New Police Technology Tracks Eyes to Assess Drug, Alcohol Impairment

Photo by Doug Wyllie, PoliceOne

Ocular Data Systems, has just come out with a cutting edge device to assess and record a subject’s eyes for alcohol or other drug impairment. It’s called the DAX.

The DAX is a lightweight, handheld unit that consists of a video screen, an infrared video camera, an integrated pair of pen lights aimed at each eye, measuring sevices and a molded physical interface where the subject’s forehead, nose and eyes would go.

The machine will enable officers to test the eye movements and responses of a subject, he or she simply puts the device on the subject’s face, that FST is recorded on video which can then be played back as evidence when seeking a conviction.

New Legislation Introduced to Cut Scotland’s Drink Drive Alcohol Limit

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has introduced an order in Parliament which will mean that,

The plans will mean that Scotland’s blood alcohol limit will be reduced from 80mg in every 100 ml of blood, to 50 mg in every 100 ml of blood, the move would bring Scotland into line with most other European countries.
subject to approval, a reduced drink-drive limit will come into effect on December 5, 2014, in time for the festive period.

The move should bring many benefits including fewer road accidents and fewer casualties. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:

“I have said before that I am determined we do everything we can to make our roads safer and save lives. Drink driving shatters families and communities and we must take action to reduce the risk on our roads. The latest estimates show that approximately one in ten deaths on Scottish roads involve drivers who are over the legal limit and research shows that even just one alcoholic drink before driving can make you three times as likely to be involved in a fatal car crash. As a result, 20 families every year have to cope with the loss of a loved one and around 760 people are treated for injuries caused by someone who thought it was acceptable to drink alcohol and get behind the wheel and drive. We cannot let this continue. That’s why I have today introduced legislation to lower the drink drive limit in Scotland so that, subject to parliamentary approval, new laws will be in place in time for the beginning of the festive period. This new limit will bring Scotland into line with most of Europe and send a clear message to drivers who continue to ignore the warnings that there is never an excuse to drink and drive. Getting behind the wheel after drinking can have fatal consequences, the advice is simple; if you have had any alcoholic drink whatsoever, don’t drive. No one should be drinking and driving and the new lower limit only reinforces what should already be the case with drivers taking full responsibility and not putting lives at risk. Lowering the drink drive limit will help make Scotland’s roads safer, it is the right thing to do, and most importantly, it will save lives meaning that fewer families have to go through the heartache of a loved one lost”.

Sandy Allan, RoSPA’s Road Safety Manager, Scotland said:
“RoSPA welcomes and strongly supports the Scottish Government’s decision to lower the drink-drive limit in Scotland, which we believe will save lives and prevent injuries on Scotland’s roads. There is a considerable body of research which shows that reducing drink-drive limits is effective in reducing drink-drive deaths and injuries. We would like to see the rest of the UK follow Scotland’s example.”

New Alcohol Breathalyer / GPS Tracker Makes a Difference for DUI Offenders

Over in America a Marion County judge says a new alcohol tracker is making a difference by helping to keep DUI offenders sober, at no cost to taxpayers. The program is used as either a condition for release, or part of a sentence.

It’s called “RADAR,” or Real Time Alcohol Monitoring Detection and Recognition.  Offenders are given random Breathalyzer tests throughout the day.  The results are sent in real-time to correction officers. This of course included the location so that the officer can see if they are in a pub.

The unit alerts the offender that it is time for a test by buzzing and lighting up.  The unit also knows if it is the offender that gives the test (im not sure how that is done as I write this)

Right now, more than 200 people are using RADAR in Marion County.  Superior Court Judge Bill Nelson says it’s not only stopping people from drinking—it’s saving on jail space and tax dollars.

“It’s offender funded, so it’s not costing the taxpayer anything. If I throw someone in jail, it’ll cost the county about $52 a day; the offenders are paying for this up to $12 dollars a day,” he said.
“Some of these people need to go to jail, and they will, but the vast majority of these offenders do not need to be incarcerated,” he said.

To read more on this story and view the video please visit the link below

http://fox59.com/2014/10/21/new-alcohol-tracker-makes-a-difference/

Parental Alcohol Abuse - If your Children Could Choose Would They Choose You?!

This video focuses on "What if children could choose their parents?". It has a very powerful message about 'Parental Alcohol Abuse'. We all know that children can’t choose their parents. But what if they could? Would that change the way we as parents behave?

Drunkorexia - Eating Less to Drink More

Image Credit Breelyn Bowe | The Mirror

Drunkorexia is a new type of eating disprder where a person will eat smaller meals, or no meals at all, in order to allow for more
alcohol consumption without weight gain, it is a worrying trend that has hit college campuses across the nation.

This disorder as with most eating disorders is most prevalent amongst young women. Self-image is already a prominent part of their everyday lives, and with the added pressures of the binge-drinking lifestyle, young women have become more conscious of where they consume their calories.

Whilst alcoholic beverages such as beer and Spirits contain very little fat, they are extremely high in calories and artificial sugars.

In an article about drunkorexia by the Los Angeles Times, Dr. David Heber, director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition and professor of medicine at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, said  “women will skip meals and get their caloric allowance in alcoholic drinks,” the fact of the matter is that this method does not truly prevent weight gain.

A campaign titled Drink Aware has focused on this modern eating disorder and the long-term effects that could arise from it including severe liver damage, of course this is not really just an eating disorder but an eating disorder paired with alcoholism.

For more on this story please visit http://www.uncmirror.com

Last year 52 Children Aged Under 11 Hospitalised With Alcohol Poisoning

Shocking new figures from the Department for Health show that hundreds of children are being rushed to hospital every month with alcohol poisoning, In total nearly 4,000 children were taken to A&E last year (52 of those were under the age of 11)

Sarah Wollaston, chair of the Commons health select committee, warned: “It is a grave risk to young people’s health.”

In total, 3,748 under-18s were admitted to hospital with alcohol poisoning during 2012-13 (more than 300 a month). this has sparked fears of a sharp rise in binge drinking.

Among adults, there were almost 82,500 cases of alcohol poisoning in hospitals last year.

Teens Open "Haunted House of Addictions" to Raise Awareness of Drugs, Alcohol

So ive come acoss a story about a group of high school students in America that are hoping to scare youth straight when it comes to drugs and alcohol this Halloween.

Members of the Walton County Youth Advocacy Board opened the “Haunted House of Addictions” Friday in Monroe to raise awareness of drugs and alcohol and to show youth the dangers of substance abuse.

guests will walk through a haunted house and see vignettes depicting people at various stages of addiction, from the first time they use street or prescription drugs and alcohol to worst-case scenarios such as accidents, death and prison.

Tessa Barnes, the organiser and a sophomore at Monroe Area High School. “Around Halloween, there are plenty of haunted houses, but this one is different because we’re not just trying to scare people, We’re trying to teach the dangers of drugs and alcohol to people of all ages, but in a way that’s also fun. I hope teens who come to the haunted house will see how bad drugs are, I know a lot of teens are caught up in trying to fit in and give in to peer pressure. I hope they realize drugs aren’t fun but are scary and dangerous and can ruin your life in a second.”

I think this is a fabulous way to educate people of the dangers of drugs and alcohol, perhaps someone in the UK will do an event like this next year.  To read more about this event please visit  http://onlineathens.com

Most Angry Post About Sobre October Ive Read So Far

I like to get a balanced view so it would be wrong not to share this piece in the Guardian by Nell Frizzell

Entitled "Sober October: when did giving up alcohol become a heroic act?"

"I love her opening paragraph "If you think that not drinking is heroic then, good God, I hope you never have to rescue me from a burning building. Or pull me out of a river. Or care for me in my hour of darkness."

and actually yes I agree with this statement.

I think that she might be right in many ways, however on the other side I feel that the marketing machines at McMillan are doing their job well, by choosing something that a lot of people participate in and lets face it who doesn't want to be made to feel like a hero!

Benefits to be Paid onto Smart Cards to Stop claimants Spending Their Money on Alcohol or Gambling

Soon benefits could to be paid onto smart cards, the aim being to stop claimants wasting taxpayers money on alcohol or gambling.

Iain Duncan Smith The Work and Pensions Secretary said he was increasingly concerned about the way benefits could currently be used to fuel addictions, instead of putting people on the road to work.

Speaking at the Tory party conference in Birmingham, he said: 'I have long believed that where parents have fallen into a damaging spiral – drug or alcohol addiction, even problem debt, or more – we need to find ways to safeguard them – and more importantly, their families, their children, ensuring their basic needs are met.

Since this announcement Mark Hoban, a former Employment Minister, has questioned the legality of introducing a pre-paid card for benefit claimants.

Mr Hoban, who served under Iain Duncan Smith in the Department for Work and Pensions from September 2012 to October 2013, told a fringe meeting: "I think [this card] has been looked at quite often."

Speaking before Mr Duncan Smith's appearance at the Conservative Conference, he told a fringe meeting that "there may be some legal issues around using it."

Deirdre Kelly, also known as White Dee, from the television show Benefits Street, told the same fringe meeting that she thought the card was "not a bad idea."

‘Drunk Driving’ Hovercraft Pilot Attempts Landing

Richard Pease a hovercraft pilot transported 36 passengers across the Solent while nearly three times the legal alcohol limit has been jailed for eight months. (pleaded guilty at a previous hearing)

A colleague had to take the controls when Richard Pease collapsed after he missed the landing pad at Ryde on the Isle of Wight on 22 June.

Newport Crown Court heard a colleague on the Freedom 90 craft noticed Pease's reaction time was slow during the crossing and that he failed to carry out a manoeuvre properly when the hovercraft came across a tanker.

When Pease was breath tested, some six hours later, he was nearly three times the legal limit.
Pease, one of Hovertravel's most experienced pilots, admitted a charge of being master of a hovercraft having consumed excess alcohol.

Sentencing Pease, who has admitted to having a past dependency on alcohol, Judge Susan Evans QC said: "It's tragic that someone of your standing and with such an impressive past career should have destroyed all of that in one day.
"It was an appalling breach of your duty.
"Your actions could have resulted in tragedy but fortunately they did not."

Domino’s Applies for Licence to Deliver Alcohol

ALCOHOL could soon be delivered to your front door with your pizza order if Domino’s Pizza has its application for an alcohol licence approved (The application relates to the pizza giant’s store at 5 The Broadway, Newbury.)

Newbury town councillors have slammed the plans with its Conservative group leader Tony Stretton (Clay Hill) likening the scheme to “delivering alcohol on a platter” to underage drinkers, at a meeting of its planning and highways committee on Monday night.


Jeff Beck (Con, Clay Hill), said: “We all know the situation you get. An older person will sometimes front a party and the people who are actually consuming the alcohol are under age. There’s totally insufficient protection for the young people of the district. This could potentially be very misused.”

Sarah McGhie, A spokeswoman for Domino’s, said that all staff would be trained on the procedures required when selling alcohol, and would be given a script to follow.

“At the point of sale, if the staff member suspects that they are already intoxicated or have concerns over the customer then they [can] refuse to sell alcohol to them,” she said. “By providing all of this information during the order process, we are limiting the exposure of the driver.”

A decision is due to be made at a meeting of West Berkshire Council’s licensing committee on October 15, in its Market Street offices at 2pm.


What do you think? Would you use the delivery service to purchase alcohol with your food? Are you concerned that it could lead to alcohol being easily obtained by underage drinkers?

A Bicester  branch got its approval back in July 2013, that was the second branch, having not been able to source any derogatory news stories regarding this we are assuming that is running well, we have been unable to track down which store was the first.

How would you feel if this was available in your area? 

Surviving An Alcohol Free Month be it Oct-Sober or Dryvember

So ive been noticing quite a few good articles out there including one which ive just come across in the telegraph entitled "Oct-sober: the best alcohol-free drinks" where Chris Moss selects the best alcohol-free drinks, its a great read, here is a very abridged version of the drinks that he selected (there is more details in his article about what the drinks are like and what they compliment the best)

1. James White Russet Apple Juice.

2. Luscombe Hot Ginger Beer.

3. Peter Spanton Cardamom Tonic. 

4. Bavaria Wit Beer

5. Bottle Green Blackcurrant and Coffee

6. ViVa White Peach and Melon

7. Eisberg Alcohol-free Rosé

8. Clayton’s Kola Tonic

9. Torres Natureo Syrah

10. Big Tom

11. Mr Fitzpatricks Sarsaparilla

12. Abel & Cole Green Juicing Box
 
13. Belvoir Coconut and Lime Pressé

14. Marks & Spencer Elderflower Cordial

15. Carl Jung Mousseux Sparkling Wine

Dryvember - have a go at saying no! - The Christmas Pretox Challenge

Knowing that December is full of boozy Christmas parties, late nights and celebrations, why not give your body a good ‘pretox’ and take a break from the booze this November and prepare yourself for the festive season!

By taking on the challenge you’re sure to look your best and slip into that cocktail dress a little easier, or tighten a notch on your belt while saving a few quid. You’ll then be on top form for the festive season – the challenge will help you save up for it too!

So go on, have a go at saying no, get thinking about your drinking – you can try a week, a half marathon of 13 days or the full monty of 26 days! We’ve allowed you days to fall off the wagon if it helps so you don’t miss out on special occasions.

http://www.alcoholeducationtrust.org/dryvember/

Levitating Cocktail Machine

The World's first levitating cocktail machine invented by farmers' son Charlie Harry Francis (29) who grew up in Pembrokeshire

The machine uses ultrasonic sound waves to levitate tiny droplets of alcohol which customers lick out of the air, Charlie came up with the ‘Levitron’ in collaboration with Professor Bruce Drinkwater of Bristol University.

Charlie said: “It’s a pretty powerful machine. So far we’ve made a levitating gin and tonic at 70% proof and a levitating Bloody Mary cocktail using vodka at 160% proof which will blow your socks off.”

Click here to view the video of the levitron which wont embed for some reason!

The pair plan to expand on the levitron to eventually float an entire roast dinner into people’s mouths (amongst other things).

The machine currently costs around £30,000 and will be used at festivals and big parties. They want to get the price down of this as well in future developments.

I know youre all thinking, what does it sound like, well thats the really clever bit. The Levitron uses very powerful sound waves in the ultrasonic spectrum which, crucially, are beyond the range of human hearing

Charlie is the founder of Lick Me I’m Delicious an experimental events company – home of the Nitro Ice Cream Buggy, Edible Mist Machines, the Ice Cream Pottery Gramophone Wheel, Instant Lollipop Maker, Soup Washing Machine and also the world’s first glow in the dark ice-cream which glows as you lick it. They are currently working on developing a Jelly Bean Waterfall, Whirlwind Popcorn Storm and an edible aftershave range.