The worst political season of the year is upon us.
Alcohol industry
Memo to Perth’s mayor: get with the evidence on liquor licensing
Last week Perth Mayor Lisa Scaffidi claimed liquor licensing restrictions - particularly regarding energy drinks - are strangling the city and inhibiting its growth. A vast body of research begs to differ, writes Sarah Jaggard.
Are universities the marketing arm of the alcohol industry?
For any company marketing alcohol there could be no better example of a ‘captive market’ than a residential campus full of 18-22 year olds all looking for a good time. This can lead to a questionable relationship between universities and the alcohol industry, writes Margo Saunders.
Foster’s investors say cheers to beer-wine split
The decision to split Foster’s beer and wine businesses is a rare piece of good news for investors in the company, who have witnessed precious little capital growth for the best part of a decade.
We’re drunken violent yobbos, no matter the advertising
Getting wasted on Australia Day isn’t some inherent national right that the liquor industry must defend, says Jeremy Bass. The businesses serving the booze — from pubs to supermarket grog shops — need to widen their tunnel vision.
Another reason for concern about public funding for DrinkWise
Should the government continue to fund an organisation that attacks researchers for exercising their right to refuse to accept money from them? asks Wayne Hall.
Why alcohol should carry a health warning
We provide consumers with information that some foods contain traces of nuts; that excessive consumption of some mints has a laxative effect, and that some products cause drowsiness. Why let alcohol off the hook? asks VicHealth CEO Todd Harper.
Kirin seeks to buy-out Lion Nathan
Japanese brewer Kirin have made an approach to buy-out Australian brewer Lion Nathan, of which they already own a 46.1% share.
Political snippets: A word on so-called economic experts
Their views have become the staple diet of news services. On the hour, every hour we are treated to economic expert A from financial institution X, followed later in the day by Mr or Ms B from bank Y.
Foreign alcopops winners drink to Senator Fieding
So who is the Distilled Spirits Council that Senator Fielding and Malcolm Turnbull have gifted $290 million in alcopops tax to? Glenn Dyer invesitgates.
Alcopops memo to the Senate: It’s the taste, stupid
We should not expect people’s tastes in alcohol to switch at a wave of the Treasurer’s wand, writes Jennifer Doggett.
Australia drunk on alcohol lobby largesse
Australia is a laggard when it comes to banning alcohol sponsorship and advertising, writes Glenn Dyer.
Big Alcohol’s cosy relationship with the Senate
The powerful spirits industry has mounted a fierce lobbying campaign to persuade senators to reject the Rudd Government’s alcopops legislation, writes Alex Mitchell.
Ending the alcopop scourge
The alcohol industry’s hostility to the alcopop tax ignores the fact that sales of these products are falling, writes Mike Daube.
Richard Farmer’s political bite-sized meaty chunks
Meaty snippets from the home of government, Richard Farmer writes.
Spin watch: To Roxon, wine is good, Bundie is evil
Welcome to Health Minister Nicola Roxon’s confected moral universe, writes Trevor Cook.
What is it with the left and alcohol?
What is it about alcohol that turns off the cognitive capacity of the intelligentsia? Why can’t lefty social critics deal with drinking problems? Geoff Munro writes.
