without impediments.

The so-called 'free-the-beer' case also could have major implications for sales of tobacco and cannabis, and for the supply management system relied upon by Canada's dairy and egg industries to maintain prices.

The man at the heart of the case is Gerard Comeau, a retired New Brunswick man who, two or three times a year, drives from his home in Tracadie — some 160 kilometres north of Moncton — to Quebec, where it's cheaper to buy beer and liquor.

In 2012 he was stopped at the New Brunswick-Quebec border by the RCMP and fined $292.50 for having 14 cases of beer, two bottles of whisky and one bottle of liqueur in his vehicle.

Most provinces limit how much alcohol people can bring across provincial borders. New Brunswick's Liquor Control Act sets a limit of 12 pints of beer (about 18 cans or bottles), or one bottle of wine or spirits.

"I'm expecting that the Supreme Court is going to give a decision that's going to be fair for everybody. I can't see them saying the province has the right to limit what's coming into the province from another province," said Comeau in an interview with CBC News.

Comeau's argument centres on section 121 of the Constitution Act, which states products from any province "shall ... be admitted free into each of the other provinces."

A 1921 Supreme Court decision interpreted that to mean the products only had to be free from tariffs, not from other barriers such as limits on quantity.

Comeau and others argue that decision offered too narrow an interpretation, and that it led to the proliferation of interprovincial trade barriers.

Most provinces limit how much alcohol people can bring across provincial borders. New Brunswick's Liquor Control Act sets a limit of 12 pints of beer (about 18 cans or bottles), or one bottle of wine or spirits.

"I'm expecting that the Supreme Court is going to give a decision that's going to be fair for everybody. I can't see them saying the province has the right to limit what's coming into the province from another province," said Comeau in an interview with CBC News.

Comeau's argument centres on section 121 of the Constitution Act, which states products from any province "shall ... be admitted free into each of the other provinces."

A 1921 Supreme Court decision interpreted that to mean the products only had to be free from tariffs, not from other barriers such as limits on quantity.

Comeau and others argue that decision offered too narrow an interpretation, and that it led to the proliferation of interprovincial trade barriers.

United Kingdom: U.K. Cracks Down on Drunk Passengers With Proposal to Put Alcohol in Sealed Bags

Travel and Leisure By Andrea Romano April 18, 2018

There are many reasons why a flight could have a disruptive passenger on board, but one of the most common is too much alcohol.


8

According to the Civil Aviation Authority in the U.K., one in six people have witnessed aggressive behavior on flights in the last three years. One way the British government is cracking down on disruptive, and particularly drunken, passengers is by proposing all alcohol bought in airports be sealed in plastic bags.

At the moment, according to the Daily Mail, sealed bags are already in use, but only for passengers on international flights.

While it’s not true that people can get drunk quicker on a flight, it is still true that both the cabin air and alcohol can dehydrate you, which can significantly affect a passenger’s health if they drink too much. It’s also not a good game plan if you want to get a restful sleep while flying.

In addition to the sealed bags, the British government is considering more extreme punishments for people who disrupt flights due to drunkenness.

Currently, a person is still prohibited from being drunk on a plane in the U.K., despite being able to drink their own alcohol and being able to order as many drinks as they wish. Punishment can include up to two years in prison and an unlimited fine, according to the Scotsman. U.K. officials are also considering adopting a policy prohibiting passengers from drinking their own alcohol, as well.

The new measures will be discussed this fall, and most likely put into effect early next year.

Asia: Vietnam's overnight alcohol ban proposal unfeasible: experts

VN Express International By Anh Minh April 19, 2018

Conflicts with existing laws and a practical way of enforcing the ban have led to a rethink.

Experts spoke out against a proposed ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks at night during a conference on Wednesday.

The proposal aims to restrict the sale of alcohol and advertising after 10 p.m., excluding international airport terminals and areas designated for food, entertainment and tourism.

The proposed ban would lead to binge drinking, said Dau Anh Tuan, head of the legal department at the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

"Some countries have approved this regulation, but it doesn't really work. We can ban labeled products, but not home brew,” Tuan said.

The regulation needs to be looked at again, otherwise genuine brands might suffer while small home brew makers who don't pay tax could benefit, Tuan added.

The term “areas designated for food, entertainment and tourism” in the proposal is not specifically defined, said Matt Wilson, director of foreign affairs for Heineken Vietnam LTD.

Wilson said the ban might affect big entertainment events like the annual Heineken Countdown, which attracts a lot of young people on New Year's Eve.

“I think the government’s goal can be entirely achievable by self-regulatory regulations,” Wilson said, citing that 40 percent of the world’s major markets have been successful in self-regulation as they believe in the advertising industry as well as its economic benefits.

The enforcement of the draft law also raised concerns at the conference. “Who will carry out this law? And will they be able to?” asked Do Van Ve, former member of the 13th National Assembly. Ve said he was worried that with too many regulations that aren't actually enforced, people will start taking the law for granted.

Other experts at the meeting also said that a ban on alcoholic drinks advertisements was not in line with the Advertisement Law, which would eventually confuse people as they wouldn’t know which laws to follow.


9

The draft law, proposed by the health ministry, aims to prevent the adverse effects of alcoholic drinks with a volume of greater than 15 percent, which are widely consumed in Vietnam, a country famous for its beer drinking culture.

The country spends on average $3.4 billion on alcohol each year, or 3 percent of the government’s budget revenue, according to official data. The figure translates to $300 per capita, while spending on health averages $113 per person, according to the health ministry.

Canada: Alcohol sales coming to Vancouver grocery stores Council approves bylaw amendments to allow liquor sales in grocery stores

Vancouver Courier Courier staff / Vancouver Courier April 18, 2018

Vancouver residents could soon be able to pick up a bottle of chardonnay with their milk, eggs and bread.

City council Tuesday night approved bylaw amendments that will permit the sale of alcohol in grocery stores.

“Over the last few years, we have undertaken extensive public and stakeholder consultation regarding updates to the City’s liquor policies,” Kaye Krishna, general manager of development, buildings and licencing, said in a press release. “These amendments not only balance the public’s request, but also bring our liquor bylaws in line with provincial regulations.”

The amendments will allow qualifying grocery stories to sell liquor in a store-within-a-store model.

Staff will report back to council in early May with specific policies and guidelines related to the sale of liquor in grocery stores. If approved, city staff anticipates accepting applications as of May 14.

PUBLIC HEALTH NEWS

Alcohol abuse among seniors is more common than you think

AZ Big Media By Rich Crislip August 18, 2018

Alcohol abuse is the number one public health problem in the United States. While most of us may not be surprised by this fact, family, friends and health providers often overlook older adults as abusers of alcohol but the problem is more common than we think. As we age we face a variety of stressors which can lead to alcohol abuse such as diminished health, limited mobility, financial trouble or caring for a loved one.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), an estimated 80,000 of our country’s nearly eight million alcoholics are seniors, and older adults are hospitalized as often for alcoholic related problems as they are for heart attacks.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, an opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of alcoholism, its causes and effective treatment and recovery. It is also a time to become more aware of the signs in older adults. Drinking problems often go unrecognized because the symptoms are often the same signs as aging: falls, loss of memory, problems sleeping and depression.

Alcohol abuse is harmful at any age but it’s even more serious and life threatening for older adults. As we age, our body’s tolerance for alcohol lessens due to a decreased lean body mass, the amount of water in our body and a diminished ability of the liver to process alcohol. This means that minimal alcohol consumption can cause a variety of serious health problems.


10

In older adults, too much alcohol can lead to balance problems and in turn falls and accidents, it slows down brain activity and affects alertness, judgement, coordination and reaction time. Additionally, it may worsen medical conditions common in older people such as diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, liver problems, osteoporosis, memory problems and mood disorder. Drugs can also intensify the impact of alcohol or interact badly with certain medications.

According to the National Institute on Aging, seniors who seek help for a drinking problem have a good chance for recovery because they are likely to stick to a program tailored to their needs. In honor of Alcohol Awareness Month, OptumCare offers tips on what you can do if you suspect a loved one is abusing alcohol:

Know the signs – Signs can include frequently having more than one drink a day, lying or hiding drinking habits, loss of interest in food, feeling irritable, resentful or unreasonable when not drinking.

Assess the situation – Be cognizant of changes in their life and behavior. Determine what has changed and assist them with overcoming the situation(s).

Acknowledge feelings – Help them acknowledge and mourn any losses or hardships they may be experiencing.

Seek support – Help them find treatment or support groups. Encourage them to interact with friends and family.

Suggest activities – Often the problem is boredom. Make suggestions for other activities to keep them busy so they are not consumed by loneliness or excess of free time.

Let’s help our loved ones age gracefully and keep them healthy for many years to come. For more information or to get help call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

INDUSTRY NEWS

Heineken warns ad ban could cost broadcasters billions The proposal is part of the state’s efforts to curb alcohol abuse

Business Day By Nick Hedley April 19, 2018

A ban on alcohol advertising could cost SA’s broadcast media industry R2.38bn a year, beverages group Heineken said.

The government is considering the Liquor Amendment Bill, which could result in a ban on alcohol advertisements from 6am to 10pm and the minimum drinking age being raised from 18 to 21 years.

The proposal is part of the state’s efforts to curb alcohol abuse.

"For above-the-line media spend, we project that total liquor industry spend of R2.38bn per annum will be lost to the broadcast industry," said Zodwa Velleman, corporate affairs director at Heineken. That excluded print media and outdoor advertising, including billboards, Velleman said.

The employment of "more than 548,000 people" could be in jeopardy, she said.

"The loss will not only be to the media and advertising houses, but across the value chain and to small and new players in the [alcohol] industry."

This was a challenge in an economy that was not creating as much employment opportunities as required, she said.

Heineken had advocated a self-regulation model when the Department of Trade and Industry consulted the public on the bill, Velleman said.


11

Banning advertising would not meaningfully reduce alcohol abuse, which was "a societal problem". Rather, a "multi-pronged approached" by industry, parents, the government, NGOs and enforcement agencies was needed, Velleman said.

A ban would also dent SA’s events industry, she said. Like its competitors, Heineken sponsors food and music festivals, as well as sports tournaments.

"If the bill was to be passed as is, the impact would be felt throughout our value chain, including the organisers and communities that enjoy these sponsored events."

Sibani Mngadi, chairman of the South African Liquor Brandowners Association has said that with no media exposure "there will be little to no incentive to sponsor sports events or teams", although it was unclear whether the rules would apply to international events.

Russia mulls ban on western alcohol imports

The Spirits Business By Amy Hopkins April 18, 2018

Spirits could once again be in the firing line of a diplomatic row as Russia considers trade sanctions against the US and its allies.

On Friday (13 April) Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of State Duma, the Russian parliament’s lower house, introduced a bill to “respond to boorish behaviour on the part of the US”.

The bill, which has now been sent to president Vladimir Putin to consider, proposes a complete ban or restriction on “agricultural products, raw materials and food products originating in the United States or other countries that support the measures that the US has taken towards our country”, first deputy chairman of the State Duma, Ivan Melnikov, said.

The proposed sanctions refer to alcohol and tobacco, as well as nuclear imports, medicines and technology software. The bill, which may extend beyond the US to its allies, will be considered in a first reading on 15 May.

Tensions between Russia and the west hit new heights following military strikes in Syria by US, UK and French forces targeting facilities linked to chemical weapons manufacturing. The Assad regime in Syria, which is accused of carrying out a chemical attack in Douma, is supported by Russia.

Diplomatic ties between Russia and a number of countries have also been severely strained following the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, UK, earlier this year.

The US and other allies to the UK expelled a number of Russian diplomats, and reports indicated that Washington is planning new sanctions on Moscow, but none have yet been confirmed.

Now, it seems spirits could be caught in the crossfire. A key US export is Bourbon and American whiskey, which has already been threatened by a 25% tariff in China as tensions between Beijing and Washington rise.

The latest threat from Russia could offer a blow to US spirits shipments, which increased by 14.3% to US$1.63bn in 2017, according to data from the Distilled Spirits Council.

If planned sanctions extend to allies of the US, Scotch whisky exports worth £7.6m could be at risk too. Russia is Scotch whisky’s 56th largest export market by value, according to the Scotch Whisky Association, which has declined to comment on the country’s latest threat of sanctions.

Russia’s alcoholic preference still has a clear skew towards vodka, but a number of international brands are targeting its potential for brown spirits. Last year, Pernod Ricard told The Spirits Business that Russia is the third largest market for Jameson, the world’s leading Irish whiskey.

In 2014, Russia banned a number of western imports in response to EU sanctions over Moscow’s annexation of Crimea, but spirits were exempt. The ban will continue until December 2018.


12

What whipped cream vodka can teach us about the bourbon business

Louisville Business First By David A. Mann, Reporter April 18, 2018

Do you remember what the trendy beverage was before bourbon took off? Whipped cream-flavored vodka.

It was huge — and liquor companies wanted a part of it, according to Allan Latts, chief operating officer of Bardstown-based distiller Heaven Hill Brands.

Latts spoke this morning at the Kentucky Economic Forum, an event held at the Brown & Williamson Club at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

Flavored vodka was so big around the turn of this decade that one of Heaven HIll's rivals, Beam Inc. (today, it's Beam Suntory) bought Pinnacle Vodka and other brands for $605 million to get in on it, Latts said.

No shame if that's your drink, he added. In fact, Heaven Hill Brands owns Burnett's vodka, which also comes in Whipped Cream, Tropical Fruit, Sugar Cookie and other flavors.

“If you’re into that, you can buy that,” he said.

The point he was trying to make was about how wildly consumer tastes have changed.

At the beginning of this decade, whipped cream vodka, a sweet and artificially flavored beverage, was king. Today, bourbon is much more popular, in part because younger consumers are after a drink with natural flavors. Most whiskey-based drinks get their flavor from the wooden barrels in which they're aged, save for a growing number of flavored exceptions, such as Fireball, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey and Jim Beam Vanilla.

Keeping those younger consumers interested is something that Heaven Hill is counting on as it tries to expand its bourbon and American whiskey business.

In the past, Latts said, bourbon had two traditional consumers: rural blue-collar types who might bring a bottle along on a fishing trip and older refined types who might have a bourbon with a steak. Now all types of under 35-year-olds are interested, including many female consumers.

"They’re young, they’re single, they’re urban, they’re rural,” he said. They have a wide income range and they drink bourbon in non-traditional places, such as pubs, dive bars, sporting events.

All this is happening while bourbon makers are reaching out to all new audiences, with movie tie-ins, celebrity endorsements and sporting event sponsorships (Evan Williams, Heaven Hill's flagship brand recently sponsored the World Series.) Advertising among bourbon distillers has gone from $63 million in 2013 to $106 million in 2016, Latts said.

This has had a huge impact on Kentucky.

In the midst of that, bourbon has gone from a "sin" industry to a "signature" industry in Kentucky, said Colleen Thomas, director of member and public affairs for the Kentucky Distillers Association. She spoke at the Kentucky Economic Forum alongside Latts this morning.

The industry has an $8.5 billion economic impact on the state and employs at least 18,000 people, she said. Since 2011, more than $485 million has been invested in capital projects and at least $600 million more are planned in the next five years.

Latts said there's a vast global opportunity to continue grow the industry. An annual increase in bourbon sales of just 10 percent globally represents about $2 billion in sales, he said. And many global markets, such as South Korea, India and China, are still untapped.

But all this, of course, is dependent on consumer tastes not making another dramatic shift. There's probably some writer out there waiting to tell the tale of how wood-flavored bourbon was toppled by the giant candy cane flavored gin industry of 2025.

“In all consumer products, there are tastes and trends — and they change over time,” Latts said.


13

DAILY NEWS

Alcohol Awareness Month and College Drinking

Healthy Alcohol Marketplace By Pam Erickson April 18, 2018

April is Alcohol Awareness month and it seems like many young people are getting the message. The good news is that they're are drinking less than previous generations. Surveys of 8th, 10th and 12th graders show that rates have been steadily declining. The current cohort of college students are consuming less alcohol than in previous years, and their non-student peers are drinking even less.

There is speculation that the "Generation Z" cohort tend to be conscientious about what they consume and are not interested in repeating the embarrassing antics of earlier generations. They seem to be more accepting of others' choices, including not drinking.

But overuse of alcohol is still taking a big toll on college campuses. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:

• About 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.

• About 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report experiencing alcohol-related sexual assault.

• About 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor-vehicle crashes.

The drinking culture can vary from college to college but at schools where spectator sports are big, drinking rates tend to be higher. A study on the correlation between March Madness participation and college drinking found that one-third of students over 21 and one-fourth of underage students engaged in binge drinking when the school team was part of the NCAA Tournament. They also found that when alcohol was less available at sporting events there were fewer "arrests, assaults, ejections from the stadium, and student referrals to the judicial affairs office," -- all unfortunate situations that can have an impact on a student's academic future.

A large presence of fraternities and sororities can also correlate with heavy drinking on campuses. Numerous studies have found that students involved in "Greek Life" use more alcohol than their peers. Well-publicized cases of tragedies put a spotlight on this. The tragic death of a 19-year old Penn State student in 2017 after drinking heavily and falling down a flight of stairs at a fraternity house may be a case where prompt medical attention might have saved his life. Instead the call was not made for 12 hours. Eighteen men faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, felony aggravated assault and tampering with evidence.

This highlights the need for parents and other adults to talk to kids honestly about alcohol, to tell them about the signs of dangerous levels of intoxication and how to help, and make sure they are aware of medical amnesty laws.

Colleges are trying different ways to help students avoid harm from alcohol overuse. Some organize evening events to redirect the focus from alcohol, some have ride services to get students home after a night out. For example, Associated Students of Colorado State University offers RamRide, "a free, safe, non-judgmental ride home". Students use an app to call student volunteers for a ride home in a minivan. This group also helps sponsor a bus line that runs on weekend nights, looping between the area of town where there are many bars through the areas where many students live. Some colleges are making an effort to save the investment that students and their families make in sending a kid to college.

Given the amount of harm and the huge investment that college requires, it's time for a "full-court press"! In 2003, the National Institute of Medicine, National Research Council called for a "Collective Responsibility" to reduce underage drinking. They specified a roll for all segments of society from the individual to the parents to law enforcement, education and public health. This approach took time, but now underage drinking rates are at historic lows. Let's do the same for college drinking!


14

Sources:

http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/

https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/

https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/collegefactsheet/collegefact.htm

http://www.nber.org/papers/w23821, March Madness: NCAA Tournament Participation and College Alcohol, Dustin R. White, Benjamin W. Cowan

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2238801/

http://ramride.colostate.edu/

Can you really blame drinking if you get extra after a few shots?

Refinery 29 By Kimberly Truong April 18, 2018

If you tend to drink with the same group of people, chances are you have a rough idea of which friend is the "happy drunk," the "messy drunk," or the "sad drunk." And, even if you don't have a steady group of drinking friends, you've probably heard someone say that they get "crazy" when they drink. Or, at the very least, you've taken a quiz about your "drunk personality." But, can drinking actually change your personality to that extent?

The short answer: Yes, but it might not be as straightforward as you think.

Rachel Winograd, PhD, assistant research professor at the Missouri Institute of Mental Health, says that your personality involves how you present yourself to other people and the way you feel about yourself and the situation you're in.

If you tend to drink with the same group of people, chances are you have a rough idea of which friend is the "happy drunk," the "messy drunk," or the "sad drunk." And, even if you don't have a steady group of drinking friends, you've probably heard someone say that they get "crazy" when they drink. Or, at the very least, you've taken a quiz about your "drunk personality." But, can drinking actually change your personality to that extent?

The short answer: Yes, but it might not be as straightforward as you think.

Rachel Winograd, PhD, assistant research professor at the Missouri Institute of Mental Health, says that your personality involves how you present yourself to other people and the way you feel about yourself and the situation you're in.

Our personality or expression of personality can differ when we’re intoxicated," Dr. Winograd says. "But, our personality isn’t just how we behave, it’s also how we feel, and how we experience any given situation. Of course, things that are visible externally are more noticeable to other people, especially people that don’t know us."

Last year, Dr. Winograd and a team of researchers published a study on the phenomenon of a "drunk personality," which found that people can change when they drink — but the change probably isn't as drastic as they believe. Rather, people think that they're more of a hot mess than they actually are.

"We found that one particular aspect of our personality changes most noticeably to others, and that was extroversion," she says.

In other words, you're probably not imagining it if you think drinking makes you more talkative, or if you think it makes you share things you normally wouldn't. George F. Koob, PhD, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), says that because alcohol dulls the sense of restraint, it might cause you to be more carefree than you normally are.


15

"Alcohol disinhibits that [control] system, so you lose that inhibitory control over your reptile brain," he says. "And so for some people, that can be manifested in an extroverted and agreeable personality, and for others, it can result in anger and the 'bad drunk,' so to speak."

But, Dr. Koob says that it's not about alcohol bringing out a totally different personality. These traits already exist in you and are just heightened when you drink.

“The way I think of it is that it really depends on what underlying inhibitions you have that are let loose when the alcohol disinhibits," he says. "People who are happy, with a little bit of alcohol, are probably going to be a little bit more happy. But, people who are suppressing anger and resentment and have a chip on their shoulder, when they drink, that is going to be exposed and exaggerated."

So, while drinking can exaggerate the emotions you already have or make you a little more outwardly expressive (and maybe push you to finally talk to your crush), it doesn't make you into a whole different person.

Editorial: A sobering look at the risks of drinking

Concord Monitor April 19, 2018

The latest major study on the health effects of drinking alcohol is, well, sobering: For men and women alike, consuming more than one drink a day shortens your life – perhaps as much as smoking does. That’s not very good news here in New Hampshire, which had record-setting liquor sales of nearly $700 million last year. More than $155 million of that ended up in the state’s general fund.

The study, published in the Lancet medical journal, involved nearly 600,000 drinkers in 19 high-income nations who did not have a history of cardiovascular disease. What researchers found is that weekly consumption of more than 100 grams of alcohol – about five drinks – increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, fatal hypertensive disease and fatal aortic aneurysm. Excessive drinking does appear to reduce the risk of nonfatal heart attacks, but that benefit is more than wiped out by the more serious consequences.

In an interview with the Guardian, University of Cambridge professor David Spiegelhalter assessed the risk of drinking, as presented in the Lancet study, this way: “The paper estimates a 40-year-old drinking four units a day above the guidelines (the equivalent of drinking three glasses of wine in a night) has roughly two years’ lower life expectancy, which is around a 20th of their remaining life. This works out at about an hour per day. So it’s as if each unit above guidelines is taking, on average, about 15 minutes of life, about the same as a cigarette.”

Spiegelhalter adds, “Of course, it’s up to individuals whether they think this is worthwhile.”

And that’s an important point. There are a lot of things that are not very good for humans that add pleasure to life: bacon, sunbathing, a perfectly cooked steak, soda, sweets, (did we already mention bacon?), cold beer on a summer day, a couple of glasses of wine in the evening – everybody has their weaknesses. The question people must answer for themselves regarding their not-so-healthy choices is, “How important is this to my overall happiness?” With alcohol especially, that can be a complicated question.

For people who feel as though they have a healthy relationship with alcohol and are content with how much they drink, the warnings contained in the study will not carry much weight – and maybe they shouldn’t. Every person on the planet will meet the same fate, so why not do the things you enjoy while you can? But for those who were questioning their consumption even before they found out that it could be shaving years off their life, this may be just the kick in the pants they needed to change their lifestyle.

Heavy drinkers who are considering quitting should begin their journey with their primary care physicians to discuss treatment options. For more casual drinkers who want to better understand their relationship with alcohol, we recommend a visit to Annie Grace’s blog, “This Naked Mind” (thisnakedmind.com/blog). Grace, the author of This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life, focuses on the science behind why people drink and how to reprogram the unconscious mind to break their drinking patterns.


16

We don’t expect that the Lancet study will change the behavior of most or even many drinkers in New Hampshire, but it may have a big impact on another group: those who have not started drinking. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting they would be better off if they never take that first sip, and with drinking among American teenagers and college students on the decline, the message seems to be getting through.

The state’s lawmakers would be wise to start preparing for a future decline in alcohol revenue.

This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of NABCA members, free-of-charge. If you do not wish to receive this daily service, please respond with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the Subject line. In addition, if there is another individual within your company who should also be receiving this service, please forward their NAME, TITLE, EMPLOYER, and EMAIL ADDRESS to [email protected]. Thank you for your time and attention as we continue to work to improve upon the services and benefits that we provide to our members. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association.

april is alcohol awareness month online alcohol training … · 2018. 4. 19. · no phone calls...

Documents