Dr Stan Ansoms is psychiatrist and head of the treatment unit for drug-related diseases of the Psychiatric Centre Brothers Alexians in Tienen (Belgium). He is also chairman of the VAD, which stands for ‘Vereniging voor Alcohol- en andere Drugproblemen’ (Association for Alcohol and other Drug-related problems) (info: www.vad.be). The VAD co-ordinates institutions and associations that are dealing with alcohol and other drug-related problems in Flanders and that can be considered as one big organization. It can be compared with the cogwheels of a watch. All the different cogwheels do not turn and function in the same way. Some institutions concentrate on the study of phenomena, figures and statistics. Others are doing more work in the field of prevention. Still others are taking care of assistance. Main task of the VAD is to make sure that all the cogwheels fit into each other nicely and that everything goes very smoothly. All studies, prevention, assistance concerning drugs, medication and alcohol in Flanders are steered in the right direction by the VAD. The VAD has been acknowledged by the Flemish authorities.
Everybody in Flanders can make an appeal to the VAD, either indirect via the many institutions of field workers, or direct via the Drug telephone line and the documentation centre.

What does an association such as the VAD think of the web site beer and health?
Stan Ansoms : "From the VAD there is no objection to a web site that gathers all scientific information concerning beer and health, on the condition that this happens in an honest way. There has been enough scientific research to presume that a light to moderate consumption of beer (and alcohol) is good for one’s health and mildly beneficiary for the cardiovascular system, at least for adults. As long as the healthy aspect of beer is not being used as a preventive message we have no objection to this web site."

Why can we not consider a light to moderate consumption of beer as a preventive message?
Stan Ansoms :"Drinking too much alcohol implies also health risks. The line between light and moderate drinking on the one hand and drinking too much on the other hand is not always easy to define. Announcing within that context that a light to moderate consumption of alcohol is healthy would give the excessive drinker an argument to continue his drinking behaviour. One would think very easily that when two glasses of beer are healthy four glasses of beer would be double as healthy. This is obviously not the case. That is the reason why you have to be very careful with such messages and they should always be linked to the warning that too much alcohol is not healthy and can lead to dependence.
Moreover, there are better and safer measures to prevent cardiovascular problems than a light to moderate consumption of beer. The promotion of a low-fat diet and encouraging people to stop smoking are eg. excellent preventive messages and on top of that they are without any risk."

The web site beer and health is frequently visited. Since its launch at the end of November 2001 more than 3,000 people visited the site. Some of them are questioning their own drinking behaviour. Maybe this web site can contribute to put problem drinkers back on the right track. Considering this, do you think a co-operation would be possible between www.beerandhealth.com and the VAD, in eg. our “frequently asked questions” section?
Stan Ansoms :"We would certainly like to co-operate on that level. The web site beer and health indeed has the possibility to identify those drinkers that are no longer drinking in a sensible way and refer them to the organizations that take care of assistance. The VAD has the knowledge available to render suitable advice or to refer to other organizations. It is, however, positive that the Belgian brewers, who support this site, have an eye for the problems alcohol can lead to and stress the fact that we should drink moderately and in a sensible way."

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