Because alcoholism among youth becomes a problem of public health importance, and that consumption patterns have changed significantly. It is too often spent a festive alcohol alcoholism violent than Anglo-Saxons call “binge drinking” and that might be translated as “Express bun. The goal is not to take pleasure in drinking but getting drunk as quickly and as brutally as possible to get a sort of shock alcoholic. Furthermore, legislation on alcohol was extremely dense and complicated. And as often happens in these cases, it was not or poorly enforced. Nobody found it. So I decided to clarify and simplify the framework of the bill “Hospital, Patients, Health and Territories” means any sale of alcohol is prohibited to minors. This legislation, which must adapt to the new mode of alcohol among young people and should be simplified to be actually applied.
Why did you decide to remove the open bars without touching the happy hours?
The open bars are a real incentive to heavy drinking since it’s a sales package with no limits. It is not the same with “happy hour” which consists simply in lower prices at certain times of day. Of course, all measures of prevention and control of liquor sales also cover “happy hours” are not synonymous with “no law land ‘.
We must walk on three legs that are information, prevention and interdiction. I lead, in collaboration with various stakeholders in the health of many prevention efforts of Student Life. The finance ministry, with the Directorate General of Health (DGS) of student associations that work with youth as Future Health, Cars & Co or mutual students. With INPE, I also produce and broadcast spots about the alteration of behavior due to heavy drinking. The campaign, “Drink too much,” broadcast last summer on television, film, radio was focused on young people and put forward such violence linked to abuse.
The problem is he does not, however, alcohol brands that sponsor student parties?
What is incredible is that the sponsorship is already prohibited under the the law. Sponsorship of student parties by alcohol suppliers is strictly prohibited.
Internet is inherently international media. What I wanted is a framework to control. In the early 90s during the development of the Evin law we are in the early stages of the Internet. The text does not that route. It is therefore to adapt and modernize the text of the Loi Evin. If an amendment is submitted, we review it and we will focus on ensuring that this safeguards the strongest: Ban sites for youth, sport and physical activity, prohibition of so-called intrusive advertisements as spam and pop-ups. And of course, massive presence of prevention messages and information. Install a monitoring committee that will check all this in an extremely careful.
Obviously not, but that’s not why it should be discouraged. This is an excellent technique that comes in support of all measures. This is truly a breakthrough. These policies are highly complementary and balanced.
What do you think pushes students to drink to excess at parties and have recourse to this practice of binge drinking?
I think we are dealing with a critical period that is post-adolescence. This effect of shoot with behavior modeling: we want to be like friends. Studies show that many of them do not s’alcoolisaient the rest of the time. They do not drink alcohol at the time a student party. What I found is that it is by no means a trivial phenomenon. And hospitalizations for age groups 15 to 24 years for acute intoxication are on the rise: over 50% between 2004 and 2007. I am faced with a real public health problem.
One of the most effective ways is probably the prevention and support from “peers”, that is to say, student associations, mutual accompanying students really young people in a relationship of equality, parity, not authority. It is a positive step.
Of course, with the youth health plan that I presented in February 2008. I implement a policy that focuses on student health, including welfare, mental health, sleep, sexually transmitted infections, HIV, contraception …
Would you like to send a message to students?
I want to help them build their capital health, sustainable health, a fundamental element of their future in their emotional, social. The bans are necessary but they are primarily a supportive role for the prevention, information and support. I want at any time, if they so wish, young adults can find a referent that supports and guides them in building sustainable health.