European Health: Majority of Europeans face risk of digestive cancers due to alcohol, report claims – by Sarantis Michalopoulos

A new report has linked alcohol consumption in the EU to an increase in cases of digestive cancer and warned policymakers to take immediate action.

According to the World Health Organisation, some 3.3 million deaths around the world – 5.9% of all premature deaths – result from the harmful use of alcohol each year. Europe has the highest consumption rate of alcohol worldwide.

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) published a report last week, warning that the alarming alcohol consumption in Europe is linked to a rise in digestive cancers.

The report gathered the opinions of leading European digestive cancer specialists and focused on the impact of alcohol on this type of cancer.

UEG President Michael Manns stressed that despite the EU’s efforts to tackle the impact of alcohol on health, consumption remains higher than in the rest of the world and simultaneously, the incidence of alcohol-related digestive cancers is on the rise.

“We urgently require a focused multi-dimensional approach from policy and decision makers to dramatically increase public and healthcare professional awareness of the dangers of alcohol […] and strategies to reduce alcohol intake and the resulting incidence of digestive cancers,” Manns emphasised.

EU citizens consume an average of two alcoholic drinks per day. According to the report, drinkers face a 21% increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, in addition to other digestive cancers.

The survey found that all EU countries had a ‘moderate’ average daily intake of alcoholic drinks, meaning between one and four drinks per day. “This places these citizens at a heightened risk of both colorectal and oesophageal cancer,” the report stressed.

Regarding ‘heavy’ drinkers or those who consume four or more drinks per day, the report stressed they were found to be at an increased risk of pancreatic, liver and gastric cancer.
 
Read more: Majority of Europeans face risk of digestive cancers due to alcohol, report claims – EURACTIV.com

Coffee Market: Why Norwegians love coffee

If you have ever visited a Norwegian home, chances are the first thing you have been offered is a coffee.
"That's what we do, that's the Norwegian way of saying "welcome," says Brage Ronningen, a senior communication advisor at a company servicing Norway's oil industry.

"I always start the day with a cup of coffee. I cannot leave home without having at least one cup, preferably a strong one. At work there are coffee machines everywhere, no more than 20 meters to the nearest one. And of course it's for free," he tells DW, while topping up our own cups.

International statistics consistently put Norway among the world's top three coffee consuming nations. Every year, Norwegians get through nearly 10 kilos of coffee beans each. The world average is 1.3 kilos per person.

Read more: Why Norwegians love coffee | Europe | DW.DE | 01.08.2014

Turkey: Turkish PM vows harsh action against alcohol - by Sevim Songün Demirezen

 Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed today to introduce new measures in the fight against the consumption of alcoholic beverages including price increases. However, he also said this should not be considered an “obstacle” to particular lifestyles or secularism.

“If the prices are increasing, excuse us, but we have to. In the ÖTVs [the Special Consumption Tax], this [taxation on alcoholic beverages] is our most important source of income, as we don’t have any oil wells. That’s why we are working on this,” Erdoğan said, speaking at the Global Alcohol Policy Symposium held in Istanbul on April 26.

He also revealed that the government was working on increasing the penalties for those who cause death by drink driving, increasing the prices of alcoholic beverages, introducing warning signs on alcoholic beverages, and limiting alcohol advertising.

“We are working on measures to limit the advertisement of alcoholic beverages in newspapers. It will soon be accomplished,” said Erdoğan, adding that such advertisements were “misleading for the youth.” He said the 58th article of the Constitution ordered such measures to be taken, saying that the state must take the necessary measures to protect youth from alcoholism, speaking at the Haliç Congress Center.

The prime minister said the government was working on a study to implement warning signs on alcoholic beverages similar to those already implemented on tobacco products in Turkey.

Read more: POLITICS - Turkish PM vows harsh action against alcohol

Britons heaviest drinkers in Europe when on holiday

Brits drink more on holiday than any other European nation, according to a new report. The survey by TripAdvisor found that 65 percent of people from the UK admit guzzling down more grog when away. This compares with just 41 percent of all other Europeans, with only 28 percent of Italians saying they drink more abroad than at home.

More than 6,000 Europeans were interviewed by the travel company. The results found that 29 percent of Britons drink at least five alcoholic drinks a day when on holiday, compared to 10 percent for other nationalities. The most common number of drinks a day for most people is one, but this goes up to three for those from the UK.

Despite the heavy drinking, however, Brits are the least likely nation to smoke while away. Out of the nations interviewed, including France Italy, Spain and Germany, the Italians were the most likely to have a crafty fag on trips.

For more: Britons heaviest drinkers in Europe when on holiday

Norway: Moderate Wine Consumption Good for Brain Health

People who drink wine in moderation may perform better during cognitive tests, according to results of the Norwegian Tromsø Study, a prospective study of men and women living in the northern Norway. The researchers suggest antioxidants and polyphenols in wine are responsible for improving brain health.
The 7-year study followed 5,033 middle-aged men and women who never suffered from stroke. A wide range of cognitive tests were administered over the years.

The researchers also said abstaining from drinking was associated with significantly lower cognitive performance in women. The researchers found better cognitive functions also were favored by alcohol's positive effects on arteriosclerosis, coagulation and reducing inflammation.

For more: Moderate Wine Consumption Good for Brain Health

Europe's Changing Drinking Habits: More Beer, Less Wine, Few Regrets

WSJ.com

"Europe's Changing Drinking Habits: More Beer, Less Wine, Few Regrets

By ADAM COHEN

Europeans are supposed to sip wine in sidewalk cafés, not guzzle beer like American college students.

But Europe's relationship with alcohol is changing. Countries like France and Italy, where good wine is considered a birthright, are seeing a surge in beer drinking among young people. In many countries, the traditional glass or two at mealtimes is giving way to a new culture of binge drinking."

US News and World Report: Americans Drinking Less Alcohol - by Steven Reinberg

For the complete report from the US News and World Report click on this link

Americans Drinking Less Alcohol - by Steven Reinberg

"Americans are drinking less alcohol, with middle-aged people consuming about one-third less than 50 years ago, researchers report. For the study, Ellison's team collected data on 8,000 people who took part in the Framingham Heart Study. People in the initial arm of the study were born before 1900 up until 1959. Those from the initial enrollment group as well as their children were interviewed every four years from 1948 to 2003 about their alcohol consumption. Ellison explained that the Framingham study consists primarily of white, middle-class individuals from the Massachusetts town of the same name. "It generally tends to reflect trends within the country among middle-class, white Americans," he said. The researchers found that, overall, people are drinking less. "People drank about a third more back in the '50s and '60s than they did in the '70s up to 2004," Ellison said."At the same time, there's been a decrease in beer and an increase in wine consumption among people. But the average intake has decreased," he said.