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4 –
Daily Update
– DAY THREE – Tuesday 13 May 2008
Betsy Thomwill look at
why women have
become an 'at-risk’ group,
in the Tuesday morning
session about alcohol. It’s
a complex issue, as she
tells the
Daily Update
.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, AND
ACROSS CULTURES
, men are more
likely to consume alcohol than women;
they drink more and they engage in riskier
drinking and riskier alcohol-related
behaviours. Why, then are women often
listed as a group which is ‘at risk’?
Women’s alcohol consumption has
risen considerably in some countries and
in recent decades young women are
particularly likely to drink more and in
more harmful ways; research studies have
increased our knowledge of women’s
Novel interventions needed
for alcohol harm reduction
Alcohol harm reduction is about balancing protection
of individuals and communities with demands of
commerce and business, says Ann Roche from Flinders
University, Australia.
'FOR MANY PEOPLE
, applying harm
reduction concepts and principles to alcohol
will be new and may seem alien,' she said.
'The invitation is to apply your existing
knowledge and understanding of harm
reduction as it applies to drugs, to alcohol.'
The concept of alcohol harm reduction is
not a new one, Ms Roche explained. 'The
actual origin of harm reduction pre-dates
20th century concerns with illicit drugs or HIV
and Aids. It has subsequently been appro-
priated by the drugs field.'
From lady to ladette?