Media & News
Browse through this section of our site to keep up to date with our latest news. If you’re not already receiving our E News Bulletin, you can subscribe here.
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February
22 February 2012
FOI request reveals government ignored its own research on pregnancy warning labels
Two reports released by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) that demonstrate the effectiveness of alcohol health warning labels, have raised questions as to why the Commonwealth Government chose to ignore the findings of its own commissioned research.
14 February 2012
Pregnant women not hearing or heeding safe drinking guidelines
A leading researcher has urged the Commonwealth Government to do more to promote safe drinking guidelines following new research that shows one in five Australian women continue drinking once they know they are pregnant.
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January
18 January 2012
Call for a national plan to combat Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
FARE has today called for a comprehensive Commonwealth-led National Action Plan to tackle Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) – the most common preventable cause of birth defects in Australia.
December
15 December 2011
Australia’s first youth Indigenous drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility leads the way for future treatment services
Today, the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) celebrates the opening of Bunjilwarra, the first Australian drug and alcohol rehabilitation service solely dedicated to helping young Aboriginal people.
9 December 2011
Health experts welcome first step towards appropriate alcohol labelling
The Australian and New Zealand Ministerial Council on Food Regulation today acknowledged the need to regulate warning labels on alcohol products.
At the meeting in Melbourne to consider a response to the recommendations of the Blewett Review, a decision was made to introduce “appropriate labelling” about the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, which will be regulated in two years’ time.
9 December 2011
Health and community leaders call for action on alcohol and pregnancy health warnings
63 leading health and community professionals, including two former Australians of the year, have urged effective action to warn women about the effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, in an open letter to members of the Australian and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council.
The Council meets today in Melbourne to consider its response to the Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy – the Blewett Review – which recommended that a ‘suitably worded warning message about the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy’ be mandated on alcoholic beverages.
Download the media release
Download the open letter
2 December 2011
Research shows that young women want a safer night out
As Australian and New Zealand police gear up for Operation Unite, an initiative to raise awareness about alcohol related violence, new research shows that young women drinking in public venues are worried about potential hostility, aggression, physical and sexual violence from intoxicated strangers.
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November
30 November 2011
Research shows industry regulated alcohol labels won’t work
Market research has overwhelmingly rejected the alcohol health warning labels recently launched by the Australian alcohol industry in favour of informative, clear and specific labels produced by FARE.
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14 November 2011
New research highlights harms from mixing alcohol and energy drinks
New research on the consumption of alcohol and energy drinks has led to FARE calling for urgent action to prevent further harms from their consumption.
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13 November 2011
New research about high risk behavior during schoolies
New research into the intentions of Australia’s youth during Schoolies Week has provided insights into the factors that contribute to young people drinking excessively and engaging in reckless activities and sex.
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9 November 2011
National bodies join in call for action on alcohol warning labels
A number of influential national bodies have joined in the call for government action on the labelling of alcohol following the release of research which showed widespread public support for the measure.
9 November 2011
Call for action on alcohol warning labels to prevent alcohol use during pregnancy
Today FARE released Galaxy Research showing majority support for alcohol warning labels, with particularly high support for warnings about alcohol use during pregnancy.
Download the report
Download the media release
Download supporting media release from The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA)
Download supporting media release from The National Alliance for Action on Alcohol (NAAA)
October
19 October 2011
Foundation announces new initiatives to change the way we drink
Last night at its 10th anniversary reception at Old Parliament House, Canberra, the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education launched the Professor Ian Webster Scholarship to recognise his outstanding achievements over many years.
September
29 September 2011
Submission: Australian Government’s Tax Forum
The Foundation has provided a submission to the Australian Government’s Tax Forum. The submission outlines the case for immediate alcohol taxation reform and suggests that the first step must be changing the wine equalisation tax to a volumetric tax.
28 September 2011
Report launch: “The Australian wine tax regime: Assessing industry claims”
An Australia Institute report to be launched today has torn up the myths and mistruths perpetuated by the Winemakers Federation of Australia (WFA) that wine tax reform would result in a fall in production by 34 per cent and the loss of up to 12,000 Australian jobs.
The report concludes that the WFA has grossly exaggerated its claims on the impact of tax reform on the Australian wine industry in the event of a switch to a volumetric tax for wine.
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Download the media release
6 September 2011
Foundation calls for urgent reform on the Wine Equalisation Tax
The report “Alcohol Taxation Reform: Starting with the Wine Equalisation Tax”, produced by leading economic consultants the Allen Consulting Group, and commissioned by the Foundation, concluded that the current tax structure contributes to the Australian wine glut by rewarding producers of cheap, poor-quality wines and propping up inefficient producers.
Launched at Parliament House this morning, the report concluded that:
- the current tax structure contributes to the Australian wine glut by rewarding producers of cheap, poor-quality wines and propping up inefficient producers
- the WET and the WET rebate are costing Australian tax payers at least $250 million a year, of which the Wine Federation of Australia estimates $50 million is being rorted by retailers, who are exploiting WET loopholes
- reform could reduce the consumption of pure alcohol by between four and 16 million litres per year, lessening the likelihood of costly alcohol-related diseases and social problems
- targeted reform can put a stop to the current taxation arrangements that punish the domestic industry for producing quality wines and domestic patrons from consuming them
Download the report
Download the media release
5 September 2011
Submission: Alcohol-related Labelling Logic recommendations
The Foundation provided a submission to the government consultation process on specific aspects of the Labelling Logic report on food labelling. Within the submission the Foundation called for health warning labels to be applied to all alcohol products sold in Australia.
The submission outlines a labelling regime that includes at least 5 specific warning labels, rotated across all products, with one label focusing on the harms of consuming alcohol while pregnant. The Foundation specified that this regime needs to be government regulated and accompanied by a multi-faceted public education campaign.
August
16 August 2011
Foundation launches model alcohol health warning labels
The Foundation together with leading health experts are urging the Federal Government to make the new alcohol health warning labels mandatory to help reduce the harms caused by alcohol.
Launched at Parliament House this morning, the requirements of the proposed health warning label regime for alcohol products include:
- That there be at least five health warning labels, including one specifically relating to drinking during pregnancy
- Health warning labels should comprise both text and symbol
- Labels need to be placed consistently on the front of the product and clearly distinguishable from the rest of the label
- Labels should be implemented as part of a comprehensive public education regime
- Labels should be evaluated and refreshed at least every three years
Download the media release
Download supporting media release from the Australian Medical Association
Download supporting media release from the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia
Download supporting media release from the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
Download supporting media release from the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol
Download supporting media release from the Alcohol Policy Coalition
Download the policy position paper
Download photos of sample alcohol products with the labels
June
20 June 2011
Health sector to tackle Australia’s hidden disability – fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
Chief Executive Michael Thorn today announced the Foundation’s investment of over $500,000 into seven projects across Australia to address gaps in FASD research and practice.
Download an overview of the projects
Download the media release
2 June 2011
Submission: Application A1026: Minimum alcohol content for wine
The Foundation and the Public Health Association of Australia wrote a response to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand request for submissions regarding Application A1026: Minimum Alcohol Content for Wine.