http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/alcohol.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.jsad.com/jsad/article/Effects_of_Alcohol_and_CigaretteUse_Disorders_on_Global_and_Specific_Meas/4430.html http://tobacco.org/news/298588.html Conclusions: These results demonstrate few negative effects of alcohol-use disorders on midlife cognition, especially if current consumption is light. Differential susceptibility to the effects of cigarette use on cognition was found with women showing greater deficits in visuospatial abilities, processing speed, and executive-functioning abilities. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=17016 http://tobacco.org/news/298555.html A history of alcohol abuse does not appear to affect men and women's current mental functioning. However women who have ever smoked are not so lucky, the results of a new study indicate. US researchers looked at almost 300 men and women, aged 31 to 60. They found that those who abused alcohol in the past performed similarly on cognitive function tests as those with no past drinking problems. In other words, their previous alcohol abuse did not affect their current memory and thinking ability. However in general, women who had ever been addicted to smoking had lower scores on certain cognitive tests compared to their non-smoking counterparts. The same pattern was not seen in men. The researchers noted that the reasons for the findings are unclear. . . . Details of these findings are published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. IrishHealth.com http://www.irishhealth.com/contact01.html?to=info@irishhealth.com (Deborah Condon) Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:00:00 GMT http://www.alcoholjournal.org/article/S0741-8329(09)00193-1/abstract http://tobacco.org/news/298004.html Six weeks later, all the groups were subjected to chronic exposure to ethanol vapors and the severity of their ethanol withdrawal seizures was assessed by handling-induced convulsions. An adolescent exposure to chronic nicotine resulted in an exacerbation of ethanol withdrawal seizures in adulthood. Given this, adolescence may contain a neurophysiological critical period that is sensitive to nicotine and which may result in an altered response to ethanol dependency in adulthood. These findings have serious implications for the long-term consequences following co-abuse of these drugs during adolescence. Alcohol Jim_Diaz-Granados@baylor.edu Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://sify.com/news/teenage-smoking-leads-to-increased-susceptibility-to-alcohol-withdrawal-in-adulthood-news-international-kdhkEdicaje.html http://tobacco.org/news/298003.html Smoking cigarettes in adolescence makes people more susceptible to the negative effects of alcohol withdrawal later in life, Baylor University researchers have said. Scientists have found that the chronic exposure to nicotine during adolescence in animal models caused a nicotine-induced change in brain development that led to increased vulnerability to alcohol withdrawal in adulthood. It is the first study to look at the combined effect of nicotine and alcohol exposure during the adolescent developmental period on the severity of a subsequent withdrawal from alcohol in adulthood. "This study provides evidence that the developing adolescent brain is susceptible to the actions of nicotine and that the effects of that early exposure can result in changes that can be seen in adulthood," said Dr. Jim Diaz-Granados. "Perhaps the most interesting finding is the group that was exposed to nicotine and alcohol during adolescence did not show the same effect as the nicotine-only group. This suggests that there is an interaction between the actions of the two drugs during this developmental period," he added. . . . The results are documented in the journal Alcohol. Sify.com Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/economy_smoking_ban_hurt_montana_liquor_sales/16419/ http://tobacco.org/news/297997.html Growth in liquor sales was tempered in 2009, likely due to the economy and the indoor smoking ban that took effect for bars and casinos in October, state officials said. Figures from the Department of Revenue's Liquor Control Division show liquor sales grew 1.9 percent in 2009 after growing at least 5 percent a year over the past decade. The worst month was October, when liquor sales were down $1.5 million compared with the same month in 2008. "It's undeniable across the board that the smoking ban had a negative impact on licensed premises," said Mark Staples of the Montana Tavern Association. Flathead Beacon Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/03/08/fea01.asp http://tobacco.org/news/297962.html The good news on International Women's Day is that the consumption of tobacco and alcohol by the women of Sri Lanka is remarkably low. . . . All of the above was meant to set the background to draw the attention of parents of this country to a sustained attempt made by a local TV channel to promote the smoking habit among our young women. . . . The cigarette itself is not shown (because that would be too obvious a violation of the current anti-tobacco law), but the girl says upfront that she is smoking. . . . a young guy appears on the scene and shoots his mouth. He strongly defends the young woman's right to smoke. First, he says thousands of girls smoke nowadays. Secondly, he insists, women's liberation necessarily includes their right to smoke. Thirdly, he declares, women who oppose other women's smoking are motivated by jealousy of the smoker's enjoyment. A moment's thought suffices to show that this young bloke is talking through his hat. Quite evidently, he has been hired to lie on behalf of the tobacco industry. . . . On International Women's Day, as the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol, Chairman, I appeal to the intelligent and educated women of this country to express their strong disapproval of the attempts of certain TV channels to defile Sri Lankan womanhood. Daily News damith.web@lakehouse.lk (Prof Carlo Fonseka / The writer is the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Chairman ) Sri Lanka Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.physorg.com/news184923674.html http://tobacco.org/news/297459.html Mark and Mimi Nichter have published a series of articles recently about the smoking behaviors of college students, offering important insights about smoking related to drinking, gender and stress. Interventions against alcohol consumption targeting college-age students have tended to focus solely on drinking without including any discussion of tobacco. This is concerning to University of Arizona anthropologists Mimi Nichter and Mark Nichter, whose research indicates that, among other key findings, college students in social settings often smoke and drink in tandem. As a consequence of years of research, the two conclude that preventative interventions should be structured in a way that drinking and smoking are addressed simultaneously. physorg.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BU2V420091231 http://tobacco.org/news/294923.html A new study confirms that smoking raises a person's risks of the major forms of esophageal and stomach cancers, while drinking has more narrow effects. In a study that followed more than 120,000 Dutch adults for 16 years, researchers found that smoking increased the risk of the two main forms of stomach cancer, as well as the two forms of esophageal cancer -- by anywhere from 60 percent to 263 percent versus non-smokers. . . . The findings, published in the journal Gut, underscore general health recommendations to drink only in moderation and to quit, or preferably never start, smoking. Reuters Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/18/12/3368.abstract http://tobacco.org/news/293781.html Smoking history before diagnosis dose-dependently increased the risk of dying; risks reached 5.4 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.7-40.1] among those with >60 pack-years of smoking. Likewise, alcohol history before diagnosis dose-dependently increased mortality risk; risks reached 4.9 (95% CI, 1.5-16.3) for persons who drank >5 drinks/d, an effect explained by beer and liquor consumption. After adjusting for prediagnosis exposures, continued drinking (average of 2.3 drinks/d) postdiagnosis significantly increased risk (relative risk for continued drinking versus no drinking, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-6.1), whereas continued smoking was associated with nonsignificantly higher risk (relative risk for continued smoking versus no smoking, 1.8; 95% CI, 0.9-3.9). Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172877.php http://tobacco.org/news/293776.html Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption before head and neck cancer diagnosis strongly predicts the patient's future risk of death, according to published studies. Now, results of a new study show a similar effect among those who continued these habits after cancer diagnosis. "Most cancer survivors are counseled to quit smoking; despite this, many still smoke. In our study, 21 percent continued to smoke even after their cancer diagnosis, increasing their risk of death," said researcher Susan T. Mayne, Ph.D. "Similarly, we found that continued drinking increases the risk of death." Based on these findings, Mayne advises survivors of head and neck cancer - which includes cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx - to quit smoking cigarettes and drinking alcoholic beverages in order to increase their odds of longer survival. Mayne is a professor of epidemiology at the Yale Schools of Public Health and Medicine, and the associate director of the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center. Results of this study are published in the December issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Medical News TODAY Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-12/aafc-han113009.php http://tobacco.org/news/293631.html Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption before head and neck cancer diagnosis strongly predicts the patient's future risk of death, according to published studies. Now, results of a new study show a similar effect among those who continued these habits after cancer diagnosis. "Most cancer survivors are counseled to quit smoking; despite this, many still smoke. In our study, 21 percent continued to smoke even after their cancer diagnosis, increasing their risk of death," said researcher Susan T. Mayne, Ph.D. "Similarly, we found that continued drinking increases the risk of death." Based on these findings, Mayne advises survivors of head and neck cancer -- which includes cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx -- to quit smoking cigarettes and drinking alcoholic beverages in order to increase their odds of longer survival. Mayne is a professor of epidemiology at the Yale Schools of Public Health and Medicine, and the associate director of the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center. Results of this study are published in the December issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention EurekAlert tara.yates@aacr.org Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/beer-ad-shows-drunk-snow-white-in-bed-with-dwarves/story-e6freuzr-1225787065039 http://tobacco.org/news/291266.html BLOWING smoke rings as she lies back in bed with seven semi-naked dwarves tucked alongside, it's Snow White like you've never seen before. Now this risque version of the fairytale favourite, renamed "Ho White" to promote a local beer, has drawn the wrath of Disney. The Jamieson's Raspberry Ale campaign, launched by brewers The Foundry online this week, features an adults-only take on the fairytale character, with dwarves named Filthy, Smarmy and Randy replacing Sleepy, Happy and Doc. The cheeky ad's creators said it was designed to convince Australian drinkers the fruit-flavoured beer was "anything but sweet". Daily Telegraph/Sunday Telegraph Australia Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.examiner.com/x-23853-Indianapolis-Libertarian-Examiner~y2009m10d9-Evan-Matthews-Smoking-bans-DO-have-economic-consequences http://tobacco.org/news/291145.html There is a new rejuvenated push to ban smoking in private businesses in Indianapolis. Evan Matthews of the Libertarian Party of Indiana had a great op-ed on the topic. Smoking bans are onerous, misguided and dangerous. As Indianapolis lawmakers debate whether the Circle City requires more stringent smoking legislation, they should stop to consider the economic and realistic implications. The owner of a private establishment, be it bar, bowling alley or barber shop, should be able to determine . . . Perhaps worst of all, prohibitive legislation has been shown to increase alcohol-related fatalities. Bans give patrons incentives to drive farther in order to find bars that allow smoking. . . . Smoking bans are heavy-handed attempts to control individual preference and limit choice. As a by-product of this oppressive, one-size-fits-all legislation, local business owners will likely face revenue declines in the tens of millions. Stubborn smokers will travel to neighboring counties, driving business out of Indianapolis in order to drink and smoke in peace. Afterward, they'll drunkenly swerve their Buicks and Camrys through Circle City streets, recklessly endangering the Marion County populace. Examiner.com Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.pjstar.com/news_county/x2118273792/EP-gives-smoking-ban-more-bite http://tobacco.org/news/291004.html Puffing in East Peoria now may be subject to more regulations than anywhere else in the state. With the recent adoption of an amended liquor code that specifically references a ban on smoking in public places, the city conceivably has three laws covering the prohibition. First is the state's Smoke Free Illinois Act, which beginning Jan. 1, 2008, sought to end smoking in bars, restaurants and all other places open to the public or places of employment. Second is the city's smoking ordinance, which closely mirrors the state act and was adopted after the state ban was approved. Cities that created individual ordinances to regulate smoking once the ban took effect were allowed, under the state law, to keep 100 percent of the fines for violations, rather than splitting the proceeds with the state. But the state's law - and thus, ordinances around the state that were adopted verbatim to keep the revenue generated by citations local - initially contained peculiar language that resulted in confused enforcement efforts and legal challenges. That atmosphere caused East Peoria and other municipalities to attempt a third approach: citing bar owners and bartenders under catch-all provisions in local liquor codes. Peoria Journal-Star mbuedel@pjstar.com (MATT BUEDEL OF THE JOURNAL STAR ) Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.caller.com/news/2009/oct/10/alcohol-sales-drop-after-smoking-ban/ http://tobacco.org/news/290984.html Corpus Christi's bars aren't selling as much booze as last year, but it's unclear whether a recent smoking ban, the recession or other factors are the primary cause. Alcohol sales at Corpus Christi's bars and restaurants were, on average, down by about $3,000 per establishment this August compared with last August. The drop equates to about an 8 percent drop in alcohol sales overall. When only considering alcohol sales at bars and pool halls, the average drop in sales is about $4,800 per bar for August. Those numbers come from the alcohol tax receipts reported to the state comptroller's office. Statewide, tax receipts indicated a 1 percent dip in alcohol sales when comparing this August with last. Although some bar owners say the smoking ban is to blame, spending in the city is down overall. Corpus Christi Caller-Times Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT