Policy: Tentative fight against alcohol



Germany, drinks a lot and likes to. In the case of more than seven million Bundesbürgern the consumer as a problem. The policy relies on Aufklä. But genüthe gt?

Familiar drug: alcohol is anchored in the everyday life of many German fixed

Natüof course, the Fu&szlig begins;ball game with a kümiss Pils. And the following feature film also. Spots f&uuml advertising;r alcoholic Getränke to run on German television stäfully and to the best transmitting time.

Your message is unmissverstähourly: drinking alcohol, and you fühlst you’re vol­ler of enthusiasm, fun-loving. This positive image of the legal drug alcohol winemakers such as Breweries pleased. Your Ab­one is – for consumers in all age classes.

Declining but still problematic

Curiously, enjoy the Figures for alcohol also Ädoctors and drug experts – at least at first glance. This is because the average alcohol consumption per Person is falling in Germany for years, as a künewly from the cancer research center in Heidelberg veröffentlichter report.

At the same time, the so-called Alkohol&shy power;atlas significantly: More than seven million Bundesbücitizens consume risky quantities. So 18 percent of the M&auml drink;men täwas more than 20 grams of pure alcohol (about half a litre of beer), and 14 percent of women and more than 10 grams (about a quarter of a litre of beer).

Numerous Gesundheitsschäthe alcohol

Regelmäßsodium alcohol consumption is always problematic – unabhäregardless of the amount, says Professor Helmut Seitz, Director of the Alkoholforschungszen­­strand of the Universität Heidelberg. "It hähartn&auml lt;ckig Belief, a glass of wine per day is good für health and heart." But for most, especially in the case of jüyounger people, regelmäßiges drink alcohol ungüconvenient to follow.

So the legal drug is erwiesener­maßen involved in the formation of more than 200 diseases and symptoms. Last ließen, for example, relevant studies of the Brustkrebs­risk sit up and take notice. Seitz: "Since there is no threshold dose. Even small amounts of alcohol erhöhen the risk."

Each country goes its own way

Since, it is not surprising that the fight against alcohol längst on the Agenda of international associations, such as the Weltgesundheitsorga­­organization or the organization für economic co-operation and development.

Also in the Euro­päUnion has a common target verstäcompleted, the ­To reduce alcohol consumption in the long term. A single Plan, there is dafür, however, is not. "The EU member States have each für develops its own strategies and umgesetzt", Marlene Mortler (CSU), says that until recently, the Federal government drug Commissioner.

Low awareness of the problem in the Bevöpopulation

In Germany, the focus is on Aufklädelivery: with Online programs für students and trainees, with school projects and advertising campaigns specifically designed to appeal to adults.

The problem of consciousness is still too low, &quot notes Mortler: ;Alcohol in the best case, may as a in Maßen to consumptive Genuss­funds will be understood, however, in no case as a food, like Butter to the bread gehört." Nevertheless, they referred to the Aufklärungsmaßtook as a success: "The regelmäßige alcohol consumption by young people is decreased within ten years."

Alcohol is taxed too low?

Aufkläinnovation is essential, Dr. Katrin Schaller from the alcohol research center in Heidelberg. Da­rüaddition, but the co-author of the alcohol Atlas is significant need for action. "In the case of tobacco we have seen how it works: With höhigher taxes, Advertising bans, and difficult to Verfüavailability läthe consumption can be lower."

The expert is üassured that this Maßalso took the alcohol w&uuml grab;authorities. The example of the so-called Alcopops. The süßen, alcoholic Mischgetränke are in 2014, almost vollstäcompletely from the German market vanished. Why? The legislature increased the cost of the products with a special tax.

Model Sweden

As a role model in terms of alcohol policy, many professionals in Sweden. There effect was shot full of screws on the adjusting: The state levies high taxes on alcohol, the minimum age für the purchase of wine and spirits is 20 years (18 years für beer), alcohol advertising is forbidden. Sweden gehört in the europäof comparison to the Läcountries with the lowest ­Alcohol consumption per capita.

Many of the Maßtook wären is also a way für Germany, said the drug Commissioner Mortler. "However, we have previously dafür no majorities." Schaller hält Germany, also not Mature für unpopuläre choices and criticized: "When it comes to alcohol, we have got to where we were when tobacco in the 1960s."

You can also read:

Is alcohol in Maßs healthy?

Who alcohol in moderate Maße drinks, lives according to statistics, länger as a vörandom abstainers. Beer and wine are better than their reputation?