Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Alcohol control policy measures'

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The tobacco industry of South Africa has fallen under strict legislation and control measures from the South African government since the passing of the initial Tobacco Products Control Act, 1993. Further amendments have been made to the initial act, namely Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act, 1999 and the proposed Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill, 2004. This assignment emerges against the backdrop of the alcoholic beverage industry coming under similar scrutiny to that of the tobacco industry from government legislation and control measures The main objective of this assignment was to discover the similarities, if any, between the tobacco industry and the alcoholic beverage industry of South Africa, specifically with regard to their advertising practices before legislation. The purpose of this assignment is to discover whether or not the alcoholic beverage industry can learn from the example of the tobacco industry in order to maintain its self-regulation, rather than to fall under the control of State regulation and legislation. The literature and empirical study sought to achieve the following four objectives: 1.) To gain a thorough understanding of the tobacco legislation on a global scale; 2.) To analyse the control measures and legislation of tobacco in a South African context; 3.) To identify any similarities between the tobacco industry and alcoholic beverage industry of South Africa and 4.) To identify means in which the alcoholic beverage industry can work with the State in order to maintain the self-regulation of its industry. Findings indicate that similarities arise when comparing tobacco and alcohol, as both of them have addictive qualities, are often used from a very young age and both have laws prohibiting sale to minors. The success gained in South Africa with regard to anti-tobacco initiatives and government legislation since the introduction of the first Tobacco Act in 1993, has led to certain members of society feeling that similar, if not the same, strict strategies and / or legislative measures should be used to address the public health problems relating to alcohol.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse tabaknywerheid val onder streng wetgewing en beheermaatreëls deur die Suid-Afrikaanse regering sedert die aanvanklike Wet op die Beheer van Tabakprodukte, 1993 aanvaar is. Verdere wysigings op die aanvanklike wet is aanvaar, naamlik die Wysigingswet op die Beheer van Tabakprodukte, 1999 en die voorgestelde Wysigingswetsontwerp op die Beheer van Tabakprodukte, 2004. Hierdie werk spruit voort teen die agtergrond van die alkoholdranknywerheid wat onder 'n soortgelyke soeklig geplaas is as die tabaknywerheid by wyse van regeringswetgewing en beheermaatreëls. Die hoofoogmerk van hierdie werk was om die ooreenkomste, indien enige, vas te stel tussen die tabaknywerheid en die alkoholdranknywerheid van Suid-Afrika, spesifiek met betrekking tot hul adverteringspraktyke vóór wetgewing. Die doel van hierdie werk was om vas te stel of die alkoholdranknywerheid uit die voorbeeld van die tabaknywerheid kan leer aldan nie, met die oog op die voortsetting van sy selfbeheer, eerder as om onder die beheer van Staatsregulering en wetgewing te val. Die bronmateriaal en empiriese studie was daarop toegespits om die volgende vier doelwitte te bereik: 1.) Om 'n behoorlike begrip te verkry van tabakwetgewing op 'n globale skaal; 2.) Om die beheermaatreëls en wetgewing oor tabak in 'n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks te analiseer; 3.) Om enige ooreenkomste tussen die tabak- en die alkoholdranknywerheid in Suid-Afrika te identifiseer en 4.) Om wyses te identifiseer waardeur die alkoholdranknywerheid met die Staat kan saamwerk om die selfbeheer van die nywerheid te behou. Bevindinge dui aan dat ooreenkomste wel ontstaan wanneer tabak en alkohol met mekaar vergelyk word, veral omdat albei verslawende eienskappe bevat, dikwels deur persone vanaf 'n baie jong ouderdom gebruik word en dat wetgewing albei verbied om aan minderjariges verkoop te word. Die sukses wat in Suid-Afrika rakende anti-tabakinisiatiewe en wetgewing behaal is sedert die inwerkingstelling van die eerste Wet op die Beheer van Tabak in 1993 het daartoe gelei dat sekere lede van die gemeenskap van mening is dat soortgelyke, indien nie dieselfde nie, streng strategieë en/of wetgewende maatreëls aangewend behoort te word om die openbare gesondheidsprobleme rakende alkohol aan te spreek.

Darbas yra orientuojamas į opios šiandieninei Lietuvos visuomenei problemos sprendimą — alkoholio suvartojimo mastų ir su tuo susijusių pasekmių mažinimą Lietuvoje. Tuo tikslu darbe siekiama išanalizuoti Lietuvos alkoholio kontrolės politikos įgyvendinimo problematiką įrodymais grįstos politikos perspektyvoje. Viešųjų problemų efektyviam sprendimui didelę reikšmę turi moksliškai patvirtintos žinios, todėl pirmas ir antras darbo skyriai susiję su detalesne įrodymais grįstos politikos analize tiek tiriant bendrą jos reikšmę viešojoje politikoje, tiek ir jos reikšmę alkoholio kontrolės politikoje. Analizė grindžiama anglosaksų ir Skandinavijos šalių mokslininkų darbais, kadangi šiose šalyse mokslo naudojimas viešųjų problemų sprendimui, įskaitant ir didelio alkoholio suvartojimo visuomenėje problemos, gana paplitęs, akcentuojant, jog įrodymų naudojimas viešojoje politikoje, labai svarbus, siekiant suprasti politinę aplinką ir jos pokyčius, adekvačiai pažinti probleminę situaciją, tinkamai pasirinkti ir įgyvendinti geriausias politikos priemones, lemiančias efektyvius pasirinktos politikos rezultatus. Remiantis Lietuvos teisės aktų analize ir Lietuvos mokslininkų darbais, trečiajame skyriuje nagrinėjama Lietuvos alkoholio kontrolės politikos sistema, siekiant įvertinti, kiek LR alkoholio kontrolės politikoje pritaikytinas įrodymais grįstos alkoholio kontrolės politikos priemonių vystymas, įvertinant ir pagrindines vyraujančias problemas, neleidžiančias alkoholio kontrolės... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]
This study is about one of the most serious problems in Lithuania — reduction of huge alcohol consumption and related consequenses in Lithuania’s civil society. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to analyze the problematic implementation of alcohol control policy in Lithuania in accordance with the perspective of evidence-based policy. The public policy to be effective, it’s very important to use knowledge based on researches, so in the first and the second chapter this evidence-based perspective is analyzed, respectively, to examine its general importance to public policy itself and to alcohol control policy. This analysis is based on the studies of Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian scientists, because in these countries researches in public policy is used broadly, including alcohol control policy, emphasizing on the use of evidence to be very important in understanding the political environment and its changes, an adequate understanding of the problematic situation, the right choice, and the best practices of that policy, which all determine effective outcomes of that policy. According to Lithuanian legislation and the analyses of the studies, in the third chapter it is examining the system of alcohol control policy in Lithuania, to seek evaluate the problems, which occur in adopting evidence-based alcohol policy to Lithuania’s alcohol control policy. As it turned out, in Lithuania, the development of alcohol control policy infrastructure is adequately formulated (for example... [to full text]

Magistro baigiamajame darbe analizuojama šiuolaikinė Lietuvos alkoholio kontrolės politika. Stengdamasi atskleisti ir įvertinti Lietuvos alkoholio kontrolės politikos problemas, autorė atliko viešosios nuomonės tyrimą-apklausą, mokslinės literatūros analizę bei naudojo kitus mokslinius metodus. Darbe ne tik atskleidžiamas nepakankamas alkoholio kontrolės įgyvendinimas Lietuvoje, bet ir pateikiamos rekomendacijos, kaip jį pagerinti taikant efektyvias mokslu pagrįstas bei pasaulyje naudojamas alkoholio kontrolės priemones. Lietuvos gyventojai (apklausos rezultatų duomenimis) ir alkoholio kontrolės srities ekspertai alkoholio politiką šalyje vertina vidutiniškai. Daugelis Lietuvos gyventojų bei ekspertų pritartų griežtesnei alkoholio kontrolės politikai. Vienas iš didžiausių trukdžių įrodymais grįstai alkoholio politikai vystyti – aktyvi alkoholio pramonės įtaka šalyje.
Master's thesis analyzes the contemporary Alcohol Control Policy of Lithuania. Author of the work conducted a public opinion survey-interview, used the analysis of scientific literature and other methods of research to disclose and evaluate the issues of the Lithuanian Alcohol Control Policy. The paper not only reveals the lack of implementation of alcohol control in Lithuania, but also provides guidance on how to improve it with/adapting the effective science-based and used globally alcohol control measures. Lithuanian residents (survey data) and alcohol-control experts have an average view of this policy. Many of them support the stronger alcohol control policy. One of the major constraints on evidence-based alcohol policy development – strong influence of the alcohol industry in the country.

Alcohol is an important economic and cultural commodity. It also represents a significant public health problem. Alcohol is the third greatest risk factor for the global disease burden even though half of the global population abstain. Currently alcohol control strategies are inadequate and unable to combat the health, social and economic problems caused by a legal drug that has become more widely available, more affordable and promoted aggressively. This thesis considers how alcohol control policy is governed, developed and implemented at global, European, UK and Scottish policy levels with specific focus on the role of the alcohol industry in this area. Contemporary modes of governance are increasingly characterised by a multi-agency partnership approach where unelected stakeholders, including corporate partners, contribute to the development and implementation of policy and of action out with policy. The research investigates the role of the alcohol industry within discourses and action in efforts to reduce alcohol related harm. It aims to identify alcohol industry action at global, European, UK and Scottish levels of authority in order to offer an overview of the extent of action and in turn its influence on policy discourses. The research provides an analysis of the alcohol industry as a political operator. The alcohol industry engages with, and in some respects is, a stakeholder active within public health policy circles in relation to alcohol control. This engagement spans science, research, corporate social responsibility, philanthropy, lobbying and direct engagement within official policy circles. The thesis uses the alcohol industry as a case study that highlights a need for research on how influence is wielded by corporate interests within policy circles. There is acknowledgement in various theoretical accounts on governance that changing modes of governance have resulted in the creation of a space for non-state actors within policy circles. However, thereafter, the role of corporate actors is habitually underestimated and even overlooked all together. The argument presented here is that the role of powerful economic interests is rapidly gaining significance as a factor in policy making. This must be explored further in order to ascertain the extent of the influence and the ways in which economic actors exert influence. Methodologically the research examines policy documents, and industry communications as well as adopting an investigative approach to the strategies and agendas of a variety of policy stakeholders. The outcome is a narrative derived from a synthesis of existing sources that explores the area of alcohol control policy which focuses on the involvement of corporate stakeholders with a clear conflict of interest within the process of developing health policy in relation to alcohol. The results indicate that the influence of corporate actors represents a significant and growing threat to the development and implementation of effective evidence based alcohol control policy. Overall the research is intended to make a contribution to academic and public debates on governance and to support public health efforts to reduce alcohol related harm. It attempts to explore the accumulation of corporate action over multiple levels of authority and to describe and evaluate the effects of this accumulative action on public health policy in relation to alcohol.

This thesis uses data from Kenya to contribute to the literature on tobacco and alcohol control policies in low and middle-income countries. The thesis uses the two most recent household and budget surveys (2005/6 and 2015/16), to examine some of the effects of the tobacco and alcohol control policies that were implemented in Kenya between 2005 and 2015. Chapter 2 considers the impact of consumption and taxation of tobacco and alcohol on household spending patterns. An instrumental variable approach is used in the estimation of the difference in spending patterns, between tobacco-consuming (alcohol-consuming) households and households that do not consume tobacco (alcohol). Following the precedent of some other studies, the adult sex ratio is used as an instrumental variable for the tobacco and alcohol consumption status of households. However, the adult sex ratio may not meet the exclusion restriction. In order to address this concern, I change the specification of the instrumental variable and relax the exclusion restriction. As a result, the upper and lower bounds of the difference in expenditure shares between households that consumed tobacco (alcohol) and the households that did not consume tobacco (alcohol) are estimated. A natural experiment involving tobacco and alcohol taxes occurred during the data collection period of one of the household surveys: the excise tax on tobacco and alcohol was increased during the data collection phase. A matched difference-in-differences (MDID) technique is used to estimate the implication of a tobacco (alcohol) tax increase on household spending patterns. The pseudo-panel generated from MDID also provided a new way of controlling for possible endogeneity arising from time-invariant unobservable variables. Therefore, MDID is used as a new approach, for comparing household spending patterns of tobacco-consuming (alcohol-consuming) households with those of households that do not consume tobacco (alcohol). The price and non-price tobacco-control policies that were implemented between 2005/6 and 2015/16 contributed to a decrease in household tobacco use prevalence. However, alcohol-control policies implemented over the same period did not successfully reduce the overall prevalence of alcohol consumption among Kenyan households. Tobacco- and alcohol-consuming households were found to spend less on education, energy, rent, healthcare, and food items. MDID results confirmed that tobacco and alcohol consuming households had lower expenditure shares on items necessary for human capital development. The increase in tobacco taxes did not have an impact on household spending patterns among tobacco-consuming households. However, an increase in taxes on alcohol led to further crowding out of expenditure on fruits. Chapter 3 uses the risk of child malnutrition in Kenya, to examine the effectiveness of tobacco and alcohol control policies, in reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption prevalence among vulnerable households. Past studies in this literature did not explicitly control for cluster/village level factors that may affect child nutrition. A multilevel/mixed effects logit and general equations estimation logit model are used to estimate the difference in the risk of child malnutrition, between households that consumed tobacco and alcohol and those that did not consume the two goods. The two models account for the possibility of correlation in nutritional outcomes for children living in the same cluster/village. The two methods also allowed for the inclusion of contextual effects that could inform public health policy in Kenya. In 2005/6 the odds of long-term child malnutrition were higher for children living in tobacco and alcohol consuming households in rural Kenya. The tobacco and alcohol control policies implemented between 2005/6 and 2015/16 were more effective in reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption prevalence among the poorest rural households. As a result, the decrease in child malnutrition prevalence was greater among households that consumed tobacco and alcohol. In 2015/16 the risk of child malnutrition in tobacco and alcohol consuming households was similar to that of non-consuming households. The results from chapter 3 indicate that tobacco and alcohol control policies that were implemented in Kenya over the ten-year period, contributed to the reduction in consumption of the two goods among the poorest rural households. Therefore, very poor households invested resources, which could have been used for tobacco/alcohol consumption, on human capital development. Chapter 2 and chapter 3 provide evidence on some of the opportunity costs associated with tobacco/alcohol consumption as well as potential benefits that may arise from controlling consumption of the two goods. Subsequently, Chapter 4 focuses on the price elasticity of demand for tobacco and alcohol products. Tax-induced price increases is one of the most effective policy tools for controlling the demand for the two goods. The effectiveness of price policy in controlling demand for tobacco and alcohol may be hindered by among other things, the consumption of informally produced alcohol and noncigarette tobacco products as well as other stimulants. Majority of the relatively few studies done on African countries were on South Africa and most of them estimated the price elasticity of demand for cigarettes and formally produced alcohol products. Further, I am not aware of any peer-reviewed study that has estimated the price elasticity of demand for alcohol and tobacco products in Kenya. Household survey data is used to estimate the own-price and expenditure elasticities (as proxies for income elasticities) of demand for tobacco and alcohol products in Kenya. The responsiveness of the demand for informally produced alcohol as well as non-cigarette tobacco products to changes in prices of cigarettes and formally produced beers is also estimated. This thesis also estimates the responsiveness of demand for khat to changes in the price of cigarettes and formally produced beers. Khat is a stimulant mostly consumed in Arabia and the Horn of Africa. One of the concerns about the use of taxes as a measure to control tobacco and alcohol consumption is the possible regressive nature of tobacco and alcohol taxes. Therefore, chapter 4 also examines the impact of price and non-price tobacco- and alcohol-control policies on the regressivity/progressivity of household tobacco and alcohol burdens (budget shares). Tobacco-control policies implemented between 2005/6 and 2015/16, contributed to a reduction in the regressivity of household tobacco budget shares. The changing profile of tobacco consuming households as well as economic growth over the period may have also contributed to the increase in the estimated price elasticity of demand for cigarettes. Over the ten-year period, the estimated price elasticity of demand for cigarettes increased from -0.63 to -0.42. Khat and snuff tobacco were found to be complements for cigarettes. Khat and informally produced spirits were found to be substitutes for formally produced beers. Further, the demand for formally produced beers was found to be price elastic. The alcohol-control policies that were implemented over the ten-year period, contributed to a reduction in the regressivity of overall alcohol budget shares. However, over the ten-year period, there was a rapid increase in demand for spirits in Kenya.

Excessive college student drinking is a complex problem associated with a range of consequences including deaths, injuries, damage, health risks, legal difficulties, and academic problems. State governing boards, trustees and executives have enacted policies aimed at reducing the negative effects of excessive drinking. This study examined influences on university staff members responsible for implementation of alcohol-control policies. Deeper understanding of factors influencing alcohol-control policy implementation may help leaders improve policy making, implementation and attainment of policy objectives.

This mixed methods study utilized a sequential transformative mixed methods strategy with a quantitative survey, sequenced first, informing the prioritized qualitative multiple case study. Research was conducted at two public universities selected from a single state. In the quantitative phase students (n=1,252) completed a survey measuring student support for 33 alcohol-control measures. Staff (n=27) responsible for policy implementation completed a survey estimating student support for alcohol-control measures. Survey data informed development of the case study interview protocol. In the qualitative phase ten interviews were conducted at each case study site.

The study’s theoretical and conceptual model was based upon Pressman and Wildavsky’s (1973) implementation framework and Kotter’s (1996) eight-stage process for leading change. Findings from the quantitative phase of the study revealed strong levels of support for alcohol-control policies at both campuses while staff members generally underestimated student support for alcohol-control policies. The key findings that emerged after coding case study data included the influences of: (a) executive leadership; (b) leadership transitions and policy saliency; (c) cognition and sensemaking; and, (d) anchoring changes in culture. Student support for alcohol-control policies was found to have no direct influence on staff members responsible for implementation of alcohol control policies.

Europos šalys neša sunkią socialinę ir ekonominę su alkoholio vartojimu susijusių problemų naštą. Įvairios ligos, jaunų žmonių mirtys, nusikaltimai, autoavarijos – tai yra tipiškos alkoholio vartojimo pasekmės, kurios, atsižvelgiant į paskutinius tyrimus ir publikacijas žiniasklaidoje, padidėjo. Tad svarbu, kad valstybės vykdytų griežtesnę alkoholio kontrolę. Tyrimo tikslas: išanalizuoti alkoholio kontrolės politiką ir įgyvendinimą Lietuvoje ir Švedijoje, apžvelgiant ir pristatant pagrindines alkoholio politikos priemones, palyginti Lietuvos ir Švedijos alkoholio reguliavimo politikos priemones tarpusavyje. Šiame darbe nuspręsta Švedijos alkoholio reguliavimo politiką pasirinkti kaip gerosios praktikos pavyzdį. Švedijoje griežtos alkoholio gamybos bei prekybos ribojimo istorinės tradicijos susiformavo gan anksti. Tyrimo metodai: Šiame darbe bus naudojami keli tyrimo metodai. Teorinėje dalyje vyrauja aprašomasis analitinis metodas. Be kiekybinės ir kokybinės pirminių ir antrinių duomenų analizės, nuspręsta taikyti ir lyginamąją analizę. Tyrime atliktas kokybinis alkoholio ekspertų Lietuvoje ir Švedijoje struktūruotas interviu, iš viso buvo apklausti šeši asmenys. Darbą sudaro keturios pagrindinės dalys. Pirmoje dalyje teoriškai įtvirtinamas konceptualus darbo pagrindas analizuojant pagrindines politinio reguliavimo teorijas susijusias su alkoholio reguliavimu. Antroje darbo dalyje analizuojamos svarbiausios Lietuvos alkoholio politikos reguliavimo priemonės. Trečioje dalyje... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]
Problem of investigation: Europe countries carries a heavy social and economic burden of alcohol related problems. Various diseases, dying too young, crimes, car accidents – these are the typical consequences of alcohol consumption that according to the latest investigations and publications in media have increased. So countries should make more restrictive alcohol control policy. Purpose of investigation – to analyze Lithuania and Sweden alcohol control policy and to compare their implements. In this investigation Sweden alcohol control policy was choose as a good practice example. Sweden has historically pursued a restrictive alcohol policy with the overall purpose of limiting total consumption and with the alcohol related harms in society. For the analysis of investigation were used primary sources such as interviews. Were interviewed six people, who are specialist in Lithuania and Sweden alcohol control policy. Also were used previous research on alcohol policy, news articles, EU documents, Swedish and Lithuanian alcohol policy-related documents, WHO reports and web pages. Master Thesis is made from four main parts. In first part is analyzing policy regulation theories, which are used in alcohol regulation. In second part is analyzing Lithuania alcohol regulation implements. The third part of Thesis analyzing Sweden alcohol control regulation implements. The fourth part is comparison of Lithuania and Sweden alcohol policies and their implements. Justify these... [to full text]

Hazardous drinking in the elderly has become an important public health problem due to the ageing of the population and the fact that alcohol-related consequences are magnified in this age group. However, to date, few studies examine hazardous drinking in people aged 50 years or older and the factors associated with alcohol use. The aim of this thesis is to quantify hazardous drinking in people aged 50 years or older in Europe, according to gender and country, and to analyze the possible individual and contextual factors related to such consumption. Throughout the thesis, the source of information was the European project SHARE (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe), which includes data from different European countries. This thesis consists of five articles that attempt to respond to the different specific objectives. The results suggest that the prevalence of hazardous drinking in people aged 50 years or older is around 22%, with variations between countries. These variations can be explained by individual factors, such as age or gender, and various contextual factors, such as alcohol advertising restrictions and the unemployment rate. Finally, one of the contextual aspects that may have had more impact in recent years is the economic crisis. We found that, in people aged 50 to 64 years, the incidence of hazardous drinking was greater in those who lost their jobs. However, from 2006 to 2013 there has been a decrease in hazardous drinking and also in the average amount of alcohol consumed in people aged 50 to 64 years in Europe.
El consum de risc d'alcohol en la gent gran s'ha convertit en un important problema de salut pública degut a l’envelliment de la població i al fet que les conseqüències adverses del consum es magnifiquen en aquest grup d'edat. No obstant això, són pocs els estudis que analitzen el consum de risc d'alcohol en persones majors de 50 anys i els factors que s'associen al consum de risc. L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi és quantificar el consum de risc d'alcohol en persones de 50 anys o més a Europa segons gènere i país i analitzar els possibles factors individuals i contextuals relacionats amb aquest consum. Per tota la tesi, la font d'informació van ser les enquestes del projecte europeu SHARE (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe), amb dades de diferents països d’Europa. La tesi consisteix en 5 articles que intenten respondre als diferents objectius específics. Els resultats suggereixen que la prevalença de consum de risc d'alcohol en les persones de 50 anys o més està al voltant del 22%, amb variacions entre països, que poden explicar-se per factors individuals, com el sexe o l’edat, i per diversos factors contextuals, com les restriccions en la publicitat de les begudes alcohòliques o la taxa d'atur. Finalment, un dels aspectes contextuals que pot haver tingut més impacte en els darrers anys és la crisi econòmica. El que hem vist és que en persones de 50 a 64 anys la incidència de consum de risc d’alcohol era major en aquells que havien perdut la feina. Tanmateix, durant el període de 2006 a 2013 s’ha produït una davallada en el consum de risc d’alcohol i en la mitjana de la quantitat consumida en persones de 50 a 64 anys a Europa.

Budget control is a process of financial monitoring to ensure effective allocation, collection and efficient utilizing of public funds. It is a process that is aimed at ensuring the accomplishment of public policy objectives. Budget control is regulated by financial legislation as well as regulations and procedures which guide public financial administrators. Continuous monitoring is needed once appropriation is allowed by parliament or provincial legislatures to ensure effective service rendering as well as tax and user charges collection. This study investigates the reported ineffective budget control measures implemented by the provincial treasury in the Province of the Eastern Cape particularly in the Eastern Cape Department of Education (George, 2004). Ineffective budget control may be associated with the implementation of unstable fiscal policy by the provincial treasury that led to deficit spending in the Department of Education during the 2004/5 financial year. The purpose of this study is to show that the implementation of stable fiscal policy instruments by the provincial treasury would lead to effective budget control in provincial departments such as the Eastern Cape Department of Education. Governments in many instances encounter various challenges in controlling their expenditures on an annual basis as well as in the medium term. This is due to the notion that once the government exceeds the current year’s budget, it consumes the forthcoming budget. Borrowing is by nature an implicit consumption of future unplanned revenue. This makes the Medium Term Revenue Framework in the province immaterial as the provincial own revenue is insignificant. The relative uncontrollability of government expenditure stems from the notion that the provision of, for instance, primary education and social welfare is intertwined with legal entitlement within prescribed parameters. Allocative efficiency embodies recognition of legal entitlement that is reflected in the distribution imperatives if the provincial treasury is to be effective in the budget control function. The National Norms and Standards for School Funding of 2006 state explicitly that public spending in public schools is targeted at increasing the literacy levels of the poor. Intergovernmental fiscal relations play a pivotal role in modelling the fiscal policy of the province. This stems from the fact that expected national collected revenue is distributed as an equitable share to national, provincial and local spheres of government. The criteria for revenue sharing are based on economic disparities and demographics in each sphere of government. It is imperative to note in intergovernmental relations that there are functional areas of concurrent national and provincial competencies. The budget control function of the provincial treasury is implemented within the framework of various administrative processes which are aimed at ensuring effective transactional activities. The disbursement of funds and various other financial processes are subject to the delegation of powers as prescribed in the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999), as amended by Act 29 of 1999. The provincial governments’ fiscal policies are modelled to be consistent with the macro-economic objectives of the national government. It is for the purpose of macro-economic stability that only national government is eligible to borrow to finance a budget deficit. Provinces are legally prohibited from overspending their budgets. If the fiscal policies of the provinces materially and unreasonably prejudice the national economic policies, the relevant provincial treasury is responsible for taking appropriate steps to place the financial administration on a sound footing.

O presente estudo se propõe a Identificar o número de Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) que desenvolvem programas relacionados ao tema drogas nas áreas de ensino, prevenção e assistência e descrever o perfil de seus programas, além de conhecer como os alunos percebem a existência de ações de apoio à saúde, informações e ajuda sobre o consumo de drogas. Participaram do estudo 100 Instituições de Ensino Superior, localizadas nas 27 capitais dos estados brasileiros. Os alunos foram selecionados por sorteio sistemático das classes em cada instituição. Como instrumentos de coleta de dados foram utilizados: pesquisa aos sites institucionais, questionário estruturado respondido pelos alunos, questionário semiestruturado respondido pela instituição e analise qualitativa pela técnica de análise de conteúdo dos programas. Apesar da maioria dos estudantes saber da existência de serviços atendimento de saúde direcionados aos alunos, poucos utilizam o serviço, enquanto 71% dos alunos referem não ter recebido informações referentes ao uso de drogas e seu impacto na saúde em sua escola, no último ano. Das 100 IES, 82 instituições responderam ao questionário e destas, 32,9% (27 instituições) informam a existência de programas de prevenção, assistência ou orientação ao uso de álcool, tabaco ou outras drogas. Dos 27 programas, 51,9% fazem parte do projeto pedagógico institucional. As ações incluem prevenção 81,5% (22 em 27) associada a atividades de orientação (44,4%) e/ou assistência (48,1%). Os núcleos de apoio psicopedagógico existem em mais de metade nas instituições que têm programas relacionados ao uso de drogas. Foram analisados 18 programas, todos atuam na área da prevenção, mas são muito diversificados em abrangência, população alvo e atividades planejadas. Conclusões: No Brasil não é uma exigência legal a existência de projetos que tenham esse foco. A porcentagem de escolas com programas é pequena e deve ser estimulada a criação de programação de orientação para álcool, tabaco e outras drogas. Uma avaliação sistematizada interna e externa dos programas é necessária para identificar resultados efetivos, e para isso devem atuar em múltiplas frentes com uma participação ampliada do corpo diretivo, estudantes, docentes, funcionários e membros da comunidade. Além de fornecer informações, os programas devem ter por objetivo contribuir para mudar as atitudes e comportamentos
This study\'s proposal is to identify the number of Higher Education Institutions (IES - Instituições de Ensino Superior) that develop programs related to the topic drugs in the areas of teaching, prevention and assistance, describe the profile of said programs, as well as learn how the students perceive the existence of initiatives on improving health, and providing information and support related to the consumption of drugs. 100 Higher Education Institutions participated on the study, 27 located in the capitals of the Brazilian states. The participating students classes were randomly chosen through computer-aided randomization in each institution. The utilized instruments for the collecting data were: searches on the institution websites, semi structured survey answered by the students, semi structured survey answered by the institution, and the qualitative analysis through the technique of program content analysis. Although most students knew about the existence of healthcare services directed to students, few utilized the service, while 71% of the students report for the last year not having received in their schools, information related to the usage of drugs and it\'s impact on health. Of the 100 IES, 82 institutions answered the survey and of those, 32,9% (27 institutions) informed the existence of programs for prevention, assistance or guidance regarding the usage of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. Of the 27 programs, 51,9% are part of the institutional pedagogical Project. The initiatives include prevention 81,5% (22 out of 27), related to guidance activities (44,4% and/or assistance (48,1%). The psycho pedagogic support groups exist in more than half institutions that have programs related to the usage of drugs. 18 programs were analyzed, all acting in prevention, but very distinct in range, target population and planned activities. Conclusions: Brazil does not have a legal requirement of the existence of projects with this focus. The percentage of schools with programs is small and the creation of programs of guidance on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs must be stimulated. A systematic evaluation of the internal and external programs is needed to identify effective results, and for that this evaluation must act on multiple fronts with an extended participation of the directive body, students, teachers, employees and community members. Besides supplying information, the programs must have an objective of contributing to the changing of attitudes and behaviors

Até cerca de vinte anos, o termo Corporate Governance (Governança Corporativa) não existia na língua inglesa. Os códigos de boas práticas de Governança Corporativa começaram a surgir no início dos anos noventa na Inglaterra, nos Estados Unidos e no Canadá, em resposta ao desempenho insatisfatório de companhias líderes, percebido como uma deficiência de efetividade dos conselhos de administração, e em resposta às pressões exercidas pelos investidores institucionais. No Brasil, o termo Governança Corporativa é ainda mais recente, mas já começa a ser preocupação e a merecer a atenção de pesquisadores, Bolsa de Valores e associações. Este estudo objetiva identificar possíveis relações entre variáveis independentes, representativas de mecanismos de Governança Corporativa, e medidas de performance econômica de empresas integrantes do Índice Brasil IBX da Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo BOVESPA, com dados do período de 1997 a 2001.Utilizando a técnica estatística de dados em painel, modelo de componentes de erros, trabalha-se 16 variáveis independentes representando os mecanismos de Governança Corporativa: concentração de propriedade (5 variáveis), características do conselho de administração (3 variáveis), capital votante (1 variável), remuneração da diretoria executiva (2 variáveis), política financeira (3 variáveis), controle interno (1 variável) e mais uma variável de controle representando o tamanho das empresas. Essas variáveis são regredidas contra cada uma das cinco variáveis de medidas de performance econômica estudadas. Tais variáveis mediram o Market Value Added, a razão preço de mercado e valor patrimonial da ação, TOBINS Q, rentabilidade sobre o ativo e rentabilidade sobre o patrimônio líquido. Os resultados indicam que a concentração de propriedade, o capital votante, a remuneração da diretoria executiva e a política financeira são relacionadas à performance econômica. Surpreendentemente, o capital votante e a remuneração da diretoria executiva são negativamente relacionados à performance. Observa-se, também, que a medida de performance econômica utilizada faz diferença no estudo dos mecanismos de Governança Corporativa, pois aquelas puramente contábeis não apresentaram qualquer relação com os mecanismos testados. Este estudo, com esta abrangência de mecanismos, variáveis e período tratado, está dentre os estudos empíricos de Governança Corporativa pioneiros no Brasil. Espera-se oferecer uma contribuição aos acadêmicos interessados no assunto, bem como a acionistas, gestores, analistas de mercado, consultores, administradores de Bolsa de Valores, órgãos reguladores e associações de classe.
Up until twenty years go, the term Corporate Governance didnt exist in the English language. The codes of good practices of Corporate Governance began to arise in the early nineties in England, in the United States and in Canada, as an answer to an unsatisfactory performance of leading companies - recognized as a deficiency of effectiveness in the board of directors and also as an answer to the pressures exerted by institutional investors. In Brazil, the term Corporate Governance is still more recent, but begins to be pondered and to deserve attention of researchers, of Stock Exchanges and associations. This study aims to identify possible relationship among independent variables, representative of Corporate Governance mechanisms, and measures of economic performance of enterprises of the Brazil Index IBX of the São Paulo Stock Exchange BOVESPA, with data referring to the period comprehended between 1997 and 2001. Using the statistic technique of panel data, model of error components, we work with 16 independent variables representing the Corporate Governance mechanisms: concentration of propriety (5 variables), characteristics of the board of directors (3 variables), voting capital (1 variable), remuneration of the executive directorate (2 variables), financial policy (3 variables), internal control (1 variable), and one more control variable, representing the size of the enterprises. These variables are regressed against each one of the five variables of the studied economic performance measures. Such variables have measured up the Market Value Added, the market to book value price ratio, TOBINS Q, profitability over the assets and profitability over the net equity. The results indicate that the property concentration, the voting capital, the remuneration of the executive directorate and the financial policy are related to the economic performance. Surprisingly, the voting capital and the remuneration of the executive directorate are negatively related to performance. We can also observe that the economic performance measure utilized makes difference in the study of the Corporate Governance mechanisms, because that ones purely accountants doesnt have any relation with the mechanisms tested. This study, comprising such diverse mechanisms, variables and also the observed period, is among the leading empiric studies of Corporate Governance in Brazil. We hope to offer a contribution to the academics holding an interest in the matter, as well as to shareholders, managers, market analysts, consultants, Stock Exchange administrators, regulating bodies and class associations.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of school policies aimed to reduce adolescent alcohol and marijuana use. More specifically, the study investigated whether more severe school policy measures are related to the increased or decreased instances of overall alcohol and marijuana use on and beyond school grounds among grade 10 and 12 students. I used data from the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS). After controlling for a number of prior measures of environmental and demographic factors that are significant predictors of adolescent alcohol and marijuana use, the school policy measures showed no impact on either alcohol or marijuana use at any level of its consumption. This was true for both grade 10 and grade 12 students. The study’s findings suggest that instead of constructing punitive policy measure, policymakers should develop prevention and intervention programs that more specifically target the needs of adolescents, peers, parents, and teachers.

Children with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder differ on neuropsychological tasks and measures of eye movement control. M.Sc. Thesis, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, January 2010. Background: Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) accounts for the majority of diagnoses associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. Unfortunately, ARND frequently poses a significant clinical challenge as these patients lack the visible physical characteristics associated with alcohol teratogenicity. Moreover, the cognitive and behavioural disabilities are complex and overlap with those of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Furthermore, co-morbid ADHD is prevalent in children with prenatal alcohol exposure. While early and accurate diagnosis provides the best prognosis for those affected, there is a lack of tools for differential diagnosis between these two disorders. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that children with ARND exhibit different performance from children with ADHD on computer-based neuropsychological tests and eye movement tasks. Methods: Our study group was composed of 42 children with ARND and 31 children with ADHD aged 8-15 years, male and female. Children completed four tasks selected from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB®) that provided measures of attention, planning, strategy and spatial working memory. Subjects also performed pro- and anti-saccade tasks, and eye movements were recorded using a mobile eye-tracking system. Results: Children with ARND demonstrated elevated decision times on a visual matching test of attention and longer response times on a task of spatial working memory, although the two groups had similar errors scores. Also, compared to children with ADHD, children with ARND had greater anticipatory errors in both the pro- and anti-saccade tasks. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that there are measurable differences in executive function and eye movement control between children with ARND or ADHD. Greater deficits in visuospatial processing in ARND may underlie these differences. These findings demonstrate that the neurobehavioural phenotypes of children with ARND or ADHD have distinct features, which may be accounted for by differences in the patterns of brain injury underlying these two disorders.
Thesis (Master, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-01-15 15:15:47.738

碩士
國立臺北大學
資源管理研究所
91
Due to the fast growth of the vehicles and motorcycles each year, Air pollution problem has been one of the issues that constantly of concerns by the EPA of Taiwan. Together with the issue of opening market of petroleum products, fuel quality regulation is thus a pressing issue for EPA to deal with. Last but not least, the gasoline and diesel sulfur level will reduce to 50ppm in 2007. All those factors will make an impact on our air quality, so how to form a comprehensive set of regulation is very important. First, this study examines all kind of oils, regarding the characteristics and market tends. Followed by the impact analysis of human health by the air pollution emitted from mobile vehicles, then the study focuses the view of control measures in Taiwan and other countries, and the potential of improvement has also been explored. Then we can count the emission of mobile in the sulfur level of 50 ppm. Last this research will use “system dynamic” to simulate the situation in Taiwan region, to evaluate its reduction achievements. We evaluate the control measures for reducing the emission from motorcycle, passenger car, and diesel vehicles. Control measures include the followings：adoption of lower emission standard for light duty cars and diesel vehicles, enhancement of smoke check program for motorcycles, expending inspection program for diesel vehicles with dynamometer, enhancing roadside inspection promoting, low-emission vehicles (LPG cars and CNG buses), scrap old vehicles timely, and initiating incentive programs. And hope to provide for the government. We believe that people’s matching up the policy is the most important thing. The best policy is to make the emission standard more serious. Although the using of clean energy can’t make obviously effect in short time, the result suggests that it will be one of the measures in the long term.

This diploma thesis deals with alcohol policy in relation to risk group of youth. The aim of the thesis is to identify the development and setting of this policy in the Czech Republic. Another objective is to identify strengths and deficits of alcohol policy and to suggest possible improvements based on good example of foreign practice and interviews with experts. The theoretical background is the concept of risk behaviour, the life course perspective and the concept of public health. The methods of desk research and expert survey are used to fulfil the objectives of the thesis. This was realized in the form of semi-structured interviews, which were subsequently analyzed by thematic content analysis. The thesis reveals the failures of alcohol policy at various levels. In the thesis are identified functioning and failing institutions and (based on a good example of foreign practices and experts) a new necessary institution is proposed. There are also shown the causes of alcoholism which has proven to be essential in policy-making proces for youth. In the last part of thesis, experts evaluate nine policy measures, the most suitable of them are the regulation of advertisement, availability and price of alcohol. At the same time, practice of some measures is also shown on specific examples of...

No
What role do individual member states play in the continuing development of European Union (EU) environmental policy? Are they capable of successful intervention in the process of joint rule making to maintain their preferred national policies? On the basis of a detailed analysis of EU environmental pollution control measures adopted in the period 1972-86, some observers have argued forcefully that the United Kingdom (UK) Government successfully defended its sovereignty by systematically manipulating national and European political arenas in order to maintain its pre-existing policies. However, when other aspects of EU environmental policy are analysed over the full policy cycle, the extent of national control appears much more circumscribed. A comparison of UK Government aims with long-term political outcomes in the sphere of EU biodiversity policy (c.1970-2000) reveals evidence of firm state control in the short-term, but significant unintended consequences in the medium to long-term. These findings raise doubts about the explanatory power of intergovernmental accounts of EU environmental policy making.

Foodborne diseases are a major challenge to school feeding programmes because inadequate food safety knowledge and skills of staff can result in unsafe food handling practices and cross-contamination, thus causing foodborne disease outbreaks. The aim of this study was to investigate the food safety and quality assurance measures of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The research design was cross-sectional quantitative in nature. A total of 300 NSNP food service managers/coordinators and 440 food handlers were selected to participate in the study. Data collection was by means of a selfadministered structured questionnaire and 192 food contact surface swap samples from 32 primary and secondary public schools.The majority of schools offering NSNP meals were located in informal settlements and most were found to lack basic resources such as electricity and potable tap water in their kitchens. 93% of food handlers did not know about Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). The NSNP food service managers in some schools, especially in schools located in rural settlements, were found to have little knowledge or awareness of HACCP. No school was found to have implemented the HACCP, and only a few staff had received food safety training. Inadequate food safety knowledge was worst in schools located in informal settlements due to a lack of training. Up to 60% of food handlers did not know the correct procedure for washing a cutting board after it had been used. In addition, just over 95% of the food handlers did not know how to sanitise utensils and cutting surfaces after cutting up raw meat. The lack of hygiene was confirmed by the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, E.coli 015:H7, Salmonella and Shigella species on food contact surfaces. A total of 22 different bacteria genera were identified. It is essential to monitor NSNP kitchen hygiene practice to ensure the minimal contamination of food products and newly recruited food handlers should be trained on food handling practice and principles to ensure the safety of prepared food for school children.
Health Studies
D. Phil. (Consumer Science)