Medical Uses Of Alcohol, RSA Certification, And Liquor Signage - A Comprehensive Overview

Historical and Modern Medicinal Uses of Alcohol

Discuss about the Usage of alcohol in medicines field.

In this assignment a discussion has been done regarding the change of perspective of the medical world and medicinal use of the alcohol over years. In the ancient times the medical practitioners all over the world used to prescribe the direct consumption of the substance for treating  the patients for a verity of cure but currently the product is mainly used for developing different medicine and the direct use of the substance for medical purposes is not prescribed any more(Pal, et al.,2011).

The history of the medical diagnosis process around the world reveals the fact that the alcohol has been treated as a beneficial and precious drug in the ancient era and was used as a medicine for treating a wide range of diseases for it s medicinal value. In the 20^th century the alcohol was largely prescribed to the patients both as a stimulant and depressant. Though, in the current era the alcohol is mainly recognized in the medicine field as a stimulant but in the 20^th century the alcohol was well recognized in the medicine field for its dual action. As per the 1907 British Pharmacopoeia, the medicinal value of alcohol as a circulatory stimulant was quite high. According to the Pharmacopoeia the alcohol is capable to generate the circulatory stimulation due to the stimulation of the cardiac muscle which pumps out blood from the heart to the whole body and thus delivers and immediate energy to the whole body and also acts as an indirect immunity booster as the increase in the supply of blood in the whole body enhances the immunity of the body. In 1920 J. William White[renowned American surgeon from Philadelphia] in the Royal Society of Medicine, UK has described alcohol as a “pleasant depressant” that is very effective in enhancing the peripheral area and helps to control pain and discomfort (Pomeroy, 2013).

In modern times drinking raw alcohol is not considered as a very good habit and only considered as a stimulant for controlling tension and depression on a temporary basis. Currently the alcohol is not given to the patients directly for medicinal purpose and rather the alcohol is used within the different kind of medicines as antiseptic antipode and or as antifungal agent. In the current era the alcohol is widely used as a disinfecting agent  before making any kind of medicinal application over the skin both in house hold as well as hospitals. The different types of alcohol that are used in developing the medicines are ethanol, denatured ethanol, 1-propanol, and isopropyl alcohol etc. For instance ethyl alcohol is used in mouth wash. The alcohol is mostly used in different medicine as it works as a good antiseptic c and is effective against most of the bacteria, funguses and viruses and effectively kills germs by denaturing their protein and melting their lipids. The other modern medicinal use of the alcohol is the use of the agent for curing the sprain and joint pains. The agent is also used in the medicines that are used for enhancing appetite and reducing the problems related to gas and blotting. The product is also used for cold sponging in case of the patients suffering from high fever as a replacement of cold water ("Medical Uses of Alcohol", 2013). Ethanol is another form of Alcohol and is widely used in pain reliving ointments and medicines. Looking back in the history it is often seen that alcohol is widely used as a pin reliever in the past from the time when anesthesia was not in use. The Alcohol was used for the purpose of numbing the nerve as it has got an intoxication effect. The history of the medical science reveals the fact that in the past the patients were served with a shot of whisky before they are taken for a surgery. During the world wars it was the common process of treating the patients with inn the war zone. The alcohol also has a capability of reversing the effects of certain chemicals and that is why it is used as antidote for revising the effects of several chemicals. Ethyl alcohol or ethanol when injected in the body the compound goes in to the blood stream and works as an agent of slowing down metabolism and competes with the other alcohol of the body. As a result the metabolism of the other alcoholic products in the body got retarded and thus reduces the formation of toxic within the body. Another important use of the alcohol is the use of the agent as an antiseptic and also as a disinfectant. Alcohol is widely used as an agent for preparing the medical wipes and medical sanitizers as the agent has the property of anti bacterial properties. The agent is wieldy used both in the raw from and compound form in hospitals. The agent is mostly seen to have been used for disinfecting the injection and other important medication products and the medical equipments. Specifically the Ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol are specifically used for this purpose. Ethyl Alcohol has a property of solvent and that is why in the ayurvedic   medicine world also the alcohol is widely used. The product is used in the ayurvedic world as solvent for the culinary extracts, essential oils, tinctures, and concentrates. The edible ethyl alcohol is also used in the medicine world for minimization of the contamination of the different extracts .The product is also used for minimization of the presence of impurities in the different medicines  that are kept I n liquid form. The agent t when used in the medicines for the minimization o f the impurities and contamination does not leave behind any kind or residues. But while using the alcohol either in raw or as an ingredient compound it is always considered that alcohol has the intoxication property and over use or unnecessary use of the product may leads to the dependence over the product. Besides over the limit usages of the agent in the medicines can cause vomiting tendency among the patients. Thus it can be seen that alcohol has got a variety of use in the medicine world for its versatile property as antidepressant stimulant, antipode and also as an antibacterial agent.

Mandatory RSA Certification in New South Wales

The responsible serving of alcohol is a course which is mandatory in New South Wales for those who are involved in selling alcohol. This includes the suppliers as well as the sellers. It is illegal to take up any job in the alcohol industry without the training certificate. At the end of the training a competency card is delivered to the employees of the organisation. The training of RSA certification is also done by organisations that are registered by the government of New South Wales (Scott 2007). If a person is new to this industry it is mandatory to undergo this training, it is also mandatory for those who have been working outside this industry for more than 5 years and is willing to return back to this sector. In this case the certification that is going to be received is an interim certification. In case an extension of the licence has to be done it is also mandatory to engage in a refreshing training course. This card expires after every 5 years.

There are several legal aspects that are associated with this certification. The independent liquor and gaming authority is supported by the liquor and gaming NSW. This also involves in providing licences by various organisation from appropriate authorities. For example bars and restaurants need alcohol licence to serve alcohol in their set ups. So it can be said that the liquor and gaming NSW is responsible for the regulation of the liquor industry in NSW. The people who are to undergo this training involve the club secretaries, club directors, licensees, managers, service staffs, and RSA marshal and security staffs. This can also be undertaken by the promotional staff and the volunteers if they wish to do so (Wolfenden et al. 2011). The registered training organisations conduct this course both through physical outlets as well as online classes.

The key purpose of this course is to reduce the bad impact that uncontrolled use of alcohol can have on society. There is extensive course material developed for the purpose. The key acts that are responsible for the control of alcohol substances in NSW is the liquor act 2007, this is supported by the liquor regulation 2008. These legislations form the statutory framework for the implementation of this training.

The liquor signage basically means that it is a legal requirement that every venue that is involved in dealing with alcohol for the purpose of business should display a sign acknowledging the fact. There are different types of licences that are provided depending on the type of involvement that a business has, each of this type of licence displays a certain sign. There are some voluntary signs that can be used by an organisation as well.

Legal Requirements for Liquor Signage in Businesses

Source [Liquor Signage, 2018]

There are different type of signs that are required if an organisation is involved in activities like gaming machines, kenos or lotteries. Each of these activities is represented by certain signs that are displayed by the organisation. The nature of the sign that is going to be required for business operation depends upon the type of licence that has been authorised to the business owner. the different type of signs are dependent on the factors like the type of size of the business like club, hotel, hotel plus bar, small bar, on premises, packaged liquor, producer or wholesaler and limited. These are the several categories that are present in the organisation (Trifonoff et al. 2014). Some of the signs that have to be compulsorily displayed in each of the organisation are that alcohol is not served to underage customers. It doesn’t depend on the nature of business for display of this sign in case of bars it has to be in each bar and each counter. The organisations that sell packaged alcohol and doesn’t have bars it is important to stick the board in the entrance of the building. This sign has to be brought from the L&NSW and it is also illegal to make copies of this sign. This sign is called 1L sign.

There are different type of licenses that is developed in businesses where it is permissible for underage people to enter. In such businesses it is not mandatory to display the sign in areas where there is no liquor service done for example a cafe in a hotel doesn’t need to display this sign (Quilter 2012). There are play areas in hotels for minors it is not mandatory for organisations to display these signs in those places as well.

The 3L sign is used for hotels and public entertainment venues. The 4L sign is required for organisations that have breath testing machines available, this sign doesn’t have to be brought from L&GNSW but it is illegal to reproduce and the wording used in the sign is not changeable. The 5L sign is primary service authorisation sign which has to be displayed by restaurants which possess PSA. It can also be displayed by businesses apart from restaurants that hold this certificate. The 6L sign is for small businesses which make it illegal to make underage people to enter apart from business hour. Online shops has to display the 7L signs to ensure that liquor is not purchased online by underage drinkers (Linton 2012). The 8L sign provides information regarding the name of the business, the type of liquor licence and the licence name, this is mandatory for all businesses to display.

Conclusion

In conclusion it can be said that alcohol has been used for medical purposes historically for stimulation and anti depression purposes. Service alcohol responsibility is a training course that is to be undertaken by most of the organisation. Using of liquor signage is inevitable for organisations depending on the nature of licenses that are held by the businesses.

Reference List

Linton, A., 2012. Commercial Liquor Liability in Australia: Give Me Two Shots of Personal Responsibility and a Watered Down Duty of Care. Bond L. Rev., 24, p.60.

Liquor Signage (2018) Liquor Signage - Liquor & Gaming NSW. [Online] Available at: https://www.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au/Pages/liquor/signage.aspx (accessed 12/ 05/ 18).

Medical Uses of Alcohol. (2013). Retrieved from https://healthyone.org/medical-uses-of-alcohol/

Pal, D., Mishra, P., Sachan, N. and Ghosh, A.K., 2011. Biological activities and medicinal properties of Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research, 2(4), p.207.

Pomeroy, R. (2013). A Century Ago, Alcohol Was Legitimate Medicine | RealClearScience. Retrieved  from https://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2013/04/when-alcohol-was-medicine.html

Quilter, J., 2012. Responses to the death of Thomas Kelly: Taking populism seriously. Current Issues Crim. Just., 24, p.439.

Scott, L., 2007. Young adults’ experience of responsible service practice in NSW: An update. BOCSAR NSW Alcohol Studies Bulletins, p.8.

Trifonoff, A., Nicholas, R., Roche, A.M., Steenson, T. and Andrew, R., 2014. What police want from liquor licensing legislation: the Australian perspective. Police Practice and Research, 15(4), pp.293-306.

Wolfenden, L., Wales, N.S., Rowland, B., McElduff, P., Wiggers, J. and England, H.N., 2011. A cluster randomised controlled trial of a comprehensive accreditation intervention to reduce alcohol consumption at community sports clubs: study protocol.

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