BALANCED APPROACH TO ALCOHOL DEBATE

In the lead up to the last NSW State Election, Premier Bob Carr made a commitment to hold an Alcohol Summit to bring together a host of interested parties to debate a range of issues in relation to alcohol abuse. The Summit was held in late August and brought a wide ranging degree of opinion and interpretation to the forum.
  Of particular interest from the Summit was an article written by Bob Aldred from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Queensland. In the article, Mr Aldred casts a balanced view of alcohol use and abuse, and points out that a large majority of people enjoy alcohol in moderation and do not cause any harm to themselves or others. Mr Aldred also points out that people who do abuse alcohol may have other underlying personal issues and alcohol is a symptom of a much deeper issue, and short-term fixes such as banning advertising is not the real solution.

The following excerpts are taken from an article by Bob Aldred titled, The NSW Alcohol Summit – Talk Fest or New Directions:
   ‘The important Alcohol Summit in Sydney recently described its primary purpose was to create a better understanding by Parliamentarians and the community of the causes, nature, and extent of the problem of alcohol abuse. Fair enough as alcohol problems have largely been ignored relative to illicit drugs over the last 20 years. However, it is important to recognise that alcohol abuse is symptomatic of social, cultural and personal problems.
  ‘If we talk up drunkenness we must expect a culture of drunkenness. If we promote taste we can change the drinking culture to one that acclaims moderation.
  ‘The danger of summits is the potential to raise the awareness of the problems associated with alcohol abuse for a minority of drinkers, without giving due balance to the social and health benefits of alcohol and most other drugs.
  ‘Coming from a community-based health organisation, to some this may seem sacrilege. Here lies a problem for the summit. Public debate on alcohol is generally a battle between the good guys and the bad guys. Which is which, depends on how you view the major interests. The health lobby either is viewed as a bunch of “Wowsers”, or conversely as advocates for healthy lifestyles. On the other side, the alcohol industry either enjoys the public acclaim of its Aussie icons with brand names such as XXXX and Fosters, or is depicted as the unscrupulous peddlers of grog that is tearing families apart and turning the young into senseless “Yobbos”.
  ‘Like most social issues in Australia, most debate is black and white. If you are for something, then you must be against all else. Alcohol like all drug issues is complex, thus denying simple answers. Each drug has its own set of characteristics, and alcohol is no exception.
  ‘Unlike other drugs, alcohol has major social benefits and is symbolic of celebration and success. It is the celebratory toast at weddings, a central symbol in the Christian Eucharist, and the champions drink from the winner’s cup in sport. Unlike tobacco, it has recognised health benefits in certain situations.
  ‘As well as symbolic and health benefits, alcoholic beverages boast a range of products for many occasions. Whether Australian drinkers have a sensitive palate that appreciates quality and taste is debatable. Certainly a lot of advertising is more directed to brand loyalty rather than the aspects of taste.
  ‘As proven in programs such as Educ’alcool in Quebec, Canada, programs that emphasise the positive benefits of alcohol use in the context of moderation and responsible consumption can effectively change the culture of drinking. Taste and quality become the primary criteria for drinker’s choices and the potential intoxication effects are not the sought after reason for consumption.
  ‘This type of health strategy demonstrates that a positive program emphasising the merits of taste and moderation can achieve more than problem-orientated programs that push a disciplined monitoring of drinking levels and warning messages.
  ‘It makes sense that if we want people to enjoy alcohol without undesired side effects, we should highlight the benefits and how to enjoy them. This includes, but does not centre on, the need for awareness of drinking levels. It is a matter of putting quality above quantity, and practicing the principles of moderation. These are the messages that alcohol advertising can embrace with outcomes beneficial to both the alcohol industry and health promoters.
  ‘The summit will have implications for alcohol policies across Australia. Hopefully the outcomes will be a balanced approach that promotes moderation while recognising that there is a significant minority of problem drinkers whose behaviour is influenced more by social and cultural determinants of irresponsible drinking than availability and advertising.’

The Industry is committed to ensuring that consumers use alcohol products in a responsible manner. Hotel workers undertake Responsible Service of Alcohol training, while all drink containers across the board supply information on the packaging, which indicate alcohol strength, number of standard drinks contained and the liquid volume the beverage contains. More can be done and industry is moving to enhance the education message.
   With a balanced approach to the issues surrounding the small minority of people who abuse alcohol, together we can introduce assistance measures to help the people who need help with their alcohol abuse, while properly educating young people on the responsibilities that are associated with the drinking of alcohol.