A glass too many

CERN has launched an alcoholism prevention campaign.

Free cocktails will be served at the entrance to CERN's three restaurants between 11.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. on 21 June... non-alcoholic ones, mind you.
The purpose of this initiative, which has been organised by the Standing Concertation Committee Sub-Group on the Prevention of Alcoholism, is to make us all more aware of the problems related to excessive alcohol consumption.
Since 2000, the Medical Service has observed that alcohol-related problems are once again on the rise. Moreover, the Sub-Group has noted failure to use the programme designed to help staff overcome such problems. These trends may be attributable in particular to the insufficient training of new supervisors. A general lack of information has also played a role. The Sub-Group has therefore set itself the objective of re-launching measures to increase our awareness of the problems associated with alcohol abuse and their health-, road safety- and work-related consequences.
A new operational circular (No. 8), which is better adapted to the needs of supervisors than the text it replaces, has just been published. In it, the onus is placed on all of us, whether we are supervisors or not, to take action in the event of problems. Practical tools for dealing with them more effectively are also provided. As soon as it becomes apparent that an individual has an alcohol problem, it is important to initiate dialogue and encourage them to seek help.
This awareness-raising campaign will culminate in training sessions at the end of 2004. Set up in collaboration with the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcoholism, they aim to explain the nature of alcoholism, what our individual responsibilities are and the tools available to those involved in the help programme. 'These sessions will not only be very informative but will also give everyone tools for resolving often delicate situations', says Carla Bryois, Head of the Human Resources Department and Chairman of the SCC Alcoholism Prevention Sub-Group.
However, a large-scale prevention campaign is starting right now. Various posters and Bulletin articles will deal, in turn, with the impact of alcohol on health, road safety and in the working environment.

The health-related effects of alcohol

The moderate consumption of alcohol is an accepted social custom and contributes to our well-being in the widest sense of the word. Drinking a glass of wine every day is thought to lower the risk of heart disease.
Let us not forget, however, that inappropriate levels of alcohol consumption have many harmful effects on our health.
The World Health Organization defines excessive alcohol intake as the consumption of more than 2 glasses a day in the case of women and 3 a day in the case of men (14 and 21 a week respectively) and the absence of at least one alcohol-free day per week. The reference point for all of us is a standard unit of alcohol: glasses designed for specific alcoholic drinks all contain roughly the same quantity of pure alcohol, namely 10 grams. Don't forget that wine and beer count as alcohol!
Failure to keep alcohol intake in check can result in dependence. Many people are unaware that they have an alcohol problem, claiming that they can 'hold their drink' or that they never get drunk.
Inappropriate levels of alcohol consumption have many health implications, with consequences not only for those concerned but also for those with whom they come into contact.

• One-off cases of alcohol abuse can lead to traumatological, neurological or even fatal injuries through accidents on the road, at work and as the person concerned goes about his everyday life, as well as potentially fatal infectious diseases in the event of unprotected sex.
  
• Chronic alcohol abuse can cause cancers of the upper digestive tract (mouth, larynx, oesophagus), breast cancer, liver cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, myocardial infarction), diseases of the nervous system and mental problems (often the first symptoms). This type of abuse results in excessive recourse to medical treatment, particularly in the hospital environment, which can be extremely expensive.

Delays in taking matters in hand, linked with denial and co-dependence, can make the health consequences even worse. Thousands of illness-related deaths in our Member States are directly attributable to alcohol.
The CERN Medical Service has noted an increase in the number of patients with alcohol problems, even if alcohol consumption in the workplace is increasingly well regulated.
Special attention must be drawn to the use of alcohol to relieve anxiety as this can often lead to an unstoppable chain of events resulting in dependence and the major health risks that go with it.
Whether it is a cause or a consequence, alcohol systematically undermines a person's mental and subsequently physical health. Alcohol problems must be faced with courage before they are given the chance to cause irreparable damage.

Dr V. Fassnacht and Dr E. Reymond