A Pennsylvania man was being treated for irregular heartbeat. He described his drinking behaviors, presumably in confidence, to doctors treating him. As a result he lost his driver’s license. The toxicology report from the hospital showed he had no alcohol in his system. So, tell and lose license! PennDOT The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) …
In “The perils of drinking in America,” reporter Simon Calder of the Belfast Telegraph alerts readers traveling to the U.S. what to expect. He explains that the U.S. has created a tangle of confusing laws designed to deter drinking, especially among young people. For example, 48-year-old Rachel Ally was required to prove she was 21 …
Hosting office parties can be a mine field of potential problems. These can be social, professional, or legal. Therefoere, it’s wise to plan office parties very carefully. Here are few tips to help avoid problems and have a successful office party. Tips Be very clear. Be clear about the workplace substance abuse policy. It should address …
Frank Ward has lived in Sweden for decades. He has seen the the Swedish experience with alcohol up close. Here he reflects on the changes he has witnessed over time.1 He points out that “During my lifetime I have followed one nation’s progress from near-prohibition to a more liberal, tolerant approach. When I arrived in Stockholm …
Beverage alcohol nutrition labels are needed. They should include not only calories but also other information. That includes fats, cholesterol, and sodium or salt. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) proposes nutrition labels on alcoholic beverages. Its proposal is a good one but doesn’t go far enough. It only calls for labeling the …
What’s the surprising drinking exception for adults? A federal law commonly known as the Buckley Amendment protects the privacy rights of college students age 18 through 20. Without a student’s permission, it is illegal even for parents to obtain copies of academic grades. The same is true for attendance records, medical records, or other educational …
Alcoholic beverage consumption in the U.S. has declined over time. For example, the per capita consumption of alcohol by Americans age 14 and older has been declining. In fact, it dropped greatly over a recent 33 year period.1 Race and Ethnicity Alcoholic beverage consumption also varies by race and ethnicity. There are four major such …
Weird alcohol laws exist across the US. They often reflect the effects of our long and powerful the temperance movement. Many are also result from conflicting economic interests. For example, reducing competition. As a result, states and other jurisdictions in the US often have conflicting laws. For example, some require that the interior of public …
Crafting effective college alcohol policies that protect the health and life of students is harder than it might appear. That’s because what first appears to be an easy solution fails. I. Ineffective College Alcohol Policies Scare Students Some colleges use scare tactics. They stress the horrible things that could happen as a result of alcohol …
As a teenager, writer Courtney Love Gavin suggested the value of a learner’s permit for drinking safely. She argued that we issue learner permits to help people drive safely. Here is her opinion piece. The transformation of going from a child to an adult does not happen overnight. It is a metamorphosis that happens …
