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National alcohol policy after “alcopops”: what next?
Author(s) -
Skov Steven J
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02631.x
Subject(s) - citation , library science , political science , law , computer science
o those Australians who believe that alcohol consumption in this country is causing too much damage, and that a public health-focused, evidence-based alcohol policy can make a difference, the defeat of the “alcopops” legislation in the Senate in March this year was a disappointment. However, this is no reason to stop national action to reduce damage from alcohol. The thousands of Australians whose lives are damaged by alcohol, and the hundreds each year whose deaths could be prevented, are too important. Concerned organisations need to collaborate and advocate for a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to reducing the alcohol toll. Their ultimate goal should be to move to a more moderate and responsible drinking culture in Australia. The first question is what to do with the more than $400 million raised from the alcopops tax. Our elected representatives are to be congratulated on voting in May to retain it, rather than handing it back to the alcohol industry. Judging by past performance, had it gone to DrinkWise, it would have been spent on soft-sell advertising, which the great body of evidence suggests has no impact on alcohol consumption or consequent harms. The alcopops revenue should be directed to independent public health agencies to develop evidence-informed interventions that aim to reduce consumption and consequent harms. The Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation is one such entity, established using tax revenues generated in similar circumstances from beer sales. The national Preventative Health Taskforce has already developed a framework to prevent alcohol-related harms, and will soon deliver a final report and recommendations for action, including an overarching National Prevention Agency, which will need funds. With additional funding, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) could give special priority to alcohol-related research. Funding of agencies such as VicHealth and Healthway in Western Australia, which were originally supported by tobacco revenues, could also be considered. T