None of the characters in this story is a real person, other than the pianist.
Story
“The Beauty of Diversity”, Albertina Mordern
An exhibition to show the breadth of the Albertina Museum’s contemporary collections, 10am-6pm, until August 18th 2024
Smooth Running (2005-2013), Claudia Märzendorfer
Dancing Figure, Sungi Mlengeya
Creature, Michel Nedjar. Made from cloth, sticks, straw, fibres, mud, animal blood. ■
Alcohol Review – issue 100, February 29th 2024
Alcohol understanding for all
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In this issue: Thailand moots graphic labels; Lithuania mulls tax rise; Nigeria suspends sachet ban; Risky drinkers not listening: “Dire consequences” expected; Cricket captain promotes alcohol free spirit
Thai label: A proposed graphic warning on alcohol will cover at least one-third of the container and include messages like “Alcoholic beverages can cause cancer” and “Selling alcoholic beverages to people under 20 is punishable by imprisonment and a fine”.
Tax raising: Lithuania’s Finance Ministry has proposed raising excise duties on alcohol implemented for three consecutive years, starting in 2025. Together with tobacco tax increase it is estimated to raise a total of €126.7m.
Sachet suspension: A Nigerian House of Representatives Committee ordered the suspension of a ban on sale of spirits and alcoholic drinks in sachets and pet bottles after a series of protests.
Not listening: Heavy drinkers rated a WHO message on the risk of alcohol-related health problems as less believable than lower risk drinkers. They were also both more fearful of it while wanting to think about it less, while also feeling less at risk.
Hurry up: There will be “dire consequences” for low and middle income countries if governments do not act speedily t enact effective alcohol policies, experts warned.
Preparedness value: A new “alcohol preparedness index” puts a number on the robustness of alcohol-related public health policies in 169 countries. Europe achieved the highest score with 77, while Africa had the lowest score with 39.
Cricket champion: Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins became the global ambassador of non-alcoholic spirit brand Lyre’s.
The Tigger
Winnie the Pooh meets William Blake, with apologies to Blake and A. A. Milne
The Tigger
By Phil Cain
Tigger Tigger feeling light
Forever bouncing to great height
What immortal hand or eye
Would thwart thy primal bid to fly.
What great lows and highs
Has put such shine in thy eyes?
Since the starting pistol fired
Neither have thee paused nor tired.
What great seamstress applied her art
To the pounding of thy heart
And when this organ began to thump
What made thee get right up and jump?
What creator sowed thy mane?
And did she also crochet thy brain
What the needle what the hooks
Fixed thy wild-eyed looks.
When the almighty created bears
And tended to their wonky ears
Did she smile her work to see?
Did she who made Eeyore make thee?
Tigger Tigger feeling light
Forever bouncing to great height
What immortal hand or eye
Would thwart thy primal bid to fly. ■
The Tyger
By William Blake
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat.
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp.
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? ■
Properly plussed
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Alcohol Review – issue 99, January 29th 2024
Alcohol understanding for all
*Subscribe *Books *Whatsapp *Twitter, LinkedIn *ARchive
In this issue: Olympics strikes first global beer deal; Local alcohol levies mooted; Pope issues wine reminder; Smaller glasses cut drinking; US alcohol deaths state-by-state; and more
Olympic beer deal: The Olympics’ first ever global beer promotion deal drew sharp criticism from a range of UK health advocates, including the Association of Directors of Public Health. The deal to promote beer brands at the next two Olympics covers all brands in AB InBev’s portfolio, Alcohol Review was told. The Olympics organiser said the beer branding will not be seen in the field of play and will initially revolve around the Corona Cero alcohol-free brand, a modified version of the 4.5% brand. At the LA games in 2028 the emphasis will switch to the 3.5% Michelob Ultra brand, marketed as low calorie.
Local levies: Local levies on alcohol and other unhealthy products could raise funds and reduce inequality, said the left-leaning UK think tank IPPR in a new report. Such levies would top up £3bn funding from a Health Creation Fund, with poorer areas where unhealthy outlets cluster able to raise more money. Scottish Labour said earlier in the month that it is backing an alcohol levy.
Papal whine: Pope Francis was reported to have reminded Italian wine producers of their moral and ethical responsibilities, while reassuring them their product is a “gift from God”. His reminder may relate to the Italian industry being at the vanguard of resistance to nutrition and ingredients labels.
Glass ceiling: A study removing the largest glass of wine from sale in pubs cut the total amount of alcohol consumed by 7.6%, while income remained the same. One commentator suggested huge glasses are naff anyway, while another felt the discussion was a sure sign a full ban on alcohol is nigh.
US deaths state-by-state: Alcohol Review published a table of rises in US alcohol-induced deaths by state, using provisional CDC figures. They range from Mississippi with an 85% rise and New Jersey with 11%. PBS this month talked to the author of a new four-part series in the Denver Post on how alcohol has not been treated with the same urgency as opioids. Colorado, the CDC data says, is in the middle with a 32% in deaths.
Conflicted again: The US organisation assembling a committee to assess evidence for an update to alcohol guidelines has picked a Harvard professor with financial ties to the alcohol industry, having recently backtracked on the appointment of two people with such ties.
AI ageing: The UK government is considering the use of age assurance technologies, including age estimation to decide if an individual is old enough to purchase age restricted products like alcohol.