Irresponsible Parents prove need for Pedestrian RBT, Fines, Education and Behaviour Change

02/11/2011



Seven out of 10 under-age drinkers caught in the Cornish holiday resort of Newquay were given alcohol by their parents…

BBC Cornwall reports the above, and more:

Most of the teenagers caught drunk and disorderly said they were sent to Cornwall with alcohol [from Parents]…
…although some parents were shocked about their children’s behaviour, others verbally abused officers who confiscated the alcohol…
…one officer was verbally abused by a parent who accused him of stopping her son “having fun”. The teenager was one of four 16-year-olds caught with 64 cans of Special Brew.

The campaign ‘Newquay Safe Partnership’ was formed in 2009 after two teenagers were found at bottom of cliffs in two separate incidents.

There is little doubt that a great percentage of Great Britain’s parents are either unwilling, unable or just too ignorant to responsibly guide their children through the alcohol wars of teenage years.

The Police effort here, is focused on Drunk and Disorderly Offenses.
Is this leaving a problem until it is too late?
Do police have a viable mechanism for the wholesale population wide detection of underage drinking?
Do they consider this, their role as a law and order body?

Where parents fail, the State ‘Nanny’ has to take over.
Pedestrian Random Breath Testing (P-RBT), that includes public transport, allied to heavy fines and heavily publicised educational messages offers the most hope for:

  • Identifying the largest cohort of offenders as quickly and as efficiently as possible; and
  • Changing their behaviour by unambiguously delivering a message about where acceptable behaviour ends

It is Not acceptable for children to fall off cliffs, under trains, and under cars because of Parent Supported Underage Drinking.

Underage drinking is a scourge against the very development of children:

Leave a Comment » | alcohol, Binge drinking, drink-walking, Pedestrian deaths and injuries, Pedestrian Random Breath Testing, The-Pedestrian-08-Campaign | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by pedestrian08

Can $450k per year change your eyesight, hearing and policy options?

19/03/2011

Although her police and ambulance officers and A & E staff are getting bashed most nights by the alcohol afflicted, NSW Premier Kristina Keneally recently said “wowsers” to Scott Weber, the NSW Police Union, Ambulance Paramedics and their colleagues, the Doctors, Nurses and Security Staff at our Accident and Emergency Departments.

As Scott rightly pointed out in his Punch Article, Who are you calling a wowser Kristina?:

The facts speak for themselves.

  • Alcohol-related violent incidents are growing by over 6 per cent a year;
    The number of paramedics assaulted a year has increased by over 60 per cent since 2006-07;
  • There were 2,855 assaults against police in NSW;
  • And it’s estimated that 70 per cent of these assaults against police were alcohol-related.

    • But Premier Keneally cannot see these statistics, hear the cries of the victims nor speak ill of the perpetrators – Big Liquor.

    Getting BAC Testing into the survey options list
    An interesting survey at Adelaide Now.

    5.3% doesn’t look much, but, some of our now successful political parties and politicians started with less…

    Democracy Doesn’t Come Cheap!
    New MatildaI suggest you read Norman Thompson’s article on NSW party political funding in New Matilda.

    A Quote for those too busy to click:

    In the past 10 years while Labor has been in power, the AHA and hotels companies have contributed over $4.5 million to the NSW ALP. The Coalition only managed to obtain a little over $2 million during this period.

    Every alcohol dollar given to Labor, Liberals and others in NSW was based on Addiction and or Binge Drinking. That’s the rub. That’s why funding of political parties by the purveyors of addictive substances is so wrought with moral dilemmas. Have no doubt, the money received was based to a large degree on the grief of addicts and their families and the strangers they hit, hurt, killed or injured.

    Obviously, this sort of spending would cause ructions in any association. But as a former AHA President said: “Democracy doesn’t come cheap!”. And here.

    Spending $450 k a year on most things can go a long way to achieving your aims.

    What’s this got to do with Pedestrian 08?

    It’s important to realise the connections between Big Liquor, Advertising, Sponsorship, Media Involvement, Politicians and political parties and the fact that laws and regulations are written to INCREASE binge drinking. Thereby creating a greater need for pedestrian 08.

    Leave a Comment » | alcohol, Alcohol fuelled violence, alcohol related violence, Binge drinking, Election Campaign, Kristina Keneally, Scott Weber | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
    Posted by pedestrian08

    Mayor Gives Up!

    25/02/2011

    The Mayor  of Melbourne has given up! See this article here, by Farrah Tomazin, of the Melbourne Age, where he is quoted thus:

    [Mr Doyle] questioned whether there was anything more authorities could do to fix what was ultimately a cultural problem.
    ”We can’t arrest our way out of this,” he said.
    ”It is cultural, and therefore it’s going to take a lot of time to try to fix this.”

    Lord Mayor, Pedestrian 08 is all about effecting cultural change!
    Melbourne’s Herald Sun reckons the increase in street violence amounts to:

    AT least three extra assaults a week happened in Melbourne’s CBD last year compared with 2009.

    Queensland’s Courier Mail (24 Feb) by Xavier La Canna, describes Melbourne’s dilemma thus:
    Police can’t stem Melbourne violence

    THE number of assaults in Melbourne has risen for the seventh straight year despite a police crackdown on violence in the city.

    So after all the funny camera cars, press conferences, photo opportunities, blah blah, 3 more fellow citizens are being assaulted every week.
    The Mayor’s efforts will not stop the once per month, alcohol related, one punch homicides.
    The Mayor’s ongoing failure to give loud and active support any of the known EFFECTIVE counter measures listed elsewhere on this site is disappointing.
    Almost all Melbournians are paying the price for our political leaders constantly running spin over substance with some 85% of Victorians scared of the city after hours.
    Others have paid a heavier price via deaths, injuries, illnesses and traumas associated with Big Liquor’s Binge Drinking violence.

    Leave a Comment » | alcohol, Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle, The-Pedestrian-08-Campaign | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
    Posted by pedestrian08

    Big Liquor – killing 2.5 million people per annum

    16/02/2011

    The wrist wringing, the grasping for ineffective, impotent, half-hearted measures by our polling addicted politicians has to end.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that alcohol is killing 2.5 million people per year.

    Too few countries use effective policy options to prevent death, disease and injury from alcohol use.

    - World Health Organisation

    Millions more are harmed or injured.

    These deaths, these injuries and harms are occurring every year.

    World Health Organisation Report

    In Big Liquor’s nirvana, the Russian Federation, 1 in 5 deaths are due to alcohol.

    Media identities who insist on not aggressively pursuing Liquor companies, politicians and political parties who continuously champion deflecting, ineffective measures and continuously ignore the short list of policies known to be effective ought to hang their heads in shame.

    This is a world wide challenge eclipsing AIDS and tuberculosis.

    Alcohol is the world’s third largest risk factor for disease burden; it is the leading risk factor in the Western Pacific and the Americas and the second largest in Europe.

    It is against your national interest to permit:

    1. The advertising or promotion of alcohol
    2. Sporting sponsorship by Big Liquor
    3. Extended trading hours
    4. Ubiquitous availability of liquor licences
    5. Minimum drinking ages below the age of 21
    6. Not having a set maximum, on street BAC level for pedestrians – especially in built up areas.
    7. The bribing/fund-raising for politicians and media by Big Liquor

    There is a world of difference between prohibition of a drug of addiction and allowing the rampant promotion, advertising and sponsorship by the corporate producers of this toxic, cancer causing drug.

    Controlling alcohol is not, nor has it ever been confused with, prohibition.

    Any self respecting government should pull out all policy options to minimise the consumption of alcohol and therefore minimise the harms of alcohol.

    As the World Health Organisation states:

    no [amount of] drinking is entirely safe.

    - Shekhar Saxena, the director of WHO’s mental health and substance abuse department

    Links:

    The WHO report.

    The Economist Article

    Rasta Livewire

    Leave a Comment » | alcohol, Binge drinking, The-Pedestrian-08-Campaign, Underage Drinkers, World Health Organisation | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
    Posted by pedestrian08

    Election news: was on Adelaide Radio with Carol Whitlock – profit over life

    11/11/2010

    I just finished an interview with Carol and listeners. Thanks for that Carol.
    Read the rest of this entry »

    Leave a Comment » | alcohol, Alcohol fuelled violence, alcohol related violence, alcopops, Binge drinking, drink-walking, The-Pedestrian-08-Campaign, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , | Permalink
    Posted by pedestrian08

    Binge Drinking Primary School Students

    26/10/2010

    Under the headline ‘Girls worse than boys for underage boozing’ a report in the Daily Gazette sums up the tragic situation in the UK where:

    Shocking evidence from charity Alcohol Concern shows nearly a third more girls than boys have been admitted to hospital from Accident and Emergency wards after excessive drinking.

    So normalised is underage drinking in the UK, that the focus of Alcohol Concern is to reduce the amount underage drinkers actually drink, not to actually stop them from drinking:

    As long as alcohol remains as heavily promoted as it currently is, young drinkers will continue to consume far more than they might otherwise, leading to inevitable health harms, wasting ambulance and police time.

    Every possible effort must be made to eliminate any underage drinking.
    A program of random on street breath testing associated with Pedestrian 08 would help identify children risking permanent damage and addiction via alcohol consumption and offer authorities an intervention opportunity prior to these often abused and neglected children needing attention in Accident and Emergency Departments.

    Don Shenker’s reference to Alcohol Marketing shows again what evil consequences Big Liquor advertising, Sport Sponsorship and Facebook/Social Media marketing, has on Big Liquor’s primary school age drinking market.

    Daily Gazette Banner

    Daily Gazette

    Leave a Comment » | alcohol, Alcohol Concern, Binge drinking, pedestrian 08 law, Underage Drinkers | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
    Posted by pedestrian08

    Getting soused at work and sold on lower alcohol driving limits

    25/10/2010

    An excellent article by Robert Remington of Canada’s Calgary Herald regarding new penalties in Calgary for driving between .05 and .08.

    Robert says:

    I’ve always questioned suspensions for those in the .05 to .08 warning zone, but now I get it. According to B.C.’s ministry of public safety, drivers in that range are seven times more likely to get in an accident.

    And:

    But any amount of alcohol can create over-confidence, aggression, tiredness and slow reaction time, as my .024 reading after one glass of wine on an empty stomach showed.

    If found with a BAC between .05 and .08, your car is immediately impounded, subject to towing and release fees.

    That seems like an exercise in common sense…

    Robert and the Calgary Herald should look at both streams of thought as they affect or apply to Pedestrian Safety, Violence and Addiction.

    We need to get away from a silo mindset when it comes to alcohol.

    However, a letter from The Pedestrian 08 Campaign was kindly published by the Herald here: The Aussie Way

    Calgary Herald Banner

    Calgary Herald

    Leave a Comment » | alcohol, Alcohol fuelled violence, alcohol related violence, Binge drinking, Calgary Herald, The-Pedestrian-08-Campaign | Tagged: , , | Permalink
    Posted by pedestrian08

    Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) – Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival booze up dangers

    21/10/2010

    ADCA pushed out a Press Release today: Reduce alcohol charged violence during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival

    In it they declared:

    With the Caulfield Cup tomorrow and the Melbourne Cup approaching, the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) calls for racegoers to recognise the violent consequences that come from excessive drinking.

    And:

    “Every week some 60 Australians die and 1500 are hospitalised due to alcohol-related injuries,” Mr Templeman said. “This shocking statistic should really change unconcerned attitudes toward the excessive consumption of alcohol.”

    But ADCA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), David Templeman called for:

    “With 750 000 people expected to attend this year’s 2010 Spring Racing Carnival, it is hoped that everyone making their way to the tracks this year want to attend to see the horses, rather than to simply get drunk,” Mr Templeman said.

    “Prevent alcohol-related violence by drinking sensibly – let’s eliminate opportunities for alcohol-related harm!”

    All good here David, but, most drinkers have a massive problem getting their minds around the concept of drinking sensibly and responsible consumption of alcohol…

    This communication could have be vastly more effective had ADCA and David changed the last mentioned sentence to:

    “Prevent alcohol-related violence by drinking responsibly – staying well below a Blood Alcohol Content of point 08 for non drivers – let’s eliminate opportunities for alcohol-related harm!”

    ADCA should have demanded that:

    1. Racing Authorities ensure all bars have a plentiful supply of Breathalyser machines – for patrons to track their intoxication;
    2. Racing Authorities declare a committment to Pedestrian 08 as a condition of entry to the race courses;
    3. Racing Authorities publish highly visible information posters and handouts educating race goers about BAC levels and the dangers of increasing BAC Levels.
    4. The all visitors agree to Random Breath Testing as a condition of entry. This to ensure a violence and trouble free meeting.

    Last year, ADCA claims that:

    Victorian Spring Racing Carnival directly experienced …  alcohol-fuelled aggression where approximately 30 people were involved in a brawl in the stands after the Caulfield Cup

    You cannot expect to get away with 30 person brawls – if it happens again- for two years in a row! – and not expect to see some serious injuries. Racing Authorities need to take responsibility now, for the behaviours of their drinkers. So many promoters don’t…

    Leave a Comment » | alcohol, Alcohol fuelled violence, alcohol related violence, Binge drinking, drink-walking, pedestrian-08-limit, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
    Posted by pedestrian08

    Queenstown United in Violence and Alcohol Reduction

    21/10/2010
    Ann Fowler in Otaga Daily Times

    Ann Fowler in Otaga Daily Times

    Otago Daily Times ran this article today regarding Ann Fowler’s efforts to curb the harms of alcohol in New Zealand.

    Effective regulation was needed to change New Zealand’s harmful drinking culture.

    She proposed the group focus on five policies to solve the national alcohol crisis.

    We need to talk about raising alcohol prices, raising the alcohol purchase age, reducing alcohol accessibility, reducing marketing and advertising and increasing drink-driving counter-measures,”Acting forum chairman Peter Gibson said many points raised could be turned into submissions.

    The Pedestrian 08 Campaign responded with familiar suggestions:

    The Alcohol Reform Bill needs to deal with mass population behaviour change measures.
    Be effective. Present your population with a measure of intoxication that they can readily understand – a BAC number of 0.08. Educate, campaign, test and heavily fine offenders. Most, if not all your alcohol problems will evaporate.

    See the full article by Naeem Alvi for more.

    Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized, Alcohol fuelled violence, Binge drinking, alcohol related violence, pedestrian-08-limit, pedestrian 08 law, The-Pedestrian-08-Campaign, alcohol | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
    Posted by pedestrian08

    Judges fed up with drunken violence clogging our courts

    20/10/2010

    How can anyone blame Chief Magistrate Graeme Hensen for his comments of frustration vented in ‘Judges fed up with drunken violence clogging our courts’, published Monday, 18 October 2010, on the Sydney Morning Herald website?

    Chief Magistrate Graeme Henson

    Chief Magistrate Graeme Henson

    Mr Hensen offers up one more massively important statistic that adds to the considerable list of blood and guts subsidies going to Big Liquor and their retail servants: ‘Alcohol plays a role in 50 to 60 per cent of the nearly 300,000 criminal cases that come before the state’s Local Courts each year’.
    Add that one to the cancers, the hospitals, nursing home care for the brain damaged, the 70% of police time devoted to cleaning up after Big Liquor, the 20,000 children abused by alcohol affected adults every year etc…
    NSW badly needs a Pedestrian 08 Law and Education Campaign to drill in a widespread acceptance that as your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) increases, your ability – your reliability – to act responsibly diminishes. In short, ‘Responsible Drinking Ends at 08’ clearly illustrates a much needed, easily understood message.
    We can immediately rid our streets of all alcohol fuelled violence via the immediate adoption of Pedestrian 08.
    No one who wants to drink will be stopped from drinking.
    Graeme Hensen’s focus would then turn to working out which of his colleagues could be retired…

    Leave a Comment » | alcohol, Alcohol fuelled violence, alcohol related violence, Binge drinking, drink-walking, pedestrian 08 law, pedestrian-08-limit, The-Pedestrian-08-Campaign | Tagged: , , | Permalink
    Posted by pedestrian08

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