Booze RebellionCourse

Test your knowledge about

alcohol

Finns have always been

heavy drinkers?

1a

Incorrect!Only a hundred years ago Finns drank the

least in Europe.

1a

.

On the chart, you can see how the total consumption has increased from 3 litres to 10 litres of pure alcohol per year.

Consumption has increased because alcohol has been made cheaper, more easily available and has been aggressively advertised.

Finns should embrace so

called “European drinking habits”?

2a

A short trip to Italy?

False.

• Problems arise from both binge drinking and moderate, regular drinking.

• The European drinking problem:o 55 million European adults drink to

dangerous levelso 23 million alcoholicso 5-9 million children living with alcoholic

parentso ~25% of young men’s and ~10% of young

women’s deaths have been caused by alcohol2a

Drinking is a harmless way of having fun. True or false?

3a

False:- Alcohol is the most common cause of death among 15-64 year old men and women in Finland (Statistics Finland)- In Finland 80% of homicides and 70% of assaults carried out under the influence of alcohol. (The National Research Institute of Legal Policy 2008)

-Substance abuse and the violence related to it are the most common causes for why children are taken into custody (Glassy Childhood). -70 drunk-drivers are caught by the police everyday (Liikenneturva 2009). -Cases of underage alcohol poisoning have doubled between 1971 and 2005.

3a

Alcohol increases social capabilities?

4a

Incorrect.-Alcohol temporarily removes inhibitions, but in the long run alcohol corrodes social abilities.- Alcohol damages the brain (even more often than the liver): the majority of problems caused by alcohol are mental and behavioural disturbances. - Drunken people have loss of social abilityand manners.

4a

Alcohol advertising increases teenagers'

alcohol consumption

?

5a

Advertisement increases teens’ alcohol

consumption and increases the probability of them starting drinking

(The European Alcohol and Health Forum).

• The advertisements affect even 11–12 year olds, not to mention grown-ups.

• Although the law bans marketing of alcohol to minors, only 4% of 13–17 year olds have not come across alcohol advertising (Finnish Ash/TNS Gallup's research).

• . • . 5a

Teens come across alcohol ads on TV,

billboards the Internet, events sponsored by

breweries etc. and they are lured with humor,

music and games.

True:

Moderate use of alcohol is notdangerousto your health.

True or false?

6a

6a

False.

There is no such thing as safe drinking. Alcohol has the same rating on the cancer-risk scale as cigarettes and asbestos (IARC).•Those who consider themselves to be moderate alcohol consumers are the cause of the majority of alcohol-related problems in society (STAKES).•Even one glass of wine a day increases the risk of breast cancer in women. Even a small glass of wine a day increases especially the risk of throat cancer (168%) (INCA)•Alcohol causes testicular-based feminization in men, with symptoms such as growth of breasts, weakening of the sperm. •Alcohol shrinks the brain.•Alcohol increases weight gain.

Education is a good

way to impact

drinking habits??

8a

•According to research education alone is not enough. It is necessary to control pricing availability and marketing.

8a

Education…

• On- going programmes would result better outcomes

• Örebro model in Sweden: working via parents– Strict parental attitutes against youth

alcohol use– Co- operation parents-parents, parents-

school

Not be abandoned, but improved

• Public education campaings should:

• give infomation about the risks• Give info of help and treatments• Used to support more effective

alcohol policies

Alcohol provideincome to society.True or False?

9a

False.The costs and harms of alcohol consumption for a society are far greater than the tax-income it generates.

The cost to society of alcohol has been measured at €3.8–6.6 billion annually. The tax income is about €1 billion.The alcohol industry, retailers and other businesses collect the most profits (e.g. Sinebrychoff profited €57 million in 2007)

9a

Finns are gloomy people and hence need alcohol.True orFalse?

10a

False:

-There is no more depression in Finland than any other European country. Finns are more satisfied with their lives than other Europeans.

-Rather repetitive boozing is connected with depression and mental dysfunctions.

10a

You can only make a

difference in your own

drinking habits, but not to that of others.

11a

• Drinking culture is collective. Even one person criticizing boozing can influence others – social pressure can either

increase or decrease drinking .

• If parents buy their children alcohol, it sends a message that underage drinking is OK. Buying children (even your own) alcohol is always a crime.

• Teenagers are worried about their age-groups drinking. They are communicating a need for cultural change. (Terveys ry)

• You don’t have to stand for harassment from drunks. You can intervene or call the police.

• Intervention in one's drinking is tolerated and desired. 86% of Finns tolerate healthcare officials’ questioning and advice on alcohol use. (Finns alcohol attitudes 2008)

11a

• You can intervene in alcohol advertising: If you come across dubious alcohol marketing contact Valvira 09 772920 or alkoholi@valvira.fi.

• The law on alcohol forbids aiming adverts at the under-aged, or combining drinking and driving, or portraying alcohol as something that increases performance, social/sexual success, as stimulating or relaxing, or giving false or misleading information.

11a

Abstinence is the

only potential option?

12a

12a

Abstinence is a good option but if you do drink, you can likely avoid the major health risks by using it seldom and in small quantities, e.g. a glass of wine with food. Getting drunk always carries a risk.

As the culture tolerates boozing less and becomes less alcohol-focused:•choosing not to drink will not have to be explained•risky consumption will be easier to identify in yourself and in others