tag:theconversation.com,2011:/us/topics/alcohol-regulation-1477/articlesAlcohol regulation – The Conversation2020-11-23T05:15:16Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1504582020-11-23T05:15:16Z2020-11-23T05:15:16ZImpractical and unrealistic: why an Indonesian bill to ban alcohol would cause more problems than it solves<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/370498/original/file-20201120-19-1vc0id5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=329%2C0%2C3664%2C2502&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Most Muslim-majority countries don't ban alcohol.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Wahdi Septiawan/Antara Foto</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Members of the Indonesian parliament have just proposed an <a href="http://www.dpr.go.id/dokakd/dokumen/RJ2-20150626-022127-5059.pdf">alcohol prohibition bill</a>, setting off a public <a href="https://www.vice.com/id/article/jgqmqb/ntt-dan-bali-menolak-ruu-larangan-minuman-beralkohol-yang-dibahas-dpr-ri">debate</a>.</p>
<p>This bill would criminalise the producers, distributors, sellers, buyers and consumers of alcoholic beverages. Violators would be sentenced to fines and prison time. </p>
<p>The parliament’s policy paper claims the bill aims <a href="http://www.dpr.go.id/dokakd/dokumen/RJ1-20150626-022127-5317.pdf">to protect individual life and public order</a>. But it is difficult to separate it from religious justification.</p>
<p>The majority of the bill’s sponsors are Islamic parties, such as the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), with a total of <a href="https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2019/05/22/16141831/infografik-perolehan-suara-partai-politik-dalam-pemilu-2019-versi-kpu">69 seats (12.7%)</a> in the parliament. They argue that alcohol should be prohibited <a href="https://www.liputan6.com/news/read/4406306/ppp-pks-dan-gerindra-usulkan-ruu-larangan-minuman-beralkohol">because Islam forbids it</a>. </p>
<p>Representatives from the Indonesian Ulema Council (<em>Majelis Ulama Indonesia – MUI</em>), Indonesia’s top Muslim clerical body, backs this bill, saying a large <a href="https://www.liputan6.com/news/read/4409599/mui-ruu-minuman-beralkohol-seharusnya-tak-ada-kontroversi">majority of Indonesians (87%) are Muslim)</a>.</p>
<p>Based on other countries’ experiences, I argue the arguments for this bill are weak. </p>
<p>The implementation of this bill will not be practical nor realistic, especially considering the limitations of Indonesian law enforcement agencies and prison capacity.</p>
<h2>Various views on alcohol prohibition in Islam</h2>
<p>Indonesia, <a href="https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2019/09/25/indonesia-negara-dengan-penduduk-muslim-terbesar-dunia">the world’s largest Muslim population</a> with around 209 million adherents, has repeatedly tried to ban alcohol. </p>
<p>Members of parliament proposed similar bills <a href="https://www.hukumonline.com/berita/baca/lt5ab4d2dcd35ea/menakar-nasib-pembahasan-ruu-larangan-minuman-beralkohol">in 2009 and 2014</a>, but none has been passed.</p>
<p>Now, some Islamic parties have proposed this bill once again with a religious narative: to enforce Islamic values.</p>
<p>Historically, alcohol prohibition and its punishment are not a uniform policy in Islam and Muslim-majority countries. </p>
<p>Alcohol prohibition and related punishments are varied, and have been among the most debated topics since Prophet Muhammad’s day. During this time, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/009145090603300401?journalCode=cdxa">three gradual stages of <em>khamr</em> (alcohol from grapes) prohibition</a> were mentioned in the Koran. </p>
<p>First, it was not prohibited, but avoiding it was encouraged. Second, alcohol intoxication was prohibited. Third was total prohibition of alcohol. </p>
<p>After his death, some Islamic scholars (ulema) and leaders differed over regulating alcohol prohibition. </p>
<p>They had <a href="https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190910648.001.0001/oso-9780190910648-chapter-10">disagreements</a> over what was considered <em>khamr</em> – whether it is only wine or other alcoholic beverages and drugs – the intoxicated condition, and the standard of proof to punish alcohol drinkers.</p>
<p><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/009145090603300401">Ahmad Bin Hanbal</a>, Muslim jurist and founder of the Hanbali jurisprudence, agreed on total prohibition of consuming intoxicating substances, either alcohol or drug, no matter how much is consumed.</p>
<p>In the 20th century, there was a debate on alcohol prohibition in Islam.</p>
<p><a href="https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190910648.001.0001/oso-9780190910648-chapter-10">Twentieth-century Muslim</a> scholars refused the previous Muslim scholars’ agreement (<em>ijma</em>) that alcohol should be totally prohibited and subject to uniform state-imposed punishment (<a href="http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e757"><em>Hudud</em></a>). </p>
<p>They said <em>Hudud</em> can only be imposed if the Koran specifically mentioned the punishment, and Prophet Muhammad did not strictly treat alcohol drinking as a <em>Hudud</em> offence. </p>
<p>One scholar who agreed with this view is Islamic law professor <a href="https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190910648.001.0001/oso-9780190910648-chapter-10">Mohammad Hashim Kamali</a> at Islamic International University in Malaysia – Indonesia’s neighbour with a <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/attachments/summaries/MY-summary.pdf">60%</a> Muslim majority. </p>
<p>Kamali argued that drinking alcohol is a <a href="http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2363"><em>taʿzīr</em> </a> offence, so prohibition and punishment depend heavily on individual circumstances, social conditions, and government or judicial discretion.</p>
<p>This variety of scholarly arguments and regulations created a state of non-uniformity in prohibiting alcohol among the 50 Muslim-majority countries.</p>
<p>Only five – Afghanistan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Sudan – prohibit alcohol. </p>
<p>Ten countries – Brunei Darussalam, Comoro, Iran, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria and Yemen – prohibit alcohol for Muslim citizens only. </p>
<p>The majority of Muslim-majority countries do not prohibit and only restrict or regulate alcohol production, distribution and consumption. </p>
<p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/add.13159">Economic reasons and the presence of non-Muslim citizens and immigrants</a> are the reasons some of these countries do not totally prohibit alcohol.</p>
<h2>Failure of prohibition</h2>
<p>Alcohol prohibition does not guarantee reduced consumption and public security, as intended by the Indonesian legislators.</p>
<p>In Pakistan, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1060507">the 1977 alcohol prohibition</a>, which punishes violators with 80 lashes, failed to stop Pakistanis from drinking alcohol. </p>
<p>This prohibition had unintended consequences. Consumption of poisonous alcohol produced by the illegal industry and drug consumption <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1060507">both increased</a>. Prohibition also led to <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1144193">increased bribery of the Pakistani police</a>. </p>
<p>There were also <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1060507">increases in violence and extreme acts of terror</a>. The alcohol prohibition seemed to give legitimacy to certain groups of people outside law enforcement <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-dry-pakistan-deaths-from-toxic-liquor-continue/2014/10/08/bf149e5c-4f1a-11e4-babe-e91da079cb8a_story.html">to forcefully close and destroy liquor stores</a>.</p>
<p>Alcohol prohibition was also a failure in a secular country. The 1919 prohibition in the United States (US) resulted in an increase in <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/Prohibition.html?id=H2Y5uQAACAAJ">smuggling and bootlegging</a>.</p>
<p>This practice <a href="http://prohibition.themobmuseum.org/the-history/the-rise-of-organized-crime/the-mob-during-prohibition/">fuelled the rise of the mafia</a>, which profited by protecting those illegal businesses. This in turn resulted in <a href="https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa157.pdf">violence and law enforcement corruption</a>.</p>
<p>The US criminal justice system also became <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470475/">congested as many cases were brought to court</a>. In the first 10 years of alcohol prohibition, <a href="http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/graphs/volstead8.htm">343,695</a> people were tried and convicted in the US courts.</p>
<p>Alcohol prohibition also crippled the US economy. Many alcohol industries collapsed, so US tax revenue significantly decreased. </p>
<p>Before alcohol prohibition, the US government collected <a href="http://digitalexhibits.wsulibs.wsu.edu/exhibits/show/prohibition-in-the-u-s/negative-economic-impacts-of-p">US$226 million</a> in tax from the alcohol industry in 1914. The US government lost about <a href="https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/unintended-consequences/">US$11 billion</a> in tax revenue from alcohol during the prohibition era.</p>
<p>In Iran, total prohibition of alcohol led to social problems because of the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395920300943">stigmatisation of alcohol drinkers</a>. The stigma was worse than for people who use drugs because the Koran specifically mentioned <em>khamr</em> (alcohol). As a result, they had difficulty in accessing treatment. </p>
<h2>Indonesian law enforcement challenges</h2>
<p>A prohibition on alcohol will be difficult to enforce in Indonesia.</p>
<p>From 2012-2014, the police recorded a total backlog of <a href="http://app.hukumonline.com/berita/baca/lt5f20ea47df2a8/prapenuntutan--iwin-win-solution-i-polisi-dan-jaksa-yang-terlupakan?page=2">44,273 cases</a>. The judiciary also regularly has backlogs: <a href="https://mahkamahagung.go.id/files/20200210101948_LTMARI-2017.pdf">21,555 cases in 2016 and 27,212 in 2017</a>.</p>
<p>Enforcing alcohol prohibition will increase the criminal case load of law enforcement agencies, as happened in the US. It will not only burden these agencies, but could also reduce the resources available to solve more serious and dangerous crimes.</p>
<p>Indonesian prisons could be even more crowded if alcohol was prohibited. Currently, the prison population is <a href="http://smslap.ditjenpas.go.id/public/grl/status_pas/daily/kanwil/all/year/2019/month/6/page/">241,130 people</a>, exceeding a total capacity of 135,705 people. </p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.dpr.go.id/jdih/index/id/568">2009 narcotic law</a> caused this overcrowding. Before this law, only 3,183 people were imprisoned for drug-related crimes. The number multiplied <a href="https://theconversation.com/penjara-kembali-rusuh-di-langkat-dan-siak-solusinya-bukan-bangun-penjara-baru-tapi-kurangi-tahanan-dan-perbaiki-manajemen-penjara-118769">39 times</a> after the law took effect.</p>
<p>Given the similarities with the narcotic law, we can expect a similar situation with alcohol prohibition.</p>
<p>Worse, unlike the narcotic law, the alcohol prohibition bill does not offer an alternative treatment to the people who consume or are addicted to alcohol. Fines and prison are the only options proposed. </p>
<p>This punitive approach could hinder efforts to reduce the harm associated with alcohol consumption and imprisonment.</p>
<p>I doubt the alcohol prohibition bill can create public security. This prohibition might also increase bribery to maintain the supply to meet demand for alcohol, as happened in Pakistan and the US.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/150458/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Choky R. Ramadhan menerima dana dari Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP) untuk studi doktoral di University of Washington, School of Law. </span></em></p>Considering the limitations of Indonesian law enforcement agencies and prison capacity, the implementation of the bill is not realistic.Choky R. Ramadhan, Lecturer, Universitas IndonesiaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1252272019-10-29T19:24:00Z2019-10-29T19:24:00ZSydney lockout laws review highlights vital role of transparent data analysis<p>The New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) <a href="https://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Pages/bocsar_media_releases/2019/mr-Impact-lockouts-on-the-CBD.aspx">recently claimed</a> Sydney’s alcohol licensing regulations, commonly known as <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/lockout-laws-26282">lockout laws</a>, reduced non-domestic assaults by 13% in the CBD. Its calculation relied on a decision to allocate 1,837 of these offences to both Kings Cross and the CBD – that is, double-counting the data. <a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ladocs/submissions/63631/Submission%20734%20-%20Centre%20for%20Translational%20Data%20Science,%20University%20of%20Sydney.pdf">Our analysis</a> found this decision was critical to the conclusion that assaults decreased in the CBD. For every other choice about the areas to which offences data were allocated and type of analysis we found no decrease. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298452/original/file-20191024-119433-7qnb4k.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298452/original/file-20191024-119433-7qnb4k.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/298452/original/file-20191024-119433-7qnb4k.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/298452/original/file-20191024-119433-7qnb4k.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/298452/original/file-20191024-119433-7qnb4k.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/298452/original/file-20191024-119433-7qnb4k.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/298452/original/file-20191024-119433-7qnb4k.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Map of Sydney and the entertainment precincts as used by BOCSAR in its analysis: blue – CBD entertainment precinct; red – Kings Cross entertainment precinct; green – nearby displacement areas; yellow – outer displacement areas.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ladocs/submissions/63631/Submission%20734%20-%20Centre%20for%20Translational%20Data%20Science,%20University%20of%20Sydney.pdf%5D">Our findings</a> highlight an important question: how do the choices of data collection, pre-processing and analysis affect policy decisions?</p>
<p>The allocation of crimes to areas is just one of several choices made when using data to assess policy impacts. Other choices include how to measure violent crime, what time period to consider and the geographical extent of the areas to include. The question is: if other choices were made, would the results affect a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-08/sydney-lockout-laws-rolled-back/11489806">decision to repeal or continue the laws</a>? </p>
<p>Our findings point to the need to follow a couple of principles when using data to inform policymaking. First, the institution that collects data and the institution that analyses the data should be independent of each other. Second,
we need as much transparency about the data and its analysis as possible.</p>
<h2>So what exactly did the analyses show?</h2>
<p>BOCSAR chose to use monthly non-domestic assaults from 2009 onwards. There is nothing wrong with these choices, but others could have been made.</p>
<p>For instance, why from 2009 onwards, not from 2005? Why monthly, not daily? Why reported non-domestic assaults, not reported assaults causing grievous bodily harm? Why divide the area into the CBD and Kings Cross only? </p>
<p>One way of assessing the impact of such choices is to use different subsets of data, different types of data pre-processing and different statistical and/or machine-learning techniques. If the conclusion still remains the same, then our decision is robust to this source of variability. If not, we need to understand why.</p>
<p>For the Kings Cross precinct, the analysis by the Centre for Translational Data Science at the University of Sydney showed the conclusion remained unchanged irrespective of the frequency and period over which data were collected and the analysis performed. Non-domestic assaults had declined following the introduction of the lockout laws in 2014.</p>
<p>For the CBD the reverse was true. Only if we make exactly the same choices as BOCSAR, in particular allocating 1,837 crimes to both the CBD and King Cross, could we conclude non-domestic assaults had decreased very slightly. </p>
<p>Under all other variations of the analyses, including data, methodology and spatial allocation of that data, we found no decrease. Non-domestic assaults in the CBD had been decreasing since 2008 and, if anything, more slowly after the lockout laws took effect. </p>
<p>So why was the inclusion of 1,837 crimes so critical to the conclusions about the CBD? </p>
<p>Using data provided by BOCSAR, we plotted the most likely location of those 1,837 crimes. Figure 1 shows these crimes occurred mainly in Kings Cross, an area in which the crime rate had fallen since 2014. We say “most likely location” because we have yet to receive the additional data we requested from BOCSAR to help us locate exactly where these crimes occurred.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298427/original/file-20191023-119429-qgf5xh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298427/original/file-20191023-119429-qgf5xh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298427/original/file-20191023-119429-qgf5xh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=588&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/298427/original/file-20191023-119429-qgf5xh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=588&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/298427/original/file-20191023-119429-qgf5xh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=588&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/298427/original/file-20191023-119429-qgf5xh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=739&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/298427/original/file-20191023-119429-qgf5xh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=739&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/298427/original/file-20191023-119429-qgf5xh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=739&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Counts of crimes (per SA1 region) that were assigned to both the CBD and Kings Cross.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Centre for Translational Data Science</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With the removal of those 1,837 crimes from the CBD, we detected no decrease in non-domestic assaults. But BOCSAR apparently did. After removing those crimes from the CBD, BOCSAR released an <a href="https://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/BB/2019-Report-Effect-of-lockout-and-last-drinks-laws-on-assaults-BB142.pdf">updated report</a> to a <a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/listofcommittees/Pages/committee-details.aspx?pk=260">parliamentary inquiry into Sydney’s night-time economy</a>. This report claimed assaults in the CBD decreased by 4% (much less than the original 13%). </p>
<p>The committee then asked for our <a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ladocs/other/12591/Centre%20for%20Translational%20Data%20Science.pdf">comments</a>. We found the report did not provide a confidence interval for this decrease. Yet the report made a virtue of reporting uncertainty estimates for other quantities and elsewhere it claimed “statistically significant” results. </p>
<p>We replicated BOCSAR’s analysis and found the change in crime could have been as low as a 12% decrease and as high as a 6% increase. In other words, the result is “statistically insignificant”. </p>
<h2>What are the implications for making policy?</h2>
<p>Why does this matter? There are two reasons. </p>
<p>First, the danger in not explaining, quantifying and reporting uncertainty is that the public loses trust in data-driven policymaking. Only if conclusions acknowledge and explain the uncertainty inherent in inferring complex quantities from data can we make robust and explainable policy decisions that build trust with the public. </p>
<p>Second, if we don’t accept and report uncertainty we could stop looking for other explanations. We might then fail to achieve an outcome that everyone wants: a reduction in violence and a healthy night-time economy.</p>
<p>How do we proceed from here? We’d make two recommendations: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>The institution that collects and curates the data should be distinct, informed but independent from the institution/s that analyse the data. </p></li>
<li><p>There should be as much data transparency as possible, which would enable different groups to perform different types of analyses, using different sources of data. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>We are almost certain these different groups would produce different findings, but the subsequent discussion could provide insights that move us closer to more robust and acceptable policy decisions. </p>
<p>To <a href="https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/08/27/richard-feynman-on-the-role-of-scientific-culture-in-modern-society/">quote</a> Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If we will only allow that, as we progress, we remain unsure, we will leave opportunities for alternatives … to make progress, one must leave the door to the unknown ajar.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The <a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ladocs/inquiries/2519/Report%20-%20Sydneys%20night%20time%20economy.pdf">parliamentary committee’s recommendation</a> that BOCSAR and the Centre for Translational Data Science work together more closely appears to do just that. We look forward to an ongoing collaboration to further our understanding of the drivers of violent crime.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/125227/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The collection and analysis of data used for making policy should be independent and open to ensure public trust in decision-making. The debate over alcohol licensing shows why this matters.Sally Cripps, Professor of Statistics, Director of Centre for Translational Data Science, University of SydneyRoman Marchant, Senior research fellow and lecturer, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1211172019-08-14T19:58:44Z2019-08-14T19:58:44ZTighter alcohol licensing hasn’t killed live music, but it’s harder for emerging artists<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287327/original/file-20190808-144862-49ovmf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Fortitude Valley is unique in Australia for its concentration of live music venues, like The Valley Drive In, in one small neighbourhood.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.facebook.com/thevalleydrivein/">The Valley Drive In/Facebook</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the fourth in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/quantem-74665">series of articles</a> discussing a <a href="http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/7/26/evaluation-of-measures-to-tackle-alcoholfuelled-violence">recently released</a> <a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1074.pdf">comprehensive evaluation</a> of the Queensland government’s <a href="https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/act-2016-004#">2016 policy reforms to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence</a> and the implications for liquor regulation and the night-time economy in Queensland and Australia. A <a href="http://quantem.info/">summary report</a> is also available.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>The effect on live music of changes to trading conditions in nightlife precincts <a href="https://theconversation.com/beyond-lockouts-sydney-needs-to-become-a-more-inclusive-city-55821">generates heated debate</a>. That’s because live music matters. It is a unique and important part of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-melbourne-the-music-capital-of-australia-sydney-or-adelaide-might-pip-it-to-the-post-77087">late-night rhythm and culture of the city</a>.</p>
<p>In both <a href="https://theconversation.com/melbourne-music-week-rocks-but-dont-take-the-feedback-for-granted-19147">Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/lockout-laws-repeat-centuries-old-mistake-of-denying-value-of-cities-as-messy-places-58281">Sydney</a>, we’ve seen sustained debate about how urban development and regulation of licensed venues affect opportunities for live performance.</p>
<p>Contrary to some of the claims made in these debates, our evaluation of the Queensland government’s <a href="http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/7/26/evaluation-of-measures-to-tackle-alcoholfuelled-violence">tightening of liquor licensing restrictions in 2016</a> suggests no change to the number of venues or impact on the overall trend of an increase in live music performances. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/lessons-from-queensland-on-alcohol-violence-and-the-night-time-economy-121114">Lessons from Queensland on alcohol, violence and the night-time economy</a>
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</em>
</p>
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<p>But staging smaller shows by emerging artists has become more difficult because of the costs of new security requirements. The viability of the venues depends on selling alcohol. As a result, many venues depend on alcohol sales in late-night trade when they convert to being a bar or club with DJs.</p>
<h2>What happened in Fortitude Valley?</h2>
<p>In July 2016, the Queensland government <a href="https://theconversation.com/lessons-from-queensland-on-alcohol-violence-and-the-night-time-economy-121114">changed laws</a> affecting designated safe night precincts like Fortitude Valley in Brisbane. This included serving last drinks at 3am and mandatory ID scanning in venues trading after midnight.</p>
<p>We <a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1074.pdf">monitored what impact these changes to trading conditions might have on live music</a> in Fortitude Valley.</p>
<p>The Valley is unique in Australia for its concentration of live music venues in one small neighbourhood and the early development of <a href="https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-and-building/planning-guidelines-and-tools/other-plans-and-projects/valley-special-entertainment-precinct/valley-music-harmony-plan">policy </a> to protect and foster live music in the area. </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/a-live-music-scene-needs-a-live-music-policy-20140">A live music scene needs a live music policy</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>The Valley has two overlapping precincts. The special entertainment precinct was created in 2006 to provide regulatory certainty for live music venues. The safe night precinct is the area subject to the 2016 <a href="https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/act-2016-004#">Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence legislation</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286840/original/file-20190805-117871-6cnkl2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286840/original/file-20190805-117871-6cnkl2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286840/original/file-20190805-117871-6cnkl2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286840/original/file-20190805-117871-6cnkl2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286840/original/file-20190805-117871-6cnkl2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286840/original/file-20190805-117871-6cnkl2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286840/original/file-20190805-117871-6cnkl2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286840/original/file-20190805-117871-6cnkl2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Map of the special entertainment precinct (red) and safe night precinct (blue) boundaries in Fortitude Valley. MPC = Monthly Percentage Change.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Live music venues in the Valley compete with large clubs and pubs for space. They are subject to the regulatory and compliance frameworks introduced to contain harms in the precinct. As a result, they are having to rethink how they maintain their distinctive music scenes in rapidly changing neighbourhoods.</p>
<h2>Have live music venue numbers changed?</h2>
<p>Despite its cultural and economic importance of original live music venues, their numbers and performances are not systematically and independently monitored in Australia. Music industry bodies could work with performers and venues to publish independent and reliable information about the number and type of venues and gigs over time.</p>
<p>Music rights licensing organisation <a href="http://apraamcos.com.au/">APRA/AMCOS</a> asks live music performers to submit performance returns that document all their live performances. Our analysis of this data shows live music performances in The Valley have been trending upward since 2001. Our evaluation suggests the Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence policy measures had no impact on this trend. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286842/original/file-20190805-117910-1szi7jw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286842/original/file-20190805-117910-1szi7jw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286842/original/file-20190805-117910-1szi7jw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286842/original/file-20190805-117910-1szi7jw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286842/original/file-20190805-117910-1szi7jw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=393&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286842/original/file-20190805-117910-1szi7jw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=494&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286842/original/file-20190805-117910-1szi7jw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=494&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286842/original/file-20190805-117910-1szi7jw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=494&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The number of live music performances per month in Fortitude Valley between the 2001 and 2018 financial years. MPC refers to Monthly Percentage Change.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This APRA/AMCOS performance data, however, cover everything from cover bands, DJs and ambient music in restaurants and bars to original live music performances in small venues through to stadium rock shows.</p>
<p>We also used a combination of precinct walk-throughs (where we observed original live music venues trading on Saturday nights), street press and social media. We found the number of original live music venues in the Valley has not changed since last drinks and ID scanner regulations were introduced in 2016. While original live music venues come and go, change owners and change names, the overall number in the area has been stable for much of the past 15 years.</p>
<h2>Live music is dependent on late-night trade</h2>
<p>While the trading pattern of venues on Saturday nights has not changed, in interviews we conducted venue owners and managers reported various ways they subsidised or supplemented the income from live music.</p>
<p>Nearly all original live music venues only generate income from bar sales. Proceeds from tickets and the door go to production costs and the musicians. The viability of the venues depends on selling alcohol before, during and after performances.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/queenslanders-are-among-our-heaviest-drinkers-on-nights-out-and-changing-that-culture-is-a-challenge-121115">Queenslanders are among our heaviest drinkers on nights out, and changing that culture is a challenge</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
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<p>Some venues used profit generated on large weekend shows to subsidise smaller local weeknight shows. These shows matter because they provide opportunities for emerging artists to hone their craft and are part of the distinctive cultural fabric of the city.</p>
<p>However, venue owners indicated that staging these smaller shows has become more difficult because of the prohibitive cost of employing security to operate the mandatory ID scanners. This illustrates how, according to venue owners, efforts to contain harm in the nightlife economy can have unintended damaging effects on cultural scenes.</p>
<p>The majority of venues that support original live music in the precinct are less than ten years old. Many seem well adapted to the commercialised late-night precinct because they combine live music with late-night trade. They put on a show early in the evening and then by midnight convert to a late-night bar or club with DJs.</p>
<p>Some of these venues claimed they would not be commercially viable if they only put on original live music before midnight and then closed. Others indicated live music enabled them to generate revenue earlier in the evening - before a clubbing crowd comes in.</p>
<h2>A policy dilemma</h2>
<p>This kind of adaptation is what you’d expect to see in a market as it reacts to changes in both consumer culture and policy. But it raises thorny questions for cultural and public health policy.</p>
<p>From a public health perspective we might be concerned about original live music becoming dependent on late-night trade and mass alcohol consumption in nightlife precincts. From a cultural policy perspective the ingenuity of venues using the earlier hours of an evening to stage original live music is something to encourage.</p>
<p>The Valley has a unique concentration of live music venues, and cultural policy has played a role in fostering and sustaining this vibrant cultural scene. In one sense that’s a success story the city should celebrate and look to capitalise on alongside the effort to reduce harms in nightlife precincts. But, in another sense, a critical issue is that the effort to both maintain cultural vibrancy and reduce harms is potentially thwarted by venues shifting to a homogenous late-night clubbing model.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/121117/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Nicholas Carah's research has been funded by Queensland state government. He is affiliated with the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education as a non-executive director. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jason Ferris receives funding from from Australian Research Council and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, grants from State (Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland) and Federal Governments, National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, University of Queensland, National Institute of Health, Global Drug Survey. He is affiliated with the Global Drug Survey and the Queensland Mental Health Commission.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Lachlan Goold and Scott Regan do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The good news is that the growth of live music continued under Queensland’s liquor licensing reforms. The bad news is that venues rely on late-night alcohol sales to cover costs.Nicholas Carah, Senior Lecturer in Communication, The University of QueenslandJason Ferris, Associate Professor, Program Leader for Research and Statistical Support Service and Program Leader for Substance Use and Mental Health, Centre for Health Services Research, The University of QueenslandLachlan Goold, Head of Audio Engineering and Sound Production (Brisbane), JMC AcademyScott Regan, Lecturer in Music and Sound, Queensland University of TechnologyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1211162019-08-13T20:17:52Z2019-08-13T20:17:52ZUnwanted sexual attention plagues young women going out at night<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287453/original/file-20190809-144851-1p50545.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">For young women in Queensland, the risk of unwanted sexual attention is high when they go out at night.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">vchalShutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the third in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/quantem-74665">series of articles</a> discussing a <a href="http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/7/26/evaluation-of-measures-to-tackle-alcoholfuelled-violence">recently released</a> <a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1074.pdf">comprehensive evaluation</a> of the Queensland government’s <a href="https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/act-2016-004#">2016 policy reforms to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence</a> and the implications for liquor regulation and the night-time economy in Queensland and Australia. A <a href="http://quantem.info/">summary report</a> is also available.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>A disturbingly high proportion of young people, particularly women, experience unwanted sexual attention in entertainment districts across Queensland. </p>
<p>This is the bad news from a two-year, <a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1074.pdf">independent evaluation</a> of the Queensland government’s 2016 “Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence” (TAFV) policy (the good news included a <a href="https://theconversation.com/lessons-from-queensland-on-alcohol-violence-and-the-night-time-economy-121114">significant statewide reduction in serious assaults</a>). </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/lessons-from-queensland-on-alcohol-violence-and-the-night-time-economy-121114">Lessons from Queensland on alcohol, violence and the night-time economy</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>One in three patrons reported unwanted sexual attention – including harassment, unwanted touching, or sexual gestures – in or around a licensed venue in the preceding three months. Among those who reported unwanted sexual attention, two in three women (68%) also reported physical and/or verbal aggression.</p>
<p>The rate of unwanted sexual attention was highest for young women (ages 18-24). More than 50% had experienced this harm in the previous three months, as the chart below shows.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286856/original/file-20190805-117861-kq3dkw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286856/original/file-20190805-117861-kq3dkw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=370&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286856/original/file-20190805-117861-kq3dkw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=370&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286856/original/file-20190805-117861-kq3dkw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=370&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286856/original/file-20190805-117861-kq3dkw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=465&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286856/original/file-20190805-117861-kq3dkw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=465&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286856/original/file-20190805-117861-kq3dkw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=465&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Proportion of patrons in Cairns, Fortitude Valley and Surfers Paradise entertainment districts who experienced unwanted sexual attention in the 3 months prior, by sex and age category.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In the Fortitude Valley entertainment district, a staggering one in four reported unwanted sexual attention on the night they were interviewed (26% of 262 female patrons interviewed and followed up the next day).</p>
<p>Over the two-year evaluation, 4,055 patrons (43% female) were interviewed on Saturday nights on the streets of three entertainment districts – Cairns, Fortitude Valley (Brisbane) and Surfers Paradise (Gold Coast). </p>
<p>While the rates fluctuated over time in these areas, the rate of unwanted sexual attention didn’t change when comparing the months before and after the TAFV policy took effect. The chart below shows the trend for Fortitude Valley.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286857/original/file-20190805-117893-237abq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286857/original/file-20190805-117893-237abq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=331&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286857/original/file-20190805-117893-237abq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=331&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286857/original/file-20190805-117893-237abq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=331&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286857/original/file-20190805-117893-237abq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286857/original/file-20190805-117893-237abq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286857/original/file-20190805-117893-237abq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Proportion of patrons in Fortitude Valley entertainment district who experienced unwanted sexual attention by month and year (June 2016 – June 2018).</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Uncomfortable truths</h2>
<p>These findings highlight some uncomfortable truths. </p>
<p>First, the unwanted sexual attention young women experience in the night-time economy is an intransigent <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)30991-7/fulltext">public health</a> and safety problem. </p>
<p>Second, the issue is considerably <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10345329.2012.12035957">under-researched</a>. </p>
<p>Third, overcoming the problem requires discussion beyond alcohol accessibility and drinking practices.</p>
<p>The findings of the evaluation sit against a backdrop of increasing global intolerance of the sexual abuse and harassment of women. For example, the number of women reporting sexual assault to Queensland Police has <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4510.0%7E2018%7EMain%20Features%7EQueensland%7E9">increased for the past six years</a>. This increase might be attributable to the raising of public consciousness (e.g. <a href="https://theconversation.com/metoo-has-changed-the-media-landscape-but-in-australia-there-is-still-much-to-be-done-111612">the “Me Too” campaign</a>).</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/metoo-has-changed-the-media-landscape-but-in-australia-there-is-still-much-to-be-done-111612">#MeToo has changed the media landscape, but in Australia there is still much to be done</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Such awareness-raising has had impacts on broader social norms around sexual aggression towards women. But the evaluation suggests this messaging has largely failed to permeate the social norms of the night-time economy. </p>
<h2>Why haven’t nightlife norms changed?</h2>
<p>Understanding and addressing the mechanisms behind unwanted social attention in this context is particularly challenging. In addition to the broader social norms, licensed venues have their own cultural norms – including sexualised environments and heavy drinking – that often <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10345329.2012.12035957">contribute to unwanted sexual attention</a>. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/queenslanders-are-among-our-heaviest-drinkers-on-nights-out-and-changing-that-culture-is-a-challenge-121115">Queenslanders are among our heaviest drinkers on nights out, and changing that culture is a challenge</a>
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</em>
</p>
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<p>Recent experimental research suggests unwanted sexual attention in these settings may be related to males misperceiving the social environmental cues. They read <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14659891.2016.1179804">alcohol presence</a>, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.12214">alcohol consumption and revealing dress</a> by females as signs of sexual interest. They might have been influenced by decades of sexualised alcohol marketing. </p>
<p>Such research highlights the need to better understand the risk and protective factors affecting victims and perpetrators of sexual aggression, and how these factors interact with cues in the physical environment. </p>
<h2>Responsibility is broadly shared</h2>
<p>These findings have many implications for policy and practice. </p>
<p>For a start, many experiences of unwanted sexual attention sit beyond the boundaries of the law. This raises a number of questions. Who is responsible for acting on unwanted sexual attention in and around licensed venues? And is it time to reassess the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0966369X.2015.1090413">individualisation of responsibility</a> in entertainment districts?</p>
<p>One strategy that attributes some responsibility to venue staff has been trialled in cities such as London, Chicago, Vancouver and Melbourne. The <a href="http://www.goodnightoutcampaign.org/">Good Night Out initiative</a> aims to train and empower licensed venue staff to act as capable guardians (instead of bystanders) who intervene in incidents of unwanted sexual attention. While theoretically such approaches are promising, the evidence for such targeted strategies remains limited. </p>
<p>The pervasive problem of unwanted sexual attention in night-time economies also requires attention from local and state governments. Strategies that specifically address this harm should be embedded in alcohol policy. </p>
<p>Without a more sophisticated approach that targets all types of aggression, young women will likely continue to experience high rates of unwanted sexual attention on their nights out.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/no-harm-done-sexual-entertainment-districts-make-the-city-a-more-threatening-place-for-women-81091">No harm done? 'Sexual entertainment districts' make the city a more threatening place for women</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/121116/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Dominique de Andrade was a member of the research team led by Deakin University (Peter Miller) and University of Queensland (Jason Ferris) to evaluate the Queensland Government’s “Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence” (TAFV) legislation.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Cheneal Puljevic was a member of the research team led by Deakin University (Peter Miller) and The University of Queensland (Jason Ferris) to evaluate the Queensland Government’s “Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence” (TAFV) legislation.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kerri Coomber receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Northern Territory Government, and Queensland Government. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter Miller receives funding from Australian Research Council and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, grants from NSW Government, National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, Cancer Council Victoria, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Northern Territory government, Australian Rechabites Foundation, Northern Territory Primary Health Network, Lives Lived Well, Queensland government and Australian Drug Foundation, travel and related costs from Queensland Police Service, Queensland Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing and the Australasian Drug Strategy Conference. He has acted as a paid expert witness on behalf of a licensed venue and a security firm. </span></em></p>Rates of unwelcome advances haven’t changed under Queensland’s ‘Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence’ policies. In one entertainment district, it happened to 26% of women the night they were interviewed.Dominique de Andrade, The University of QueenslandCheneal Puljević, Research Fellow, Centre for Health Services Research, The University of QueenslandKerri Coomber, Research Fellow, Deakin UniversityPeter Miller, Professor of Violence Prevention and Addiction Studies, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1211152019-08-12T20:03:40Z2019-08-12T20:03:40ZQueenslanders are among our heaviest drinkers on nights out, and changing that culture is a challenge<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287143/original/file-20190807-84240-1kugd6f.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Queenslanders are drinking heavily when they go out and breathalyser tests show most don't realise how drunk they are.</span> </figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the second in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/quantem-74665">series of articles</a> discussing a <a href="http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/7/26/evaluation-of-measures-to-tackle-alcoholfuelled-violence">recently released</a> <a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1074.pdf">comprehensive evaluation</a> of the Queensland government’s <a href="https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/act-2016-004#">2016 policy reforms to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence</a> and the implications for liquor regulation and the night-time economy in Queensland and Australia. A <a href="http://quantem.info/">summary report</a> is also available.</em></p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1074.pdf">Our evaluation</a> of the Queensland government’s 2016 “<a href="https://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/newsroom/alcohol-fuelled-violence.aspx">Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence</a>” (TAFV) policy has found Queenslanders are still drinking more heavily than people in other states when going out at night. </p>
<p>Despite <a href="https://theconversation.com/lessons-from-queensland-on-alcohol-violence-and-the-night-time-economy-121114">significant reductions in serious assaults and other health-related outcomes</a>, reported levels of aggression are also high. </p>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/lessons-from-queensland-on-alcohol-violence-and-the-night-time-economy-121114">Lessons from Queensland on alcohol, violence and the night-time economy</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Queenslanders report much higher levels of aggression than reported in our previous studies, which asked the same question in <a href="http://www.deakinvpg.info/dashed">Canberra, Hobart</a>, <a href="http://www.deakinvpg.info/pointed">Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Wollongong, Geelong</a> and <a href="http://www.deakinvpg.info/dante">Newcastle</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287147/original/file-20190807-84210-39li2s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287147/original/file-20190807-84210-39li2s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287147/original/file-20190807-84210-39li2s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=331&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287147/original/file-20190807-84210-39li2s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=331&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287147/original/file-20190807-84210-39li2s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=331&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287147/original/file-20190807-84210-39li2s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287147/original/file-20190807-84210-39li2s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287147/original/file-20190807-84210-39li2s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=416&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Table 1. Percentage of interviewees who report being involved in aggression in and around night-time entertainment precincts in the previous three months.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1074.pdf">QUANTEM final report</a>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Female patrons reported experiencing more of all types of aggression than men across all precincts. The next article in this series highlights the worrying number of women who experience unwanted sexual attention while out.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/unwanted-sexual-attention-plagues-young-women-going-out-at-night-121116">Unwanted sexual attention plagues young women going out at night</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>To measure the impact of the 2016 policy changes on alcohol consumption, illicit drug use and aggression, our research teams conducted <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-017-4811-9">street intercept surveys</a> on Saturday nights in Fortitude Valley (Brisbane), Surfers Paradise and Cairns between 2016 and 2018. All participants were breathalysed. Every fifth person was invited to participate in a saliva drug swab. </p>
<p>Across the precincts, 4,401 people – 57% of them male – completed surveys. </p>
<h2>Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)</h2>
<p>Half of patrons’ blood alcohol concentration (BAC in g/dL) readings were over 0.077 (the median value, with a range of 0.000-0.300) in Fortitude Valley, 0.086 (range 0.000-0.290) in Surfers Paradise and 0.087 (range 0.000-0.289) in Cairns. The highest reading, 0.300, is six times the legal driving limit.</p>
<p>These median BAC levels are much higher than other, previously studied cities. The results highlight the challenges of achieving change in Queensland’s drinking culture.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287337/original/file-20190808-144892-1m484o4.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287337/original/file-20190808-144892-1m484o4.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287337/original/file-20190808-144892-1m484o4.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=277&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287337/original/file-20190808-144892-1m484o4.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=277&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287337/original/file-20190808-144892-1m484o4.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=277&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287337/original/file-20190808-144892-1m484o4.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=348&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287337/original/file-20190808-144892-1m484o4.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=348&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287337/original/file-20190808-144892-1m484o4.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=348&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Table 2. Patrons’ median blood alcohol concentration (BAC in g/dL) and range of readings.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1074.pdf">QUANTEM final report</a>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Interestingly, most patrons are more drunk than they <em>think</em> they are. Before undertaking a breath test patrons were asked to guess their level of intoxication. For example, in Cairns, patrons’ median guess of their BAC reading was 0.070, compared to the measured median of 0.087. </p>
<h2>Pre-drinking</h2>
<p>High alcohol consumption when going out to night-time entertainment precincts includes <a href="https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/54/4/378/5486344">pre-drinking</a> (drinking at home before going out; also known as pre-gaming, pre-partying or pre-loading in other countries). As our research teams have documented <a href="http://www.deakinvpg.info/pointed">since 2012</a>, pre-drinking has continued to increase. </p>
<p>With 84% of all patrons reporting pre-drinking before going out, Queensland shows higher levels than in most other previously studied cities. </p>
<p>Overall, male patrons drank significantly more than female patrons when pre-drinking. In Fortitude Valley, though, female patrons were significantly more likely to pre-drink than males.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/womens-alcohol-consumption-catching-up-to-men-why-this-matters-67454">Women's alcohol consumption catching up to men: why this matters</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>It’s a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dar.12525">common belief</a> that patrons choose to pre-drink to avoid buying more expensive drinks while they’re out in bars or clubs. But we found patrons who reported pre-drinking were more likely to drink more heavily across the night. They also reported drinking for longer than those who did not pre-drink.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1074.pdf">Our report</a> also shows the rate of pre-drinking across the precincts remained mostly stable in the two years after the TAFV policy was introduced in 2016. This suggests it did not affect rates of pre-drinking.</p>
<h2>Illicit drug use</h2>
<p>Rates of self-reported illicit drug use varied between precincts, from 13% of patrons in Fortitude Valley to 25% of all patrons in Surfers Paradise.</p>
<p>Ecstasy was the most commonly used illicit substance reported by patrons (5.5%), followed by cannabis (4%).</p>
<p>Among those who completed saliva drug swabs, the most commonly detected substances were amphetamines in Fortitude Valley and Cairns. In Surfers Paradise, however, it was methamphetamine; with 23.5% of patrons interviewed in Surfers Paradise testing positive for the substance.</p>
<p>Although rates of illicit drug use fluctuated in the two years after the TAFV policy was introduced, overall rates remained largely stable. This indicates the policy did not result in a clear increase or decrease in illicit drug use.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/fact-check-only-drugs-and-alcohol-together-cause-violence-12466">Fact check: only drugs and alcohol together cause violence</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>So what does it all mean?</h2>
<p>Historically, Queensland has high levels of harmful consumption of alcohol, especially in high-risk groups. Around <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4364.0.55.001%7E2017-18%7EMain%20Features%7EAlcohol%20consumption%7E100">46% of Queenslanders</a> have exceeded single-occasion risk guidelines in the past year, higher than in New South Wales and Victoria. </p>
<p>There has been significant investment in education campaigns across social media and in schools. Despite this, Queenslanders continue to show hazardous levels of alcohol consumption, illicit drug use and experiences of aggression. </p>
<p>Changing cultural patterns relating to pre-drinking and alcohol-related harms will not be easy. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/dar.12274">Previous research</a> suggests further tightening of licensed venues’ trading hours will help. Our report recommendations include introducing a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26098040">minimum unit price on alcohol</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19594797">promoting low-risk drinking guidelines</a> at all points of sale across Queensland. </p>
<p>Our report also recommends trialling live music early in the night to try to bring people into entertainment districts earlier. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/tighter-alcohol-licensing-hasnt-killed-live-music-but-its-harder-for-emerging-artists-121117">Tighter alcohol licensing hasn't killed live music, but it's harder for emerging artists</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Despite the promising results of government policy efforts to date, our evaluation suggests the work to reduce alcohol-related harm across Queensland is not finished. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/factcheck-can-you-change-a-violent-drinking-culture-by-changing-how-people-drink-38426">FactCheck: can you change a violent drinking culture by changing how people drink?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/121115/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jason Ferris receives funding from from Australian Research Council and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, grants from State (Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland) and Federal Governments, National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, University of Queensland, National Institute of Health, Global Drug Survey. He is affiliated with the Global Drug Survey and the Queensland Mental Health Commission.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Cheneal Puljevic was a member of the research team led by Deakin University (Peter Miller) and The University of Queensland (Jason Ferris) to evaluate the Queensland Government’s “Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence” (TAFV) legislation.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter Miller receives funding from Australian Research Council and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, grants from NSW Government, National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, Cancer Council Victoria, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Northern Territory government, Australian Rechabites Foundation, Northern Territory Primary Health Network, Lives Lived Well, Queensland government and Australian Drug Foundation, travel and related costs from Queensland Police Service, Queensland Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing and the Australasian Drug Strategy Conference. He has acted as a paid expert witness on behalf of a licensed venue and a security firm. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Barbara Wood does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Even after ‘Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence’ policies took effect in 2016, Queenslanders still drink more heavily on nights out. Reported levels of aggression are higher than in other states too.Jason Ferris, Associate Professor, Program Leader for Research and Statistical Support Service and Program Leader for Substance Use and Mental Health, Centre for Health Services Research, The University of QueenslandBarbara Wood, Research Assistant, The University of QueenslandCheneal Puljević, Research Fellow, Centre for Health Services Research, The University of QueenslandPeter Miller, Professor of Violence Prevention and Addiction Studies, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1211142019-08-11T19:56:47Z2019-08-11T19:56:47ZLessons from Queensland on alcohol, violence and the night-time economy<p><em>This is the first in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/quantem-74665">series of articles</a> on a <a href="http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/7/26/evaluation-of-measures-to-tackle-alcoholfuelled-violence">recently released</a> <a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1074.pdf">comprehensive evaluation</a> of the Queensland government’s <a href="https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/act-2016-004#">2016 policy reforms to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence</a> and the implications for alcohol regulation and the night-time economy in Queensland and Australia. A <a href="http://quantem.info/">summary report</a> is also available.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Under the “<a href="https://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/newsroom/alcohol-fuelled-violence.aspx">Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence</a>” policy, which among other things introduced statewide restrictions on trading hours, Queensland has recorded reductions in assaults, ambulance attendances and hospital admissions. These reductions represent a substantial cost saving to the Queensland community. At the same time, tourism and the number of liquor licences have continued to grow in many areas. </p>
<p>Despite this, levels of alcohol-related harm still remain too high, which calls for further effort.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/all-in-it-together-why-stopping-alcohols-harms-needs-everyone-24212">All in it together: why stopping alcohol's harms needs everyone</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>In this article we describe the report findings from “archival” data – data collected by government services. The next three articles will:</p>
<ul>
<li>describe the data from patron interviews, highlighting levels of intoxication and harm</li>
<li>highlight the unwanted sexual attention reported by patrons</li>
<li>explore the impact on live music.</li>
</ul>
<p>The Queensland government has provided an <a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1076.pdf">interim response</a> to the report’s 38 recommendations. Community consultation will continue to the end of 2019. </p>
<h2>What were the 2016 policy changes?</h2>
<p>In 2016, the government responded to community concerns about alcohol-related harm by implementing a multifaceted policy with three broad aims:</p>
<ol>
<li>a safer night-time environment, in particular in entertainment precincts</li>
<li>cultural change, including more responsible drinking practices within designated safe night precincts (SNPs)</li>
<li>a regulatory framework that balances the interests of the liquor industry with a reduction in alcohol-fuelled violence.</li>
</ol>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287117/original/file-20190806-84230-1j7v9vp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287117/original/file-20190806-84230-1j7v9vp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287117/original/file-20190806-84230-1j7v9vp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=413&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287117/original/file-20190806-84230-1j7v9vp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=413&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287117/original/file-20190806-84230-1j7v9vp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=413&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287117/original/file-20190806-84230-1j7v9vp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=519&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287117/original/file-20190806-84230-1j7v9vp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=519&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287117/original/file-20190806-84230-1j7v9vp.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=519&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Table 1. Measures introduced as a part of the ‘Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence’ policy (click to enlarge).</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The policy measures were partly based on the successful “<a href="http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/publications/monographs/monograph-43">Newcastle intervention</a>” in New South Wales. From 2008, Newcastle CBD venues closed at 3.30am and had a 1.30am one-way door (or “lockout”). These changes resulted in steady reductions in harms over time. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/last-drink-laws-not-lockouts-reduce-alcohol-fuelled-violence-52815">‘Last drink’ laws, not lockouts, reduce alcohol-fuelled violence</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>The measures introduced in Queensland differed from those in Newcastle in four key ways: </p>
<ol>
<li>licensed venues were permitted to remain open after 3am, but not to serve alcohol</li>
<li>the 1.30am one-way door, although originally proposed, was later repealed in light of an <a href="https://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/newsroom/assets/alcohol-fuelled-violence-six-mth-report.pdf">interim report</a></li>
<li>the government introduced mandatory networked ID scanners</li>
<li>venues were able to apply for up to six extended trading permits allowing trade until 5am (reduced from 12 in February 2017).</li>
</ol>
<p>The measures were implemented in a series of steps, shown in the timeline below. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287024/original/file-20190806-84244-yu67r6.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287024/original/file-20190806-84244-yu67r6.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287024/original/file-20190806-84244-yu67r6.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=211&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287024/original/file-20190806-84244-yu67r6.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=211&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287024/original/file-20190806-84244-yu67r6.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=211&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287024/original/file-20190806-84244-yu67r6.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=265&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287024/original/file-20190806-84244-yu67r6.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=265&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287024/original/file-20190806-84244-yu67r6.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=265&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Timeline for implementing TAFV measures (click to enlarge).</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>How did we measure impact?</h2>
<p>We were able to collect and report on more than 40 datasets. The <a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1074.pdf">full report</a> provides detailed methods. The main elements include:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>administrative service and business data (police, ambulance, hospital, liquor licensing, alcohol sales, transport)</p></li>
<li><p>interviews with patrons in the street (including follow-up surveys)</p></li>
<li><p>interviews with key informants (licensees, police, support service workers, doctors, licensing officials etc)</p></li>
<li><p>structured venue observations</p></li>
<li><p>precinct streetscape and business mapping</p></li>
<li><p>foot traffic counting</p></li>
<li><p>ID scanner data</p></li>
<li><p>live music performances (based on events recorded by music rights licensing organisation APRA-AMCOS and Facebook)</p></li>
<li><p>population surveys</p></li>
<li><p>education campaign assessments</p></li>
<li><p>tourism data and survey</p></li>
<li><p>economic evaluation.</p></li>
</ol>
<h2>What did we find?</h2>
<p><strong>SAFETY</strong></p>
<p>After 2016, there were no deaths around licensed venues in a safe night precinct. </p>
<p>Statewide, the rate of serious assaults from 3am-6am fell by 29% per month on average. But serious assaults increased by 19% earlier in the night (8pm to midnight).</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286892/original/file-20190805-36399-643l1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286892/original/file-20190805-36399-643l1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286892/original/file-20190805-36399-643l1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=431&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286892/original/file-20190805-36399-643l1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=431&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286892/original/file-20190805-36399-643l1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=431&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286892/original/file-20190805-36399-643l1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=542&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286892/original/file-20190805-36399-643l1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=542&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286892/original/file-20190805-36399-643l1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=542&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Figure 2. Rate of serious assault (per 100,000 population) during high alcohol hours (8pm-6am Friday and Saturday nights), Queensland.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/578598c7e4fcb510ac255c7c/t/5d3e38c75339530001bac928/1564358863617/QUANTEM+Final+report+-+Summary_2Apr19.pdf">QUANTEM final report</a>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A 40% reduction in serious assaults was recorded in Fortitude Valley between 3am and 6am and 35% in Toowoomba (3-6am). Trends were stable elsewhere.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286893/original/file-20190805-36403-921jmk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286893/original/file-20190805-36403-921jmk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286893/original/file-20190805-36403-921jmk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=438&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286893/original/file-20190805-36403-921jmk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=438&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286893/original/file-20190805-36403-921jmk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=438&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286893/original/file-20190805-36403-921jmk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=551&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286893/original/file-20190805-36403-921jmk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=551&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286893/original/file-20190805-36403-921jmk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=551&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Figure 3. Quarterly counts of serious assault during high alcohol hours, Fortitude Valley.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/578598c7e4fcb510ac255c7c/t/5d3e38c75339530001bac928/1564358863617/QUANTEM+Final+report+-+Summary_2Apr19.pdf">QUANTEM final report</a>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/66529/WHO_MSD_MSB_00.4.pdf;sequence=1">Alcohol-related</a> ambulance call-outs were reduced significantly statewide: 11% on average per month 3-6am, and in all safe night precincts (29% 3-6am).</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286895/original/file-20190805-36386-3c7zo3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286895/original/file-20190805-36386-3c7zo3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286895/original/file-20190805-36386-3c7zo3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286895/original/file-20190805-36386-3c7zo3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286895/original/file-20190805-36386-3c7zo3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286895/original/file-20190805-36386-3c7zo3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=535&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286895/original/file-20190805-36386-3c7zo3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=535&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286895/original/file-20190805-36386-3c7zo3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=535&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Figure 4. Rate of monthly alcohol-related ambulance call-outs for Queensland, July 2011 to June 2018.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/578598c7e4fcb510ac255c7c/t/5d3e38c75339530001bac928/1564358863617/QUANTEM+Final+report+-+Summary_2Apr19.pdf">QUANTEM final report</a>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Hospital admissions for ocular bone fractures also fell significantly statewide, as did intracranial injuries in Greater Brisbane. These are some of the most common fractures related to alcohol.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286898/original/file-20190805-36372-17kv83r.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286898/original/file-20190805-36372-17kv83r.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286898/original/file-20190805-36372-17kv83r.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=435&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286898/original/file-20190805-36372-17kv83r.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=435&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286898/original/file-20190805-36372-17kv83r.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=435&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286898/original/file-20190805-36372-17kv83r.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=547&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286898/original/file-20190805-36372-17kv83r.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=547&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286898/original/file-20190805-36372-17kv83r.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=547&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Figure 5. Monthly count of intracranial injury hospital admissions among 16-to-65-year-olds, Brisbane.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/578598c7e4fcb510ac255c7c/t/5d3e38c75339530001bac928/1564358863617/QUANTEM+Final+report+-+Summary_2Apr19.pdf">QUANTEM final report</a>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Hospital admissions for alcohol intoxication and a range of injuries, which had been increasing, also levelled out statewide and in Brisbane.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286897/original/file-20190805-36353-fijzae.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286897/original/file-20190805-36353-fijzae.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/286897/original/file-20190805-36353-fijzae.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=438&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286897/original/file-20190805-36353-fijzae.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=438&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286897/original/file-20190805-36353-fijzae.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=438&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286897/original/file-20190805-36353-fijzae.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=550&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286897/original/file-20190805-36353-fijzae.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=550&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/286897/original/file-20190805-36353-fijzae.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=550&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Figure 6. Monthly rate of alcohol intoxication hospital admissions among 16-to-65-year-olds per 10,000 population, Queensland.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/578598c7e4fcb510ac255c7c/t/5d3e38c75339530001bac928/1564358863617/QUANTEM+Final+report+-+Summary_2Apr19.pdf">QUANTEM final report</a>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/fewer-alcohol-related-visits-to-inner-sydney-emergency-room-since-lockout-laws-introduced-92343">Fewer alcohol-related visits to inner Sydney emergency room since 'lockout laws' introduced</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Other key findings included:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>no displacement of issues to outside safe night precincts for most of the state</p></li>
<li><p>at least one serious crime solved (such as rape and grievous bodily harm) per week using ID scanner data.</p></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>DRINKING CULTURE</strong></p>
<p>Key findings included:</p>
<ul>
<li>the proportion of patrons in safe night precincts reporting pre-drinking remains high and has not changed</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/queenslanders-are-among-our-heaviest-drinkers-on-nights-out-and-changing-that-culture-is-a-challenge-121115">Queenslanders are among our heaviest drinkers on nights out, and changing that culture is a challenge</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<ul>
<li>education/awareness campaigns were ineffective at reducing intoxication and violence.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>BUSINESS IMPACTS</strong></p>
<p>The economic evaluation identified a A$16 million overall benefit from the changes to the Queensland community. The returns on every dollar spent by govt on implementation have been A$1.96-6.80. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287122/original/file-20190807-84210-p1kig6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287122/original/file-20190807-84210-p1kig6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287122/original/file-20190807-84210-p1kig6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=141&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287122/original/file-20190807-84210-p1kig6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=141&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287122/original/file-20190807-84210-p1kig6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=141&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287122/original/file-20190807-84210-p1kig6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=177&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287122/original/file-20190807-84210-p1kig6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=177&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/287122/original/file-20190807-84210-p1kig6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=177&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Table 2. Benefit, cost, net present value (NPV) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) sensitivity analysis using 50% of implementation cost to the government (in 2018 dollars)</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/578598c7e4fcb510ac255c7c/t/5d3e38c75339530001bac928/1564358863617/QUANTEM+Final+report+-+Summary_2Apr19.pdf">QUANTEM final report</a>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Other findings included:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>increased number of liquor licences across Queensland</p></li>
<li><p>increased number of people using transport (public transport, taxis and Uber) on weekend nights in Fortitude Valley over time</p></li>
<li><p>tourism continues to grow strongly statewide</p></li>
<li><p>all live music performances have continued to increase. However, the number of original live music performances may have continued declining since 2012.</p></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/tighter-alcohol-licensing-hasnt-killed-live-music-but-its-harder-for-emerging-artists-121117">Tighter alcohol licensing hasn't killed live music, but it's harder for emerging artists</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Building on the gains</h2>
<p>The findings are terrific news in terms of reductions in ambulance callouts, serious assaults and hospital admissions, although alcohol-related harm across much of Queensland has remained stable. Further, the policy has not significantly harmed business and has delivered an overall economic benefit to the community. </p>
<p>The report made <a href="https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/TabledPapers/2019/5619T1076.pdf">recommendations</a> to further reduce alcohol-related harm. These include increasing banning periods for unruly patrons, shutting venues at 3.30am and introducing point-of-sale health promotion. </p>
<p>But, overall, the evaluation is a good news story for the people of Queensland. These findings hold important lessons for other states grappling with how to reduce alcohol-related violence.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/designer-nights-out-good-urban-planning-can-reduce-drunken-violence-52768">Designer nights out: good urban planning can reduce drunken violence</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/121114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter Miller receives funding from Australian Research Council and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, grants from NSW Government, National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, Cancer Council Victoria, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Northern Territory government, Australian Rechabites Foundation, Northern Territory Primary Health Network, Lives Lived Well, Queensland government and Australian Drug Foundation, travel and related costs from Queensland Police Service, Queensland Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing and the Australasian Drug Strategy Conference. He has acted as a paid expert witness on behalf of a licensed venue and a security firm. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jason Ferris receives funding from from Australian Research Council and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, grants from State (Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland) and Federal Governments, National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, University of Queensland, National Institute of Health, Global Drug Survey. He is affiliated with the Global Drug Survey and the Queensland Mental Health Commission.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kerri Coomber receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Northern Territory Government, and Queensland Government.</span></em></p>A comprehensive two-year evaluation of statewide measures introduced in 2016 has shown it’s possible to reduce alcohol-related violence while also producing economic benefits.Peter Miller, Professor of Violence Prevention and Addiction Studies, Deakin UniversityJason Ferris, Associate Professor, Program Leader for Research and Statistical Support Service and Program Leader for Substance Use and Mental Health, Centre for Health Services Research, The University of QueenslandKerri Coomber, Research Fellow, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1157882019-07-26T13:02:24Z2019-07-26T13:02:24ZFrom ‘Pretty Little Liars’ to ‘The OC,’ television producers need to stop encouraging teen drinking – here’s how they can<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/284611/original/file-20190717-147303-1jdd0w7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Teens who see drinking on TV are more likely to drink themselves</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/drink-teens-culture-social-standing-friends-521848093?src=_G5bZHUT7alad9DjugQB6g-1-3&studio=1">Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Teen drinking is rampant on television these days.</p>
<p>From “<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1578873/">Pretty Little Liars</a>” to classic shows like “<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362359/">The O.C.</a>,” you don’t have to look hard to find 16-year-olds sneaking a drink from a flask or getting drunk at a party.</p>
<p>The problem is that as teens see their <a href="https://www.hbo.com/entourage/season-02">favorite characters</a> having a beer on TV, they’re more likely to have one themselves. </p>
<p>The majority of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3007591/">TV shows teens watch depict characters drinking alcohol</a>, often heavily, with few negative consequences. Sometimes, alcohol brands that appear are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3007591/">placed there purposefully by alcohol companies</a>.</p>
<p>Alcohol companies are prohibited from advertising their products to teenagers on billboard near schools or buying commercial time during programs in which the majority of the audience is under 21. But there isn’t an explicit ban on paying to have <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking#productplacements">their brand</a> appear in a television show. This practice is called product placement.</p>
<p>As a researcher of media influences, I became alarmed about what seemed to be a <a href="http://www.camy.org/_docs/resources/reports/alcohol-advertising-monitoring/CAMY_CableTV_2018_Q1-Q2_3.pdf">loophole in regulation</a>. Based on my own <a href="https://www.doi.org/10.1086/383431">research</a>, I knew that the more viewers immersed themselves in a show’s narrative, the more they’re likely to be influenced by what it portrays.</p>
<p>In a recent study, I found that teens are particularly susceptible to this effect because they can easily develop <a href="https://www.doi.org/10.1086/383431">a connection</a> to characters with whom they identify.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.doi.org/10.1509/jppm.17.092">My research</a> <a href="https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/joel-w-grube">with marketing and</a> <a href="https://www.usuhs.edu/national/faculty/dale-russell-phd-mba-ms">public health</a> <a href="https://www.hofstra.edu/faculty/fac_profiles.cfm?id=4725">colleagues shows</a> that even a single episode shapes viewers’ beliefs about drinking, drinkers and their own intentions to drink.</p>
<p>So how can producers counter this effect?</p>
<h2>Ineffective regulation</h2>
<p>In the United States, alcohol promotion is largely regulated through <a href="https://www.distilledspirits.org/code-of-responsible-practices/">voluntary industry marketing codes</a>. These codes forbid alcohol advertising in media, including digital media, where 28% of the projected audience is under 21. </p>
<p>In the <a href="http://www.camy.org/_docs/resources/reports/alcohol-advertising-monitoring/CAMY_CableTV_2018_Q1-Q2_3.pdf">absence of independent oversight</a>, alcohol companies have long realized that product placement provides a relatively easy way to get around these regulations, to the increasing worry of <a href="https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/126/4/791">consumer advocates</a>.</p>
<p>Alcohol is one of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021849905050038">most actively placed product categories</a> in Hollywood TV programs and movies. The growth of product placement consistently outpaces that of traditional advertising.</p>
<p>In a broader program of research on viewers’ feeling of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/383431">connectedness</a> to a TV series, my colleagues and I found strong evidence that TV characters’ diets, clothes and even dialect influence viewers, especially when they connect to the characters as if they were real.</p>
<p>Across many studies in different countries and across different TV genres, I found evidence that the emotional connections viewers feel to television characters affects their real life behaviors. Audiences <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00913367.2019.1579690">want to be like the “friends”</a> they see on TV.</p>
<p>These powerful influences have fueled the practice of product placement – in this case, of alcohol – and its success.</p>
<h2>Making a TV show</h2>
<p>I wanted to figure out if there was a way to counteract this effect. With funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, I created my own TV episodes.</p>
<p>I wrote the script, collaborated with film and theater students at San Francisco State University, professionally edited the videos and even dubbed the shows in French for conducting studies in France, too. </p>
<p>The experiment consisted of 18-minute, professional-quality TV episodes about Tom, a high school student. Tom and his friends drink at a party, which gives Tom the confidence to approach and kiss Katie, his romantic interest.</p>
<p>We used these TV episodes in a series of studies. Participants who agreed to give feedback on a TV pilot – that’s how we presented the research study to them – would watch one version of the episode and then answer questions about the story, characters and degree to which they were transported into the story.</p>
<p>After the episode, we also measured beliefs about the consequences of drinking, attitudes toward drinkers and intentions to drink in the future.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/285637/original/file-20190724-110170-w0cb8s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/285637/original/file-20190724-110170-w0cb8s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/285637/original/file-20190724-110170-w0cb8s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=325&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/285637/original/file-20190724-110170-w0cb8s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=325&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/285637/original/file-20190724-110170-w0cb8s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=325&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/285637/original/file-20190724-110170-w0cb8s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=408&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/285637/original/file-20190724-110170-w0cb8s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=408&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/285637/original/file-20190724-110170-w0cb8s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=408&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Tom is a character from the author’s TV episodes who experiences positive consequences after drinking.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In one version, we <a href="https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2008.69.459">included warnings before the episode stating</a> that alcohol products were advertised inside the TV episode. But the viewers who were most immersed in the story and its characters, as measured by their levels of reported “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/383431">connectedness</a>,” were immune to the warning.</p>
<h2>Immersive epilogues</h2>
<p>We also filmed epilogues that featured the main character correcting the pro-drinking message in the story.</p>
<p>Half the participants saw the epilogue in which a main character talked directly to the camera to say: “What you see on TV is not real. You do not need to drink to look cool and fit in.” The other half saw the episode without an epilogue. </p>
<p>Though viewers who were immersed in the pro-alcohol storyline reported more favorable attitudes toward drinkers and higher drinking intentions following the episode, we also found a hopeful outcome.</p>
<p>The epilogue was able to correct this influence, but only for viewers who were aware that they were being persuaded to buy a product. In other words, the epilogue had the most corrective power for those viewers who were both transported by the story and recognized someone was selling them something.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/39DLJn2YbyA?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">The author studied ‘That 70s Show’ in one of her earlier studies.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Getting savvy</h2>
<p>So what does this all mean?</p>
<p>Just as marketers have recognized and embraced that today’s teens are naturally savvy about marketing efforts, so should public health campaign developers.</p>
<p>Today’s teens are growing up with branded content and product placement. They recognize it when they see it. So, get savvy with them: Let them enjoy and get immersed in the stories they watch, but remind them that what they’re watching is in fact fictional – and so are the consequences the characters face.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/115788/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Cristel Antonia Russell receives funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.</span></em></p>Teens who see alcohol on TV are more likely to drink. A marketing professor explains how to counter this phenomenon.Cristel Antonia Russell, Professor of Marketing, American University Kogod School of BusinessLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/607252016-06-27T14:42:31Z2016-06-27T14:42:31ZDoes drink really make you happy?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/128293/original/image-20160627-28373-wlhmuz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binge_drinking#/media/File:William_Hogarth_-_A_Midnight_Modern_Conversation.jpg">William Hogarth/Yale Center for British Art</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>For those of us that partake, drinking alcohol is often seen as a balancing act that weighs up the pleasures of drinking against the pains. Government regulation is often seen the same way, weighing the benefits of pleasure and freedom of the individual on one hand against the cost of crime and health harms on the other. Yet while such simplicity has its charms, it might actually lead to bad alcohol policies that don’t achieve the best balance between pleasure and pain.</p>
<p>For example, in the eyes of some – including simplistic versions of cost-benefit models used by some governments - every time you have a drink you make a fully rational decision to <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/totalutility.asp">maximise your own utility</a>. This ignores issues of alcohol addiction and the fact that it’s quite a stretch to describe yourself as “fully rational” at 2am after ten pints when a friend has just suggested a round of tequila. But because pleasure is not generally something that alcohol researchers examine, the alcohol debate is dominated by either these naive models or optimistic assertions by lobbyists about alcohol’s happiness-inducing effects.</p>
<p>In a new paper published in <a href="http://www.benbaumberg.com/files/2016%20SSM%20post-print%20%20-%20alcohol%20policy%20and%20wellbeing%20paper.docx">Social Science and Medicine</a>, <a href="http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/302100">George MacKerron</a> and I examined what evidence there was to tease out the relationship between alcohol and happiness. To try to capture some of the complexities, we took two approaches:</p>
<p>One study collected data from iPhone users through the <a href="http://www.mappiness.org.uk/">Mappiness app</a> app George created, which buzzed people a couple of times a day to ask how happy they were, what they were doing, and who they were doing it with. This is a huge study, with over 2m observations from more than 30,000 people.</p>
<p>The other study was more traditional, using the <a href="http://www.cls.ioe.ac.uk/page.aspx?&sitesectionid=795&sitesectiontitle=Welcome+to+the+1970+British+Cohort+Study">1970 British Cohort Study</a> to see how the cohort’s members’ alcohol consumption changed between the ages of 30, 34 and 42, and what links we can see between changes in their life satisfaction and their drinking.</p>
<p>What we found is that alcohol does make you happier in the moment, by about three to four points on a zero to 100 scale. These models look at changes within individuals over time, and ignore differences between different sorts of people. There’s also no sign of a hangover effect on happiness, although people tend to be less awake the morning after drinking.</p>
<p>But there are several substantial caveats to this evidence of a pleasurable effect. There is a relatively small overspill of happiness into moments when people are not drinking (a difference of less than 0.5 points on a zero to 100 scale between those weeks or months in which people drink more versus less often). What’s more, looking at year-to-year changes, people are no more satisfied with life in heavier-drinking years than in lighter-drinking years. Indeed, if they develop a drink problem, then they become noticeably less satisfied with life (by about 0.2 points on a zero to ten scale). </p>
<p>These are the effects on average, and there is good reason to think that different patterns of drinking in different settings will have different effects on different types of people. The iPhone users in the Mappiness study, for example, are much younger and richer than average, and we only know whether people are drinking, not the amount they drink or indeed what they’re drinking. Anecdotally, most of us can think of drinks that we particularly enjoyed, and others that, in retrospect (or even at the time), made us less happy.</p>
<p>To return to alcohol policies, these findings challenge the naive assumption that all drinking makes us more happy in every way, and prompts us to think more carefully about what we might mean by “pleasure” or “happiness” in this context. Instead, it should make us consider whether there are possible policies that could help us cut down only the drinks that don’t make us happy. It might even be the case that – <a href="https://ideas.repec.org/a/bpj/bejeap/vadvances.5y2005i1n4.html">as found for cigarette taxes</a> – certain regulation may make us happier as well as healthier than we were before.</p>
<p>Most of all, we need to stop reducing the whole spectrum of human pleasure to naive economic models or the vested interests of governments, companies or lobby groups, and actually think about how much we value different aspects of pleasure and enjoyment – including how we drink alcohol – and which policies best balance alcohol’s pleasures against its harms.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/60725/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Ben Baumberg Geiger has received funding from the Medical Research Council and Economic and Social Research Council (related to this work), and from the European Commission and World Health Organization for other projects. He previously worked at the Institute of Alcohol Studies,
(IAS), which is primarily funded by the Alliance House Foundation (formerly the UK
Temperance Alliance); further detail can be found from <a href="http://www.ias.org.uk/Who-we-are.aspx">http://www.ias.org.uk/Who-we-are.aspx</a>. He is also a member of the Labour Party, Compass, and the Fabian Society, and has previously worked on secondment at the Department of Work and Pensions (under the present Government). BBG is writing in a personal and non party-political capacity, and the views expressed in this article should not be interpreted as the official position of any of the above organisations.</span></em></p>Mere economic models don’t take into account the full complexity of our relationship with alcohol.Ben Baumberg Geiger, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy, University of KentLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/598592016-05-31T15:22:37Z2016-05-31T15:22:37ZCutting alcohol ads in sport sends the right message to youngsters<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/124630/original/image-20160531-1921-ab8fmf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A recent advert for South Africa's Castle Lager. </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://www.brandcouncilsa.org/case-studies/latest-case-studies/castle-lager-and-brand-union.aspx">Brandcouncil SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>An English barbershop owner and his son have embarked on a <a href="http://www.activeeurope.org/images/Outbid_Chang_-_When_a_local_barber_shop_stands_up_to_a_giant_beer_company_.pdf">massive David and Goliath battle</a> to outbid Thai beer Chang as the front-of-jersey sponsor of their local football team. </p>
<p>In what they call the <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/outbidchang--2#/">#OutbidChang campaign</a> they started a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/outbidchang?source=feed_text&story_id=10154136129819898">crowd fund</a> to stop Everton Football Club in the UK from using the beer as its sponsor. Everton FC is the last soccer team in the English Premier League to be funded by an alcohol company.</p>
<p>The father and son duo argues that alcohol sponsorship fuels alcohol harm to children and that in the UK children are more familiar with alcohol brands than with brands of biscuits.</p>
<p>The campaign is being supported by <a href="http://www.bigalcohol.exposed/#campaign">BigAlcohol.Exposed</a> – a global network of non-governmental organisations dedicated to exposing the truth about the unethical business methods of the alcohol industry.</p>
<p>Whether the duo is indeed able to outbid Chang beer remains to be seen – but the cause is a valid one. </p>
<p>The reality is that in 2012, across the globe about 3.3 million deaths – or 5.9% of all deaths – were attributable to alcohol consumption. Alcohol ranks among the top five risk factors for disease, disability and death throughout the world, according to the <a href="http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcohol_report/msb_gsr_2014_1.pdf?ua=1">World Health Organisation</a>. </p>
<p>It results in more than deaths than HIV/AIDS and TB, and is the causal factor in more than 60 major types of disease, including neuropsychiatric disorders like epilepsy, gastro-intestinal disorders such as liver cirrhosis, cancer, cardio-vascular diseases and diabetes. </p>
<p>There is no doubt that the abuse of alcohol is harmful. And it is clear that the harm is greater in countries where there is “harmful” or binge drinking. </p>
<p>South Africa is one of these countries. Despite the fact that 65% of adults do not drink, those who do, drink 35 <em>l</em> of absolute alcohol a year. This is among the highest <a href="http://tobaccoecon.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/alcohol-advertising-in-south-africa-a-trend-and-comparative-analysis.pdf">in the world</a>.</p>
<p>The expressed aim of any alcohol producing company is to make profit – and to do this the more that is sold, the better. In South Africa the spend on above-the-line advertising in 2012 was R1.8 billion (about US$114 million at current rates). And that excluded sponsorship and other marketing <a href="http://tobaccoecon.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/alcohol-advertising-in-south-africa-a-trend-and-comparative-analysis.pdf">opportunities</a>.</p>
<p>In the US alcohol advertisers spent $2 billion on alcohol advertising in measured media – television, radio, print, outdoor, major newspapers and Sunday supplements – <a href="http://www.camy.org/resources/fact-sheets/alcohol-advertising-and-youth/">in 2005</a>.</p>
<p>Because the adverts were placed in media the youth would likely engage with, US youth viewed 45% more beer ads and 27% more liquor ads in magazines than people of legal drinking age. They also watched an average of 2,000 television ads for alcohol per year. </p>
<p>There is <a href="http://www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/alcohol-advertising.html">extensive research</a> showing that young people who are exposed to alcohol advertising are more likely to intend to drink, start drinking at an early age and to drink more than those not exposed. </p>
<h2>Does banning advertising work?</h2>
<p>Unlike many harmful substances, alcohol is legal in most societies, and is freely advertised and promoted. This includes marketing and promoting excessive use, as seen through the creation of the six pack and 12 pack, promoting high rates of use. </p>
<p>But there is evidence that banning the advertising of a product does produce results. </p>
<p>Take tobacco advertising as an example. Cigarettes are more addictive than alcohol. And each year about <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs339/en/">six million people die</a> prematurely from tobacco-related illnesses. </p>
<p>A recent World Health Organisation <a href="http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/156262/1/9789241564922_eng.pdf">report</a> found that in 2010 – seven years after the organisation introduced a tobacco monitoring framework that suggested advertising bans – there were 3.9 billion non-smokers aged 15 years and over in the organisation’s member states, or 78% of the 5.1 billion population aged over 15. This number is projected to rise to 5 billion – or 81% of the projected 6.1 billion population aged over 15 – by 2025 if the current pace of tobacco cessation continues.</p>
<p>And an analysis of advertising spend in 2001, when the tobacco advertising ban came into effect in South Africa, shows that economic growth was only 2.7% and advertising decreased by 7.4%. But by 2002 the adspend was back to the 2001 level as the industry found new ways to promote its product. It continued to grow until 2007 when it was approximately double the amount spent in 2002. </p>
<p>The lesson to learn with banning tobacco advertising is that there will always be products to jump into the breach and the industry will continue to grow.</p>
<h2>Sending the wrong message</h2>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/124634/original/image-20160531-1955-9c1lt6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/124634/original/image-20160531-1955-9c1lt6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=274&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/124634/original/image-20160531-1955-9c1lt6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=274&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/124634/original/image-20160531-1955-9c1lt6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=274&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/124634/original/image-20160531-1955-9c1lt6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=345&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/124634/original/image-20160531-1955-9c1lt6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=345&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/124634/original/image-20160531-1955-9c1lt6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=345&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A screengrab of an advert where South African cricketers AB De Villiers and Aaron Phangiso wear gear sponsored by an alcohol brand.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Many argue that, as alcohol is a legal substance, the industry must have the right to advertise. In recognition of the harm that the industry admits that alcohol causes, a voluntary code has been developed that the industry is supposed to adhere to.</p>
<p>This code is published on the web page of the <a href="http://www.asasa.org.za/">Advertising Standards Authority</a> of South Africa. One of the guidelines is that commercial communication may not imply that alcohol consumption is essential to business and/or social success or acceptance, or that refusal to consume is a sign of weakness.</p>
<p>What isn’t clear is how this guidance is interpreted, monitored or enforced. </p>
<p>As a result, for example, a leading beer brand in South Africa <a href="http://www.sab.co.za/sablimited/content/sab-carling-black-label">sponsors</a> several events – both in <a href="http://www.kickoff.com/news/65014/cblc-celebrates-the-voices-of-football-fans">sport</a> and entertainment – as well as many male-dominated cultural activities. One of its competitions – linked to a football event – asked participants to enter by buying a “pack” of beer. </p>
<p>Football is a major preoccupation of young boys. And although the industry argues that is it advertising to adults, all boys are encouraged to participate in and watch these sports. Information about these events is freely available to boys and girls under 18. </p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10810730490271665">study</a> in the US has found that while 26% of young adults between the ages of 21 and 23 had seen an alcohol advertisement, 23% of 15- to 17-year-olds had also seen the same advert. They also found that young people who could accurately identify alcoholic products and who said they liked the ads were <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10810730490271665">more likely to try drinking</a> or to drink more.</p>
<p>In South Africa all three <a href="http://www.worldofbeer.co.za/content/page/sab-brands">predominantly male national sports</a> – football, rugby and cricket – are sponsored by alcohol.</p>
<p>Although the South African government in May 2015 gazetted a new <a href="http://www.gov.za/sites/www.gov.za/files/38808_gen446.pdf">National Liquor Policy</a> for comment recommending that alcohol advertising be restricted, and sponsorship and promotions associated with alcohol be prohibited, whether this will make it into the final legislation remains to be seen. </p>
<p>Considering South Africa’s high levels of alcohol abuse and harm, this would be a step in the right direction. Whether ordinary South Africans would take a similar stand to the English barbershop owner and his son and crowd fund an outbid campaign against liquor giants is another question.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/59859/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Susan Goldstein is affiliated with the Health Promotion Foundation organisation.</span></em></p>Removing alcohol brands as sponsors of sports events could help reduce the trend of young people drinking.Susan Goldstein, Honorary Senior Lecturer at the School of Public Health, University of the WitwatersrandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/527682016-01-06T02:59:15Z2016-01-06T02:59:15ZDesigner nights out: good urban planning can reduce drunken violence<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/107334/original/image-20160106-28974-8wf93d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">We need to create safe spaces for young people to enjoy themselves. </span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">St Stev/Flickr</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Tragically, another <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2015/s4382107.htm">young life has been lost</a> in an alleged one-punch assault, this time in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.</p>
<p>These assaults are frightening occurrences in themselves, but also they pose much deeper questions regarding our approach to some very complex societal problems. </p>
<p>So far, debate has centred on state liquor law reform but that’s only half the story. </p>
<p>Queensland MPs may also draw some lessons from a <a href="http://designingoutcrime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/KingsX-Booklet-v2.pdf">recent project</a> by the <a href="http://designingoutcrime.com/">Designing Out Crime</a> research centre that aimed to tackle similar problems in Sydney’s Kings Cross district.</p>
<h2>A fresh approach to an old problem</h2>
<p>Sydney’s Kings Cross is historically renowned for its vivid nightlife and, more recently, for its alcohol-fuelled violence. </p>
<p>Over the years, the local and state governments have attempted to reduce this violence by ever-tightening regulations and <a href="http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/digitalarchives/repository/archive/downloadContent/e36e9502-fefc-40ef-863c-979f0e737b55?version=0&fileIndex=0">increasing the police presence</a> in the area. As a consequence, revellers are treated like (potential) criminals rather than young partygoers seeking a good time. </p>
<p>These law and order solutions solve some problems but create others. NSW’s 2014 lockout laws were successful in reducing inner city violence but have led to the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-30/hugo's-kings-cross-to-close-blames-nsw-lockout-laws/6659340">closure</a> of many of Sydney’s treasured venues. Residents of other suburbs <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/newtown-gets-busy-as-kings-cross-empties-20150619-ghseco.html">report</a> fear that lockouts just displace the problem. </p>
<p>In 2012, focus on the precinct intensified after 18-year-old <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-16/thomas-kelly-died-from-fall-after-punch/4132088">Thomas Kelly</a> was killed by an intoxicated stranger in a one-punch assault. After that incident, designers at the Designing Out Crime research centre, alongside the City of Sydney, took up the challenge of decrypting the Kings Cross nightlife to devise solutions to minimise violence in the area. </p>
<h2>Imagine The Big Day Out – every weekend in Kings Cross</h2>
<p>The design team approached the problem by imagining Kings Cross as a music festival. The aim was to identify areas of improvement that would create a safer environment while keeping partygoers happy. </p>
<p>A music festival is an organised event that attracts tens of thousands of attendees to a central location to have a good time. Music festivals provide revellers with access to amenities, transportation to and from the event, support and continuous entertainment, while allowing them the necessary freedom to choose activities, socialise and express themselves. This metaphor for an “organised” approach to Kings Cross paved the way for suggested areas for improvement.</p>
<p>The researchers focused their design exploration on two themes: distraction and extraction.</p>
<h2>Distraction</h2>
<p>It was clear that every night in Kings Cross, pubs and clubs were emptying vast numbers of intoxicated patrons onto the main strip at roughly the same time. Footpaths became congested, retinas were battered with an assault of neon stimuli, patrons were forced to transition quickly from a fun indoor environment to an outdoor “void” atmosphere where there was nothing to do, and nowhere to sit down and sober up. It was a recipe for tension.</p>
<p>They needed distraction.</p>
<p>So the researchers suggested softer outdoor lighting and, on weekend evenings, closing a main street in the Cross to allow patrons to walk on the road and alleviate footpath congestion. We suggested food stalls along this street, new sitting areas and outdoor entertainment in the form of street performers and interactive games. The idea was to promote a process of “unconscious sobering”.</p>
<h2>Extraction</h2>
<p>On Friday and Saturday nights, Kings Cross was attracting a peak influx of young people arriving at 1am, with the last train leaving shortly thereafter. Revellers were all but stuck in the area, or else waiting in an hour-long queue for an expensive taxi ride.</p>
<p>This fuelled frustration and impatience, paving the way for physical and verbal assaults. Access to toilets was sparse and did not meet demand. In contrast, music festivals are well equipped with portable toilets and access to public transport.</p>
<p>As a result, night buses were improved, amenities added, and volunteer guides were present at peak times to ensure partygoers were well informed and feeling safe. The <a href="http://thomaskellyyouthfoundation.org.au/take-kare-safe-space/">Safe Space initiative</a> came into fruition to provide support to those who required first aid, a charged phone, transport home or a comfortable place to wait for friends.</p>
<p>Some of the implemented solutions are still in place today, although the legislative measures imposed since have transformed Kings Cross into a less active area.</p>
<h2>Lessons for other cities</h2>
<p>Sydney and Kings Cross are not alone in facing these issues.</p>
<p>When faced with complex social issues, it is important that time is spent understanding the core of the problem from multiple perspectives before devising solutions. </p>
<p>It is easier said than done, but we need to think away from knee-jerk reactions - where branding an incident as “alcohol-related violence” naturally puts the focus on policies around alcohol service restriction. There is so much more that can be done to keep young people safe at night.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/52768/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kees Dorst receives funding from the NSW government </span></em></p>Solving the problem of street violence is not just about alcohol – it’s also about design of the urban environment.Kees Dorst, Director, Designing Out Crime Research Centre, University of Technology SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/418842015-05-21T04:36:07Z2015-05-21T04:36:07ZDon’t believe the hype, teens are drinking less than they used to<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/82340/original/image-20150520-25039-1mkxm2i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Teenage drinking in Australia has declined dramatically over the past fifteen years.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wanderlust_heart/4602555704/">tristanforestjames/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Ask your friends and colleagues about young Australians and alcohol and I bet they’ll say something about a <a href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/drunk-and-confused-weekend-drinking-is-hitting-the-performance-of-our-teenagers-in-school/story-fnjco7gt-1226846282552.">generation out of control</a> or a <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/young-women-in-binge-drinking-epidemic/story-e6frf7kx-1226630740211">binge-drinking epidemic</a>. </p>
<p>The media regularly brings the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-16/sydney-alcohol-free-gigs-tackle-booze-culture/5675484">worst outcomes</a> of young people’s drinking to our attention and points to a problematic drinking culture supposedly unique to young Australians. Little wonder people believe things have never been so bad.</p>
<p>The reality is startlingly different. Data <a href="http://abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4307.0.55.001Main+Features12013-14?OpenDocument">recently released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics</a> shows alcohol consumption in Australia has reached its lowest point since the early 1960s, having declined steadily since the mid-2000s. Survey data suggests this decline has been driven almost entirely by reductions in youth drinking. </p>
<p>According to the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.12255/abstract">National Drug Strategy Household Survey</a>, the proportion of 12- to 15-year-olds who reported any drinking in the past year halved, from 35% in 2004 to 18% in 2013. Over the same time, drinking by 16- to 17-year-olds fell sharply as well, from 81% to 59%. </p>
<p>In case you think there must be something wrong with this survey, results from the <a href="http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/school11">Australian Secondary Students Alcohol and Drug Survey</a> show similar trends. Between 2002 and 2011, drinking in the past week fell by more than half for 12- to 15-year-olds (from 29% to 11%) and nearly as sharply for 16-17 year olds (48% to 33%). </p>
<p>Rates of heavy drinking have <a href="http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/school11">fallen</a> as well. Teenagers in Australia are drinking less alcohol now than they have at any time since these surveys began in the early 1980s.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/82350/original/image-20150520-24994-1xk16xy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/82350/original/image-20150520-24994-1xk16xy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82350/original/image-20150520-24994-1xk16xy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82350/original/image-20150520-24994-1xk16xy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82350/original/image-20150520-24994-1xk16xy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82350/original/image-20150520-24994-1xk16xy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82350/original/image-20150520-24994-1xk16xy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">In 2011, one-third (33%) of 16- to 17-year-olds reported drinking in the past week, down from almost half (48%) in 2002.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/garryknight/4660207930/">Garry Knight/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>There is increasing evidence that these patterns are holding as this cohort of teenagers moves into young adulthood, with <a href="http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=60129549469">weekly risky drinking</a> among 18- to 24-year-olds dropping from 32% to 22% between 2010 and 2013. Declines in drinking are occurring for boys and girls, across all socioeconomic groups and in regional and urban areas. The changes are <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.12524/abstract">not isolated</a> in particular population sub-groups. </p>
<p>Remarkably, these trends seem to be part of a global shift. A <a href="http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/content/25/suppl_2/69">recent paper</a> identified significant declines in underage drinking in 20 of the 28 countries studied. In countries with similar drinking cultures to Australia such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Sweden, teen drinking has halved. </p>
<p>Somewhat surprisingly, little attention has been paid to these trends or the reasons behind them. Based on <a href="http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/school11">Australian data</a>, we can be reasonably confident that young people aren’t shifting to illicit drugs instead of alcohol. Rates of cannabis and meth/amphetamine use have also declined in the past decade. </p>
<p>Similarly, it doesn’t seem likely that major policy changes have caused the trends. The decline in youth drinking started well before the <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/04/27/1208743339515.html">alcopops tax</a> in 2008, and alcohol has become more widely available and promoted in recent years. </p>
<p>Attitudes to alcohol have clearly been shifting in Australia, with <a href="http://www.fare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Australian-attitudes-towards-policy-FINAL.pdf">greater support</a> for restrictive policies, more <a href="http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/content/49/3/336">negative media coverage</a> and <a href="http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=60129549469">increasing public concern</a>. These attitude shifts may be driving the declines in youth drinking, although it is notable that drinking among Australians older than 30 remains unchanged. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/82351/original/image-20150520-25033-1k375hb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/82351/original/image-20150520-25033-1k375hb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82351/original/image-20150520-25033-1k375hb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82351/original/image-20150520-25033-1k375hb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82351/original/image-20150520-25033-1k375hb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82351/original/image-20150520-25033-1k375hb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/82351/original/image-20150520-25033-1k375hb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Social media has reduced the centrality of drinking in socialising.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/eunix/3125117477/">Evgeny Pavlov/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It may be that decades of public education campaigns and school programs focusing on youth drinking have finally been effective, but <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ebch.1829/full">the broader research literature</a> suggests this is unlikely.</p>
<p>The global consistency of the trends suggests a broader shift in youth cultures might be driving change. One possibility is that the increase in the use of social media has altered the way young people interact, reducing the centrality of drinking in socialising. The <a href="http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/About%20Cybersmart/Research/ACMA%20research/Like-post-share.aspx">impact of the internet and social media</a> in young people’s lives has increased enormously in recent years. But there is little research into how these changes have affected drinking. </p>
<p><a href="http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=200906331;res=IELAPA">Research has also shown</a> that exercising, eating well and avoiding alcohol and other drugs are important lifestyle choices for many young people. An increasing focus on healthy living may be an important factor in declining youth drinking. </p>
<p>The declines in youth drinking may have been caused by a combination of all of these factors. Further research is crucial so that current trends can be supported through appropriate interventions. </p>
<p>The recent dramatic reductions in teenage drinking is good news for public health, and is a refreshing counter-argument to the <a href="https://theconversation.com/images-of-australian-youth-from-symbols-of-hope-to-disposable-lives-27126">way young Australians</a> are often presented.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/41884/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michael Livingston has received research funding from The National Health and Medical Research Council, The Australian Research Council, The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, The Australian National Preventative Health Agency and the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education. He is currently funded by an Early Career Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1053029). He is affiliated with the Drug Policy Modelling Program in the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University New South Wales and the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at Turning Point.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Amy Pennay has received research funding from the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, Beyond Blue, the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education and NSW Health. She is currently funded by an Early Career Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1069907), and is affiliated with the School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne and the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at Turning Point. </span></em></p>Ask your friends and colleagues about young Australians and alcohol and I bet they’ll say something about a generation out of control or a binge-drinking epidemic.Michael Livingston, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW SydneyAmy Pennay, Research Fellow, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/418952015-05-18T20:03:09Z2015-05-18T20:03:09ZMy problem with your drinking: Australia’s hate-love relationship with alcohol<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/81984/original/image-20150518-25422-yjz0la.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">It's simply easier to say others are flawed than admit _you_ might be the one who is flawed.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://www.shutterstock.com/">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>In this year’s <a href="http://www.fare.org.au/AlcPoll2015/">annual alcohol poll</a>, 34% of Australians said they drink to get drunk, 43% said they had vomited as a result of drinking and 75% said Australia has a problem with excess drinking or alcohol abuse. </p>
<p>But in the same Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education poll, 92% of Australians identified themselves as responsible drinkers.</p>
<p>As the young people might say, what the …? A majority of Australians agree we have a problem with alcohol. But almost all say it’s not a problem of theirs – it’s a problem that exists somewhere outside of their world.</p>
<p>There are both contradictions and abstractions in this discussion. But it makes perfect sense to me.</p>
<p>It’s simply easier to say others are flawed than admit <em>you</em> might be the one who is flawed. Psychologists refer to it as the self-serving or <a href="http://www.du.edu/ahss/psychology/gem/media/documents/mezulis_positivitybias.pdf">positivity bias</a>; it’s the only way to protect our “fragile ego from the blows of reality” and to reconcile our often contradictory behaviour in a complex world. </p>
<p>To think our own behaviour is irresponsible requires us to actually admit we might be a failure, or that we are out of control. And this would be a serious attack on our ego. </p>
<p>So, we seek out evidence, in all its flimsy forms, that confirms how we would like to see ourselves, and then interpret a question in the way that suits that approach.</p>
<h2>Abstract language</h2>
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/drinkwises-cynical-campaign-shouldnt-fool-anyone-23813">Terminology</a> such as “drinking responsibly” or “wisely” or “properly” is abstract at best, and diverting at worst.</p>
<p>What exactly is a responsible drinker? If I drink two or three glasses of wine at dinner during the week am I “<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/comment/drinkwise-a-message-about-alcohol-moderation-most-people-support-20141001-10o78b.html">Drinking Wise</a>”? What about two beers after work on Friday, plus a cocktail at the Comedy Festival for a bit of treat?</p>
<p>Upon which the inevitable question arises: am I okay to admit that I might be an irresponsible drinker (whatever that means)? Irresponsible sounds pretty bad, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>And accusing <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/prime-minister-tony-abbott-skols-a-beer-in-a-sydney-pub-20150418-1mo3ak.html">someone else</a> of being irresponsible, because they were having “a couple of beers with their mates” or a few glasses of wine after a hard day at work, would likely result in cries of being “unAustralian”, “politically correct” or some other cliché that is rolled out whenever someone challenges the status quo.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/81987/original/image-20150518-25422-en49ij.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/81987/original/image-20150518-25422-en49ij.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81987/original/image-20150518-25422-en49ij.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81987/original/image-20150518-25422-en49ij.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81987/original/image-20150518-25422-en49ij.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81987/original/image-20150518-25422-en49ij.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81987/original/image-20150518-25422-en49ij.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">It’s easier to be a drinker, than to not be a drinker..</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/15205252@N00/3688111285/">jofo2005</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The problem is that alcohol is such an integral part of most adult (and adolescent) life in Australia that it has become a social norm. It <a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/prime-minister-tony-abbott-calls-for-action-on-binge-drinking-and-alcohol-fuelled-violence/story-fnihsr9v-1226798544118">requires</a> significant psychological resources to challenge these norms.</p>
<p>Think about it. When you refuse alcohol at social events, it is often followed by a “why?”, an assumption that you are pregnant or on some “health” regime, or participating in a fundraising abstinence month the questioner wasn’t aware of. It’s easier to be a drinker than to not be a drinker.</p>
<h2>Diverting the problem</h2>
<p>The use of imprecise language, rather than specific, measurable metrics, makes it difficult for anyone to judge their behaviour in comparison to others. By telling people to behave “responsibly”, we create a sense that something is being done. But at an individual level, it is up to us to decide what it actually means.</p>
<p>This “hands-off” approach to public health issues is common across a range of contexts. People are expected to assume total responsibility for managing their own well-being.</p>
<p>It’s a common technique in many sectors where a risk has been identified, but governments are uncomfortable about regulation. By emphasising threats to personal freedom and liberty, opponents to state-based interventions on public health grounds establish an argument that, at face value, sounds plausible.</p>
<p>Industry and conservative stakeholders use the term “nanny state”, for example, to discredit any opposition and deride government public health interventions, despite the fact that traditionally nannies are people who are credited with being caring, considerate people, who have the best interests of their charges at heart. </p>
<p>So, they do something that looks like they’re doing something. It’s a kind of “regulatory theatre”. </p>
<p>People not really qualified to make judgements about human behaviour, work together to come up with simple interventions, such as “Drink Responsibly” or “Drink Wise” labelling, along with industry codes of conduct. These campaigns work to some degree by gently modifying social norms, but their impact is minimal.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/81988/original/image-20150518-25400-2efquq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/81988/original/image-20150518-25400-2efquq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81988/original/image-20150518-25400-2efquq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81988/original/image-20150518-25400-2efquq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81988/original/image-20150518-25400-2efquq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81988/original/image-20150518-25400-2efquq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/81988/original/image-20150518-25400-2efquq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Behavioural change requires significant resources, repetition, modelling, and support.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnjoh/6434001849/">star5112/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>That said, public health practitioners are often their own worst enemies. Because of their desire to be in a position to defend their approach and be seen to be responsible (there’s that word again), sometimes they over-complicate or provide too much advice, get caught up in statistics, or approach the message in an overly rational way. </p>
<h2>Marketing the message</h2>
<p>In any marketing campaign, whether you are trying to get people to “buy” your product (and in this context, the product would be to reduce drinking) or maintain loyalty (continue to drink less or not at all), programs need to communicate to the target market in a way that is, direct, accessible, personal and incremental.</p>
<p>So, instead of general, vague language such as “responsible”, “wise” or “proper”, we should be helping vulnerable segments to understand what actually is wise, proper or responsible: How many drinks are safe? What actually constitutes a standard drink, in comparison to what we are actually served?</p>
<p>But, we also need to be careful not to get into the complexity of weight, height, alcohol content, sex, and so on, which will simply confuse the campaign. Marketers of commercial products recognise that they have to gently, incrementally, move their customers towards a place where the only sensible option is to buy the product: in this case, a reduction in the consumption of alcohol.</p>
<p>Simply running an advertisement telling people to stop doing something because it’s bad for them, or because their friends will reject them, is not the way to change behaviour.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, awareness campaigns are a start. However, behavioural change requires significant resources, repetition, modelling, and support from range of individuals, institutions, leaders, and infrastructure for them to be successful.</p>
<p>You also need to build a support network around the target market, that makes it easy for them to adopt the new behaviour, and more difficult for them to return to their old habits.</p>
<p>The only way forward is to recognise that there are a range of parties who must be involved in addressing the problem: the individual, family and friends, government and institutions, and the alcohol industry.</p>
<p>Of course, the individual has to have responsibility for their behaviours. </p>
<p>But we need to have a realistic understanding of how choice is undertaken, how implicit attitudes and the effect of other people and institutions influence our choices, support from a range of stakeholders, and clear information to help guide our own behaviour.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/41895/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Paul Harrison does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>A majority of Australians agree we have a problem with alcohol. But almost all say that it’s not a problem of theirs – it’s a problem that exists somewhere outside of their world.Paul Harrison, Senior lecturer, Deakin Business School; Director, Centre for Organisational Health and Consumer Wellbeing, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/396432015-04-09T04:40:55Z2015-04-09T04:40:55ZEarly pub closing times work for Kings Cross – they will for Queensland too<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/77434/original/image-20150409-15240-10k8trn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Early closing times reduce alcohol-fuelled violence but still face opposition from businesses</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/brunogirin/70449421">Bruno Girin/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The newly elected <a href="http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/lockouts-and-3am-closing-time-served-up-20150326-1m8rwn.html">Queensland government has said it will push ahead</a> with its plan to introduce lockouts and 3am closing times for pubs and clubs. Despite objections from vested interests, there’s now plenty of evidence to show this is a good idea for patrons and businesses alike.</p>
<p>Just 12 months after they were introduced, early closing times for pubs and clubs in central Sydney have caused a massive decline in crime throughout the previously violence-ridden Sydney suburb of Kings Cross. NSW Police data <a href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/cross-clean-up-is-a-victory-for-sydney/story-fni0cwl5-1227286782205">reported in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph</a> last week illustrates the impact of trading hours restrictions in King Cross after 12 months. It shows:</p>
<ul>
<li>sexual assaults in the area are down by 20.8%</li>
<li>assaults causing grievous bodily harm are down by 43%</li>
<li>assaults causing actual bodily harm have declined by 50.3%</li>
<li>robberies have fallen by a huge 57.1%</li>
<li>car theft is down by 44.6%, and </li>
<li>stealing from motor vehicles is down by 47.5%.</li>
</ul>
<p>Probably the most important gain – and one that’s not mentioned above – is the one <a href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/cross-clean-up-is-a-victory-for-sydney/story-fni0cwl5-1227286782205">highlighted by Kings Cross local area commander</a> Superintendent Mick Fitzgerald: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>The man hours saved and the way we are able to reallocate our resources has been phenomenal.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Many state governments in Australia expend massive resources on extra policing to effectively subsidise late-night venues by facilitating people drinking between 3am and 7am (despite the fact that <a href="http://www.fare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/FARE-Alcohol-Poll-2014_LR.pdf">around 80% of the population</a> want pubs shut at 3am). But police in Kings Cross are now able to use their time dealing with criminal activity.</p>
<h2>Compelling arguments</h2>
<p>The state of Kings Cross a year on provides clear support for the newly elected <a href="http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/lockouts-and-3am-closing-time-served-up-20150326-1m8rwn.html">Queensland government’s proposal</a> but, not unexpectedly, industry groups are critical of the idea. They argue “<a href="http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/lockouts-and-3am-closing-time-served-up-20150326-1m8rwn.html">anti-social behaviour is a cultural problem, not an operational one</a>” and that the proposal will have a negative impact on the economy as well as worsening “<a href="http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/lockouts-and-3am-closing-time-served-up-20150326-1m8rwn.html">law and order issues surrounding entertainment zones</a>”. </p>
<p>The experience of Kings Cross has already proven them wrong about the latter point. And the seven years since similar measures were introduced in Newcastle provide the other nails in the coffin of that argument. </p>
<p>The story from Newcastle is that you can change drinking culture and <a href="http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/publications/monographs/monograph-43">businesses don’t have to suffer</a>. There are now <a href="olgr.nsw.gov.au">almost 50% more liquor licences</a> in Newcastle than there were in 2008 when the original 3am close was put in place. And the new venues are mostly small bars and restaurants.</p>
<p>In research my colleagues and I did to explore what measures were effective for reducing alcohol-related harm, we compared Newcastle, with its blanket 3am closing time, to Geelong, where pubs could stay open until 7am. <a href="http://dro.deakin.edu.au/view/DU:30062340">We found</a> people were actually spending more money, on average, in Newcastle. </p>
<p>Venue operators in Newcastle didn’t mind going home earlier, particularly once they adapted their business models to focus on alternative forms of entertainment and especially providing meals. These venues are now thriving and have very low levels of <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24589092">alcohol-related assaults</a> and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24612319">emergency department attendances</a>.</p>
<p>While we don’t have Australian data on how much money changes hands in the night-time economy, <a href="http://lordmayors.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PN041230_TheAustralianNTE_vFinal.pdf">UK studies show</a> only 20% of sales made between 6pm and 6am occur after midnight. When you consider how busy most pubs are between midnight and 2am, it seems unlikely that closing times at 3am, when crowds have dwindled, will have a significant impact on business bottom lines.</p>
<h2>A better culture</h2>
<p>Many licensees in Newcastle were ultimately <a href="http://www.deakin.edu.au/dante">glad to have legislation put into place</a>, because previously there was always a rogue or desperate trader who wanted to open later. The legislation meant everyone was competing on a level playing field. </p>
<p>According to my count in Geelong, where no restrictions are in place, 19 licensed businesses have gone broke in the past six years. </p>
<p>While elements of the alcohol industry oppose earlier closing, they don’t provide any evidence to support their arguments. If they considered the benefits this will bring to individual businesses, they would support closing pubs earlier and begin planning to build their businesses on a different drinking culture – a culture that encourages people to go out earlier, eat more and pre-load less, rather than one that’s all about fuelling drunken patrons to dangerous levels.</p>
<p>The evidence overwhelmingly supports the Queensland government’s proposed state-wide reduction of hours when alcohol is sold. The results of early closing times in Kings Cross and Newcastle show the objections of self-interested minorities are baseless, especially when considering the huge economic and social benefits seen elsewhere.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/39643/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Disclosure statement
Peter Miller receives funding from Australian Research Council and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, grants from NSW Government, National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, Cancer Council Victoria, Queensland government and Australian Drug Foundation, travel and related costs from Australasian Drug Strategy Conference. He is affiliated with academic journal Addiction. He has acted as a paid expert witness on behalf of a licensed venue and a security firm.</span></em></p>The Queensland government has said it will push ahead with its plan to introduce lockouts and 3am closing times for pubs and clubs. This is a good idea for patrons and businesses alike.Peter Miller, Principal Research Fellow, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/384262015-03-10T03:33:06Z2015-03-10T03:33:06ZFactCheck: can you change a violent drinking culture by changing how people drink?<blockquote>
<p>You can’t change a culture by simply changing drinking. It is, of course, justifiable to explore the effectiveness of small measures such as advertising restrictions, increases or decreases in price, relaxation or restriction of hours, but such things tinker at the margins of culture and it is doubtful that they will alter the culture of violence and anti-social behaviour in any meaningful way. – Dr Anne Fox, author of a <a href="http://www.lionco.com/content/u12/Dr%20Anne%20Fox%20report.pdf">report</a> released by the Lion alcohol company, January 2015.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Lion alcohol company recently released a <a href="http://www.lionco.com/content/u12/Dr%20Anne%20Fox%20report.pdf">report</a> on Australian and New Zealand nightlife and violence. The study was conducted by an English anthropologist, Dr Anne Fox, working with a private research company.</p>
<p>In this report, the author visited towns in Australia and New Zealand and reviewed the literature on various drinking cultures. Dr Fox concludes that you can’t change a culture by simply changing drinking patterns.</p>
<p>There is a fair bit of opinion involved in determining the role that “culture” plays in alcohol-fuelled violence. </p>
<p>Dr Fox says we should be focusing on violence, misogyny, and aggressive masculinity. These things play a role, though they are usually poorly defined and require more sophisticated <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24428187">research</a>.</p>
<p>However, the evidence shows that we <em>can</em> make a meaningful difference to curbing a culture of violence and anti-social behaviour by changing drinking patterns.</p>
<p>In fact, there is a massive body of independent research that demonstrates a lack of impact from so-called “culture change” interventions such as <a href="http://www.cochrane.org/CD006748/ADDICTN_social-norms-interventions-are-not-effective-enough-to-reduce-alcohol-misuse-among-university-or-college-students">social norms campaigns</a>, generic <a href="http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199551149.001.0001/acprof-9780199551149">education</a> in schools and occasional mass media campaigns warning of alcohol-related harm.</p>
<p>What the available evidence does show is that many assaults and hospital attendances that can be prevented by simple measures that alter drinking patterns, such as shutting licensed venues a few hours earlier. These measures cost the community very little compared to the vast expenditure on police and emergency services across Australia.</p>
<h2>Global data</h2>
<p>A rigorous body of experimental and observational evidence from around the world provides important insights into the real relationship between alcohol to violence, including that:</p>
<ul>
<li>If you shut the pubs and clubs in town two hours earlier, you see a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20840191">30% to 40% reduction</a> in the number of assaults reported to police and the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24612319">injuries turning up at emergency in hospital</a>.</li>
<li>If you stop repeat drink drivers from drinking, there is a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23153129">10% reduction</a> in domestic violence cases reported to police state-wide.</li>
<li>People who receive alcohol are <a href="http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.486.6496&rep=rep1&type=pdf">more aggressive</a> than those who receive no alcohol or placebo beverages.</li>
<li>Intoxicated subjects <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00994162">are more likely</a> to administer electric shocks to others when provoked - and when they do shock others, they select a higher voltage.</li>
<li>Alcohol administration to men <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9830248">increases</a> the level of negative verbal behaviour displayed by the men and their partners. </li>
<li>Normally non-violent individuals can become violent <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10463811">when consuming a substantial amount of alcohol</a>. </li>
<li>Heavier consumption of alcohol results in <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12436812">conflict situations turning violent</a> between partners. </li>
<li>Alcohol use is more common among <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9122504">serious</a> physical assault <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1007522721430">events</a>.</li>
<li>Consumption of six or more drinks <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12602424">predicts</a> violent events in the family setting.</li>
<li>Blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.19 was <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9830248">reported</a> in violent events compared to an estimated BAC of 0.11 in conflict events that did not include violence. </li>
<li>Treatment for alcohol dependence is associated with <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3215582/">reductions</a> in <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12602429">intimate partner</a> violence, and this reduction is <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7751486">observable</a> up to two years post-treatment.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12380856">For every hour</a> after midnight that pubs are open, there is a 15% to 20% increase in violence, drink driving <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24612319">and</a> emergency department attendances. Shutting pubs at 3:30am in Newcastle, NSW, rather than 5am, resulted in a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20840191">37% decrease</a> in assaults. Paradoxically, there has been a <a href="http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/publications/monographs/monograph-46">25% increase</a> in liquor licences in Newcastle and people simply go out earlier and even spend more. </p>
<p>So we do know that straightforward measures such as shutting pubs earlier are <a href="http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/publications/monographs/monograph-43">meaningful</a> in the Australian context, but are extremely unpopular with industry. And across Australia there has been little action from political parties that <a href="http://www.fare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Alcohol-Industry-Donations-to-Queensland-Political-Parties-20-January-2015-FINAL.pdf">receive</a> industry <a href="http://www.fare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Alcohol-Industry-Donations-to-Political-Parties-25-November-FINAL.pdf">donations</a>.</p>
<h2>How does alcohol increase the likelihood of violence?</h2>
<p>Dr Fox makes anecdotal comparisons between countries such as Iceland, Spain and Italy. But put simply, Australia is not Italy. In Italy, when people drink, they drink <a>less</a> on any single drinking occasion than the <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/lookup/4704.0Chapter756Oct+2010#bingedrinking">average</a> Australian. Dr Fox even relates a personal <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-27/macho-culture-to-blame-for-alcohol-fuelled-violence-dr-anne-fox/6270072">account</a> about how, one night when she was at a bar, some young men started to get rowdy and the bartender gave them whiskey to calm them down.</p>
<p>This might make an engaging story but it falls well short of scientific evidence. We don’t know what happened to the young men later that night when they met on the street outside or when they got home. Real violence often happens in the blink of an eye.</p>
<p>It is well-documented what happens to humans when they drink alcohol: reduced cognitive ability, disinhibition, inability to think of consequences, poor interpretation of social cues and obsessional thinking about single details.</p>
<p>These effects have been found in many studies and are <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.00994.x/abstract">reliably replicated</a> across many cultures. </p>
<p>Research from around the world has <a href="http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world_report/factsheets/pb_violencealcohol.pdf">shown</a> that people are much more likely to be victims of alcohol-related violence when they are heavily intoxicated.</p>
<p>This is why we have responsible service of alcohol laws. When people are drunk, they make poor decisions, especially the decision to keep drinking.</p>
<h2>Verdict</h2>
<p>It’s not correct to say you can’t “alter the culture of violence and anti-social behaviour in any meaningful way” by tackling the way people drink. There is a lot of evidence showing that changing people’s drinking hours and consumption patterns reduces violence and hospital admissions – which is a lot more significant than tinkering at the margins of culture.</p>
<hr>
<h2>Review</h2>
<p>This review is a fair assessment of the question as to whether achieving cultural change is more effective than reducing alcohol related violence by curbing alcohol consumption. </p>
<p>As the reviewer rightly concludes, the evidence that measures to reduce consumption are effective is coherent and persuasive, while arguments to the contrary – including those put forward by Dr Fox – generally rely more on anecdote and intuition than empirical research.</p>
<p>Attempts to change Australia’s drinking culture using education campaigns have a poor record. At best, a small and temporary improvement is reported from some evaluations, while others show no change or even worse outcomes. The drinks industry is capable of spending many, many times more on continual and positive advertising than what governments can afford to spend on intermittent cautionary campaigns. This is not, and never has been, a level playing field. </p>
<p>The evidence is slowly accumulating for some control of alcohol advertising, marketing and promotion, as the current self-regulatory system is widely recognised to be worse than a joke. But no one should underestimate the political difficulties of achieving this. – <strong>Alex Wodak</strong></p>
<hr>
<p><div class="callout"> Have you ever seen a “fact” that doesn’t look quite right? The Conversation’s FactCheck asks academic experts to test claims and see how true they are. We then ask a second academic to review an anonymous copy of the article. You can request a check at checkit@theconversation.edu.au. Please include the statement you would like us to check, the date it was made, and a link if possible.</div></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/38426/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter Miller receives funding from Australian Research Council and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, grants from NSW Government, National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, Cancer Council Victoria, Queensland government and Australian Drug Foundation, travel and related costs from Australasian Drug Strategy Conference. He is affiliated with academic journal Addiction.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Alex Wodak is president of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation.</span></em></p>There is a lot of evidence showing that changing people’s drinking hours and consumption patterns reduces violence and hospital admissions.Peter Miller, Principal Research Fellow, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/238292014-03-02T19:28:20Z2014-03-02T19:28:20ZEarlier pub closing times key to reducing alcohol-fuelled assaults<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/42799/original/h8t89ydk-1393747948.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Earlier closing times for pubs and bars is the key to preventing alcohol-fuelled assaults.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/exil-fischkopp/6837361094/sizes/l/in/photolist-bqcgf7-dn6KYe-a3b8T1-e1mQgM-9RCxuC-ei6BeU-dMCEMy-8etghM-eEH9W7-bvALeU-dYdEuB-cvEvMu-fpeaw6-dqrbXw-buCguk-dDsDVK-dComKH-9gwZCz-aJFaRZ-acsuLp-fTLBcT-7UgGbs-boHRVX-9bVQmL-eUQmW6-de9HSo-fwz4gE-fwz4gA-8W9Jfr-dwCCjH-7NuirS-9J6L9E-icrHxc-ics8y7-ics84u-icrHZ4-dXMpRv-fKZh2L-8SAUJM-9biQp8-8xaQxT-gTEYvM-eKFCNz-7Nwn4m-8rzg2M-j95t66-9XvBqu-jB2zjK-7Kvtkf-9bYdnc-a9hnSy/">André Hofmeister/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Earlier pub closing times have a large impact on curbing alcohol-fuelled violence, according to <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/enhanced/doi/10.1111/dar.12123/">research my colleagues and I have published today</a> in the international peer-reviewed journal Drug & Alcohol Review.</p>
<p>Along with <a href="http://www.palgrave-journals.com/cpcs/journal/v11/n3/full/cpcs200911a.html">systematic reviews</a> of the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21084080">scientific literature</a>, these findings suggest the New South Wales government’s new laws requiring most pubs, bars, and clubs in Sydney’s central business district to stop serving alcohol at 3am are likely to reduce assault rates.</p>
<p>The research published today shows the large positive effects of the March 2008 restriction in pub closing times in Newcastle’s central business district continue while “softer” measures (including lockouts) introduced in neighbouring Hamilton from 2010 have been ineffective. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20840191">Previous research showed</a> the late-night assault rate in central Newcastle fell by a third in the 18 months to September 2009, without evidence of violence being displaced to the earlier hours of the evening or neighbouring areas. This latest study shows the effects have been sustained in the five years to March 2013.</p>
<h2>A successful experiment</h2>
<p>Due to frequent episodes of alcohol-related violence and other disorder in the central business district of Newcastle, the NSW Liquor Administration Board (since abolished) imposed restrictions on 14 venues in 2008. Pubs and clubs were required to close at 3:30am, and to implement a 1:30am lockout to prevent new patrons from entering the venue.</p>
<p>Lockouts, in which patrons can remain drinking but cannot enter new premises after a certain time, are unique to Australasia. They’ve only been studied a handful of times, and some of the research published in scientific journals has significant design limitations. Indeed, the most we can say about lockouts is that they’re not supported by scientific evidence. </p>
<p>What occurred in Hamilton — no significant reduction in the assault rate over five years — is consistent with this view of lockouts being ineffective. Clearly, earlier closing times or at least stopping alcohol sales earlier is the key to preventing assaults.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/42801/original/8gyrpqwz-1393748447.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/42801/original/8gyrpqwz-1393748447.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=414&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/42801/original/8gyrpqwz-1393748447.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=414&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/42801/original/8gyrpqwz-1393748447.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=414&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/42801/original/8gyrpqwz-1393748447.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=520&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/42801/original/8gyrpqwz-1393748447.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=520&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/42801/original/8gyrpqwz-1393748447.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=520&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The late-night assault rate in Newcastle fell without evidence of violence being displaced.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/freetoeknee/9401010114/sizes/l/in/photolist-fjJCMh-fjuiZa-fjurex-fjund8-fjJybL-fjuuYc-fjJDFN-fjuk1H-fjuoQX-fjJzj9-fpbvvs-fpbrVj-foWdwe-fpbwof-fpbv2f-foWfba-fpbuJw-foWgpB-foWfev-foW9NP-fpbu61-fpbsM1-foWg8B-fpbv71-foWb1K-fpbut1-fpbuVE-fpbtEm-fpbvUw-fpbtjm-fpbwV7-fpbuiU-foWbY6-foWa5n-fpbwj5-fpbscY-fpbsFU-fpbvq5-fpbvMq-foWfK2-foWf3R-foWdCK-fpbreQ-foWbmP-fpbqJU-foWeQP-fpbxfE-foWb7g-fpbrsj-foWafn-foWfUz/">tony proudfoot/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Regrettably, there’s confusion among media commentators about the distinction between the cessation of alcohol sales and lockouts.</p>
<h2>Confusing two measures</h2>
<p>Last week for instance, public policy fellow at the University of Melbourne and former senior policy adviser to a Victorian Labor government, Nicholas Reece <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-sydney-lockout-new-location-but-the-same-old-mistakes-20140223-33ab4.html">published an opinion piece</a> in Fairfax newspapers in which he criticised NSW’s alcohol laws based on just such a misunderstanding.</p>
<p>Reece conflated lockouts, which now come into effect at 1:30am in Sydney’s central business district, with the cessation of alcohol sales, which now occurs at 3am, citing a study of lockouts in Ballarat (not available online). </p>
<p>That study was poorly designed and not published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. It shouldn’t be the basis of a news item, let alone public policy.</p>
<p>Reece argued that in the same way the supposed benefits of lockouts in Ballarat didn’t translate to Melbourne, the findings from Newcastle will not translate to Sydney.</p>
<h2>Keeping perspective</h2>
<p>But Reece’s op-ed obscures two important facts. First, Ballarat is a large town with a population of 95,000 people, while Newcastle is Australia’s sixth largest city, with more than half a million people. While Ballarat to Melbourne may be a stretch, it’s not unreasonable to expect that effects observed in Newcastle will generalise to other large metropolitan areas in Australia. </p>
<p>Second, the intervention in Newcastle produced large and persistent benefits and the research has been <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21208318">subject to robust peer review</a> with findings that are consistent with a growing body of international literature.</p>
<p>Indeed, the Newcastle findings are comparable with those of a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21906198">recent study of changes in closing times</a> in Norway in the 2000s, the most comprehensive such research so far because many localities could be studied contemporaneously. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/42800/original/f7sty7m3-1393748206.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/42800/original/f7sty7m3-1393748206.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/42800/original/f7sty7m3-1393748206.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/42800/original/f7sty7m3-1393748206.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/42800/original/f7sty7m3-1393748206.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/42800/original/f7sty7m3-1393748206.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/42800/original/f7sty7m3-1393748206.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A large Norwegian study echoes the findings in Newcastle.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/paukrus/7771997134/sizes/o/in/photolist-cQMvYA-ao2PbX-bVDgJV-9KoJCr-dzhqJq-bEkfhc-akzi9V-8oZgux-8kqWSp-81TP7Q-ewS9EZ-88tdLC-j8tev3-9zZGzE-bVDgGP-7SDTEU-8TjP8m-gEDcNv-ewSas4-ewVkZh-ewVmYj-ewVmCY-ewVmts-ewSaA8-ewVkNj-8e1b4H-ewS9GK-ewS9Sp-ewTWKd-9VvqcP-9VvkCX-9jeSDA-hRLqkj-8ku95C-fD4X3r-fDmuLy-fD4X9v-anw1cW-9efRak-9efRuP-9eiVjJ-9eiVKo-9eiVqY-7ZFRyt-fDtb6f-cw3mAY-7N1vLf-b8b1qx-9vnJGw-fKhGyv-9ji3BD/">Ruslan/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>That study found that in eight cities where trading hours were extended, there was an average 20% increase in assaults per additional hour of trading. Conversely, in 15 cities where hours were restricted, there was an average 20% decrease in assaults per hour of restriction. </p>
<p>The short-term effect in Newcastle (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20840191">22% per hour restricted</a>) and the effect estimated for the following 3.5 years (21% per hour restricted) are remarkably similar to the Norwegian experience.</p>
<h2>Giving credit where it’s due</h2>
<p>In a <a href="http://www.ahansw.com.au/">media release late last week</a>, the Australian Hotels Association cited Reece’s article in support of its position, again conflating cessation of sales with lockouts:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We’ve always been sceptical that blanket lockouts won’t work in a city like Sydney, and this week a former senior Victorian public servant involved with the failed Melbourne lockout confirmed that view.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Of course, there are things the New South Wales government could have done better. It makes no sense to exclude two areas close to the city with very high alcohol-related crime rates (Oxford St and Darling Harbour) from the restrictions, for instance, but credit should be given where it’s due. </p>
<p>The Sydney intervention is a step in the right direction, acknowledging the need to balance the interests of the alcohol industry with public health.</p>
<h2>A leap forward</h2>
<p>The Newcastle intervention has prevented between 3,000 and 4,000 assaults in the six years since it was put in place. Such large effects are rare in population health interventions. </p>
<p>It would be worthwhile costing these assaults in terms of emergency response, medical care, disability, foregone income, and lost productivity, and to assess the public’s willingness to continue bearing the cost of late-night trading.</p>
<p>In addition to redrawing the Sydney central business district boundary to include all assault hotspots, the New South Wales government would be wise to stop consumption (rather than just the purchase) of alcohol at 3am, or even 2am, as has been <a href="http://www.abc.ca.gov/">the case in California</a> for many decades. </p>
<p>And other states considering legislation to help address the problem of late-night assault should clearly focus on earlier cessation of drinking rather than lockouts.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/23829/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kypros Kypri receives funding from the National Health & Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council.</span></em></p>Earlier pub closing times have a large impact on curbing alcohol-fuelled violence, according to research my colleagues and I have published today in the international peer-reviewed journal Drug & Alcohol…Kypros Kypri, Professor, Public Health, Epidemiology & Prevention of Alcohol-related Injury and Disease, University of NewcastleLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/222472014-01-21T06:13:10Z2014-01-21T06:13:10ZKing hits: young men, masculinity and violence<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/39531/original/p7qqv4s9-1390280633.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Mixed martial arts fighter Shaun McNeil (above) is accused of killing Sydney teenager Daniel Christie with a single punch in Kings Cross, Sydney. The case has sparked debate on alcohol and violence.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">AAP Image/Facebook</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The recent outcry in Sydney about “alcohol-fuelled violence” has many people asking whether young men are out of control, or whether alcohol, or our hyper-masculine culture, might be to blame.</p>
<p>Now the New South Wales Premier, Barry O'Farrell, <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-21/one-punch-laws-to-tackle-sydney-alcohol-fuelled-violence/5210740">has announced</a> lock-outs for new customers and a cease of alcohol trading by 3am, while mandatory minimum sentences of eight years in jail will apply for fatal one-punch attacks involving alcohol and drugs.</p>
<p>In the context of these announcements we should remember that, despite these awful recent cases, Sydney is a relatively safe city, compared with Johannesburg in South Africa, or Ciudad Juárez in Mexico, or New York. And if we are concerned with men’s violence in Australia, the half-hidden epidemics of family violence, sexual harassment and rape are much wider problems than street bashings by strangers.</p>
<p>But the street violence is worrying, is more visible and has got media attention – and this has produced a debate about what’s happening among young men.</p>
<h2>The blame game</h2>
<p>Is this “alcohol-fuelled violence”? Drinking is often part of the lead-up to violent episodes, domestic as well as street. But alcohol can’t meaningfully be called a “fuel” of any particular behaviour. As Shakespeare knew, and modern neuroscience confirms, ethanol has complex effects. It is often a depressant, sometimes a stimulant. </p>
<p>In many situations it’s more likely to make you feel sleepy or ill than encourage you to hit out. It’s the circumstances of drinking, rather than the chemical itself, that we need to understand.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/39537/original/p3pym8jd-1390282478.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/39537/original/p3pym8jd-1390282478.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/39537/original/p3pym8jd-1390282478.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39537/original/p3pym8jd-1390282478.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39537/original/p3pym8jd-1390282478.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39537/original/p3pym8jd-1390282478.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39537/original/p3pym8jd-1390282478.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39537/original/p3pym8jd-1390282478.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Nikita Kashner</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Can we blame “the male brain”, testosterone, or genetics? This suggests that young men are really animals, replaying a primitive world in which violence is natural, where males fight cave bears or hunt mammoths. Unfortunately some enthusiastic biologists retail such bed-time stories about violence, without knowing the historical, psychological or social-scientific evidence.</p>
<p>The psychological evidence is very clear. More than a hundred years of research looking for broad psychological differences between men and women have found remarkably few. The <a href="http://www.careerpioneernetwork.org/wwwroot/userfiles/files/the_gender_similarities_hypothesis.pdf">evidence</a>, from studies involving millions of people, shows that men as a group, and women as a group, are psychologically very similar. This finding is often ignored, because it goes against so many of our stereotypes; but the evidence is strong.</p>
<p>So we cannot explain men’s involvement in severe violence by a “male brain”, or testosterone, or anything supposed to produce different mentalities among men and women. The different mentalities are a myth.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/39538/original/ng4vd67g-1390282650.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/39538/original/ng4vd67g-1390282650.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/39538/original/ng4vd67g-1390282650.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=870&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39538/original/ng4vd67g-1390282650.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=870&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39538/original/ng4vd67g-1390282650.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=870&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39538/original/ng4vd67g-1390282650.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1094&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39538/original/ng4vd67g-1390282650.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1094&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39538/original/ng4vd67g-1390282650.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1094&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Nicolas P. Tschopp</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Can we blame a “criminal type”? Criminologists for a long time looked for such a person, but the search failed. Violence can’t be explained by a particular type of human being. Criminologists have, however, identified social circumstances in which violence is more common and patterns of violent behaviour might be learned. </p>
<p>These circumstances include high levels of social inequality and marginality, situations in which there is cultural emphasis on men’s dominance over women, and <a href="http://anj.sagepub.com/content/38/3/283.abstract">confrontations with police and private security</a>.</p>
<p>Can we <a href="http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/faculty/caa/abstracts/2000-2004/01BA.ap.pdf">blame the media</a>? Not in a mechanical way. Media research <a href="http://www.american.edu/spa/news/media-and-violence-research-savage-2013.cfm">suggests</a> there is no direct transmission from what people see on a screen to how they act on the street. Yet mass media are relevant. Probably the images of extreme violence – the beheadings, snuff movies, torture – are less significant than the relentless flow of images in “action” movies (which Hollywood specifically targets at young men), commercial football, other body-contact sports, cop shows, thrillers, and the like.</p>
<p>Those genres make up a large chunk of current popular entertainment, with a huge cumulative audience. They are built on narratives of masculine aggression, physical confrontation and dominance. So media are feeding young men narratives about how men get excitement, success and respect through confrontation. But what would make young men take up such stories?</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/39535/original/h2vqvf6m-1390281171.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/39535/original/h2vqvf6m-1390281171.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/39535/original/h2vqvf6m-1390281171.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39535/original/h2vqvf6m-1390281171.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39535/original/h2vqvf6m-1390281171.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39535/original/h2vqvf6m-1390281171.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39535/original/h2vqvf6m-1390281171.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/39535/original/h2vqvf6m-1390281171.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Is alcohol really to blame?</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">divid3d</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>A question of masculinity?</h2>
<p>“Alcohol-fuelled violence” often involves some kind of masculinity challenge – for instance, a group of young men confronting the <a href="http://anj.sagepub.com/content/38/3/283.abstract">bouncers</a> at a drinking venue. It’s important to note that masculinity isn’t a fixed state. </p>
<p>Masculinities are patterns of conduct that have to be learned. There are multiple forms of masculinity, some more honoured in a given society than others. Especially for young men, masculinity is often in question or under challenge, and the presence of an audience is important.</p>
<p>So we need to look hard at the social situations in which violence is happening. Some of the recent episodes are in zones of exception – places and times in which ordinary social rules are supposed not to apply, where everyday social relations are absent, such as Sydney’s King’s Cross at night. </p>
<p>Heavy drinking is often happening in an all-male, all-young peer group. An element of impunity, a sense that you can get away with it, is also part of the picture.</p>
<p>If we want to know why some young men get into zones of exception, confrontations and episodes of violence, we might ask what else is happening in their lives. Is our society giving them secure jobs? Worthwhile work to do? Models of positive relations with women? Occasions for care and creativity?</p>
<p>I would guess the answer to these questions, for the young men involved in street violence, is often no. But I’m not sure of it – and I don’t think our legislators are, either.</p>
<p>It would be a great pity if the only response to these dismaying episodes is more confrontation, this time from the government.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/22247/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Raewyn Connell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The recent outcry in Sydney about “alcohol-fuelled violence” has many people asking whether young men are out of control, or whether alcohol, or our hyper-masculine culture, might be to blame. Now the…Raewyn Connell, University Professor (social science), University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/96682013-02-27T19:51:46Z2013-02-27T19:51:46ZBig Alcohol and Big Tobacco – boozem buddies?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/20722/original/6jfvpjr6-1361963877.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">The tobacco and alcohol industries have more in common than it seems.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Benjamin Wilken</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>In Australia, the most effective and efficient ways to reduce alcohol-related harm – increasing taxation, and restricting availability and alcohol promotion – are politically unpopular. This mismatch between evidence and public support says much about the successful lobbying of the alcohol industry and its “independent” apologists.</p>
<p>Alcohol is not like tobacco, the alcohol lobby constantly remind us: tobacco smoking kills half of its regular consumers but alcohol can be used in ways that don’t harm drinkers. Indeed, in low doses, they argue, alcohol may even be good for us – although as the <a href="http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/n55">National Health and Medical Research Council notes</a>, even this is debatable.</p>
<p>Alcohol can indeed be used in moderation to enhance sociability and the enjoyment of food. But sadly most of the alcohol consumed in Australia is not used in these ways. If it were, the alcohol industry would be a great deal less profitable than it is.</p>
<p>Around <a href="http://ndri.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/pdf/naip/naipaaifullreport.pdf">four-fifths of all alcohol</a> consumed in Australia by people between the ages of 14 and 24 is used in ways that put drinkers and others’ health at risk. This is why the industry opposes policies that will reduce alcohol-related harm – they will also reduce their profits.</p>
<p>The claim that alcohol and tobacco are different belies the fact that the two industries have <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2012.00855.x/full">long been intertwined</a>. Big Tobacco used its ill-gotten profits to buy into the alcohol industry and senior executives and board members are on the boards of major alcohol industry players (and vice versa).</p>
<p>These <a href="http://www.amj.net.au/index.php?journal=AMJ&page=article&op=viewFile&path%5B%5D=43&path%5B%5D=186">companies have long worried</a> that “Big Alcohol” is vulnerable to many of the same criticisms as Big Tobacco. Even in the 1990s, documents linked to the US alcohol industry argued that
like tobacco, the liquor industry is vulnerable to the charge that it markets its products to young people. </p>
<p>So we shouldn’t be surprised that the alcohol industry is now using many of the same tactics as Big Tobacco. It has followed the example of the tobacco industry by funding supposedly “independent” groups, such as social aspects organisations <a href="http://www.drinkwise.org.au/">Drinkwise in Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/">Drinkaware in the United Kingdom</a>. </p>
<p>These are industry-funded and influenced groups that claim to be interested in reducing alcohol-related harm while failing to support public health policies and favouring plausible but largely ineffective approaches favoured by the industry, foremost among which are soft media campaigns. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/20713/original/crchm5f3-1361941184.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/20713/original/crchm5f3-1361941184.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/20713/original/crchm5f3-1361941184.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/20713/original/crchm5f3-1361941184.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/20713/original/crchm5f3-1361941184.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=423&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/20713/original/crchm5f3-1361941184.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=423&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/20713/original/crchm5f3-1361941184.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=423&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The alcohol lobby constantly reminds is that alcohol is not like tobacco.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">–arpad–/Flickr</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>These bodies serve a number of purposes for the industry. They address the problems that the industry likes to claim are caused by the “minority” who abuse their products, without actually doing anything to reduce their profitability. They can obtain government funding for what amounts to alcohol industry promotional activities. And their members can secure a seat at the public policy table, where they express solemn concern about the problems their funders’ activities help promote.</p>
<p>These organisations promote alcohol policies that serve the industry’s interests by funding small media campaigns and occasional public relations activities. These are vastly outweighed by the tsunami of alcohol industry promotions that spend billions on massive, meticulously researched and carefully targeted campaigns promoting alcohol use by young adults and others.</p>
<p>These organisations distract from – and do nothing to encourage – effective alcohol control measures that are analogous to those we know have driven down tobacco smoking in Australia. These include measures (some even recommended by research that they themselves have funded) such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>increasing alcohol taxes; </li>
<li>reducing the hours of alcohol trading where public drinking causes public disorder and violence; </li>
<li>controlling the massive, unregulated promotion of alcohol in our community; </li>
<li>more effective licensing enforcement to penalise sales outlets that sell alcohol to intoxicated customers; and </li>
<li>hard-hitting, well-funded, sustained media campaigns independent of industry.</li>
</ul>
<p>Such measures are sometimes condemned (especially by the industry and its fellow travellers) as “nanny state” interference with the free choices of adults, but none of them prevent adults from drinking. At most, the access recommendations make it marginally more expensive and difficult to drink some types of alcohol, at any hour of the day or night. They simply move drinkers, especially young adults (who drink the most) toward better drinking choices.</p>
<p>Another effective measure would be to increase taxes on alcohol. This would address the fact that alcohol harms not only drinkers but also many others in their social settings, such as family members, neighbours and workmates. And a tax on alcohol that increases in proportion to the harmfulness of alcoholic beverages extracts compensation for damage caused in proportion to the amount of alcohol that each person drinks. Moderate drinkers pay very little, while heavy drinkers pay the most, as they should.</p>
<p>Until recently, the alcohol industry had free rein to spread misinformation about alcohol policy. This is changing. There’s now a consensus for action among leading health, law enforcement and related organisations and this has resulted in the formation of a <a href="http://www.phaa.net.au/documents/101126Attachmenttosub-NAAAPositionStatement-Reducingharmfromalcohol-creatingahealthierAustralia.pdf">national organisation</a> advocating effective public health policies to reduce alcohol-related harm.</p>
<p>The road to effective tobacco control took over 60 years and had to happen in the face of concerted industry obfuscation of the health risks of smoking and opposition to effective public policies. Public health advocates have learned valuable lessons from that success that should reduce the time taken to introduce effective policies that will substantially reduce the major public health problems caused by alcohol use in Australia. </p>
<p><em>This is the seventh part of our series looking at alcohol and the drinking culture in Australia. Click on the links below to read the other articles:</em></p>
<p><strong>Part One:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-brief-history-of-alcohol-consumption-in-australia-10580">A brief history of alcohol consumption in Australia</a></p>
<p><strong>Part Two:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/social-acceptance-of-alcohol-allows-us-to-ignore-its-harms-10045">Social acceptance of alcohol allows us to ignore its harms</a></p>
<p><strong>Part Three:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/my-drinking-your-problem-alcohol-hurts-non-drinkers-too-12424">My drinking, your problem: alcohol hurts non-drinkers too</a></p>
<p><strong>Part Four:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/alcohol-fuelled-violence-on-the-rise-despite-falling-consumption-9892">Alcohol-fuelled violence on the rise despite falling consumption</a></p>
<p><strong>Part Five:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/as-a-matter-of-fact-ive-got-it-now-alcohol-advertising-and-sport-9909">‘As a matter of fact, I’ve got it now’: alcohol advertising and sport</a></p>
<p><strong>Part Six:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/advertisings-role-in-how-young-people-interact-with-alcohol-9986">Advertising’s role in how young people interact with alcohol</a></p>
<p><strong>Part Eight:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-foetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorders-9871">Explainer: foetal alcohol spectrum disorders</a></p>
<p><strong>Part Nine:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/alcohol-warning-labels-and-valuable-label-real-estate-9813">‘Valuable label real estate’ and alcohol warning labels</a></p>
<p><strong>Part Ten:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/forbidden-fruit-are-children-tricked-into-wanting-alcohol-12457">Forbidden fruit: are children tricked into wanting alcohol?</a></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9668/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Wayne Hall receives funding from the National Medical Research Council and has in the past received research funding from the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mike Daube is President of the Australian Council on Smoking and Health and Director of the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth.</span></em></p>In Australia, the most effective and efficient ways to reduce alcohol-related harm – increasing taxation, and restricting availability and alcohol promotion – are politically unpopular. This mismatch between…Wayne Hall, Professor & Deputy Director (Policy) UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of QueenslandMike Daube, Professor of Health Policy, Curtin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/100512012-10-12T03:12:20Z2012-10-12T03:12:20ZNew singers, old songs: alcohol bans in Aboriginal communities<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/16317/original/dgtp4jym-1349752880.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A sign outside an Aboriginal community near Darwin, noting the ban on consuming alcohol in the area.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">AAP/Xavier La Canna</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The newly elected conservative governments in Queensland and the Northern Territory have <a href="http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/national/15050895/nt-agrees-with-easing-grog-bans/">opened the way</a> to relaxing laws restricting access to alcohol in Aboriginal communities.</p>
<p>In Queensland, a number of observers including Aboriginal leaders Noel Pearson, Marcia Langton and Warren Mundine, have <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/relaxed-grog-bans-to-revive-violence-aboriginal-leaders-warn/story-fn9hm1pm-1226487743699">expressed their dismay</a> and argued the case against <a href="http://www.news.com.au/national/indigenous-councils-to-rule-on-liquor-bans/story-fndo4ckr-1226486894437">plans to dismantle</a> the restrictions, pointing to the high levels of alcohol-related violence and social dysfunction prevalent prior to the restrictions being introduced from 2002 onwards, and to evidence of improvements in areas such as assaults and school attendance. </p>
<p>In order for these improvements to become embedded in sustained cultural and social change, they argue, restrictions must be retained at least for the time being.</p>
<p>Now the Northern Territory’s new Chief Minister Terry Mills has <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/nt-joins-the-push-to-relax-bans-on-grog/story-fn9hm1pm-1226489530801">signalled his government’s intention</a> to roll back restrictions on alcohol in NT Aboriginal communities, with an argument that obfuscates the history of alcohol controls in NT Aboriginal communities.</p>
<p>Mills invokes that most sacred value of a consumerist society – “choice” – and is <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/nt-joins-the-push-to-relax-bans-on-grog/story-fn9hm1pm-1226489530801">quoted as stating</a> that “alcohol bans and other restrictions set by outsiders were trapping indigenous people in a cycle of disempowerment and dependency”. </p>
<p>Leaving aside the question of how banning alcohol fosters dependency, a key point in his argument is his phrase “set by outsiders”.</p>
<h2>The complex history of alcohol bans</h2>
<p>Current blanket bans on consumption or possession of alcohol anywhere on any land designated under the NT Aboriginal Land Rights Act were indeed set by outsiders: specifically by Mal Brough and John Howard under the <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/num_act/ntnera2007531/">2007 NT Emergency Response</a> (NTER), in response to allegations of widespread alcohol-fuelled violence in communities in the report <a href="http://www.inquirysaac.nt.gov.au/">Little Children Are Sacred</a>. </p>
<p>Although the unilateral and blanket geographical coverage of these restrictions angered many Aboriginal (and other) people, the principle of banning alcohol was not new.</p>
<p>On the contrary, prior to the NTER, most Aboriginal communities in the NT had already banned or heavily restricted alcohol access in their communities – at their own request. They had done so under Section VIII of the <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/consol_act/la107/">NT Liquor Act</a> which, from its introduction in 1979 until the Act was partially over-ridden by the NTER, empowered communities to ban or limit alcohol use in defined areas, and to have those decisions enshrined in NT law. </p>
<p>Sparse police resources in some areas, and the ingenuity of grog-runners ensured that the restrictions were more effective in some places than others, but they nonetheless represented exercises in considered decision-making on the part of Aboriginal community residents.</p>
<h2>The current situation</h2>
<p>In July this year a sunset clause written into the NTER took effect. The Gillard Government has since introduced its own legislation. Entitled <a href="http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/our-responsibilities/indigenous-australians/programs-services/stronger-futures-in-the-northern-territory/stronger-futures-in-the-northern-territory-policy-statement">Stronger Futures</a>, the new legislation retains the framework of the NTER alcohol restrictions, while seeking to return decision-making power back to individual communities by encouraging and supporting them to formulate their own alcohol management plans. </p>
<p>How this policy will work in practice, and how it will articulate with NT legislation remains to be seen, but to suggest – as Mills implies – that most residents of Aboriginal communities are chafing for greater access to alcohol is misleading.</p>
<p>Further, it is difficult to imagine that he and his government do not know this. </p>
<p>So what is really at issue here? Two factors appear relevant. The election-winning strategies of both the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-09/aboriginal-leaders-welcome-review-of-grog-laws/3880160">LNP under Campbell Newman</a> and the <a href="http://www.news.com.au/national/pm-congratulates-nts-new-leader/story-fndo4eg9-1226457999565">CLP in the NT</a> involved forming alliances with individual Aboriginal leaders, some of whom are opposed to restrictions in communities. </p>
<p>Moreover, in both the NT and north Queensland, opposition to restrictions in communities stems in part from a belief that the restrictions aggravate levels of public drunkenness by Aboriginal drinkers in towns.</p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/16319/original/yrg6y5d6-1349753296.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/16319/original/yrg6y5d6-1349753296.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=435&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/16319/original/yrg6y5d6-1349753296.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=435&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/16319/original/yrg6y5d6-1349753296.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=435&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/16319/original/yrg6y5d6-1349753296.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=546&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/16319/original/yrg6y5d6-1349753296.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=546&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/16319/original/yrg6y5d6-1349753296.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=546&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Federal and state governments have tried to combat the problem of alcohol in remote Aboriginal communities.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">AAP/Terry Trewin</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In the NT, successive governments have grappled with this by endlessly refining law enforcement measures such as the <a href="http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/previous%20series/proceedings/1-27/%7E/media/publications/proceedings/01/dabbs.pdf">Two Kilometre Law</a>, which legally bans drinking in public just about anywhere in towns. </p>
<p>But in the absence of any willingness to impose serious limitations on the retailers who profit from serving the appetites of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal drinkers alike, these measures have generally had limited effect.</p>
<p>Another favoured policy response has been to urge remote communities to establish licensed clubs (as the Bjelke-Petersen government did in Cape York in the 1980s), in the belief that communities with clubs will export fewer drinkers to towns. The limited evidence available to test this proposition does not support it, but its plausibility to urban voters is obvious. The real problem for NT governments, however, has been that most communities have repeatedly made it clear that they do not want clubs. Out of more than 100 Aboriginal communities in the NT, just seven currently operate licensed clubs, and one has a licensed store. All of these are located in the Top End. </p>
<p>A few other communities have run clubs in the past, only to abandon them as too much trouble. In two or three other communities, discussions are currently under way that may or may not lead to those communities applying to the NT Licensing Commission for club licenses.</p>
<h2>More is not less. It is more and more</h2>
<p>Aboriginal public drunkenness in towns is – at least to many non-Aboriginal people – the most visible manifestation of a complex and distressing problem that needs to be addressed at multiple levels, including law enforcement, supply reduction and the creation of opportunities and incentives for less self-destructive lifestyles.</p>
<p>To suggest that it can be addressed by opening up availability of alcohol in Aboriginal communities, particularly in communities that have indicated that they do not want alcohol, is a cruel hoax.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/10051/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter d'Abbs has received funding via the Menzies Institute from the Northern Territory Department of Justice to evaluate alcohol management programs.</span></em></p>The newly elected conservative governments in Queensland and the Northern Territory have opened the way to relaxing laws restricting access to alcohol in Aboriginal communities. In Queensland, a number…Peter d'Abbs, Professor of Substance Misuse Studies, Menzies School of Health Research, Menzies School of Health ResearchLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/98312012-09-28T02:29:24Z2012-09-28T02:29:24ZMirror ball, mirror ball, in the school hall: are parents allowed any booze at all?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15923/original/9k5ss7hd-1348713300.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Parents' drinking patterns impact on how young people think about and consume alcohol.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Kuorui</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The question of whether <a href="http://www.adf.org.au/media-centre/parents-feel-powerless-to-stop-drinking-on-school-grounds/">adults should be allowed to drink alcohol</a> at school discos, fetes and sports games was thrust into the spotlight this week after the <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/ban-urged-on-parents-drinking-at-school-functions-20120922-26e5r.html">Australian Drug Foundation urged</a> education departments to develop “alcohol management strategies” to ban drinking at school events. </p>
<p>Parents who drink at these events may consider there is a social benefit to doing so. But what does this behaviour mean for children and young people who might be watching and learning from the example set by their parents and teachers?</p>
<p>First, let’s consider some facts about Australians and alcohol:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Australia has <a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=World+Health+Organisation+Global+Alcohol+picture&view=detail&id=4F024FFFBED037B84BB609D3F853B309E1F6D93D&qpvt=World+Health+Organisation+Global+Alcohol+picture&FORM=IDFRIR">one of the highest</a> levels of alcohol consumption in the world, according to the WHO Global Status Report on Alcohol.</p></li>
<li><p>Alcohol is <a href="http://ndri.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/pdf/naip/naip006.pdf">linked to</a> the three leading causes of death among young people: unintentional injuries, homicide and suicide. </p></li>
<li><p>Alcohol is a precursor to other health and lifestyle problems that impact on young people’s future: unsafe sex, sexual assault, violence, injury, behavioural problems, academic failure, mental health problems and social problems.</p></li>
<li><p>More than one in three young Australians were [victims of alcohol-related harm](http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=32212254712](http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=32212254712) in the past year.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>We should be asking why our young people are at such a high level of risk from alcohol-related harm. And we should be looking at what we can do as a community to reduce young peoples’ exposure to alcohol-related risks and harms, particularly as some of these continue into adulthood.</p>
<h2>Modelling behaviour</h2>
<p>Reducing the social acceptance of alcohol in Australia is one area we can target to lower rates of consumption and the related harms. And we know that the way adults model alcohol use has a [significant influence](http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/resreport10/main.html](http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/resreport10/main.html) on the drinking patterns of young people. </p>
<p>In fact, the way parents drink and model alcohol use – along with the rules and regulations they have about their child’s alcohol use and how they monitor this – have the most <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-set-teens-up-for-a-healthy-relationship-with-alcohol-7370">significant impact</a> on young people’s initiation to, and patterns of, alcohol use.</p>
<p>It’s important for parents and teachers to show young people that adults can enjoy themselves without alcohol, particularly at school events where the focus should be on the students. </p>
<p>Further, alcohol use at schools inappropriately links alcohol and education, and encourages the adults involved to drink and drive. These actions are being watched and noted by the students and their siblings. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15930/original/rfjvyj65-1348721745.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15930/original/rfjvyj65-1348721745.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15930/original/rfjvyj65-1348721745.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15930/original/rfjvyj65-1348721745.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15930/original/rfjvyj65-1348721745.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15930/original/rfjvyj65-1348721745.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15930/original/rfjvyj65-1348721745.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Young people should see that you don’t need to drink alcohol to have a good time.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">EaglebrookSchool</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>School-based alcohol education</h2>
<p>Teachers and schools have an important role to play in reducing alcohol use and related harm by providing appropriate and effective alcohol education. </p>
<p>Locally-developed programs offered in some schools have had a positive effect on the way young people think about and use alcohol. An evaluation of the NDRI-developed <a href="http://ndri.curtin.edu.au/research/shahrp/">School Health and Alcohol Harm Reduction Project</a> (SHAHRP), for example, <a href="http://ndri.curtin.edu.au/research/shahrp/about/results.cfm">found students</a> consumed 20% less alcohol, were 19.5% less likely to drink to risky levels and experienced 33% less harm associated with their own use of alcohol, than the control group who received regular alcohol education.</p>
<p>The SHAHRP lessons are conducted in two phases with eight lessons in the first year of secondary school (at 13 years) and five booster lessons in the following year during phase two of the program (14 years). </p>
<p>Phase one is targeted immediately prior to students’ initial experiences with drinking, giving them alcohol harm-reduction skills and strategies immediately before they begin drinking alcohol.</p>
<p>Phase two reinforces knowledge and skills during a time when most young people are experimenting with alcohol, ensuring that information is immediately relevant. This period of experimentation often exposes teenagers to a higher level of risk, due to the type of drinking generally undertaken (binging) and their relative inexperience in handling the changes brought about by alcohol use in themselves and in others.</p>
<p>The SHAHRP lessons support students to develop an awareness of situations with alcohol-related risk, and skills training to enable them to make and implement choices that minimise harms when they’re around alcohol. </p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15932/original/s3k72xdq-1348721889.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15932/original/s3k72xdq-1348721889.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15932/original/s3k72xdq-1348721889.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15932/original/s3k72xdq-1348721889.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15932/original/s3k72xdq-1348721889.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15932/original/s3k72xdq-1348721889.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/15932/original/s3k72xdq-1348721889.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">The SHAHRP board game.</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The SHAHRP board game activity (right), for instance, encourages students to stay safe in pseudo alcohol-use situations by developing and sharing strategies to reduce or eliminate harm. </p>
<p>The scenarios in the game, and other SHAHRP activities, were originally identified through focus groups with young people to ensure they were realistic and relevant to students. </p>
<p>The SHAHRP program findings have been <a href="http://ndri.curtin.edu.au/research/shahrp/beyond/global.cfm">replicated internationally</a> and demonstrate the ability for evidence-based interactive programs to change young people’s alcohol use behaviours. </p>
<p>If schools want to provide appropriate messages about alcohol to young people that are going to have a practical benefit for students, they need to provide evidence-based programs that can reduce alcohol use and minimise the harm that young people experience in alcohol-use situations. </p>
<p>Schools also need to set a clear example that alcohol isn’t needed for parents and teachers to enjoy themselves at school functions. </p>
<p><em><strong>The National Drug Research Institute’s SHAHRP resources are are available <a href="http://ndri.curtin.edu.au/research/shahrp/">online</a> under a creative commons license.</strong></em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9831/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Nyanda McBride receives funding from Healthway. Nyanda McBride led the development of the SHAHRP program.</span></em></p>The question of whether adults should be allowed to drink alcohol at school discos, fetes and sports games was thrust into the spotlight this week after the Australian Drug Foundation urged education departments…Nyanda McBride, Senior Research Fellow, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/89662012-09-02T20:09:47Z2012-09-02T20:09:47ZWho should be educating us about alcohol-related violence?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/14866/original/wch44373-1346382068.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">High profile campaigns that don't reduce consumption or profits are favoured by industry.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Alexandre Chang</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>In a series of recent papers, our research team has documented the impact of community interventions at reducing alcohol-related harm in the Geelong region in Victoria. What we found was that despite the best of intentions, none of the interventions reduced emergency department attendances and one was associated with an increase.</p>
<p>Geelong has a long and proud tradition of trying to address alcohol-related harms in a collaborative and creative manner. Council, police, licensees and Deakin University researchers have worked together to reduce these harms in the community while ensuring young people have an enjoyable social life. </p>
<p>Geelong was one of the first cities in the world to implement a <a href="http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/brdaplan/cgroups/itemp/p60.aspx">liquor accord</a>. And, between 2006 and 2009, it trialled a number of innovative approaches based on cooperation. Current interventions include a taxi rank and a closed circuit television (CCTV) network that now operates in conjunction with a radio program that connects police to security staff in licensed venues, camera operators and fast-food venues. Identity scanners were also installed in every late night (open after 1am) licensed premises in the city.</p>
<h2>A new initiative</h2>
<p>In June 2008, with no involvement from the liquor accord or local <a href="http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/community/safety/">community safety committee</a>, the <a href="http://www.drinkwise.org.au/our-work/community-initiatives/just-think/">“Just Think” campaign</a> was launched by the local tabloid newspaper, the <a href="http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/">Geelong Advertiser</a>. Funded by the alcohol industry social aspect/public relations organisation (SAPRO) <a href="http://www.drinkwise.org.au/">DrinkWise</a>, the campaign used football stars to endorse this message: “We’re not saying don’t drink, we’re saying just think.” </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/14862/original/jbpm746h-1346380958.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/14862/original/jbpm746h-1346380958.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14862/original/jbpm746h-1346380958.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14862/original/jbpm746h-1346380958.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14862/original/jbpm746h-1346380958.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14862/original/jbpm746h-1346380958.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14862/original/jbpm746h-1346380958.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Rusian/Flickr</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The campaign featured pictures of battered victims alongside football stars. These were sporadically implanted into the news cycle. The Just Think campaign was very popular with politicians, the media and many community stakeholders. It was adopted by the AFL and recommended by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. </p>
<p>It’s important to note that campaigns like this one have been a favoured vehicle for the tobacco, gambling and alcohol industries in the past; they have a high profile but don’t reduce consumption or profits.</p>
<h2>The research</h2>
<p>Our research project evaluated the impact of all the measures (individually and collectively) trying to tackle alcohol-related problems around licensed venues in Geelong. The findings published in the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21896077">Drug and Alcohol Review</a> and <a href="http://benthamscience.com/open/tocrij/articles/V005/8TOCRIJ.pdf">The Open Criminology Journal</a> demonstrated that community interventions in Geelong failed to have an impact on injury presentations to local hospitals or assaults reported to police through to mid-2009. </p>
<p>We found the radio network, identity scanners and CCTV were useful in the detection and solving of crimes. But the Just Think campaign was associated with significant increases in both assaults and injury presentations at the Geelong hospital emergency department. The increases occurred at the same time as the campaign. </p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/14861/original/bvxjfpf8-1346380953.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/14861/original/bvxjfpf8-1346380953.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=934&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14861/original/bvxjfpf8-1346380953.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=934&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14861/original/bvxjfpf8-1346380953.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=934&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14861/original/bvxjfpf8-1346380953.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1173&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14861/original/bvxjfpf8-1346380953.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1173&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14861/original/bvxjfpf8-1346380953.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1173&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">duncan c/Flickr</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The association doesn’t necessarily mean that the Just Think caused the increase in assaults but there are plausible reasons for why it may have.</p>
<h2>Violence and the campaign</h2>
<p>The Just Think campaign sensationalised alcohol-fuelled violence by putting photos of bloodied victims on the front page of newspapers, and labelling incidents with a Just Think badge if they may have involved alcohol. But the program provided no practical strategies to avoid aggression or defuse potentially violent situations. </p>
<p>Successful campaigns in violence prevention need to give practical strategies; over 30 years of research tells us weak awareness campaigns are popular but ineffective.</p>
<p>In the absence of any practical strategies, Just Think only raised awareness of violence. This may have produced increased apprehension about entering dangerous environments and increased readiness to resort to violence to avert retaliation. These are only potential mechanisms, but in the face of the data, they are plausible.</p>
<p>The increased rates of emergency attendances and assaults were disappointing news for the Geelong community, but the much greater concern is the subsequent failure to report our findings about Just Think.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/14859/original/yh2rvbpf-1346380941.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/14859/original/yh2rvbpf-1346380941.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14859/original/yh2rvbpf-1346380941.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14859/original/yh2rvbpf-1346380941.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14859/original/yh2rvbpf-1346380941.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14859/original/yh2rvbpf-1346380941.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/14859/original/yh2rvbpf-1346380941.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<h2>An unhealthy coalition?</h2>
<p>A <a href="http://www.webcitation.org/69ydghzYQ">recent Geelong Advertiser article</a> reported our research findings on assaults, but failed to mention the contribution of Just Think to the problem. Nor did the article report the money (an undisclosed amount) that the Geelong Advertiser received from DrinkWise. </p>
<p>Instead, the article noted, “The study said police and council initiatives implemented between 1991 and 2009 failed to reduce drunken assaults.” This omitted our findings regarding Just Think and implied the council and police had failed, as had the local licensees working with them.</p>
<p>The good news is that the implementation of more innovative and collaborative interventions may finally have had an impact on alcohol-related problems, which have now levelled off. But, this experience illustrates how unhealthy coalitions can form to advance commercial interests over the public good. </p>
<p>The public and government clearly need independent advice on what strategies are effective for combating social harms.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/8966/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter Miller receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, the National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund and the Australian Research Council. He is affiliated with the journal Addiction, for which he receives travel funds and a stipend.</span></em></p>In a series of recent papers, our research team has documented the impact of community interventions at reducing alcohol-related harm in the Geelong region in Victoria. What we found was that despite the…Peter Miller, Principal Research Fellow, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/43522011-11-18T04:46:33Z2011-11-18T04:46:33ZHealth the casualty of Coles and Woolies alcohol price war<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/5667/original/418589195_d1b386d74f_b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">The real cost of the alcohol price war is the damage heavy drinking does to public health and the social fabric.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Rick Audet</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>In recent days, Woolworths and Coles have put out a flurry of media releases, each staking a claim to being the cheapest place to buy alcohol this summer. Coles have “declared war” on liquor prices and the Woolworths-owned Dan Murphy’s chain has fired back a response. </p>
<p>For the consumer, this all sounds like great news – an alcohol price war in the lead-up to Christmas. But for public health and safety, it’s worth thinking about the real cost of discounted drinks.</p>
<h2>Beyond price</h2>
<p>Recent estimates put the social cost of alcohol in Australia at around <a href="http://www.fare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/The-Range-and-Magnitude-of-Alcohol%E2%80%99s-Harm-to-Others-report.pdf?9d7bd4">$36 billion a year</a>. Approximately half of these costs come from harms experienced by people other than the drinker. </p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/5670/original/photo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/5670/original/photo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/5670/original/photo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/5670/original/photo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/5670/original/photo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/5670/original/photo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/5670/original/photo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<p>Alcohol contributes to a vast array of problems including cancer and liver disease, assaults, car accidents and other injuries, family dysfunction, neighbourhood disturbance and fear. </p>
<p>Recent work undertaken in Victoria demonstrates that problems from alcohol are increasing rapidly. <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2010.00568.x/abstract">Ambulance attendances, hospital admissions and assault rates have all increased by more than 50% in the last decade</a>. And, crucially, a key driver of rates of alcohol problems is price.</p>
<p>Studies from around the world have shown that rates of alcohol harms are affected by the cost of alcohol. Heavy drinkers and young people are particularly responsive to price changes. A <a href="http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/100/11/2270">recent meta-analysis </a> highlighted the links between price and a wide range of harms, including hospitalisations and deaths, traffic accidents, violence and other crime and risky sexual behaviour. </p>
<p>It seems that there’s no such thing as a cheap drink. </p>
<h2>Race to the bottom</h2>
<p>In spite of this evidence, Woolworths and Coles have spent the last 12 months in a race to the bottom on alcohol prices. In March, both companies were only stopped from <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/business/beer-wars-big-retail-v-fosters-20110322-1c59d.html">selling beer at below-cost price</a> by pressure from manufacturers. </p>
<p>In April, the companies engaged in a <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/business/supermarket-price-war-switches-to-premixed-spirits-20110418-1dlp2.html">price-war on pre-mixed spirits</a>, selling a variety of brands at below wholesale prices.</p>
<p>Now, with schoolies week, the Christmas party season and New Year coming up (a peak time for alcohol-related harm), we see both Coles and Woolworths-owned retailers advertising cut-price alcohol. This includes some popular wines being sold for less than $1 per standard drink. </p>
<h2>Known harms</h2>
<p>Retailers are well aware of the problems associated with cheap alcohol. </p>
<p>Coles won’t offer these discounts in the Northern Territory or the north-west region of Western Australia: there are considerable problems with alcohol in these areas and this is a promising acknowledgement by the company that cheap alcohol will not help reduce them. </p>
<p>But alcohol is not merely an Indigenous problem. The most <a href="http://aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=32212254712">recent national survey data </a>estimates that one in five Australians drink at levels that put them at risk of long-term harm from alcohol. Nearly one in three regularly drink at levels that put them at risk of injury.</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/5668/original/6028200931_3e4a928b8a_b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/5668/original/6028200931_3e4a928b8a_b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=875&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/5668/original/6028200931_3e4a928b8a_b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=875&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/5668/original/6028200931_3e4a928b8a_b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=875&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/5668/original/6028200931_3e4a928b8a_b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1100&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/5668/original/6028200931_3e4a928b8a_b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1100&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/5668/original/6028200931_3e4a928b8a_b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1100&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<p>Of course, Woolworths and Coles are merely engaging in standard business practices. The $25-billion alcohol market in Australia is the focus of increasing competition, and these two retailers are already dominante that market. </p>
<p>Despite the rhetoric of responsibility and community-mindedness, the companies are focussed on maximising their profits. That’s why it’s necessary for governments to deal with the issue of alcohol price.</p>
<h2>Regulatory options</h2>
<p>A smarter approach to alcohol taxation has been recommended for both economic and public health reasons by recent government reviews. This measure has also been shown to be the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02708.x/abstract">most cost-effective intervention available to reduce alcohol-related harm in Australia</a>. </p>
<p>But despite these evidence-based policy suggestions, the Federal government has taken alcohol tax reform off the table as a policy option. </p>
<p>Alternatively, governments could impose a minimum price per standard drink for alcohol, cutting down the harm associated with discounting practices, such as those currently being undertaken by Coles and Woolworths.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/4352/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michael Livingston receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education and the Sidney Myer Fund.</span></em></p>In recent days, Woolworths and Coles have put out a flurry of media releases, each staking a claim to being the cheapest place to buy alcohol this summer. Coles have “declared war” on liquor prices and…Michael Livingston, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at The University of New South Wales, UNSW SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/32822011-09-19T20:40:37Z2011-09-19T20:40:37ZLast drinks: regulating alcohol to prevent non-communicable diseases<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/3696/original/3401533198_f7a75f760f_o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Focussing on 'harmful' alcohol use means attention is diverted from reducing alcohol intake across the population.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Visit Greenwich</span></span></figcaption></figure><p><strong><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/topics/non-communicable-diseases">Non-communicable diseases</a> – Paula O'Brien looks at the what <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current">The Lancet</a> NCD Action Group and the NCD Alliance name as one of the [priority interventions](http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(\11)60393-0/fulltext) for mitigating the impact of NCDs: reduction in hazardous alcohol intake.</em></strong></p>
<p>The Australian government has taken a tough stance against the tobacco industry and its deadly products. But despite the known harms of alcohol, it’s been slow to confront the nation’s drinking habit.</p>
<p>The government has a bill before Parliament mandating plain packaging of tobacco products as the latest of a series of steps to control tobacco consumption.</p>
<p>It has taken this action because tobacco is recognised as one of the leading causes of preventable death. </p>
<h2>What about alcohol?</h2>
<p>Like tobacco, alcohol is also a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease. </p>
<p>What’s more, alcohol is the cause of many injuries and mental disorders, as well as social costs such as absenteeism from work and property damage. </p>
<p>In Australia alone, the<a href="http://www.aerf.com.au/Harm_to_Others_Full_Report_with-errata.pdf"> total annual cost of alcohol misuse</a> is estimated at $36 billion. </p>
<p>Yet, the government has done very little to deal with alcohol as a cause of disease and injury. </p>
<p>So what should it be doing? </p>
<p>This is an important question, as Australia and other countries gather this week at the <a href="http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/65/issues/ncdiseases.shtml">United Nations in New York</a> to decide what steps they need to take to prevent and control the four non-communicable diseases. </p>
<p>Countries have been moved to make this global effort because <a href="http://www.who.int/nmh/publications/ncd_report2010/en/">68% of all deaths in 2008</a> were due to one of these four non-communicable diseases.</p>
<p>The draft declaration for the UN meeting states tackling the <a href="http://www.who.int/nmh/events/un_ncd_summit2011/en/">“harmful use of alcohol” must be a priority</a>.</p>
<p>But talking about “harmful” alcohol consumption might throw Australia off course in its efforts to address alcohol as a risk factor for non-communicable diseases. </p>
<p>First, it suggests some alcohol use is <em>not</em> harmful even though there’s evidence this isn’t correct. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.cancer.org.au/File/PolicyPublications/Position_statements/CCA_Alcohol_and_cancer_position_statement_final_May11.pdf">Cancer Council Australia maintains</a> “any level of alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer; the level of risk increases in line with the level of consumption.” </p>
<p>If we accept this assessment of alcohol’s impact, it may mean we start to take a tougher approach to regulating alcohol. </p>
<p>We might start to think about alcohol as being much more similar to tobacco – in terms of its inherent potential to cause harm – than the alcohol industry would like us to believe. </p>
<p>Second, the notion of harmful alcohol use suggests that Australia should introduce programs focussing on people who drink in a harmful way, such as binge drinkers or alcoholics. </p>
<p>Programs giving attention to these sub-groups are important, but just as important are efforts to bring down the level of alcohol consumption across the whole population. </p>
<p>This is a challenging idea for many in a country like Australia, where food and alcohol go hand-in-hand at most social gatherings. And where people who abstain or who drink very little are often seen as “wowsers”. </p>
<h2>Possible measures</h2>
<p>If the real goal is to reduce alcohol consumption, then Australia should act to better regulate alcohol in three respects: pricing, <a href="http://theconversation.com/cheers-to-health-warning-labels-for-alcoholic-drinks-2891">warnings</a>, and retailing. </p>
<p>These, and other areas for action, were identified by the <a href="http://www.preventativehealth.org.au/">National Preventative Health Taskforce</a> as the way to <a href="http://www.preventativehealth.org.au/internet/preventativehealth/publishing.nsf/Content/AEC223A781D64FF0CA2575FD00075DD0/$File/nphs-overview.pdf">create “a safer drinking culture for Australia”</a>.</p>
<p>The pricing of alcohol clearly affects consumption patterns. When the <a href="http://www.preventativehealth.org.au/internet/preventativehealth/publishing.nsf/Content/AEC223A781D64FF0CA2575FD00075DD0/$File/nphs-overview.pdf">Northern Territory imposed a levy on cask wine</a> in the 1990s, quarterly per capita consumption of cask wine per person aged 15 years and over fell from 0.73 litres to 0.49 litres. </p>
<p>The tax system can be used to price alcohol to change the way we drink but Australia’s current taxation regime for alcoholic products is both complicated and flawed. </p>
<p>The system needs to be reformed to include: a minimum price for all alcoholic products (to prevent bargain basement discounting by retailers) and a tax based on volume of alcohol (so that high-alcohol products like wine don’t cost substantially less than low-alcohol beers). </p>
<p><a href="http://theconversation.com/cheers-to-health-warning-labels-for-alcoholic-drinks-2891">Warnings are not currently required</a> on alcoholic beverage containers or packaging in Australia. Alcohol is also largely exempt from basic nutrition and ingredient labelling requirements that apply to other foods. </p>
<p>Text and picture warnings, tested for their impact and rotated on a regular basis so consumers don’t become immune to their messages, can shape people’s knowledge, awareness, use and perceptions about alcohol. </p>
<p>The government is considering whether to introduce this style of mandatory warning regime. It should take this step and not opt for industry self-regulation. </p>
<p>But it’s not just the Federal government that has a role to play in reducing Australians’ alcohol consumption. </p>
<p>State governments are responsible for liquor licensing laws that regulate retailers of alcohol, such as bars, pubs, and cafes. </p>
<p>There are problems with under-enforcement of these laws in some states and territories. And many licensees are not meeting their obligations under the laws, such as not to serve persons who are intoxicated, because there are no real consequences for failing to comply. </p>
<p>Another problem is that previous changes to these laws have seen a proliferation in the number of licensed venues in many states. </p>
<p>In Victoria, this change was said to promise a more sophisticated, European-style drinking culture. </p>
<p>Rather, it’s now understood that increased availability of alcohol – more venues, longer opening hours – is connected with more alcohol-related problems. </p>
<h2>Leading the way</h2>
<p>Australia should make changes to the regulation of alcohol – in pricing, labelling and retailing – as a way of tackling at least this primary risk factor for non-communicable diseases. </p>
<p>And as a wealthy country, it should also look at what it can contribute to international efforts to combat non-communicable diseases – the greatest burden of deaths from non-communicable diseases is felt in poor- and middle-income countries. </p>
<p>Providing technical and financial assistance to such countries is one way to assist. At the very least, Australia should not stand in the way of evidence-based public health measures other countries want to introduce. </p>
<p>The United Nations meeting on non-communicable diseases this week will hopefully give Australia a push to take more decisive and effective action to deal with alcohol as a major cause of non-communicable diseases and other health problems.</p>
<p><strong><em>This is the second part of our <a href="https://theconversation.com/topics/non-communicable-diseases">non-communicable diseases</a> series. To read the other instalments, follow the links here:</em></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p><strong>Part One: Sir George Alleyne discusses <a href="http://theconversation.com/we-need-a-new-paradigm-to-stop-non-communicable-diseases-3422">why we need a new paradigm to tackle NCDs</a></strong></p></li>
<li><p><strong>Part Three: <a href="http://theconversation.com/stemming-the-obesity-epidemic-requires-courageous-population-level-action-3412">Stopping the obesity epidemic will require action on the population-level</a></strong></p></li>
<li><p><strong>Part Four: <a href="http://theconversation.com/non-communicable-diseases-come-to-the-united-nations-3480">The results of the UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases on New York September 19-20</a></strong></p></li>
<li><p><strong>Part Five: <a href="http://theconversation.com/tobaccos-mad-men-threaten-public-health-3450">How plain packaging works to reduce smoking – one of the biggest causes of non-communicable diseases</a></strong></p></li>
<li><p><strong>Part Six: <a href="http://theconversation.com/blueprint-for-making-medicines-more-affordable-for-everyone-3503">Blueprint for making medicines more affordable for everyone</a></strong></p></li>
<li><p><strong>Part Seven: <a href="http://theconversation.com/action-on-salt-will-mean-longer-healthier-lives-3443">Action on salt will mean longer, healthier lives</a></strong> - </p></li>
<li><p><strong>Part Eight: <a href="http://theconversation.com/death-by-suburban-sprawl-better-urban-planning-will-combat-sedentary-lifestyles-3395">Death by suburban sprawl: better urban planning will combat sedentary lifestyles</a></strong></p></li>
<li><p><strong>Part Nine: <a href="http://theconversation.com/where-we-come-from-determines-how-we-fare-the-fetal-origins-of-adult-disease-3581">Where we come from determines how we fare – the fetal origins of adult disease</a></strong></p></li>
<li><p><strong>Part Ten: <a href="http://theconversation.com/social-inclusion-brings-respect-and-better-health-sri-lankan-elders-3414">Social inclusion brings respect and better health Sri Lankan elders</a></strong></p></li>
</ul><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/3282/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Paula O'Brien does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Non-communicable diseases – Paula O'Brien looks at the what The Lancet NCD Action Group and the NCD Alliance name as one of the [priority interventions](http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(\11)60393-0/fulltext…Paula O'Brien, Senior Lecturer in Faculty of Law, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.