The impact of a minimum unit price on wholesale alcohol supply trends in the Northern Territory, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: The Northern Territory (NT) Government introduced a minimum unit price (MUP) of $1.30 per standard drink (10g pure alcohol) explicitly aimed at reducing the consumption of cheap wine products from October 2018. We aimed to assess the impact of the NT MUP on estimates of beverage-specific population-adjusted alcohol consumption using wholesale alcohol supply data. METHODS: Interrupted time series analyses were conducted to examine MUP effects on trends in estimated per capita alcohol consumption (PCAC) for cask wine, total wine and total alcohol, across the NT and in the Darwin/Palmerston region. RESULTS: Significant step decreases were found for cask wine and total wine PCAC in Darwin/Palmerston and across the Northern Territory. PCAC of cask wine decreased by 50.6% in the NT, and by 48.8% in Darwin/Palmerston compared to the prior year. PCAC for other beverages (e.g. beer) were largely unaffected by MUP. Overall, PCAC across the Territory declined, but not in Darwin/Palmerston. CONCLUSION: With minimal implementation costs, the Northern Territory Government's MUP policy successfully targeted and reduced cask wine and total wine consumption. Cask wine, in particular, almost halved in Darwin/Palmerston where the impact of the MUP was able to be determined and considering other interventions. Implications for public health: Implementation of a minimum unit price for retail alcohol sales is a cost-effective way to reduce the consumption of high alcohol content and high-risk products, such as cheap cask wine.

Neighbourhood context and binge drinking from adolescence into early adulthood in a US national cohort.

BACKGROUND: Underage binge drinking is a serious health concern that is likely influenced by the neighbourhood environment. However, longitudinal evidence has been limited and few studies have examined time-varying neighbourhood factors and demographic subgroup variation. METHODS: We investigated neighbourhood influences and binge drinking in a national cohort of US 10th grade students at four times (2010-2014; n = 2745). We estimated odds ratios (OR) for past 30-day binge drinking associated with neighbourhood disadvantage, personal and property crime (quartiles), and number of liquor, beer and wine stores within 5 km, and then evaluated whether neighbourhood associations differ by age, sex and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Neighbourhood disadvantage was associated with binge drinking before 18 [OR = 1.54; 95% confidence interval (1.14, 2.08)], but not after 18 years of age. Property crime in neighbourhoods was associated with a higher odds of binge drinking [OR = 1.54 (0.96, 2.45)], an association that was stronger in early adulthood [4th vs 1st quartile: OR = 1.77 (1.04, 3.03)] and among Whites [4th vs 1st quartile: OR = 2.46 (1.03, 5.90)]. Higher density of liquor stores predicted binge drinking among Blacks [1-10 stores vs none: OR = 4.31 (1.50, 12.36)] whereas higher density of beer/wine stores predicted binge drinking among Whites [one vs none for beer: OR = 2.21 (1.06, 4.60); for wine: OR = 2.04 (1.04, 4.03)]. CONCLUSIONS: Neighbourhood conditions, particularly those related to economic circumstances, crime and alcohol outlet density, were related to binge drinking among young adults, but associations varied across age and individual characteristics.

Physicochemical Characterization, Antioxidant Potential and Sensory Quality of Wine from Wild Edible Fruits of Flacourtia montana J. Graham

Abstract The objective of the present study was to produce wine from wild edible fruits of Flacourtia montana J. Graham. The various physicochemical attributes including total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were analyzed. Further, the prepared wine was evaluated for the antioxidant potential using four different assays, viz., 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power assay and total antioxidant activity. Finally, the wine was subjected for the sensory evaluation. Experimental results revealed that wine had an alcohol content of 7.20%, total phenolic content of 0.776±0.032 mg GAE/ml and total flavonoids of 0.121±0.012 mg QE/ml. High performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the presence of four major phenolic acids, viz., gallic acid (0.009±0.0005 mg/ml), chlorogenic acid (0.623±0.091 mg/ml), catechin (0.063±0.011 µg/ml) and epicatechin (0.060±0.009 mg/ml). In vitro antioxidant analysis of wine was able to successfully scavenge the free radicals in a dose dependent manner. Sensory scores indicated wine to be good in overall acceptability. Thus, present study highlighted the therapeutic nature of wine prepared from this underutilized fruit which could provide possibilities for enhancing socio-economic benefits among rural communities.

Bio-Based Compounds from Grape Seeds: A Biorefinery Approach.

Food and agricultural waste represents a growing problem with negative effects on the economy, environment, and human health. Winemaking produces byproducts with high added value, which can be used for new productions in several application fields. From the perspective of biorefinery and circular economy, grape seeds could be exploited by extracting bioactive compounds with high added value before using biomass for energy purposes. The markets concerned are, in addition to the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals sectors, which use bioactive compounds, the sector of biopolymeric materials and of energy for the production of biohydrogen and biomethane. Generally, bioactive components should be investigated through an integrated and multidisciplinary study approach based on emerging analytical techniques; in this context, attention is addressed towards green and sustainable procedures; an update of extraction techniques, innovative technologies, and chemometrics are described. Nowadays, processes so far tested on a pilot scale for grape waste are developed to enhance the extraction yields. Here, a picture of the Italian experience applied to the byproducts of the wine industry is given.

Impact of Maryland's 2011 alcohol sales tax increase on alcoholic beverage sales.

BACKGROUND: Increasing alcohol taxes has proven effective in reducing alcohol consumption, but the effects of alcohol sales taxes on sales of specific alcoholic beverages have received little research attention. Data on sales are generally less subject to reporting biases than self-reported patterns of alcohol consumption. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the effects of Maryland's July 1, 2011 three percentage point increase in the alcohol sales tax (6-9%) on beverage-specific and total alcohol sales. METHODS: Using county-level data on Maryland's monthly alcohol sales in gallons for 2010-2012, by beverage type, multilevel mixed effects multiple linear regression models estimated the effects of the tax increase on alcohol sales. We controlled for seasonality, county characteristics, and national unemployment rates in the main analyses. RESULTS: In the 18 months after the tax increase, average per capita sales of spirits were 5.1% lower (p < 0.001), beer sales were 3.2% lower (p < 0.001), and wine sales were 2.5% lower (p < 0.01) relative to what would have been expected from sales trends in the 18 months prior to the tax increase. Overall, the alcohol sales tax increase was associated with a 3.8% decline in total alcohol sold relative to what would have been expected based on sales in the prior 18 months (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that increased alcohol sales taxes may be as effective as excise taxes in reducing alcohol consumption and related problems. Sales taxes also have the added advantages of rising with inflation and taxing the highest priced beverages most heavily.

Associations of Alcohol Availability and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Characteristics With Drinking: Cross-Sectional Results From the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

BACKGROUND: Living in neighborhoods with a high density of alcohol outlets and socioeconomic disadvantage may increase residents' alcohol use. Few researchers have studied these exposures in relation to multiple types of alcohol use, including beverage-specific consumption, and how individual demographic factors influence these relationships. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships of alcohol outlet density and neighborhood disadvantage with alcohol consumption, and to investigate differences in these associations by race/ethnicity and income. METHODS: Using cross-sectional data (N = 5,873) from the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis in 2002, we examine associations of residential alcohol outlet density and neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage with current, total weekly and heaviest daily alcohol use in gender-specific regression models, as well as moderation by race/ethnicity and income. RESULTS: Drinking men living near high densities of alcohol outlets had 23%-29% more weekly alcohol use than men in low density areas. Among women who drank, those living near a moderate density of alcohol outlets consumed approximately 40% less liquor each week than those in low density areas, but higher outlet densities were associated with more wine consumption (35%-49%). Living in highly or moderately disadvantaged neighborhoods was associated with a lower probability of being a current drinker, but with higher rates of weekly beer consumption. Income moderated the relationship between neighborhood context and weekly alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE: Neighborhood disadvantage and alcohol outlet density may influence alcohol use with effects varying by gender and income. Results from this research may help target interventions and policy to groups most at risk for greater weekly consumption.

Contextual determinants and alcohol control policies in the United Kingdom.

In the United Kingdom, between 1960 and the 2000s, there were many sociodemographic and economic factors that played a part in the changing picture of alcohol consumption and its related harm. This paper describes some of these variables along with the political measures that were identified as correlated with changes in consumption and harm. The resulting picture is unclear. No consistent pattern was identified among the variables analyzed. Beverage choice changed over time with a reduction in beer consumption and an increase in wines and spirits. Nevertheless, the overall picture showed an increase in total alcohol consumption and resulting harm.

Prevalence of and associations with papsak wine consumption among farm workers in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: Until it was banned in 2007, inexpensive, atypically packaged wine, colloquially termed "papsak," was popular in poorer South African communities, which suffer a high burden of disease from alcohol. This study describes the prevalence of alcohol and papsak consumption, problem drinking (defined by a potentially problematic CAGE score of ≥2), and their associations among farm workers in the Western Cape Province. METHOD: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in two farming areas using cluster sampling of farm worker households. Interview data from 347 male and 114 female respondents were analyzed. RESULTS: Among respondents, 69% (95% CI [63.1, 74.3]) were current drinkers. Among drinkers, 50.6% (95% CI [41.9, 59.3]) preferred papsak and 73% (95% CI [65.5, 79.3]) had potentially problematic CAGE scores (CAGE ≥ 2). Papsak drinkers were more likely to have CAGE scores of 2 or more than drinkers of other alcoholic beverages (adjusted odds ratio = 2.8, 95% CI [1.4, 5.5]). Increasing levels of socioeconomic deprivation predicted both current drinking and preferred papsak consumption. Additional risk factors for preferring papsak were age 35 years or older, being married, being Coloured, and residing in the district in which papsak was produced. CONCLUSIONS: Current drinking and symptoms of problem drinking were substantially higher in these farm workers compared with general provincial population levels. CAGE scores of 2 or more among female farm workers exceeded provincial estimates by 3.5 times. Problem drinking was strongly associated with papsak consumption, most likely because of affordability; however, the significant association between residence near papsak production and preferred papsak consumption highlights the consequence of easy access. Restrictions on papsak were warranted and may contribute to the prevention of alcohol-related harm in marginalized communities.

The effects of beverage type on suicide rate in Russia.

BACKGROUND: Research evidence has suggested that the consumption of different types of alcoholic beverage may have a differential effect on suicide rate. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between the consumption of different beverage types and suicide rates in Russia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Age-standardized sex- and age-specific suicide rate for the period 1980-2005 and data on beverage-specific alcohol sale were obtained from the Russian State Statistical Committee. Time-series analytical modeling techniques (ARIMA) were used to examine the relationship between the sale of different alcoholic beverages and suicide rates. RESULTS: Vodka consumption as measured by sale was significantly associated with both male and female suicide rate. The consumption of beer and wine were not associated with suicide rate. The estimates of the age specific models for men were positive (except for the 75+ age group) and ranging from 0.069 (60-74 age group) to 0.123 (30-44 age group). The estimates for women were positive for the 15-29 age group (0.08), 30-44 age group (0.096) and 45-59 age group (0.057). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that public health efforts should focus on both reducing overall consumption and changing beverage preference away from distilled spirits in order to reduce suicide rate in Russia.

The present and future of the international wine industry.

Wine production is both art and science, a blend of individual creativity and innovative technology. But wine production is also business, with economic factors driving manufacturing practices. To be successful in the modern marketplace, a winemaker must integrate the artistic and economic aspects of wine production, and possess a solid understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that underlie purchase motivation.

[Wine and women: an overlooked passage in the Hippocratic corpus]. / Le vin et les femmes: un texte méconnu de la Collection hippocratique.

A passage taken from the Hippocratic Corpus states that at the beginning of pregnancy women say that they do not like the taste of wine. This passage should be added to evidence about wine drinking by women in Classical Greece. It shows that, contrary to previous opinion, women drank wine when they were in good health and corresponds with the notion that it was often prescribed by physicians in order to cure illness.

Does allowing the sale of wine in Quebec grocery stores increase consumption?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if allowing wine sales in corner grocery stores, beginning in 1978 for domestic Quebec wines and then in 1983 for imported wines, in addition to sales in government monopoly stores, led to an increase in alcohol consumption. METHOD: Aggregate retail sales data for the period 1953 to 1990 were analyzed using econometric regression techniques. Time series (unit root) analysis and structural modeling were used to take into account the effect of price, income and other social, economic and demographic factors in order to determine the effect of factors underlying consumption behavior in both the long and short term. RESULTS: In the post-intervention period, wine consumption continued along the rising trend established in the pre-intervention period, with an apparent shift in favor of domestic wine consumption. The increase in wine consumption was highest in the period immediately following privatization, but the increase eventually dampened down within a few years. There was no fundamental change in the responsiveness of wine consumption to price. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the level of wine consumption can be controlled through price changes when alcohol availability increases through increased sales outlets.

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin as a screening marker for drinking in a general hospital population.

We investigated the usefulness of the laboratory marker of alcohol consumption carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in 101 consecutively admitted patients in a surgical and internal medical ward of a hospital in a rural wine-growing area. Four major aspects were considered: the influence of liver disease, the method of expression of CDT values (relative % vs absolute units/1), level and pattern of alcohol consumption and comparison with y-glutamyl transferase (GGT). The results show that %CDT is a more valuable discriminating marker of high alcohol consumption than absolute CDT values and its usefulness in this respect is independent of changes in serum total transferrin levels, as in liver disease. Sensitivity and specificity of % CDT were 70 and 98% respectively, compared with 65 and 83% respectively for GGT.

Perfil epidemiológico de la cirrosis hepática en Chile 1970-1992 / Epidemiological profile of hepatic cirrhosis in Chile 1970-1992

Liver cirrhosis is an important public health problem in Chile. To review the main epidemiological features of liver cirrhosis in Chile in the last 22 years. Review of yearbooks of mortality and causes of death of the Ministry of Health and Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas, review of hospital discharge and review of international statistics published by tha WHO. The mortality rate of liver cirrhosis in 1992 was 17.9/100.000 inhabitants and represented 3.3 percent of all deaths. The risk od cirrhosis is higher among men and in people over 64 years old. In the last decade, death rates of young adults (15-44 years old) and children dicreased dramatically. Hospital discharge rates for cirrhosis have dicreased from 46.7 in 1970 to 40.4 in 1992. The men/women ratio in 1991 was 2.1/1 for hospital discharge and 2.8/1 for mortality. Mortality was higher in large urban areas (Santiago, Valparaíso and Concepción). A correlation of +0.17 was found between death rates for cirrhosis and wine production per capita. Cirrhosis continues to be a highly prevalent disease in Chile

Changes in alcohol consumption resulting from the elimination of retail wine monopolies: results from five U.S. states.

OBJECTIVE: The role of publicly owned and operated retail alcohol monopolies is currently under debate in many Western and former Eastern-bloc countries. We studied the effects of privatizing wine sales in five U.S. states. METHOD: Data on monthly sales of alcoholic beverages were collected for each of the five states, for all states bordering each of the five states and for the U.S. as a whole for the period from 1968 through 1991. Beer and spirits sales data were collected for comparison with wine sales. A quasiexperimental interrupted time-series design was used, including comparison groups consisting of border states, all other U.S. states and beer and spirits sales within the focal state. Box-Jenkins time-series statistical modeling was used to control for intra- and cross-series dependencies and to estimate the net effect of privatization on wine sales. RESULTS: After controlling for both nationwide and state-specific trends, we found significant increases in wine sales after privatization of 42% in Alabama, 150% in Idaho, 137% in Maine, 75% in Montana and 15% in New Hampshire. The increases in liters of pure ethanol per year in the form of wine were 621,000 in Alabama, 432,000 in Idaho, 364,000 in Maine, 363,000 in Montana and 171,000 in New Hampshire. CONCLUSIONS: The structure of the retail alcohol distribution system has a significant effect on alcohol sales. We recommend that the social costs associated with increased alcohol use be carefully considered before such major policy changes are contemplated.

Alcohol licensing system changes and alcohol consumption: introduction of wine into New Zealand grocery stores.

New Zealand permitted grocery stores to sell table wine products beginning April 1990 with the implementation of a new Sale of Liquor Act. The number of licensed outlets for retail sales of wine for consumption off-premises increased substantially. Using an interrupted multiple time-series design with nation-wide quarterly alcohol sales data from 1983 to 1993, we assessed the effects of the policy change on sales of wine. Results from Box-Jenkins time-series models revealed a 17% increase in wine sales associated with the introduction of wine grocery stores. Increased sales were limited to the specific category of alcoholic beverages permitted in grocery stores--table wine. Sales of fortified wine, distilled spirits and beer did not increase. We conclude that expansion in retail availability of wine is associated with increased sales and consumption.