It is unfortunate that there are so many myths propagated amongst adults and youth which misinform and presume there are simple strategies to mitigate the intoxicating effects of alcohol and provide remedies to overcome the effects of binge drinking.

The following are some examples of these false myths. The facts which refute these myths are reported in the source documents acknowledged at the end of this article.

MYTH: A cold shower, fresh air or hot coffee will sober someone up.
MYTH: You will feel better if you don’t mix your drinks
MYTH: You can sweat off a hangover.
MYTH: Lining your stomach with milk will stop you puking after drinking.
MYTH: Another (alcoholic) drink will cure your shakes the morning after.
MYTH:  Breath mints can help beat random alcohol breath tests.

Then there are also myths propagated with the intention of encouraging people to  feel more relaxed about drinking excessively. 

For example:

MYTH: Alcohol will give you more energy and make you more sociable
MYTH: While alcohol is considered a drug, you cannot overdose on it
MYTH: Your body develops a tolerance to alcohol, so you can safely drink more.
MYTH: Lining your stomach with a big meal before drink can help to reduce the risk of getting drunk.
MYTH: Eating a big meal before you drink will keep you sober.
MYTH: Beer is less intoxicating than other types of alcoholic beverage.
MYTH: Alcohol is a stimulant.
MYTH: White wine is a good choice for a person who wants a light drink with less alcohol.
MYTH: Women are affected by alcohol to the same degree as men.
MYTH: Women can hold their drink as well as men can.
MYTH: Only young people are the ones who have a problem with alcohol.

Then, even worse, there are those myths perpetuated to encourage drinking to achieve a higher level
of intoxication and release of inhibitions in order for people to “enjoy” themselves.

MYTH: Switching between beer, wine, and spirits will make you more drunk.
MYTH:  Certain drinks make you act unlike yourself!…For example, a person may claim that a certain drink (e.g. gin) will make them teary, another (e.g. whiskey) will make them see red and then there’s the drink (e.g. champers) that sends them “loopy”.

Finally, there are some common perceptions circulating in the community which
through scientific research have been shown to be true!

FACT: Drinking more than a glass of wine a day may reduce your chances of getting pregnant.
FACT: Drinking too much alcohol can reduce male fertility.
FACT: Alcohol is fattening.
FACT: Drinking water can lessen the effects of a hangover, but the alcohol will still be removed from the body at the usual rate.
FACT: Alcohol is a class one carcinogen.

It is imperative that every opportunity is taken to refute these and other popular but false myths and duly inform the community on what science and medicine have substantiated.  Dalgarno Institute promotes awareness of what the medical research informs us about alcohol consumption and its harmful effects amongst people of all ages through a wide variety of means including a comprehensive web site, social media (Facebook, You Tube and Twitter), television and radio advertising and community wide programs.

With a commitment to informing and motivating youth to embrace healthy attitudes and behaviours, Dalgarno has developed and recently released a specially designed educational program entitled “NoBrainer: I wish I never…”  which aims at informing and encouraging youth to make a stand for a better future through prevention of harm from alcohol and other drugs before they succumb to these common myths and associated social pressure.

(See sample DVD clips View Video Clips)

Written and compiled by Derek Steenholdt—Research Officer

Sources for Myths and Facts on Alcohol:

View Site
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Why we need to do more than 'monitor' alcohol!

QLD Government Makes it easier for 'community groups' to move Grog! May 2013

check out article

Media Release:
Newcastle/Geelong Alcohol (DANTE) study 10 December 2012

A recent comparative study of alcohol related harm occurring in both Newcastle and Geelong entertainment precincts provides profound lessons for the O’Farrell government and all other States and Territories grappling with ongoing alcohol related violence, anti - social behaviour and other harms.

The poor results from the weekends’ Operation Unite booze crackdown prove the government must start dealing with causes rather than responding to the very costly and predictable consequences of alcohol fuelled violence.

The DANTE study provides unequivocal signposts.

A key finding of immediate applicability to places like Kings Cross is the urgent adoption of proven measures employed in Newcastle that directly deal with alcohol supply/consumption, such as restricted trading hours. These were confirmed to  be the most effective in reducing alcohol-related crime.

The harm associated with pre-drinking (pre loading) was also highlighted in the results.

Conversely, in Geelong (which has been held out by the AHA and government as the way to go) the study found that whilst their measures which addressed managing problem patrons and violent incidents  reduce violence within the venues, they tend to shift any fighting onto the streets. These measures included ID scanners and CCTVs.

Compared with Newcastle, the Geelong interventions had no impact. They failed to address the critical issue of alcohol supply/consumption.

The DANTE report has also seriously undermined key planks of the AHA’s hysterical attacks on the success of Newcastle’s reduction modest reduction in late trading hours to 3- 3.30am.

It revealed

1. The reduction in hours did not “devastate” Newcastle. Geelong experienced a similar number of pub closures over the same study period without a change in hours
2. Some local Newcastle hoteliers actually support the reduction in hours as it reduced their trading costs. Their key legitimate concern was to be operating on a level playing field

The DANTE report now establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that modest reductions in late trading hours and other related measures that reduce dangerous levels of intoxication and oversupply of alcohol, are the most effective to reduce related violence and harms.

The State government, liquor industry and the community must unite and support Associate Professor Miller’s observation that “the evidence we have from DANTE study should now be used by respective governments to implement proven strategies to seriously address the unnecessary violence that results from excessive alcohol consumption in our entertainment precincts.”

For the government to continue to support AHA preferred measures in light of these recent independent findings, runs the risk of accusations of “cronyism” by putting pub profits ahead of the public, police and patrons’ continuing safety.

Tony Brown
Coalition inner city residents, small businesses and concerned citizens

Late closing and longer hours are our first big problem, tantamount to that is the failed R.S.A. laws! This is fixable!

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) have released an alcohol briefing as part of its suite of public health briefings - Very much worth a look

Check it out here

Alcohol Bans in Indigenous Communities

Academics speak out...

View Video

Voilence, Grief and Senselessness

View Video

Judge Frank Gucciardo said... alcohol abuse had become and epidemic in Australia and attitudes towards its use had to change. "As a community we've let it go too far. It has to stop otherwise we're going to have  tragedies like this all the time!"

Judge Frank Gucciardo said alcohol abuse had become an epidemic in Australia and attitudes towards its use had to change.

"As a community we've let it go too far. It has to stop otherwise we're going to have tragedies like this all the time."

read article at The Age Website

Victorian Secondary Supply Laws

This very much overdue legislation will empower both parents and teens to be able to better stand against the peer pressure some apply around alcohol consumption. For a full brief go to...

http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/teendrinkinglaw

For a comprehensive look at current Liquor and licensing laws visit the 'Responsible Alcohol Victoria' site...

http://responsiblealcohol.vic.gov.au/wps/portal/rav

on this site you can:

• Track where licences are and who has them.
• What applications are in the pipe line.
• What the current legislation is and what is happening.

THE IMPACT OF ALCOHOL MARKETING ON CHILDREN

The alcohol industry knows that if you want a customer for life, you need to get them young.
 
In Australia, alcohol advertising is self-regulated by the industry - yes that's right,  as unfathomable as it may seem, the 'safe cracker is in charge of installing the safe!' - The current system is untenable and not only legislation needs to be introduced, but also a bottom up approach to changing how you and I see this 'amenity' fitting in our culture. One vehicle that can assist in helping lobby for changes that bring a legislation into place that will actually hold Alcohol industry to account and get alcohol advertising off the air and out of sport, is to use the AARB process. As members of the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol (NAAA) The Dalgarno Institute encourage everyone to use the Alcohol Advertising Review Board to make complaints about booze ads that impact schools, neighbourhoods, communities and of course on media, particularly online.
 
We encourage you to go to http://www.alcoholadreview.com.au/ (put it in your favourites). If you see an advertisement that you think is inappropriate, especially when it may impact kids, then go straight to this site and click on ‘MAKE YOUR COMPLAINT’.
 
The following clip is a great parody on the issue, and also check out one of Coles latest booze promotions using World Cup

Visit the NAAPA website

Read more …

The boom in alcohol consumption (Letters, 3/9) is frightening. The dire consequences of over-indulgence are usually only touched on in terms of how they affect our youth, yet many, many people are seriously affected by the drinking of those who are closest to them. This rarely rates a mention.

This came to a head for my family last week when my 59-year-old ex-husband died from sclerosis of the liver. A daily diet of alcohol over 40 years finally poisoned his body, yet many people he mixed with had no idea of his situation.

He could not live without alcohol and called it his anti-depressant. It ruined our 30-year marriage, the upbringing of our two children and has now left his much-loved second wife a widow. Alcohol is highly addictive for many; and the chances are that you know someone like this. I don't know what to do except make others aware of its life-ruining consequences.

 Penny Butler, The Patch

Read more