Beer drinking doubles gout risk

Gout is an extremely painful form of arthritis. Episodes of gout strike suddenly without warning. Severe cases of gout may lead to major disability and even kidney failure. More men experience the condition than women, although the difference is less dramatic among the elderly. What can cause gout? Alcohol use… especially beer drinking. (Share the YouTube video or read the transcript) 

In a research study performed by the medical journal Lancet, more than 47,000 male medical professionals with no history of gout were followed for up to 12 years. In that period, men who drank the most alcohol daily had twice the risk of developing the disorder as men who did not drink. Beer drinkers increased their risk by 50 percent for every daily beer, while those who drank hard liquor increased their risk by 15 percent for each drink.

The alcohol decreases water in the body. That's part of the problem. What makes the difference is yeast. Beer is made with yeast, yeast is a purine, purines cause an increase in uric acid which is produced by the kidneys. (Think urine… which is the way the body gets rid of uric acid.) Too much uric acid in the blood causes gout and triggers attacks, which are felt in the joints. The uric acid is actually crystalized in the joint, which causes the pain. The big toe is a common gout target.

It's not a life threatening condition except when you consider it signals a problem with the kidneys. Sure you have two of them… but you only have two of them and the uric acid problem impacts both.

Hereditary factors lead to gout, but environmental causes, such as regular alcohol consumption, are behind the increase in cases of gout in the past thirty years. It's a quality of life kind of thing: Is the temporary relaxation from a beer worth the discomfort of recurrent, tender, hot, joint pain long after the buzz is gone? Not to mention the increased risk for more than 60 other diseases brought on by alcohol use.

Visit alcohologist.com for a replay of CBS Sports' Power Up Your Health featuring Scott Stevens.  Host Ed Forteau led a discussion on risky myths of about "healthy" drinking.  Lucy Pireel's "All That's Written" included a feature on Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud called "When alcohol doesn't work for you anymore."  Details on the third literary award for Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud and the first for Adding Fire to the Fuel also can be found on www.alcohologist.com, plus the NEW book, Adding Fire to the Fuel, is now available. Download the FREE Alcohology app in the Google PlayStore today

Alcohol alters DNA in young, otherwise healthy, social drinkers

A few "harmless" weekend beers found to cause genetic damage in young adults.George Stojkovic, Free Digital Photos

Alcohol's damage goes beyond physical and mental health, right down to the genetic material, according to research posted in the Nov. issue of the journal, Alcohol.

A study of university students analyzed the effect of weekend alcohol consumption on their DNA. Until now, the damage done to genes in the early stages of alcohol abuse has never been documented, according to the researchers, because most of the studies are done at later stages of the disease of alcoholism with people who have been consuming alcohol in an addictive way for many years. “That is why this study is pioneering because it deals with the effect of alcohol on young, healthy people,” the researchers reported.

The idea of studying the damaging “oxidative” effect of weekend alcohol consumption came about when researcher Adela Rendón was lecturing in Clinical Biochemistry at the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico. Many of the students turning up for class first thing on Monday morning displayed a lack of attention and general malaise due to having a social drinking weekend the students regarded as "harmless."

The students were divided into two groups: the control group made up of the students who did not drink alcohol and the study group of those who drank an average of around a six-pack of beer on the weekend. Blood tests confirmed the 18- to 23-year-olds were otherwise healthy.

Oxidative damage is evaluated by a biochemical test and although the researchers expected to find oxidative damage, they were surprised by the result, as Rendón explained. “We saw that the ones who drank sustained twice as much oxidative damage compared with the group that did not consume alcohol.”

The results revealed damage in 8 percent of the cells in the non-drinking group and 44 percent in the drinkers: 5.3 times more damaged cells. “The fact is, there should not have been any damage at all because they had not been consuming alcohol for very long, they had not been exposed in a chronic way.”

The means by which alcohol manages to alter DNA is unclear. “When we talk about youth alcohol abuse, we are referring to youngsters who drink alcohol without having become addicted. Addiction involves a more complex issue. This is social alcohol use,” said the researcher, “but use which causes damage in the long term and you have to be aware of that.”
--from 12/31/13 Alcohologist.com, all rights reserved.

Виталий Смолыгин image, used with permission.

Details on the third literary award for Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud, plus the new radio interview replay is available at alcohologist.com... and please read the new interview with Scott Stevens at Christoph Fisher Books.  Mr. Fisher is an acclaimed international historical fiction novelist from the UK. 

Group says banning public transportation alcohol ads can help protect youth

National alcohol industry watchdog, Alcohol Justice, released a national study Oct. 25, assessing the impact of alcohol advertising on youth, concluding young people are being barraged on the way to school or around town. Actor and activist Kurtwood Smith, known for roles in “That 70's Show” and “Dead Poets Society,” led the event, which called on state legislators and Congress to pass legislation that requires transit agencies to ban alcohol advertising on transit property as a precondition of transportation funding.

According to the American Public Transportation Association, more than 20 percent of public transportation users nationwide are under age 25. In large metropolitan areas like Chicago and New York, many kids use buses and trains to get to and from school. These children are disproportionately minorities and/or from economically challenged neighborhoods.

“Exposure to alcohol ads influences youth to start drinking earlier and to drink more,” according to Alcohol Justice spokesperson Michael Scippa. He says the enticement can lead to alcohol-related problems later in life, including the disease of alcoholism. “Alcohol advertising bans can significantly reduce youth exposure to alcohol advertising.”

In 2012, advertising on transit vehicles and transit stations comprised 17 percent of the more than $1 billion alcohol companies spent on ads outside of the household, according to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America.

The report, "These Buses Don't Stop For Children: Alcohol Advertising on Public Transit," describes the alcohol advertising policies of 32 major metropolitan transit agencies. Eighteen ban alcohol advertising; Chicago, New York and Atlanta were tagged as “lagging behind agencies that protect youth from alcohol ads.” The report noted most major cities continue to allow alcohol advertising on transit-related benches and bus or train shelters even if a transit policy banning alcohol ads is in place.

Limits on alcohol advertising can significantly reduce alcohol-related harm according to the speakers at the Los Angeles press conference announcing the study. A 28 percent reduction in alcohol advertising could reduce underage alcohol consumption and binge drinking by at least a percentage point each, while a complete ban on alcohol advertising could reduce the number of deaths from harmful drinking by 7,609 deaths, claims Alcohol Justice.

The alcohol industry claims it is not targeting minors or encouraging underage drinking. Trade associations for beer, wine and spirits have self-regulatory guidelines in place for alcohol advertising. The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) Advertising Code of Ethics is one such self-policed directive. Its rules associated with schools address stationary advertising, which may not be located within 500 feet of elementary and secondary schools or places of worship.

In 2012, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) reversed its ad policy, citing economic reasons, and approved an ordinance that allows for alcohol advertising to be placed on trains and in stations for the first time in 15 years. CTA President Forrest Claypool says the ban is still in place on “L” stations that serve a high number of students and on all CTA buses. The bus stops, however, are city property and allow alcohol ads. Alcohol Justice's recommendations include alcohol ad bans extended to all government-owned transit-related properties.

The CTA expects to generate $3.2 million in additional advertising revenue from alcohol ads – 0.2 percent of the agency’s annual operating budget. Scippa says, “It makes no sense for public transit agencies or cities to allow alcohol advertising that recoups less than a percent of their operating revenues while governments in the U.S. bear the burden of over $90 billion in annual costs from alcohol-related harm.”
--from examiner.com (see full article)
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Also, please check out the author interview with Scott Stevens on "All That's Written" 10/11/13
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Contradiction? Walmart aims to double beer sales, yet could stop selling tobacco due to "health issues"

HUH?

Sure, you read that correctly.  Here are details from my report today (see full story) on the retail giant. 


A Walmart executive told the National Beer Wholesalers Association meeting in Las Vegas that the world's largest retailer plans to double beer sales over the next three years. According to an AdAge recap of the Oct. 2 meeting, the chain is already the largest beer seller in the United States after tripling its alcohol sales over the past decade. The aggressive sales goal comes despite the company's ongoing debate over whether to carry tobacco anymore because of its health risks.

The retailer's Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer Duncan Mac Naughton, during a presentation at the meeting, said of the beer sales goal, “"I see it as a layup. My team sees it as a big half-court shot. But I'm telling you, it's there.” The comment was interrupted by applause from the crowd of nearly 4,000 beer distributors and suppliers.

The stores already include beer in its circulars and has more prominent displays in stores. New strategies include adding more refrigeration and storage space for beer and slashing prices to nearly at-cost in states without minimum pricing.

In contrast, the retailer's vice chairman, Eduardo Castro-Wright, acknowledged after the recession that the retailer has become sensitive about its public image. He told AdWeek the world's largest retailer has considered -- and would continue to consider -- eliminating tobacco products from its stores and noted how selling tobacco conflicts with Walmart's increased emphasis on health.

In March, Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) reported alcohol is now the third out of 67 leading causes of disease and injury worldwide. (See full story) Alcohol was responsible for 5.5 percent of all disease and illness, behind only high blood pressure and tobacco use.

Among the findings: Americans drink more than 50 percent above the global average, and show a more detrimental drinking pattern than most of the 27 European Union (EU) countries, with more bingeing. “Alcohol consumption has been found to cause more than 200 different diseases and injuries,” said Kevin Shield, lead author of the study. “These include not only well-known outcomes of drinking such as liver cirrhosis or traffic accidents or the disease of alcoholism, but also several types of cancer, such as female breast cancer.” (See yesterday's alcohologist.com blog)

However, Castro-Wright also emphasized that at Walmart, "first and foremost, we service customers, which means selling them what they want to buy.”

The giant retailer in August lowered its earnings estimate after a surprise decline in second-quarter same-store sales.