The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has called for a national alcohol summit to tackle the problematic issues surrounding the misuse of alcohol in Oz.
Doctors are apparently calling for the Abbott Government to take a stand against what they call an “epidemic” of alcohol abuse beginning with a national summit to discuss ways to changes the nation’s problematic boozing culture – the root of numerous related issues including alcohol fuelled violence.
The AMA want the federal government to convene a summit to bring together the state governments, local councils, health experts, industry members, police and those affected by alcohol related violence.
In an article on Smh.com.au the AMA’s president Steve Hambleton was quoted as saying:
”We have a major national problem that requires a major national solution,” AMA president Steve Hambleton said.
”The NSW Government has this week introduced some very tough and very welcome new laws to address alcohol-related violence on the streets of Sydney, and we now have to look at the broader harmful effects of alcohol misuse in every corner of the country.”
He also went on to state that a co-ordinated and nationally consistent approach by all governments was needed on alcohol issues such as alcohol marketing, pricing, taxation, venue licensing and operating hours.
Earlier this month Mr Abbott said he was concerned about the number of alcohol fuelled violent incidents but also cautioned that we shouldn’t rush into “knee jerk reactions”. He placed most of the responsibility on state governments.
The opposition leader, Bill Shorten has on the other hand backed the AMA’s call for a national summit. He has called on Mr Abbott to support the call, the post on Smh.com.au went on to explain:
”As a community, we must stand up against violence in all its forms and do what we can to prevent it,” Mr Shorten said.
Labor oppositions in NSW and Victoria also backed the idea.
Labor’s Victorian health spokesman Gavin Jennings said he would attend if invited.
”Labor would be supportive of a national summit to discuss a national approach that deals with the excess use of alcohol,” he said.
NSW Labor health spokesman Andrew McDonald, who is a paediatrician, said the summit was an excellent idea.
”We need to listen to the evidence and develop bipartisan policies,” he said.
What the experts say
According to Professor Mike Daube the Public Health Association of Australia’s spokesperson, we already have the evidence when it comes to alcohol abuse, we need to now decide on what to do about it and how to take action not setting up more reviews.
Although the federal government has placed most of the responsibility on state governments, Michael Thorn, chief executive of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education said he believed the federal government should be part of the solution. Sandra Jones, the head of the Centre for Health Initiatives at the University of Wollongong, said Australian culture was too set in alcohol marketing.
With all of these differing opinions on what the root of the problem is and what actions need to be taken, perhaps the idea of a national summit to bring all of these ideas together is not just a bad thing?