In addition to "alcohol-related" fatalities, where a driver or non-occupant in a fatal crash had been drinking, the government also reports data on drivers-only in fatal crashes, by low- and high-BACs. Data on drivers with BAC

A pair of mainstream science reporters gave some insight into media coverage of the benefits of moderate drinking at a recent DISCUS-sponsored roundtable discussion at The Washington Press Club. Eileen O

Sixty-four percent of adults (age 18 and over) now say they have "occasion to use alcoholic beverages," according to the most recent Gallup poll data (from November 1999). That

This striking study is very important for two reasons. First, it strongly supports the growing body of data that moderate drinkers live longer than abstainers. Second, the risk reductions found in this research were not limited to heart disease as they were is some other studies, but included substantially lower risks of dying from cancer among nonsmokers who drink moderately. A 7-year follow-up of 19,231 Japanese men age 40-59 found that "moderate drinkers had the lowest risk of all-cause and total cancer mortality." In fact, "a risk reduction in excess of 50 percent for all- cause and cancer mortality was found among those who consumed up to 300 grams/week (approximately 24 drinks) among nonsmokers." Nonsmokers who drank up to 12 drinks per week had 59% lower risk of dying from cancer than abstainers and were 53% less likely to die from any cause during the 7-year study. Nonsmokers who consumed 12-24 drinks per week had 46% lower cancer-death risk, 49% lower overall risk of dying. Even heavier drinkers

The city of Tacoma wants the Washington state liquor board to ban most malt liquors and fortified wines in one downtown area and stiffen the review process for retail licenses to reduce the problem of public inebriates. A decision is due by the end of the year. Activists in Tacoma and elsewhere seeking local bans may have gotten more ammunition for these battles in a recent study that links the density of neighborhood outlets to increased violence. More details on Tacoma and the study in December INSIGHTS.

"It is scary to think that these energy drinks are being used as a mixer with vodka and whiskey," said a Ball State U researcher. He put out press release that said: "You are just overloading the body with heavy stimulants and heavy depressants," and compared the combo to mixing alcohol with illegal substances like ecstasy.

Research remains inconclusive on a link between alcohol and breast cancer. A recent German study concluded: "low-level consumption of alcohol does not increase breast cancer risk in pre-menopausal women." A US study found increased risk of breast cancer among female drinkers "may be limited to women with a family history of breast cancer." But a recent review of studies in the US found a "small" increase in risk of breast cancer (about 10%) among women who drink 1 per day. And a Boston study found a higher risk than 10% for breast cancer among female drinkers compared to lifelong abstainers.

Drivers convicted of DWI tend to have far more serious problems than isolated bad decisions about drinking too much and driving, the Behavioral Research Center of the Southwest (BRCS) recently reported. Indeed, DWI offenders had much higher rates of alcohol abuse and illegal drug abuse disorders than the general population (and higher than some previous research had indicated). In addition, female offenders had significantly higher rates of psychiatric disorders than the general population. These findings, the authors stated, "suggest that as a group the population of DWI offenders is closer to a clinical than a non-clinical population....Drunk driving offenders need assessment and treatment services not only for alcohol problems but also for drug use and the other psychiatric disorders that commonly accompany alcohol-related problems." They also highly recommend early assessment and intervention, especially for women. Meanwhile, the same group of researchers found that Victim Impact Panels, an anti-drunk driving measure strongly supported by MADD where offenders are confronted by emotional testimony from victims, may cause more harm than good. These VIP programs, the authors found, not only failed to reduce recidivism by DWI offenders, but may actually have increased the risk that females offenders may drive drunk again. Both studies support the notion that treatment may be more effective than punitive actions.

It

Speaking to Beer INSIGHTS Seminar in early November, Pete Coors praised a spring 2001 speech by Paul Clinton, President and CEO of Guinness UDV North America. INSIGHTS had missed these Clinton remarks to the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association, and we suspect many of our beer-oriented readers may have missed them as well. Given their nature and fit with this issue