Alcoholic Milk Could Exacerbate Underage and Binge Drinking
The Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) today applauded the decision in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to support a ban on the sale of the controversial alcoholic milk product, Moo Joose.
The Director of the Centre for Youth Drug Studies at the ADF, Mr. Geoff Munro said the decision to dismiss the appeal to be able to sell Moo Joose in Victoria was a victory for the health of Victorian children.
"Alcoholic milk would exacerbate the serious problem of underage and binge drinking by young people," Mr Munro said. "The industry has been able to market a plethora of new products but we say enough is enough - we do not need alcoholic milk."
Moo Joose was originally proposed for the Victorian market last year but Liquor Licensing Victoria refused a liquor licence in September largely based on evidence given by Mr. Munro that the product would pose an unacceptable health risk to Victorian children.
However, alcoholic milk has been on sale in Victoria since early this year. One product, "Vodka Mudshake", a blend of flavoured milk with vodka (5% alcohol by volume) is imported from New Zealand and is not subject to Victoria's regulations.
Bruce Clark of the Society Without Alcoholic Trauma Inc. (SWAT) supports the decision to deny the producers of Moo Joose a license, however the Society asks that the State government be consistent and apply bans to all similar products.
Source: ADCA Update Mailing List
What is Drink Spiking?
Drink spiking is when alcohol or another substance is added to a person’s drink without them knowing. It is illegal. It is not a new phenomenon, but it is a growing problem worldwide, especially around licensed premises such as nightclubs, hotels, pubs and other social venues. Drink spiking is commonly associated with certain other crimes, such as drug-assisted sexual assault (also known as ‘drug rape’).
In Australia in 2002, about a quarter of victims of sexual assault reported that they had been drugged. More than 90 per cent of victims of drug-assisted sexual assault are women, and more than a third of all victims are aged 16–24 years. In about a third of cases, the offender is known to the victim, as a friend or acquaintance (also known as ‘date rape’).
The drinks most commonly spiked are alcoholic drinks, but there is evidence that drugs have been used to lace soft drinks, coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Some drugs used to spike drinks have no colour, taste or smell, and may take a while to affect you. As the drug takes effect you could become unconscious, and, later, when its effects have worn off, you may not be able to remember what happened.