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EDITORIALS: R E Ferner and Jacky Chambers Alcohol intake: measure for measure BMJ 2001; 323: 1439-1440 [Full text]

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Alcohol dose calculation software

Valeriy A. Aksenov   (22 December 2001)

Time for mandatory 'Unit Labelling'

Phil J Webster-Harrison, Andy G Barton, RDSU Co-ordinator Plymouth& South Devon   (19 January 2002)

Alcohol dose calculation software 22 December 2001
Valeriy A. Aksenov, Head of Preventive Medicine and Medical Care Health Board OOO "Orenburggazprom" Send response to journal: Re: Alcohol dose calculation software	Unlike many other fields of human activity, in the art and science of drinking Russia is on far more advanced position then the Western civilisation. All you have to do to calculate the dose of alcohol is just to fill in an electronic form of the Bodun software. The questions you have to answer are: 1. Your body mass. 2. Your gender. 3. Type of drink (from "something resembling beer" to pure ethanol). 4. Type of company. Options include a) Romantic intimacy, b) A party, c) Alone. 5. Type of meal. Choices are a) None, b) Hot Meal, c) Prickled Cucumber/Slice of Lemon/Some Salad, d) Whatever is found. 6. The purpose of drinking – a) To drink oneself into a slight stupor, b) To get fun, c) To relax and have a good chat. 7. Do you have hangover? a) Often, b) Occasionally, with easy recovery 8. Do you have to go home after drinking? If "yes" – a) Is it far away? b) Do you expect a quarrel back home? 9. Do you have to go to work tomorrow? If "yes" - Is it going to be something important? After clicking "Calculate" button you have precise volume of the chosen drink (+/-5 ml) on a special form with a stamp and a sign of a hangover doctor. Merry Christmas!
Time for mandatory 'Unit Labelling' 19 January 2002
Phil J Webster-Harrison, General Practitioner Port View Surgery, Saltash PL124BU, Andy G Barton, RDSU Co-ordinator Plymouth& South Devon Send response to journal: Re: Time for mandatory 'Unit Labelling'	'It's hard to calculate how much you are drinking - but you should know'. The editorial comprehensively illustrated both the difficulties inherent in calculating the number of units consumed and the dangers in excess alcohol consumption making it advisable that 'you should know'. 'So what should we do?' - Australia's commonsense (and research based)approach was to legislate for compulsory labelling of alcoholic beverages with 'standard drinks'.In the UK we are at least 6 years behind Australia with only those drinks companies and retailers in agreement with 'Unit Labelling' taking part in a voluntary scheme launched in 1999.Some companies could be praised for their clear bold labelling whereas others employ tiny difficult to read symbols of dubious use. We called for the Government to legislate for bold 'unit labelling' on the front of alcoholic drink containers (ref 1)and this has now been supported by the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.(ref 2)A natural conclusion for Ferner and Chambers would surely also be to call for unit labelling. After over a decade of offering health advice on alcohol in terms of 'Units' isn't it time that Health Professionals ended the confusion? - the BMA and Royal Colleges should be calling the Government to introduce compulsory unit labelling. 1.Webster-Harrison PJ, Barton AG et al. General Practitioners' and Practice Nurses'knowledge of how much patients should and do drink. Br J Gen Pract 2001;51:218-20 2.Getting tight on units of alcohol. DTB 2001;39:95