Past Programs
Alcohol Education - 2008
Health the big winner from the weekend COAG meeting
01/12/2008
Nicola Roxon has finally clinched the commonwealth-state health agreement, with a massive injection of funds to the states and territories to upgrade the health system. But the government says the money has strings attached and the states will have to show results.
Liberal Senator Gary Humphries on the Alcopop tax
25/06/2008
The Senate committee has endorsed the government's controversial alcopops tax, after hearing submissions from health groups and the liquor industry. The Labor dominated committee report says the 70% tax increase is aimed at slowing binge drinking, particularly among teenage girls. But the non government members of the committee all dissented from the report, claiming the change is really a grab for cash, something public health groups are disappointed with.
Pre-mixed alcohol drinks
15/05/2008
The budget papers reveal the alco-pop tax will reap even more than expected. Not $2bn, but $3.1bn. The alcohol industry says it's a blatant gouge on what is a very small part of the market.
Alcohol violence
15/04/2008
Today a coalition of 25 organisations is launching the National Alliance Against Alcohol Related Violence. It says new research shows that 20% of all Australians have been affected by alcohol related violence and the number of people concerned about the problem is on the rise. The alliance wants a review of alcohol taxation and a restriction of trading hours.
End to Alcopops
01/04/2008
Since the PM signalled his determination to take on the culture of teenage alcohol consumption, some companies have jumped before being pushed. Two Australian manufacturers of pre-mixed drinks combining alcohol and energy additives like guarana and caffeine have bowed to pressure to stop making the products.
Jimmy Barnes
27/02/2008
This time last year, Aussie rocker Jimmy Barnes was wheeled into hospital for open heart surgery. It wasn't the 30-odd years of rock'n'roll and heavy drinking that got the better of him, it was a congenital heart defect. With his faulty aortic valve replaced, he's now got a big scar on his chest. He's not shy about it either, you only have to look at the cover of his album and there it is, in all its glory.
Alcohol binge
25/02/2008
Binge drinking is the extreme end of alcohol abuse and today the Australian National Council on Drugs releases a major report into the problem. Only last week the Prime Minister acknowledged its growing impact on Australians, and figures from the National Council on Drugs show that 168,000 people aged between 12 and 17 have drunk alcohol at harmful levels in the past week.
