Our Annual Report 2021/22 is available to read here. It details the work our dedicated team has done over the past year. … Read more »
Archives
Small Grants Scheme 2022 – Open for Applications
We are inviting applications from researchers – especially early career researchers – to our small grants scheme. This scheme will provide funding for innovative research ideas that can help inform public policy debates on how to tackle alcohol harm. Priority will be given to proposals that align with our organisational objectives, as outlined in our… Read more »
Report launch: The Marketing and Consumption of No and Low Alcohol Drinks in the UK
We’re delighted to announce that the latest report from our Small Grants Scheme – ‘The Marketing and Consumption of No and Low Alcohol Products in the UK’ – has been launched, following January’s webinar presentation on the report. The report was written by Dr Emily Nicholls, University of York. The full report can be found… Read more »
IAS & AHA respond to the Levelling Up White Paper
On 2 February 2022, the Government released the Levelling Up White Paper which sets out the Government’s plans to improve lives and expand opportunities across the whole United Kingdom. In response, Dr Alison Giles, Chief Executive of IAS and Chair of the Communications and Advocacy Group for the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said: “The Government plans to… Read more »
IAS statement on World Heart Federation’s ‘no safe level of alcohol’ briefing
The health risks of alcohol were in the news again last week following the World Heart Federation (WHF) stating that: “Risks due to alcohol consumption increase for all the major cardiovascular diseases, including hypertensive heart disease, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation and flutter, and stroke. The widespread message for over 30 years from some researchers, the alcohol… Read more »
Alcohol & Human Rights – Sustainability Series Seminar 4
Wednesday, 02 March 2022 10:00 – 11:30 GMT Alcohol & Human Rights The last seminar in our four-part series will consider human rights and alcohol, including: Workers’ rights for alcohol industry employees in the developing world Industry practices in Africa Female promotional workers’ rights and their risk of sexual harassment and assault Gender and health… Read more »
Marketing and Consumption of No and Low Alcohol Drinks in the UK: report findings
Join us for the findings of an upcoming report that looks at No and Low Alcohol (NoLo) products in the UK Date & Time: Thur, 27 January 2022, 10:00 – 11:00 GMT With NoLo products increasing in popularity among producers and customers, a new report looks at how these drinks are marketed in the UK and… Read more »
New IAS-funded research on preventing underage alcohol purchasing online using payment card details
Our latest Small Grants Scheme report makes a proposal for a new way to prevent underage people from buying age-restricted products. Read more »
IAS statement: Alcohol-specific deaths rise by 19% in UK in 2020
“Sadly, the news of an almost 19% rise in alcohol-specific deaths in the UK is unsurprising. Earlier this year data from England and Scotland already highlighted a similar increase in such deaths. Alcohol harm does not affect people equally, with men and those most deprived suffering the most in society. These deaths were predominantly among… Read more »
Alcohol industry sustainability commitments – Sustainability Series seminar 3
Wednesday, 12 January 2022 14:00 – 15:00 GMT Are alcohol industry sustainability commitments genuine or are they disingenuously used as CSR ploys? Join us for the third seminar in our sustainability series, which will explore the voluntary commitments on sustainability made by alcohol producers, examining pledges in the wider context of industry corporate social responsibility…. Read more »
We’re hiring! AHA & IAS Advocacy Support Officer
Job description 70 people are dying every day from alcohol across the UK – and the UK Government is not doing enough to stop this. Join our small but mighty team to help drive change and improve the lives of people affected by alcohol. We are looking for an Advocacy Support Officer to support our… Read more »
New report launch webinar: Preventing underage alcohol purchasing online using payment card details
Join us for the launch of a new report that looks at how we can improve our system of preventing children buying alcohol online. Read more »
How did the Autumn 2021 Budget reform alcohol duty?
On 27 October the Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the Government’s Autumn 2021 budget, which saw a big change to alcohol duties: from 2023 alcohol will be taxed based on its strength, so the stronger the alcohol the higher the tax. However, as many have said, the devil is in the detail. So what is the… Read more »
Alcohol & the Environment: sustainability series seminar 2
Join us on Wed 03 November, 14:00-15:30, to discuss alcohol and its impact on the environment. Read more »
New IAS-led research on the appeal of alcohol adverts to underage adolescents out today
A new study published in the journal Alcohol & Alcoholism today has found alcohol adverts may commonly appeal to underage adolescents Read more »
Budget 2021: Duties for alcohol kept on ice
Chancellor Rishi Sunak keeps excise duties for all alcoholic beverages at the same level for a second consecutive year Read more »
Call for more research to help new dads reduce alcohol consumption

Media release from Glasgow Caledonian University and IAS:
International review finds huge gaps in research on men’s alcohol consumption in the transition to fatherhood – researchers found only five studies world-wide that examined the relationship between fatherhood and alcohol Read more »
Abstinence advice at antenatal appointments improves outcomes
97% of midwives would always or usually advise women to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy at the booking appointment; just over a third (38%) did so at subsequent antenatal appointments Read more »
IAS urges the chancellor to raise alcohol duty
Raising duties will provide a ‘double dividend’, letter says Read more »
Alcohol deaths – Scotland sees improvements, but pandemic takes its toll
National datasets on alcohol deaths show contrasting fortunes between Scotland and the other UK nations Read more »
New report on how nudge theory shapes alcohol policy

Theory frames public as ‘blameworthy’, alcohol industry as ‘reliable’ Read more »
Alcohol harms: a hidden pandemic in the age of COVID-19?

New summary of Britain’s drinking habits during pandemic sheds light on risk of the worst alcohol harms becoming less visible Read more »
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) launch new report on Men and Alcohol

Joint launch of a new report presenting key findings and recommendations for policy and practice from the 2019/2020 Men and Alcohol seminar series Read more »
Small Grants Scheme awards announced
Three projects chosen from a competitive field of entrants Read more »
Alcohol labelling is failing consumers – AHA UK
New AHA and Alcohol Change UK report has found that a self-regulatory, voluntary system is not working Read more »
In Memoriam: Roger Williams, ‘a true giant in the field of liver health’

Public health pays its respects to pioneer in hepatology Read more »
Alcohol calorie labelling in Obesity Strategy
Consultation over display of ‘liquid calories’ on beverages will come before end of the year Read more »
Most disadvantaged disproportionately at risk of alcohol-related violence

Study finds alcohol-related domestic violence victimisation up to 14 times as common in lowest socioeconomic groups Read more »
Alcohol and public health in the time of a pandemic

A summary of coronavirus-related coverage so far Read more »
Budget 2020: Alcohol duty frozen, again
Pro-business approach to cost public purse £1bn over next five years Read more »
Alcohol duty doesn’t penalise the poor, new research shows

Alcohol taxes shared evenly between rich and poor Read more »
Drink-driving stats going nowhere
New drink-driving figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show yet another year of no significant change in accidents and casualties Read more »
Alcohol admissions in England hit highest ever level, once more
Record highs on both broad and narrow measures Read more »
Reformulate sugary alcohol drinks
NGO in call to lower sugar content of RTDs Read more »
UK alcohol stats: Lots of data, little change
Three national datasets paint picture of alcohol-related harms in the UK today Read more »
One in three children report negative outcomes from parents’ drinking
Research also suggests drinking to escape problems can adversely affect children Read more »
Alcohol marketing: Protecting the vulnerable conference

Featuring lectures from David Jernigan, Nathan Critchlow, and new findings from Amanda Atkinson Read more »
Alcohol duty cuts linked to 2,000 additional deaths in England

Research also suggests reintroducing alcohol duty escalator could save lives Read more »
Midwives call for more support to deliver alcohol advice

Government did not adequately communicate 2016 guidelines on drinking in pregnancy to midwives; 42% unaware of them Read more »
Use Brexit to shake up ‘irrational’ alcohol duty system, think-tank says

SMF / IAS report suggests overhaul of duty framework Read more »
In Europe, people continue to consume more alcohol than in any other place in the world

A recent WHO report shows that rates of harmful alcohol consumption in Europe have not dropped as expected, even though all countries have signed the European Action Plan to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol 2012–2020 Read more »
Drink-driving death numbers still stalling

Progress on drink-driving injuries and deaths coming to a gradual stop Read more »
Higher alcohol taxes would boost the economy
10% increase in alcohol duty would create 17,000 more jobs, study suggests Read more »
Extent of hospital patient alcohol misuse ‘much bigger’ than assumed
Study suggests 10% of bed-bound NHS patients are alcohol-dependent and 20% are harming themselves by drinking Read more »
Hangovers cost the UK up to £1.4bn a year

New figures reveal the economic toll of hungover and intoxicated workers Read more »
Scottish alcohol sales fall to 25-year low

Positive signs of minimum unit pricing’s impact on alcohol sales Read more »
Alcohol dominates UK reality TV
References to, possesion, and consumption of 40 alcohol brands appear in all episodes viewed Read more »
One in five people in England harmed by others’ drinking – BMJ
And nearly one in 20 of them experienced aggression, indicates largest survey of its kind Read more »
New alcohol stats expose growing divides in age and location

Older drinkers and northerners suffer most from alcohol-related harms Read more »
Northern Ireland: Annual alcohol-related deaths hit all-time high

Mortality rate highest among middle-aged drinkers Read more »
Driving the limit down
Scottish study shows little change in results so far, but support for a lower limit is still strong Read more »
Beer duty 18% lower than 2012, following yet another real-terms cut

Duty cuts will cost a total of £9.1 billion to 2024 Read more »
Government launches airside alcohol consultation

Home Office calls for evidence on legislation over drunk and disruptive airline passengers Read more »
Budget 2018: Duties frozen
Move to cost Treasury 880m over the next five years Read more »
Home Affairs Select Committee: Alcohol perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes
Inquiry cites IAS evidence Read more »
Cross-party parliamentary group publishes alcohol charter

Leading voices in alcohol recovery sector call on government to aim high with a pioneering new alcohol strategy Read more »
Alcohol industry CSR actions ineffective

Improving public relations seen as more important than improving public health say researchers Read more »
Jon Ashworth: Alcohol addiction services will no longer be neglected

Shadow health minister’s call comes during National Suicide Awareness Week Read more »
Applications open for Addictions Counselling degree
Applications to study the highly regarded Foundation degree (FdSc) in Addictions Counselling in September 2019 are now open Read more »
Two thirds of alcohol sales are to heavy drinkers

Two thirds of alcohol sales are to heavy drinkers Read more »
Drunk, disruptive air passenger numbers on the rise

Report shows that 60% of fliers have encountered drunk passengers in transit Read more »
MPs welcome calls from Alcohol and Families Alliance to champion families in upcoming alcohol strategy

Report urges government to put families first in the battle to reduce alcohol-related harms Read more »
MESAS: weekly alcohol sales exceed guidelines

Monitoring report finds alcohol is ‘still a significant health concern’ Read more »
New report surveys alcohol policy debates following Brexit

Paper identifies future ‘battlegrounds’ between industry and public health groups Read more »
Lack of joined-up action between alcohol and mental health services

Survey exposes ‘poor’ levels of service support for sufferers of both conditions Read more »
Raising alcohol taxes could boost the economy, study finds
Raising alcohol taxes by 10% could boost GDP by £850 million and create an additional 17,000 jobs in the UK Read more »
Stereotypes about women’s drinking branded unfair and unhelpful

Stereotypes about women’s drinking branded unfair and unhelpful Read more »
Supermarket alcohol 188% more affordable than thirty years ago
New analysis shows dramatic increase in affordability of shop-bought beer as Lords debate minimum unit pricing in England Read more »
England: Alcohol-related hospital admissions hit record levels – again

Number rises to 1.14 million, rate stays same – cardiovascular diseases dominate figures Read more »
Scotland: One in four alcohol-related deaths due to cancer

NHS Health Scotland figures detail the impact of alcohol consumption in 2015 Read more »
Drink drive risk as breath tests fall by 25%

Data shows budget cuts undermining road safety Read more »
Minimum Unit Pricing declared legal
UK Supreme Court “unanimously dismisses” Scotch Whisky case Read more »
New definition, same old story

Narrower take on alcohol-related deaths may worsen efforts to tackle the wider burden of harms caused by alcohol Read more »
Wales introduces minimum unit price for alcohol

Welsh to follow the Scots’ lead Read more »
‘Like sugar for adults’ report highlights anxiety about parents’ drinking

Report finds low-level parental drinking can leave children feeling worried, embarrassed and facing more arguments Read more »
Communication of the alcohol guidelines ‘needs to be improved’
Only 8% of people know what the low-risk weekly guideline actually is Read more »
Pubs call for action on cheap supermarket alcohol

Four fifths of pub managers say supermarket alcohol is too cheap Read more »
Alcohol brands failing to communicate drinking guidelines

Time to move away from industry self-regulation of alcohol labels, new research shows Read more »
Scotland: Alcohol-related deaths on the rise again
Annual totals at their highest level this decade Read more »
Foundation for Liver Research makes the ‘financial case’ for action on liver disease
Doctors claim heavy drinking will kill 63,000 people over next five years Read more »
Pocket money prices for alcohol continue one year on
Survey provides more evidence for minimum unit pricing Read more »
Wales: Alcohol pricing is a legislative priority
Minimum unit pricing is one of the five Bills of new government Read more »
Scotland’s alcohol problem persists

From NHS Scotland Read more »
UK alcohol laws should look Down Under to tackle crime and disorder

New report finds Australian ‘Last Drinks’ policies reduce harms associated with late-night drinking Read more »
Alcohol-related admissions to English hospitals continue

Annual report highlights rising admissions and costs of prescriptions amidst flatlining consumption and mortality levels Read more »
New alcohol marketing report suspects foul play

Study reveals how industry bent advertising rules during UEFA Euro 2016 tournament Read more »
DWP: Alcohol dependency a major burden on workless families
Report acknowledges impact of alcohol on children’s life chances Read more »
Lords: Licensing Act ‘needs major overhaul’
Lords Committee report critical of ‘fundamentally flawed’ Act, while backing minimum unit pricing Read more »
Budget 2017: Treasury to open consultation on new tax band for white cider

Alcohol duty rates left unchanged… for now Read more »
Case for lower alcohol taxes ‘overstated’
Cutting alcohol duty benefits UK economy less than industry claims, report says Read more »
Increase in alcohol-related deaths continues in worrying trend

Official figures also highlight the number of years of life lost prematurely to alcohol-related causes Read more »
Chancellor urged to tackle cheap, strong cider in forthcoming budget
66% of the public back increased tax on cider Read more »
Increase in drink-driving casualties, while still no progress reducing deaths

Estimated rises in the number of drink drive accidents and casualties Read more »
Alcohol marketing rules are failing to protect our youth, say public health experts
Current controls on alcohol marketing are failing to prevent the association between youth exposure and subsequent drinking Read more »
Portrayal of women’s drinking habits in the media offers biased, judgemental view
Glasgow research finds news stories depict female drinkers as “inconvenient burdens” compared with their male drinking companions Read more »
Parliamentary report lays bare the impact of alcohol on our emergency services

New report finds alcohol misuse a major problem for emergency services says Read more »
Chancellor urged to tackle the scourge of cheap alcohol following report released by Public Health England
Letter urges Philip Hammond to take action ahead of the 2017 Spring Budget Read more »
Alcohol misuse most often treated in middle age

Average age of alcohol only clients seeking treatment is 45 years Read more »
SALSUS: Drunkenness among Scottish 13-year-olds rises

Friends and family at home most likely sources for obtaining alcohol Read more »
Road safety groups and emergency services call for lower drink-driving limit
Public opinion polls show 77% of public in favour Read more »
Booze sold at ‘pocket money prices’

Booze sold at ‘pocket money prices’ Read more »
No progress on drink-driving deaths

Data aids calls from campaigners to lower the limit Read more »
New study supports link between alcohol advertising and adolescent drinking
Exposure to alcohol marketing of all kinds linked to adolescents’ alcohol use over time Read more »
Better parenting and lower affordability linked to fall in underage drinking

New report assesses explanations for lower teen drinking Read more »
Alcohol-related health indicators for England worsening
Admissions, deaths, and prescriptions up on previous years, according to new data Read more »
Treat alcohol like other drugs, says the Royal Society of Public Health

The definition of drugs includes socially-embedded legal substances, such as alcohol… a comprehensive strategy ‘must reflect this reality’ Read more »
Formula One puts Heineken in the driving seat
F1 glorifies new sponsorship deal with drinks company Read more »
Revision of the EU audio visual media services directive (AVMSD)
New proposal fails to take NGOs concerns into consideration; maintains a self-regulatory policy approach Read more »
Scottish alcohol sales on the increase again

Data shows three quarters of alcohol consumed off-trade, of which majority is sold below proposed minimum unit price level Read more »
Call for public support of alcohol policy
Improving public knowledge about alcohol harm will increase government appetite for regulation Read more »
Emergency service leaders call for lower drink drive limit
Open letter to Transport Secretary comes as drink-driving bill is debated in the House of Lords Read more »
Three drinks a day ‘significantly increases’ stomach cancer risk

Cancer charity’s report identifies a probable link with stomach cancer for the first time Read more »
Heavy drinking at home now typical feature of British life
University study finds half of get-togethers with friends or family involve increased or higher risk drinking Read more »
Alcohol taxes would have to rise 28% to match minimum unit pricing in Scotland

Sheffield uni modelling tackles key question behind long-running MUP court case Read more »
International study finds no health benefits from moderate drinking

Scientific review finds previous studies did not account for ‘abstainer bias’ Read more »
Local Authorities often bullied by the licenced trade, but scope for greater health focus within licensing
Report finds the 2003 Licensing Act has been commonly interpreted to the advantage of the licenced trade over past decade Read more »
Transport Committee on drink-driving: Take your cue from Scotland
Public mood is supportive of a lower limit, says report Read more »
Time to revisit estimates of costs of alcohol to society, says new article
Journal paper calls for ‘a full, holistic review of the costs of alcohol’ Read more »
Government’s own numbers show that alcohol is under-taxed
New report reveals that alcohol taxes fail to reflect full social costs of drinking Read more »
Fewer adults dying from conditions directly caused by alcohol
… but deaths from related conditions, such as cancer, rise by 1% Read more »
Alcohol sports sponsorship linked to risky drinking
Study shows increased risky drinking amongst schoolchildren and adult athletes exposed to alcohol sports sponsorship Read more »
Minimum unit pricing is the healthiest alcohol pricing policy, say Sheffield experts
A minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol would be more effective in reducing health inequalities and cutting consumption among heavy drinkers than increases in current alcohol taxes Read more »
Drink drive fatality figures at a crossroads

No significant change since 2010; a lower drink drive limit will ‘break the deadlock’, urge road safety campaigners Read more »
Alcohol-related deaths creep upwards

Official figures show UK deaths among women hit highest level since 2008 Read more »
Alcohol industry heavily dependent on risky drinking
Australia’s alcohol brands take advantage of ‘super consumers’ according to FARE report Read more »
No ‘safe’ limit: Alcohol Health Alliance responds to new CMO drinking guidelines
Link between alcohol and cancer link leads to new recommended guidelines for units Read more »
Scottish medical professions welcome European Court of Justice’s judgment in favour of Scotland’s alcohol minimum unit pricing policy
SHAAP among numerous health bodies supporting judgment ahead of final ruling from Scottish Court of Session Read more »
‘Stark challenge’ for NHS from alcohol consumption

Nuffield Trust report exposes growing alcohol burden on the NHS Read more »
Health Survey England 2014: Well-off most likely high risk drinkers

Adults in households in the highest income bracket are more likely to drink above the lower risk level than households on lowest incomes Read more »
EU Council calls for an alcohol strategy
IAS welcomes the move to adopt the resolution Read more »
Middle-aged seek alcohol treatment services
Joint alcohol and drugs dataset for England shows those in their forties are most likely to receive help Read more »
Merging alcohol giants threaten global health, warn experts
The health implications of this forecast are disturbing for developing countries, argues Professor Jeff Collin Read more »
UK Government’s alcohol policies weaker than devolved nations

The UK Government’s alcohol policies are weaker than those implemented by the devolved nations, a landmark report from the Universities of Stirling and Sheffield has found Read more »
Majority of emergency service staff suffer alcohol fuelled abuse
A new report from the Institute of Alcohol Studies, Alcohol’s Impact on Emergency Services, reveals the full extent of the toll alcohol takes on emergency services in England Read more »
10 million UK drink drivers survey claims
Nearly a third (31%) of drivers that drink admit to driving when over the legal alcohol limit – equivalent to 10 million UK adults – according to a recent survey Read more »
The alcohol industry is not meeting its ‘Responsibility Deal’ labelling pledges
A new study from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine founds that the signatories to the Public Health Responsibility Deal alcohol labelling pledge are not fully meeting their pledge Read more »
IAS responds to IEA’s report ‘Alcohol and the Public Purse’
Rebuttal of IEA paper exposes limitations of analysis of the costs and benefits Read more »
UK calls on EU to support Member States in tackling alcohol harm
UK Government ‘broadly agrees’ with findings of House of Lords inquiry and calls for new EU Alcohol Strategy Read more »
IAS welcomes the European Advocate General’s opinion on MUP

MUP does not contravene European law, provided it meets the objective of protecting public health Read more »
Report reveals burden alcohol places on North East ambulance staff

A new report has revealed that almost half of North East paramedics have been assaulted by drunk patients or members of the public while on duty Read more »
Sharp rise in average consumption among underage drinkers

HSCIC release finds there are fewer underage drinkers consuming more alcohol in the last week than previous year Read more »
Majority of Brits harmed by other people’s drinking
New report reveals impact of alcohol on other people’s safety, sheds light on neglected area of alcohol-related harm Read more »
Alcohol-related admissions continue to rise
New Statistics on Alcohol release shows figures for admissions and purchases of drugs for alcohol dependency continuing to creep upwards Read more »
Minimum pricing linked to 9% drop in crime
New report shows impact of minimum alcohol prices in British Colombia, Canada Read more »
Balance North East launches 7 cancers campaign
Raising awareness of the link between alcohol and the seven different types of cancer Read more »
Welsh Health Survey 2014: Older drinkers buck downward consumption trend

Those aged 55 years and over most likely to drink above guidelines on a weekly basis Read more »
NGOs resign from health forum as commission ignores Member State and European Parliament calls for alcohol strategy
Public Health NGOs have today resigned from the EU Alcohol and Health Forum, following the announcement by Commissioner Andriukaitis that he has no plans to establish a new EU Alcohol Strategy Read more »
Rising trend in alcohol-related liver disease admission rates continues
The figures in the latest update to the Local Alcohol Profiles for England (LAPE) data tool show alcohol admission rates to hospitals on the rise across several categories Read more »
Alcohol advertising and sponsorship in Formula One: A dangerous cocktail
Formula One alcohol sponsorship exposes audience to alcohol brands every five seconds Read more »
OECD report gives damning assessment of UK drinking habits

First major OECD report on harmful alcohol use finds Brits’ drinking levels above average since 1995 Read more »
European Parliament passes resolution for a new EU Alcohol Strategy
European Parliament ratifies resolution that includes calorie labelling of alcoholic drinks Read more »
Industry profits trump public health as alcohol duty cut yet again in Budget

Penny off a pint of beer for the third year running, cider and spirits cut by 2%; total cost to public purse estimated at £2.4bn Read more »
Lords slam EU inaction on alcohol harm
Committee report criticises absence of EU Alcohol Strategy; calls for effective legislation at Commission level Read more »
Alcohol Health Alliance: ‘our NHS can’t afford for alcohol to get any cheaper’

AHA urges Chancellor to reinstate the alcohol duty escalator in this year’s budget Read more »
Young teetotallers on the rise

2013 survey data: There are now as many young abstainers as those aged 65 and over Read more »
Fatal drink drive accidents up a fifth
Number of accidents in 2013 may be highest since 2009, with nearly 10% of drivers in their twenties admitting to drink-driving Read more »
Over half of violent crime alcohol-related
New data tells familiar story. Proportion of alcohol-related crimes also accounts for two-thirds of violent incidents between strangers Read more »
UK alcohol-related deaths persistently above 1990s levels

Official figures indicate a plateau in alcohol-related deaths, but rates still higher than 20 years ago, with many happening before people reach mid-fifties Read more »
Health campaigners call for tougher regulation of alcohol adverts
Calls come after new survey shows primary school children are more familiar with beer brands than biscuits Read more »
Irish Government announces measures to tackle alcohol harm
Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 proposals include minimum unit pricing, warning labels on packaging and new restrictions on advertising, marketing and sponsorship Read more »
NI Census: Alcohol treatment users on the rise

Jump in patient numbers partly due to higher response rate Read more »
Labour to target cheap cider to protect children
Labour’s new approach to public health pledges to take tougher action to protect children from “the harm caused by alcohol, sugar and smoke”, says Andy Burnham MP Read more »
Alcohol sales linked with alcohol deaths across GB regions
First ever analysis of relationship between alcohol sales data and alcohol-related deaths finds a positive correlation between the two Read more »
Public call for health warnings on alcohol labels
Fewer than half of people aware of the links between alcohol and cancer, according to survey Read more »
Upward trend in number of premises licences continues
Fewer alcohol only on-sales and round-the-clock licences among overall increases in personal and premises licences Read more »
Scotland’s relationship with alcohol changing for the better: MESAS study
2014 report shows positive effects of falling consumption, but there is still some way to go Read more »
Excessive drinking during pregnancy is not a crime, judges rule
Council’s compensation claim rejected by the Court of Appeal Read more »
New call for a comprehensive EU Alcohol Strategy
Eurocare calls for action to reduce alcohol-related harm ahead of the 6th European Alcohol Policy Conference Read more »
Scottish Parliament passes lower drink drive limit
Reduced limit will come into effect on December 5 Read more »
TV star says think twice about how much you’re drinking

Actress Charlie Hardwick is the voice behind a North East campaign urging women to think twice and limit how much they drink to reduce their breast cancer risk Read more »
Alcohol treatment activity in England reaches record levels for a sixth year running
More clients admitted to more new treatment journeys, but also more problem drinkers successfully treated Read more »
Public Health England releases local authority liver disease profiles

Data exposes a stark north-south divide over admissions and mortality rates for alcohol liver disease sufferers Read more »
A fifth of deaths caused by alcohol in Wales, claims new report
Public Health Wales Observatory findings show the stark challenges caused by alcohol Read more »
Minimum alcohol pricing up to 50 times more effective than below cost selling ban
And the greatest effects would be in harmful drinkers, say experts Read more »
How Labour forgot its roots to liberalise alcohol licensing
New paper by historian Peter Catterall looks at the changing attitudes of the party to alcohol legislation Read more »
Alcohol-related liver disease: new map highlights regional hotspots

National average equates to just over 200 hospital admissions every week Read more »
Event explores European Commission decision to exempt alcohol from EU labelling legislation
Do you know what is in your drink? Public health experts attend Brussels event to find out why European Union consumers are kept in dark over alcohol Read more »
One in six women drivers admit to drink-driving whilst over the limit
Drinking and driving for women drivers is the ‘new normal’ as one in six say they’ve driven whilst over the legal limit in the past year Read more »
Health experts prepare to take minimum unit price campaign to Brussels
Doctors take battle to implement “Scotland the Brave’s” alcohol minimum unit price policy to Brussels Read more »
Northern Ireland Drinking Patterns Survey shows majority favour minimum unit pricing
Fifth report of its kind shows 60% of respondents in favour of pricing legislation Read more »
Road casualties report 2012 – drink drive deaths levelling out
Number of deaths ‘not significantly different’ from previous year, according to the Department of Transport Read more »
Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Misuse releases 2015 Manifesto
MPs unveil 10-point plan for combatting alcohol misuse Read more »
Independent expert panel backs Welsh minimum unit pricing move
Specially commissioned report finds ‘indisputable evidence that the price of alcohol matters’, says health minister Read more »
Underage drinking on decline, but still acceptable among pupils

Data released by the Health & Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) today confirms a continuing downward trend in underage drinking Read more »
Statistics on Alcohol England 2014 released: Cost to NHS of alcohol dependency drugs tops £3m for the first time
The Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) of drugs for treating alcohol dependence reached a record high of £3.13m in 2013, a rise of 6.7% on 2012 (£2.93 million) Read more »
Quarter of Welsh adults still binge drink
Results from the newly published Welsh Health Survey 2013 show no change in the proportion of adults who exceeded the recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption Read more »
World Health Organisation calls on governments to do more to prevent alcohol-related deaths and diseases
Worldwide, 3.3 million deaths in 2012 were due to harmful use of alcohol, says a new report launched by WHO today Read more »
Alcohol-related deaths in England continue to fall, but concerns persist about regional inequalities

New figures from Public Health England (PHE) show a continuing benefit from lower levels of national alcohol consumption. However, concerns remain about the impact of alcohol on health inequalities Read more »
Minimum unit pricing battle will be decided at EU level
Case to be referred to the European Court of Justice; clarification sought on ‘technical matters’ Read more »
No ban for TV ad showing link between alcohol and cancer
Appeals to withdraw a television advertisement highlighting the link between alcohol and cancer have been rejected by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) today Read more »
Rising alcohol prices behind drop in violence
Researchers from Cardiff University have suggested that higher alcohol prices and less binge drinking may explain a 12% drop in the number of people admitted to hospitals in England and Wales for treatment following violence last year Read more »
Welsh Government proposes minimum unit pricing
The Welsh Government proposes to introduce a minimum price for alcohol of 50 pence per unit to ‘reduce the harms associated with alcohol overuse and misuse’, according to a Public Health White Paper published today Read more »
Health community to SWA: ‘Stop fighting minimum pricing’
A group of health experts led by Alcohol Focus Scotland have published an open letter urging the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) to drop their lawsuit against the Scottish Government over minimum unit pricing without further delay Read more »
Government confirms plans to relax licensing hours for 2014 World Cup
The Coalition Government has decided to proceed with its proposal of a national relaxation of licensing hours for England’s Football World Cup campaign later this year, in spite of opposition from police and health bodies Read more »
Chief Medical Officer ‘deplores’ irresponsible alcohol retailing methods
England’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has delivered a stinging criticism of the practices of alcohol retailers, describing the selling methods used to attract consumers to purchase alcohol as ‘irresponsible’ Read more »
New Centre for Public Health report updates figures on the impact of alcohol on population health in England
Researchers at the Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University have produced updated figures on the impact of alcohol on population health in England Read more »
APPHG report urges Government to act fast to prevent more liver disease deaths
The vast majority of deaths caused by liver disease could be prevented, according to the outcomes of an inquiry launched today by the All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group (APPHG) Read more »
Personal alcohol licences to stay
The UK Government has decided not to proceed with the proposal to abolish the system of personal alcohol licences, in response to stakeholder feedback during a two-month consultation by the Home Office Read more »
Alcohol duty escalator scrapped in 2014 Budget
In today’s Budget announcement, Chancellor George Osborne has scrapped the alcohol duty escalator, meaning that alcohol duties will not rise 2% above inflation as previously planned Read more »
IAS urges Chancellor George Osborne to retain alcohol duty escalator for 2014 Budget
Writing on bmj.com, IAS Director Katherine Brown says that the UK chancellor should resist industry lobbying to scrap the annual rise in alcohol duty because ‘society simply can’t afford for such cheap drink to get cheaper’ Read more »
BMA calls for MEPs to adopt evidence-based measures to lower EU alcohol consumption
The British Medical Association (BMA) has urged Members of the European Parliament (MEP) to do more to combat alcohol harms in Europe by introducing comprehensive, evidence-based population-level measures to reduce alcohol consumption Read more »
Public Health England’s voice ‘not sufficiently clearly heard’ on minimum unit pricing, says Health Select Committee
A report released by the House of Commons Health Select Committee today has criticised Public Health England (PHE) for not having a clear official position on minimum unit pricing (MUP) as an effective evidence-based measure for tackling alcohol misuse Read more »
Scots’ alcohol-related hospital discharges down, but health inequalities remain
The latest NHS Scotland figures show a consistent downtrend trend in alcohol-related discharges from Scotland’s general acute hospitals, however the proportion of patients from deprived areas remains significantly high Read more »
New data confirm Alcoholic Liver Disease as the most common cause of alcohol-related deaths
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics [ONS] reveal the extent to which alcoholic liver disease contributes to alcohol-related deaths in the UK Read more »
Alcohol Health Alliance urges Chancellor not to drop the price of drink in this year’s budget
The Alcohol Health Alliance has written to Chancellor George Osborne urging him to stand firm and maintain the alcohol duty escalator in the 2014 budget Read more »
Lancet study finds no evidence to suggest minimum pricing will penalise low-income moderate drinkers
The results of a new study showing that a minimum unit price of 45p would reduce deaths and hospital admissions among high risk drinkers but have negligible effects on low-income moderate drinkers’ have been published in The Lancet Read more »
Home Office releases guidance on below-cost alcohol ban
The Home Office releases definitive guidance on legislation banning the sale of alcohol below cost today, amid renewed criticism that the policy will do little to reduce alcohol-related problems Read more »
WHO: Alcohol a major cause behind cancer surge
The World Health Organisation warns of a ‘tidal wave’ of cancer cases occurring over the next 20 years following the release of its third World Cancer Report 2014 Read more »
BMA issues new guidance on alcohol in the workplace
Today, the British Medical Association (BMA) published new guidance for addressing the issue of alcohol misuse in the workplace Read more »
JD Wetherspoon opens first motorway pub
England’s first motorway service station pub launches today, amid fierce criticism from road safety and health campaigners who warn that it will encourage drink-driving Read more »
Law preventing illegal sales of alcohol to drunken customers ‘routinely broken’, report reveals
A study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health has found that pubs, bars and nightclubs regularly flout legislation preventing the sale of alcohol to people who appear highly intoxicated Read more »
Government to give £10 million boost to drug and alcohol recovery programmes
Recovery-orientated drug and alcohol treatment centres across England are set to benefit from new government investment of £10 million Read more »
BMJ report exposes alcohol industry’s open door to government
A BMJ investigation today reveals the ‘extraordinary level of access’ granted by the government to the alcohol industry as it fought successfully last year to kill off a minimum unit pricing policy in England and Wales Read more »
Kids too easily exposed to online alcohol marketing, say UK researchers
Research published in the Alcohol and Alcoholism journal finds that regulation lacks the adequate safeguards to protect UK children from online alcohol marketing. Read more »
Health Survey England 2012: Over half of adults breach daily drinking guidelines
The Health Survey for England – 2012 suggests that the level of risky drinking remains constant among regular drinkers, despite slight falls in the proportion of drinkers and the frequency of drinking compared with previous years Read more »
ONS data suggest young women are outdrinking men
New Office for National Statistics display evidence of a continuing high level of heavy drinking among young women Read more »
IAS report shows greater support for minimum pricing amongst responses to government consultation
The Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) has today published an analysis of submissions to the Home Office consultation on minimum pricing that indicates public support for the policy was greater than previously thought Read more »
Public Health England to change headline alcohol statistics

Public Health England (PHE) has announced its intention from 2014 to use a new key measure of alcohol-related hospital admissions according to its latest report Read more »
Alcohol is a Class 1 carcinogen, warns Balance North East ad
Balance North East has launched a new hard hitting health campaign warning against the cancer causing effects of alcohol Read more »
Number of premises with 24-hour alcohol licences up
Home Office statistics show a significant increase in the number of premises owning 24-hour licences to sell alcohol since the Coalition Government came to power Read more »
Parental substance use: new resource for schools
In partnership with Mentor UK and the ADEPIS project, Adfam has published Identifing and supporting children affected by parental substance use: resource for schools Read more »
Alcohol Research UK announces UK grants programme for 2014
Initial, brief applications for this programme are now invited. Proposals should take into consideration our current research priorities Read more »
Alcohol treatment system continues to perform well, but there is more to be done
The system for treating alcohol dependence among adults in England is performing well overall for those accessing services, according to Public Health England (PHE) Read more »
Tribute to Roy Grantham CBE
We are sad to report the death of Roy Grantham CBE, a former chairman of the Alliance House Foundation who was closely involved with the IAS since its inception Read more »
HES 2012/13 data shows nearly 300,000 hospital admissions wholly due to alcohol in England
Hospital Episode Statistics [HES] for 2012/13 published today show that there were 295,000 hospital admissions wholly attributable to alcohol in England Read more »
Online alcohol marketing encourages a “culture of intoxication”, says professor
Professor Christine Griffin from the UKCTAS Department of Psychology is calling for tighter regulations around alcohol marketing aimed at young people who use social network sites Read more »
Newcastle introduces first-ever late-night levy
Pubs and clubs in the centre of Newcastle will be charged for selling alcohol after midnight from Friday Read more »
Minimum Unit Pricing ‘the best policy option’ says Irish report
Report published ahead of the Irish Government’s recent decision to introduce minimum alcohol pricing as part of its Public Health (Alcohol) Bill Read more »
Ireland plans to introduce minimum price for alcohol
Today, the Irish Government announced its intention to proceed with the introduction of a minimum price regime for alcohol as part of an extensive package of measures aimed at addressing the problem of alcohol misuse Read more »
Alcohol treatment programmes attract more new patients
New annual figures on alcohol treatment activity in England produced by the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) show continued increases in both patient take-up and successfully completed treatments Read more »
Research suggests online marketing influences young people to drink more alcohol more often at an earlier age
A newly published review of currently available scientific literature shows that exposure to online alcohol marketing leads to advancing the onset of alcohol consumption, increasing the amount consumed, as well as the frequency of consumption Read more »
New official UK data reveals 17% increase in drink drive deaths
Newly revised figures released by the Department of Transport today estimate that there were 280 deaths caused by drink drive accidents in 2012, accounting for 16% of all road deaths Read more »
‘Voluntary’ minimum unit pricing introduced in Newcastle
Newcastle City Council has introduced a minimum unit price condition for all new licences and applications for licence variation across the on and off-trade Read more »
Research finds 68% increased risk of small baby birth for women who binge drink during the second trimester of pregnancy
A newly published UK report on birth outcomes related to alcohol consumption claims to be the first study to discover a clear link between binge drinking and the increased risk of SGA (small for gestational age weight babies) among mothers Read more »
Government consults on proposal to abolish personal alcohol licences in favour of targeted local alternatives
The Home Office opened its consultation on enabling targeted, local alternatives to personal licences to sell alcohol today Read more »
Scots ‘still drinking too much as a nation’, health chiefs warn
NHS Health Scotland figures released today show that 10.9 litres of pure alcohol was sold per adult in 2012, a fall of 3% per person on the previous year Read more »
Beer industry’s self-regulation ineffective at preventing advertising code violations
In an evaluation of beer advertising code regulations aimed to encourage responsible advertising practices, new research from the American Journal of Public Health finds that content violations still occur Read more »
Drink-drive deaths up by a quarter
Provisional drink-driving figures released by the Department of Transport today estimate that 290 deaths were caused by drink drive accidents in 2012, 17% of all reported road fatalities Read more »
North East schoolchildren have highest drinking rates in England
Newly published data from the Health & Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) reveal that the North East of England has the highest proportion of pupils who have ever drunk alcohol Read more »
Alcohol-related mortality among young women bucks national trends
New research has shown a marked increase in alcohol-related mortality among women in their 30s and 40s, contrary to the recent overall picture of falling numbers of deaths in England and Scotland Read more »
Government ignores latest evidence in climbdown on minimum unit pricing
New research commissioned by the Government as part of its consultation on the Alcohol Strategy confirms that minimum unit pricing (MUP) is far more effective at tackling harm than banning ‘below cost sales’ of alcohol Read more »
Abandoning minimum alcohol prices puts lives at risk, say leading doctors

Lives will be lost as a result of the Government’s decision today to abandon the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol, according to doctors’ leaders Read more »
Peers put pressure on government to announce minimum pricing proposal
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office was quizzed by peers in the House of Lords over government plans to publish its response to the consultation on the introduction of a minimum unit price for alcohol Read more »
Almost half of first-time rough sleepers in London have drug and/or alcohol support needs, says St Mungo’s
Charity’s research highlights the growing problem of alcohol misuse among the capital’s homeless. Read more »
Local authorities reluctant to roll out EMROs
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act (PRSRA) 2011 gave local authorities the power to introduce a Late Night Levy on licensed premises opening after midnight Read more »
Report shows a third of patients with alcohol-related illnesses not receiving help to stop drinking
The latest National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death [NCEPOD] report, Measuring the Units, finds that hospitals are missing opportunities to provide early intervention in the care of people with alcohol-related illnesses Read more »
Alcohol Concern calls for major shake-up of alcohol advertising
Immediate changes to the way alcohol is advertised, backed up by a complete ban on advertising at all sporting, cultural and music events, are needed to protect children and young people from excessive exposure to alcohol advertising, says Alcohol Concern Read more »
2013 Statistics on Alcohol England released: Alcohol treatment prescriptions reach record levels
The number of drugs prescriptions for alcohol dependency in England is at an all-time high, according to figures from Statistics on Alcohol in England 2013 Read more »
80% Police officers in North East victims of alcohol-related assault
North East police officers are feeling the first-hand impact of alcohol misuse with over 80% being subjected to an alcohol-related assault during their career – and one in five being assaulted six or more times Read more »
Minimum unit pricing ruled legal in Scotland
Scotland’s highest civil court has rejected a legal challenge to the Scottish Government’s plan to implement a minimum price per unit of alcohol Read more »
Minimum pricing will bring ‘substantial health and social benefits’ says new IAS report

A new report, ‘Is alcohol too cheap in the UK? Setting the case for a Minimum Unit Price [MUP] for alcohol’ is published today by the Institute of Alcohol Studies Read more »
1 in 8 admissions for alcoholic liver disease ends in a hospital death
Provisional figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show that in 2012, nearly half of liver disease admissions to hospitals in England were for alcoholic liver disease Read more »
‘Alcohol industry has no role in formulating policy’, says WHO Director General
The World Health Organisation has spoken out against industry involvement in alcohol policy at the national level, with the intention of using its safeguards against conflicts of interest in future interactions with global alcohol producers Read more »
GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY ISSUES WARNING ON ALCOHOL INDUSTRY CONFLICT OF INTEREST
More than 500 public health professionals, health scientists and NGO representatives from 60 countries have signed a joint Statement of Concern about the activities of the global alcohol producers Read more »
New Licensing Information Pack

A new guide to support local licensing activity has been produced by the London Licensing Network under the auspices of the London Health Improvement Board Read more »
NHS Atlas gives new insight into liver disease epidemic
Premature death from chronic liver disease is rising in England, largely as a result of lifestyle issues such as alcohol abuse, drug-taking and obesity Read more »
Increase in alcohol-related cancers despite well-established link
A new report from the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA) has found that hospital admissions for alcohol-related cancer in England have jumped 28% in just eight years Read more »
Minimum alcohol pricing and EU Law
The legality of minimum alcohol pricing under EU law is being challenged in the courts. Here, at the invitation of IAS, solicitor Jonanthan Goodliffe examines the issue Read more »
Legal foundations for alcohol policy within the European Union
Provisions from European legal instruments with commentary, by Jonathan Goodliffe, solicitor Read more »
Health bodies say government must stand firm on MUP
The Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA) today urges the Government to stand firm on its commitment to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol (MUP) Read more »
Scientists hit back at drinks industry criticisms of research on minimum pricing
Scientists have today spoken out against criticisms from the drinks industry of research on the effects of minimum pricing Read more »
Middle aged drink most often whilst young women biggest bingers
Newly published survey data shows a wide gap in the alcohol consumption habits of different age groups, with over 45s twice as likely to drink on 5 days or more than younger age groups Read more »
Dept of Health calls for action to reduce avoidable deaths from alcohol
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt MP announced his plan to reduce the number of deaths occurring from alcohol misuse in parliament Read more »
Health experts urge government to prioritise Minimum Unit Pricing in new strategy
More than 70 health organisations from across the UK have backed a new independent alcohol strategy calling for the UK Government to prioritise Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP), amongst a set of key policies aimed at curbing the nation’s drink problem Read more »
Half of men and women could be classed as ‘binge drinkers’
Drinking over the limits could be much higher than previously thought, with more than three quarters of people in England exceeding the limits on their heaviest drinking day, according to a new paper in the European Journal of Public Health Read more »
FASD Trust calls for tougher guidelines on drinking during pregnancy
A report published today by the FASD Trust proposes to clear up confusion over current clinical guidelines on alcohol consumption for women during pregnancy Read more »
GAPA appeals to international public health community to support Statement of Concern
The Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) is appealing to the international public health community to support an open letter to the WHO outlining concerns about the actions of the global alcohol producers Read more »
Canadian study reveals ‘immediate, substantial and significant’ reductions in alcohol deaths due to minimum pricing
A new study from Canada has found a link between increases in minimum pricing and a fall in the number of alcohol-related deaths Read more »
Sheffield Alcohol Research Group defends MUP modelling
Today the University of Sheffield’s Alcohol Research Group (SARG) released a detailed response to a critique of the effectiveness of minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol published last year by the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) Read more »
Alcohol-related mortality rates for UK women on the up
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show an increase in the number of female alcohol-related deaths in the UK in 2011 Read more »
New referrals for alcohol treatment programmes on the rise
Newly published data from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) reports a rise in the number of new patients being treated for alcohol problems for the fourth year running Read more »
Latest figures on alcohol treatment in England released by National Treatment Agency

Tackling the impact of harmful and dependent drinking is a key public health priority… Read more »
MUP court case resumes today
The legal challenge to the Scottish Government’s plans to implement a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol will begin today at the Court of Session in Edinburgh Read more »
Drink diary data tells us people consume more than they think

The latest findings on alcohol consumption from the newly published Health Survey for England show a variation between the amount of alcohol people claim to drink and how much they actually drink Read more »
Alcohol now third most dangerous health risk in the world, says Lancet study
Findings published in the Lancet today show that alcohol now poses an even greater threat to global health than poor sanitation, air pollution, and malnutrition. Read more »
Government launches MUP consultation
The Home Office has launched its consultation into the Alcohol Strategy today. In a written statement to MPs read out in Parliament, Home Secretary Theresa May MP announced the Government’s intention to set a minimum price per unit for the sale of alcohol. Read more »
Action needed on liver disease, alcohol – Chief Medical Officer
Comprehensive action is needed to stop the rising tide of liver disease, is one of the key findings to emerge from Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies first annual report on the state of the public health. Read more »
IAS joins AHA in calling for 50p MUP
IAS adds its voice to calls from the Alcohol Health Alliance for the Government to set the minimum price per unit of alcohol at 50 pence in a letter published in the Sunday Times on 18 November. Read more »
NICE gives local government guidance on alcohol
Tackling the harm caused by alcohol is one of the key topics included in NICE’s latest set of local government public health briefings, published last week (31 October). Read more »
IAS and other leading health organisations walk away from ‘Responsibility Deal’ talks

IAS and other leading health organisations walk away from ‘Responsibility Deal’ talks The IAS, along with several other leading members of the UK health community, has refused to sign up to a new government initiative; the Public Health Responsibility Deal for Alcohol (RDA). The RDA forms part of a wider Public Health Responsibility Deal, which… Read more »
MSPs vote to lower drink-drive limit
MSPs have voted to back the Scottish National Party’s [SNP] plan to cut the drink-drive limit from the current UK-wide level of 80mg of alcohol to 50mg, following a consultation that ends on 29 November. Read more »
Number of alcohol-related hospital admissions rises above 300,000
Hospital Episode Statistics [HES] for 2011/12 published today show a rise in the number of admissions wholly attributable to alcohol to a record high of 304,200. Read more »
Alcohol and Late Night Refreshment Licensing England and Wales 2011/12 – new statistics released
This National Statistics release contains figures on the issue by licensing authorities of premises licences, club premises certificates, personal licences, 24 hour and late night refreshment licences and other measures under the Act. Read more »
New research shows minimum pricing can reduce alcohol harm
Consumers tend to switch to less potent alcoholic beverages when minimum prices are raised for cheap, strong drinks, according to new research from the Centre for Addictions Research of BC [CARBC] in Canada. The report – released today in the American Journal of Public Health – also indicates the measure successfully reduces the consumption of ethanol, the harmful ingredient of alcoholic drinks, and so lowers the risk of harmful health effects. Read more »
Impact of London’s night time economy on alcohol related issues

The Greater London Authority with the London Drug and Alcohol Policy Forum and other partners, has been working to support local agencies to achieve a greater understanding of the impacts of London’s night time economy on alcohol related issues. Read more »
UK Government stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Scotland on MUP

Speaking at a conference held on 2 October on the legal implications of Scottish independence, Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC used the example of minimum pricing to emphasise the UK Government’s commitment to making Scotland a healthier and safer place by working together in seeking to ensure that minimum pricing can proceed. Read more »
Scottish Court allows Alcohol Focus Scotland to intervene in legal challenge to minimum pricing
The Institute of Alcohol Studies welcomes today’s ruling to grant Scotland’s national alcohol charity permission to intervene in a legal challenge to the Scottish Minimum Pricing Bill. Read more »
Scottish drink driving consultation launched
The Scottish Government is seeking views on its proposals to lower the drink drive limit. Read more »
IAS supports Scottish Government in Europe

The IAS has written to the European Commission to express its support for the Scottish Government’s Minimum Pricing Act, to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol (MUP). Read more »
Parental alcohol misuse harms more children than illegal drugs, says Children’s Commissioner

A new report recommends that the government should pay as much attention to alcohol misuse within families as it does to drug misuse. Read more »
Kings Fund report warns of widening health inequalities

Newly published research from the Kings Fund indicates that health inequalities will be exacerbated if comprehensive action is not taken to tackle unhealthy lifestyle behaviours amongst the poor. Read more »
MPs urge HMRC to clampdown on alcohol duty evasion

The Commons Public Accounts Committee has urged HM Revenue & Customs to improve its efforts in tackling the problem of lost revenue from alcohol duty evasion and fraud. Read more »
Youthful non-drinking – alive and well but socially invisible
Recent survey data, exploring young people’s attitudes towards alcohol, challenges the assumption that drinking is an integral part of growing up. Read more »
Tackling alcohol problems in the night time economy: guidance for local areas

A new resource has been made available to support local areas in tacking alcohol problems associated with the Night Time Economy (NTE). Read more »
MPs call for greater emphasis on health in Government’s Alcohol Strategy

The Health Select Committee published its report on the Government’s Alcohol Strategy today, calling for a greater emphasis on the chronic health harms caused by alcohol. Read more »
Government to give local authorities new powers to deal with the problems of late night drinking

Councils will receive new powers to help them tackle anti-social behaviour caused by excess alcohol consumption in local communities and neighbourhoods. Read more »
IAS Report: Internet influences on adolescent attitudes to alcohol

With generous funding from Alcohol Research UK, IAS has recently completed research on the influence of the Internet on peoples’ drinking and is today publishing the findings in a report. Read more »
Statistics on Alcohol 2012: alcohol dependency drugs on the rise
Figures from the annual Alcohol in England report published today by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care show a huge increase in the number of prescription drugs used to treat alcohol dependency over the last eight years. Read more »
Scottish drink-drive limit to be lowered
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has announced plans to slash the drink-drive limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg by the end of the year. Read more »
Researchers claim one in eight deaths in Europe caused by alcohol

The ALICE RAP network of over 150 scientists warns of the need for governments to take action over the problem of alcohol-related deaths, during the project’s second annual General Partners’ meeting in Newcastle this week. Read more »
Scotland sets 50p minimum price for alcohol
The Scottish government has confirmed that it will set the minimum price of alcohol at 50p per unit, five pence higher than expected. Read more »
Prime Minister announces minimum pricing policy for England and Wales as new Alcohol Strategy launched

Today sees the launch of the Government’s new Alcohol Strategy. Read more »
National report warns more people are dying from liver disease than ever before

The number of people dying from liver disease in England is rising, according to the first ever national report on the statistics published today by the National End of Life Care Intelligence Network. Read more »
Research & Information Officer vacancy at IAS

Applications are invited from graduates for the post of Research and Information Officer to be based at the Institute’s London office. Read more »
Are estimates of UK alcohol consumption valid? New report from Scotland

A report that reviews the validity and reliability of using alcohol retail sales data to estimate population alcohol consumption for Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) was published by NHS Health Scotland on 20th March 2012. Read more »
Scottish Health Committee backs minimum pricing

A minimum price for a unit of alcohol came one step closer today with the publication of the Stage 1 report on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill by the Health and Sport Committee. Read more »
David Cameron speaks about alcohol
The Prime Minister will today meet doctors, nurses, paramedics and local police on a visit to a hospital in the North East to highlight the cost of alcohol to the NHS Read more »
Scottish government claims minimum pricing is legal
Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has issued a statement that she has been assured that the principle of minimum pricing is entirely compatible with EU law. Read more »
IAS signs open letter to MPs on alcohol pricing

IAS has joined leading health groups in writing an open letter to MPs, calling them to support firmer pricing policies for alcohol. Read more »
Churches and Charities urge PM to take strong action on alcohol pricing

A coalition of national Churches and charities has written to the Prime Minister asking him to introduce a minimum unit price on all alcohol sold in Britain when the Government’s alcohol strategy is announced later this month. Read more »
Rise in alcohol-related deaths reported
The Office of National Statistics today released figures showing that alcohol-related deaths in the UK increased in 2010 to 8,790. This figure is higher than 2009, when 8,664 alcohol-related deaths were recorded. Read more »
Science & Technology Committee publish report on drinking guidelines
The Science and Technology Committee have released a report urging the Government to review its sensible drinking guidelines. The report, published today, is the result of an inquiry held at the end of last year, to which IAS gave evidence. MPs on the Committee conclude that greater efforts should also be focused on helping people… Read more »
Science & Technology Committee publish report on drinking guidelines

The Science and Technology Committee have released a report urging the Government to review its sensible drinking guidelines. Read more »
David Cameron calls for Minimum Price
David Cameron today declared he would overrule Cabinet colleagues to push through plans setting a minimum price for alcohol, it has been reported. Officials have been ordered to draw up proposals for a 40-50p unit floor price in English shops and supermarkets, according to the Daily Telegraph. Read more »
IAS joins leading health experts in call to ban cut-price alcohol
Yesterday (14 December), IAS joined leading health experts in writing a letter to the Daily Telegraph to ask the Coalition Government to tackle the problem of cheap alcohol. The letter came ahead of a debate in Westminster Hall, called by Dr Sarah Wollaston Read more »
IAS joins NGOs in call for a new EU Alcohol Strategy by 2013

IAS has joined forces with NGOs from across Europe today to call on European governments and the European Commission to develop a strategy for the European Union before the current initiative ends next year. Read more »
Minimum Pricing Bill introduced in Scottish Parliament
On 31 October 2011, the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament. Read more »
Health Select Committee Report criticizes Coalition ‘nudge’ approach to public health
The House of Commons Health Select Committee has issued a report this week critiquing the Coalition Government’s planned changes to the public health system in England. Read more »
Flash Report European Alcohol and Health Forum Plenary Meeting of 19 October 2011

The 9th Plenary meeting of the European Alcohol and Health Forum took place on 19 October 2011, focusing on alcohol and youth, and alcohol in the workplace. Read more »
The Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) Response to the UN Political Declaration on NCDs

GAPA welcomes the calling of the High Level Meeting on NCDs by the United Nations General Assembly. Read more »
Latest Local Alcohol Profiles for England

Latest Local Alcohol Profiles for England published by the North West Public Health Observatory. Read more »
Advice from Nice aims to improve commissioning of alcohol services
NICE has published a good practice guide for the clinical management of alcohol misuse. The guide supports commissioners to design services to improve the identification and treatment of hazardous drinking, harmful drinking and alcohol dependence in children, young people and adults. The guide can help the NHS and local authorities to make best use of resources. Read more »
Poor parenting increases likelihood of binge drinking at ages 16 and 34
A study of over 15,000 children by the think tank Demos shows parenting style is one of the most important and statistically reliable influences on whether a child will drink responsibly in adolescence and adulthood. Read more »
Alcohol Concern Report on threat posed by Social Networking sites

A new report by Alcohol Concern looks at how children and young people are at risk of being exposed to alcohol marketing and pro-drinking messages via the internet. Read more »
ACPO Summer drink and drug driving results

This year’s targeted summer drink and drug driving campaign, found the percentage of drivers to be over the legal alcohol limit had increased compared to last year. Read more »
House of Lords ‘nudge’ report criticises voluntary agreements with alcohol industry
A report published today by the House of Lords Science and Technology sub-committee states that the Government’s ‘nudge’ agenda is unlikely to change behaviour at a population level, and will not have a significant impact on reducing levels of alcohol harm. Read more »
Committee announce new inquiry into the evidence base for alcohol guidelines
The Department of Health provides guidance to the public on alcohol intake. Read more »
IAS joins NGOs in endorsing statement to UN on conflicts of interest
The IAS has joined forces with over 100 NGOs around the world to sign a statement of concern about conflicts of interest between the commercial sector and public health policy objectives. Read more »
What’s NOT on the bottle: Alcohol exempt from Food Information to Consumers Provision

Today was the second reading of the Provision of Food Information to Consumers legislation in the European Parliament, which continues to exclude alcohol from a mandatory contents list of ingredients. Read more »
New report shows parents have strong influence on their children’s drinking
A report published today, Friday 17 June 2011, by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, examines the drinking behaviours of young people in England and the main influences on their alcohol consumption. Read more »
Summary report of eighth plenary meeting of European Alcohol Health Forum
The eighth plenary meeting of the European Alcohol Health Forum took place in Brussels on 8th April 2011. Read more »
Alcohol-related hospital admissions top 1 million for first time
New figures released on 26 May show that alcohol-related hospital admissions in England topped 1 million for the first time in 2009/10. Read more »
Minimum pricing a priority in SNP election campaign manifesto
Today, Friday 15th April 2011, the Scottish National Party (SNP) launched its manifesto for the Scottish parliamentary election due to be held in May this year. Read more »
New European study estimates 10% male and 3% female cancers related to alcohol
A study published in the BMJ on 8th April 2011 reports that one in 10 male cancers and one in 33 female cancers can be attributed to former and current alcohol consumption in eight European countries. Read more »
MP calls for new measures to protect children from alcohol advertising
On 30th March 2011 Dr Sarah Wollaston MP presented a Private Member’s Bill urging the Government to adopt a new approach to protect UK children from alcohol advertising. Read more »
New report from Alcohol Concern advises A&E departments on treatment of young people

Alcohol Concern published a briefing report on Wednesday 6th April 2011 that outlines a series of actions A&E departments can perform to provide harm reduction to young people who attend hospital as a result of their drinking. Read more »
IAS report slams Responsibility Deal alcohol pledges

Pledges have ‘worsened the health of the nation’ Read more »
Transport Committee Report on Drink and Drug Driving Law

In its first report to the new parliament, the Transport Committee is calling on ministers to strengthen police enforcement of the drink-drive limit. They also call on ministers to retain the current 12-month mandatory disqualification minimum penalty. Read more »
Transport Committee Report on Drink and Drug Driving Law
Transport Committee Report on Drink and Drug Driving Law In its first report to the new parliament, the Transport Committee is calling on ministers to strengthen police enforcement of the drink-drive limit. They also call on ministers to retain the current 12-month mandatory disqualification minimum penalty. Launching the report, committee chair Louise Ellman said: … Read more »
Treasury publishes review of alcohol taxation

Tax to be increased on high strength beers, but reduced on low strength beers. Read more »
Professor David Nutt and colleagues reiterate: Alcohol more harmful than heroin…”

This data was presented last year and resulted in the sacking of Professor David Nutt from his position as Chief Adviser to the Government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Read more »
Public enquiry needed into parental alcohol misuse claim charities

A new report by national charities, Alcohol Concern and The Children’s Society calls for a national inquiry into the impact of parental alcohol misuse on children, as a new survey commissioned by the charities finds high levels of public concern over harmful drinking among parents. Read more »
The Local Alcohol Profiles for England (LAPE 2010)
The Local Alcohol Profiles for England (LAPE 2010) have been released by the North West Public Health Observatory, based in the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University. Read more »
Coalition government consults on reform of Licensing Act
Proposals for tough new measures to crack down on problem premises and more powers for local communities to influence licensing decisions were unveiled by the government today. Read more »
Review of alcohol taxation and pricing
The Government is committed to reviewing alcohol taxation and pricing to tackle problem drinking without unfairly penalising pubs, responsible drinkers or local industry. Here you can find further information about
the continuing work on the review. Read more »
30% of Children Scared by Adults’ Drinking
30% of Children Scared by Adults’ Drinking A survey by BBC’s Newsround found that almost a third (30%) of children feel scared
when they see adults drinking. Read more »
Emergency Budget: Alcohol Duty Freeze
In his emergency budget delivered today, Chancellor George Osborne has announced that that there will be no increase in alcohol duty at this time and that the increase in duty on cider, introduced just three months ago, will be reversed. This increase in cider duty was a small step towards reducing the discrepancy in duty between cider and beer…. Read more »
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) calls for the introduction of minimum pricing of alcohol
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), sometimes called the UK Government’s ‘health watchdog’, has called for the introduction of minimum pricing of alcohol and for consideration to be given to a ban on alcohol advertising. The calls are made in the latest NICE publications. Read more »
Statistics on Alcohol: England 2010

The latest alcohol statistics for England have just been published by the NHS Information Centre. Read more »
Responsibility for alcohol remains shared between government departments
Measures to regulate the sale of alcohol are included in the Crime and Policing section of the Coalition’s ‘Programme for Government’, but licensing remains within the remit the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, being the responsibility of John Penrose MP, Minister for Tourism and Heritage. Read more »
Obituary – Professor Brian Prichard CBE

We regret to report the death of Professor Brian Prichard, the Chairman of the Institute of Alcohol Studies from its foundation in 1981. Professor Prichard qualified in medicine at St George’s Hospital and became a consultant physician. Later he became Emeritus Professor of Clinical Pharmacology. Born in Wandsworth, he was first elected to Wandsworth Council in 1964, and in 2009… Read more »
To reduce the risk of cancer, drink less alcohol
UK as bad as the US for lifestyle-related cancers. Read more »
UK Budget: Alcohol Duty
The Chancellor of the Exchequor has stuck to the alcohol duty escalator announced in the 2008 budget, and increased duty on most alcoholic drinks by 2% above the rate of inflation. Read more »
Alcohol Excluded from Product Placement
Following opposition from the Institute of Alcohol Studies, amongst others, the culture secretary Ben Bradshaw has excluded alcohol, smoking accessories, junk food (foods high in fat, sugar or salt), over-the-counter medicines, baby food and gambling from new rules allowing product placement in UK-made TV programmes. Read more »
Government too close to drinks industry

After nearly a year’s investigation, the health select committee has called for a radical overhaul of alcohol policy in the UK. Read more »
NHS Briefing – Too much of the hard stuff: what alcohol costs the NHS

Consumption of alcohol in the UK has increased by 19 per cent over the last three decades1 and is now higher than in any other European country. Read more »
Drink surveys ‘grossly underestimate’ nation’s drinking by equivalent of 44 million bottles of wine per year

Alcohol Concern Press Release Drink surveys ‘grossly underestimate’ nation’s drinking by equivalent of 44 million bottles of wine per year Drinkers in the UK consume the equivalent of a bottle of wine per week more than they admit, research released today shows. Analysis from the Centre for Public Health, published by Alcohol Concern, shows that… Read more »
Parents Back Alcohol Free Childhood

DOH Press statement 17th December 2009 Parents Back Alcohol Free Childhood Chief Medical Officer publishes final guidance on alcohol and children The Chief Medical Officer’s guidance for parents, children and young people is based on the most comprehensive ever review of the scientific evidence and follows an extensive public consultation. Parents have backed the Chief… Read more »
Child alcohol crime increased by 28% in four years
Child alcohol crime increased by 28% in four years Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that a total of nearly 40,000 under 18s have been fined, cautioned or taken to court for alcohol-related offences between 2003 and 2007. Over this period, the number has increased by 28%, from 6,764 in 2003 to 8,686 in… Read more »
Liver disease deaths increase by 12% in just three years

British Liver Trust – Press Statement Liver disease deaths increase by 12% in just three years Alcoholic liver disease in the young increases by over a quarter in four years Government mortality statistics for the UK indicate that deaths from liver disease continue to rise, increasing by 12% in the last three years, totalling 46,244… Read more »
Call for evidence on alcohol bill launched
Call for evidence on alcohol bill launched Views on minimum pricing of alcohol, off-sales discounts and raising the alcohol sales age to 21, have all been called for today by the Health and Sport Committee. A call for evidence on the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill was launched by the committee after the Bill was introduced… Read more »
Prof David Nutt sacked from Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
Prof David Nutt sacked from Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs The Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, asked Prof David Nutt to step down from the ACMD, as he has “lost confidence in your ability to advise me as Chair of the ACMD.” This follows the publication of a briefing paper by Prof Nutt, based… Read more »
Fears of drink spiking distract from the dangers of alcohol
Fears of drink spiking distract from the dangers of alcohol A new study of the perceptions of risk found that young people, especially women, may be so scared of having their drink spiked that they completely overlook the dangers of alcohol itself. The study, conducted at three UK universities in parallel with a similar study… Read more »
Alcohol at 14p per unit

Alcohol at 14p per unit A new study by Our Life, a public health campaign group in the North West of England, challenges the findings of the Competition Commission that supermarket promotions on alcohol are temporary and focused around Christmas and major sporting events. They conducted ‘mystery shopper’ research in a range of supermarkets, during… Read more »
Future Proof – Can we Afford the Cost of Drinking Too Much?

Future Proof – Can we Afford the Cost of Dirnking Too Much? Alcohol Consumption, Mortality and Morbidity Key findings from Professor Martin Plant, Alcohol Health and Research Unit, Faculty of Health and Sciences, University of the West of England and Alcohol Concern, the national agency on alcohol misuse. Professor Plant and his team were commissioned… Read more »
The BMA calls for a comprehensive alcohol control strategy
The BMA calls for a comprehensive alcohol control strategy In a report by Prof Gerard Hastings and Kathryn Angus of Stirling University and the Open University, the British Medical Association calls for the UK governments to move away from partnership with the alcohol industry and to impose a range of control policies. The report, entitled… Read more »
Fall in Alcohol Sales
Fall in Alcohol Sales Figures released by HMRC show a fall in the volume of alcohol sold in the UK in the financial year 2008/09. Reduced consumption was seen in all classes of alcoholic drink apart from cider, which showed a 1% increase, following much larger increases in recent years. Sales of wine fell by… Read more »
Alcohol blamed for rise in oral cancer rates

Alcohol blamed for rise in oral cancer rates Cancer research UK has published figures showing an increase of 51% in oral cancer rates in the last 20 years, which they attribute to increased alcohol consumption.Alcohol and tobacco are the main causes of oral cancer but the effects of smoking can take up to 30 years… Read more »
Summer drink drive campaign results
Summer drink drive campaign results The Association of Chief Police Officers (APCO) has released the results of this summer’s drink drive campaign. Compared with 2008, the total number of breath tests administered rose by 32% from 91,848 to 121,398 and the number of tests that were positive, failed or refused dropped from 7.6% of tests… Read more »
Campaign for Smarter Drinking
Campaign for Smarter Drinking The drinks industry has announced a £100M campaign to promote responsible drinking, due to be launched in September. The campaign, to run over five years, targets binge drinkers and includes advice such as eating before drinking and alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks. The tagline is ‘Why let a good night… Read more »
Alcohol is responsible for 11% of male deaths and 2% of female deaths in Europe
Alcohol is responsible for 11% of male deaths and 2% of female deaths in Europe A new study of the global burden of disease attributable to alcohol has found that Europe has the highest level of alcohol attributable deaths and the highest burden of disability-adjusted life years lost (DALYs) in the world. Alcohol accounts for… Read more »
Statistics on Alcohol, England 2009 released

Statistics on Alcohol, England 2009 released The NHS Information Centre has released a new collection of statistics related to alcohol consumption and harm in England and the UK. The report shows how alcohol is now 75% more affordable than it was in 1980. While the increase in the price of alcohol from 2007 to 2008… Read more »
Government consultation on alcohol sales and promotion launched

Government consultation on alcohol sales and promotion launched. The Home Office has today announced a new consultation entitled ‘Safe. Sensible. Social. Selling alcohol responsibly.’ Available here. (pdf 1mb) The proposals include: a mandatory code of practice for pubs, clubs and supermarkets banning promotions such as ‘all you can drink for £10’, speed drinking competitions and… Read more »
Government Consultation on Road Safety

Government Consultation on Road Safety The Government is consulting on a range of road safety measures, including changes to the drink-drive limit and enforcement methods. The consultation document, launched today, proposes a range of measures aimed at improving road safety, including several relating to drink driving. The consultation questions about drink driving are: Do you… Read more »
Alcohol in Britain: trends show young men are binge-drinking less, but women are binge-drinking more
Alcohol in Britain: trends show young men are binge-drinking less, but women are binge-drinking more Research released today (6 May 2009) shows that the proportion of women who binge-drink almost doubled between 1998 and 2006 and is now at 15% (men who binge-drink increased by 1% to 23%). However, the proportion of 16- to 24-year-old… Read more »
Alcohol related hospital admissions up by 69% since 2002

Alcohol related hospital admissions up by 69% since 2002 In answer to a question in the House of Commons, Dawn Primarolo, the Minister of State for Public Health, revealed that the total number of hospital admissions for alcohol-related disorders increased from 510,173 in 2002/03 to 863,257 in 2007/08. These figures cover all alcohol-related diagnoses, including… Read more »
Health Select Committee Inquiry into Alcohol

Health Select Committee Inquiry into Alcohol On Thursday 23 April 2009 the Government’s Health Select Committee launched the “largest ever” inquiry into the effects of alcohol on England. Witnesses giving evidence to the Committee included: Professor Ian Gilmore, President, Royal College of Physicians Dr Peter Anderson, Public Health Consultant Professor Martin Plant, University of the… Read more »
Alcohol taxation increased by 2% in the Budget

Alcohol taxation increased by 2% in the Budget Chancellor Darling has announced that all duty rates on alcohol will increase by 2%, from midnight tonight. Legislation is to be introduced in Finance Bill 2009 to provide for these changes. HM Revenue & Customs suggest that the impact of these changes on retail prices for typical… Read more »
Low price alcohol still No 1 problem, say NHS staff
Press statement Low price alcohol still No 1 problem, say NHS staff A snapshot survey of doctors and nurses treating patients with alcohol related harm showed that many believe that public health campaigns are not effective and that action on sales of low priced alcohol is the most important weapon for tackling the rising tide… Read more »
UK teen binge drinking is serious and chronic

UK teen binge drinking is serious and chronic The latest findings on teenage drinking, smoking and drug use across Europe have been released. The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) is a study of 15 and 16 year old teenagers in 35 European countries. It is by far the most detailed… Read more »
Cheap alcohol is killing us and our quality of life, says Chief Medical Officer
Cheap alcohol is killing us and our quality of life, says Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, today published his 2008 Annual Report, in which he called for society to recognise the effect of ‘passive drinking’ on society. He wants to see a shift in public opinion on alcohol similar to the… Read more »
Licensed trade body telling stories about tax
Licensed trade body telling stories about tax The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers claims that “The Treasury could be £217 million worse off this year” following increases in the rate of alcohol duty. They base this claim on the fact that duty receipts for January 2009 (reflecting sales in December 2008; published by HMRC) were… Read more »
Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action.

Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action The Scottish Government today published its framework for tackling Scotland’s £2.25 billion alcohol misuse problem. The strategy was launched by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, with minimum pricing and local flexibility to ban off-sales to under-21s among its key elements in tackling… Read more »
Statistical Publication Notice Alcohol Statistics Scotland 2009

Statistical Publication Notice Alcohol Statistics Scotland 2009 INTRODUCTION This biennial publication presents the latest available information from a range of national data sources relating to alcohol. These include routine data sources and surveys. There are four main sections: The Alcohol Market. This section reports on key aspects of the alcohol market including volume sold, cost,… Read more »
House of Lords Sleaze Probe
House of Lords Sleaze Probe One of the peers being reported to the police in the ‘cash for amendments’ scandal is Baroness Coussins, the former director of the alcohol industry’s Portman Group. BARONESS COUSSINS The former chief executive of the Portman Group, an organisation funded by the drinks industry “to promote responsible behaviour”, was ennobled… Read more »
Five-Point Plan for Alcohol-Free Childhood
Five-Point Plan for Alcohol-Free Childhood For the first time, young people and their parents will have clear guidance on alcohol consumption. The guidance, announced today by Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, is published for consultation. It will recommend that young people up to the age of 15 should avoid alcohol altogether and emphasises the… Read more »
Getting to grips with substance misuse among young people

27 January 2009 – Getting to grips with substance misuse among young people A NHS report from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse Introduction Reliable statistics on youngpeopleunder18 who receive specialist support for drug and alcohol misuse have been scarce.To address this, the National Treatment Agency (NTA) started recording data in 2005/06.This report summarises… Read more »
Rise in Alcohol-related Deaths Levelling out

Rise in Alcohol-related Deaths Levelling out New figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that the number of alcohol-related deaths was slightly lower in 2007 than 2006, but at 13.3 per 100,000 people, is still almost twice what it was in 1991 (6.9 per 100,000 people). Men are much more likely to die… Read more »
Over a third of adults exceed regular daily drinking limit

Over a third of adults exceed regular daily drinking limit ONS News Release January 2009 Smoking and drinking among adults 2007 and Drinking: adults’ behaviour and knowledge in 2008 Smoking and drinking among adults 2007: Over a third of adults exceeded the daily limits for regular drinking on at least one day during the week… Read more »
College President responds to new ONS figures showing a rise in the number of people drinking above recommended levels

College President responds to new ONS figures showing a rise in the number of people drinking above recommended levels Responding to today’s publication of ONS figures indicating a small rise in the numbers of people drinking above the daily recommended limits, Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians said: “On the basis… Read more »
A new meta-analysis shows that alcohol taxes have a clear effect on drinking
A new meta-analysis shows that alcohol taxes have a clear effect on drinking On the basis of over 100 studies, researchers have found that “when prices go down, people drink more, and when prices go up, people drink less.” Researchers Alexander Wagenaar, Matthew Salois and Kelli Komro at the University of Florida College of Medicine… Read more »
Current licensing practices may have contributed to an increase in “pre-loading” among young people
Current licensing practices may have contributed to an increase in “pre-loading” among young people The policy implications of “pre-loading” are discussed in a recent issue of Addiction. “Pre-loading”, also called “front-loading” or in America, “pre-drinking”, involves planned heavy drinking, usually at someone’s home, before setting out to a social event. The authors argue that the… Read more »
No Cure for Hangovers
No Cure for Hangovers Scientists at the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth in the UK, and Utrech in the Netherlands, have examined studies of the effectiveness of hangover treatments and concluded that the most effective way to avoid hangover symptoms is to “practise abstinence or moderation.” Max Pittler, Joris Verster and Edzard Ernst reviewed published… Read more »
New data published on alcohol consumption in England
New data published on alcohol consumption in England Both the Health Survey for England and the Local Alcohol Profiles for England have published new statistics this week. Health Survey for England Summary results for adults: 90% of men and 84% of women said they drank alcohol at least occasionally. The majority of adults had drunk… Read more »
Sheffield report analyses effects of alcohol pricing and promotion policies
Sheffield report analyses effects of alcohol pricing and promotion policies Sheffield report analyses effects of alcohol pricing and promotion policies A University of Sheffield report, commissioned by the Department of Health to help Government Ministers decide future alcohol policy, shows that policies which lead to price increases reduce alcohol consumption and can have significant effects… Read more »
Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians, and Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, today responding to the Queen’s speech said:
Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians, and Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, today responding to the Queen’s speech said: “Although the Government’s commitment to improve public health is welcome, it is disappointing that how they intend to achieve it was not set out more clearly. We consider the evidence base,… Read more »
Alcohol duties raised but net tax decrease!
Alcohol duties raised but net tax decrease! Increase in duties not enough to offset the cut in VAT. In the 2008 Pre-Budget Report the government has pledged to raise the level of duty on all alcoholic products. This change will come into place from 1 December 2008. With VAT to be cut from 17.5 %… Read more »
Lower alcohol limit needed to reduce deaths on our roads, says BMA
Lower alcohol limit needed to reduce deaths on our roads, says BMA Commenting on the launch of the Road Safety Compliance consultation published (Thursday, 20th November 2008), BMA Head of Science and Ethics, Dr Vivienne Nathanson said: “There are a number of sensible ideas in this consultation which if adopted will help improve the nation’s… Read more »
Home Affairs Committee calls for ban on alcohol promotions
Home Affairs Committee calls for ban on alcohol promotions A Home Affairs Select Committee report on policing has found that alcohol-related crime is straining the resources of the police force, taking officers away from dealing with other types of crime, and from being a visible presence in local communities. The report notes that since the… Read more »
Scottish Parliament vote to keep alcohol purchase age of 18
Scottish Parliament vote to keep alcohol purchase age of 18 SMPs voted 72 to 47 in favour of the motion, “That the Parliament rejects the Scottish Government’s proposals to raise the age limit for purchasing alcohol from off-licences and supermarkets from 18 to 21.” The proposal was just one of a raft of measures put… Read more »
Scots drink more than English and Welsh
Scots drink more than English and Welsh New analysis of sales figures, conducted by Nielsen for the Scottish Government, show that Scots drink an average of 11.8 litres of pure alcohol per adult, per year compared with 9.9 litres in England and Wales (2007 figures). Both north and south of the border, the figures remained… Read more »
UK Alcohol Sales Rise

UK Alcohol Sales Rise The total quantity of alcohol sold in the UK rose by 1.8% in the financial year 2007/08, reversing falls of the previous two years. Measured in million hectolitres of pure alcohol, a measure that takes account of different strengths of drinks, the total alcohol sold in 2007/08 was 5.7m hl. The… Read more »
New Calculations of Alcohol Attributable Fractions of Hospital Admissions and Deaths

New Calculations of Alcohol Attributable Fractions of Hospital Admissions and Deaths The North West Public Health Observatory has calculated that alcohol is responsible for almost 15,000 deaths and almost 460,000 hospital admissions annually. Download the full report here. (pdf 525kb)… Read more »
Major Government Reviews on Alcohol
Major Government Reviews on Alcohol The government has published reviews on the effectiveness of self-regulation of the alcohol industry, labelling, the effects of pricing and promotion on consumption and harm, and the cost of alcohol to the NHS. These are available here…. Read more »
Industry voluntary code “Not fit for purpose”
Industry voluntary code “Not fit for purpose” A report commissioned by the government has found that self-regulation of the alcohol industry is failing to uphold voluntarily-agreed standards. “In the current trading climate the commercial imperative generally overrides adherence” to the code, it says. The study, conducted by KPMG, was commissioned by the government to evaluate… Read more »
UK CMO recommends zero alcohol limit for young drivers

UK CMO recommends zero alcohol limit for young drivers In his annual report, the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, recommended ‘effectively a zero limit’ of 0.02g of alcohol per litre of blood for young and novice drivers. This recommendation is based on considerable evidence that young drivers are more affected by alcohol than older,… Read more »
Depression linked to moderate drinking
Depression linked to moderate drinking A new study on mice has found that two weeks’ abstinence following ‘moderate’ drinking (not enough to produce dependence) lead to depression-like behaviour. This has been widely reported as evidence that drinking protects against depression, but this is like saying that the way to avoid hangovers is to keep drinking…. Read more »
The Licensing Act is Ineffective and Costly

The Licensing Act is Ineffective and Costly A new study by the Local Government Association has found that the Licensing Act (2003) has not delivered the promised reductions in alcohol-related disorder and violence. Furthermore, council taxpayers have footed a bill of £100m for the introduction of the new system. The survey by the Local Government… Read more »
Alcohol in Scotland

Alcohol in Scotland Three reports have been published giving statistics for alcohol consumption and health consequences in Scotland. The first of these, “How much are people in Scotland really drinking?” is an examination of the validity of the national surveys of drinking behaviour. Four such surveys are addressed by the report: the Scottish Health Survey… Read more »
WHO report on Health Behaviour in School-aged Children

WHO report on Health Behaviour in School-aged Children The World Health Organisation has published a report on health behaviour in 11-15 year-olds in Europe and North America. Regarding alcohol, three measures were taken; frequency of drinking, incidence of drunkenness and (for 15 year-olds only) whether they had been drunk before the age of 13. For… Read more »
Anti-binge drink ads launched
Anti-binge drink ads launched The next stage of the government’s Know Your Limits campaign, launched today, targets 18-24 yr-old binge drinkers. The advertisements show young people preparing for a night out, smearing vomit in their hair and deliberately injuring themselves. They challenge their audience with the question, “You wouldn’t start a night like this, so… Read more »
Bikinis make men impulsive
Bikinis make men impulsive It’s long been known that sex sells, but previous research has assumed that this effect is specific to the product being advertised. This ranges from the very direct, “If you use this deodorant, you will be chased by sexy women,” to a more general halo effect, in which good feelings generated… Read more »
Young and Alcohol – A new approach launched in Government Action Plan
Young and Alcohol – A new approach launched in Government Action Plan A comprehensive plan to stop young people drinking in public; help them make the right decisions about alcohol; and provide clear information to parents and young people about the risks of early drinking was announced today (2nd June 2008) by Ed Balls, Jacqui… Read more »
Young and Alcohol – A new approach launched in Government Action Plan – IAS Comment
Young and Alcohol – A new approach launched in Government Action Plan Institute of Alcohol Studies Comment IAS welcome the Youth Alcohol Action Plan as an overdue step in the right direction. We welcome particularly the setting up of an expert panel to advise the Chief Medical Officer on the evidence in regard to alcohol… Read more »
Alcohol-related hospital admissions have more than doubled since 1966
Alcohol-related hospital admissions have more than doubled since 1966 According to the NHS Information Centre report, “Statistics on Alcohol in England, 2008,” the number of hospital admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis specifically related to alcohol has increased from 93,459 in 1995/96 to 207,788 in 2006/07. Secondary diagnoses include, for example, a patient admitted… Read more »
Higher retail alcohol sales increase the risk of suffering serious assault
Higher retail alcohol sales increase the risk of suffering serious assault In a new paper, Joel Ray and colleagues use a population-based case-crossover design to show that a doubling in the level of usual daily alcohol sales from retail outlets in Ontario is associated with a 13% higher relative risk of hospitalisation for assault. The… Read more »
Government Alcohol Education Campaign

Government Alcohol Education Campaign The latest stage of the government’s Know Your Limits campaign is launched on Monday 19th May. The Institute of Alcohol Studies welcomes this campaign as a small step in the right direction. In particular, IAS supports the change in terminology from ‘sensible drinking’ to a scale of risk, indicating an acceptance… Read more »
2008 Budget: Tax increases on alcohol
2008 Budget: Tax increases on alcohol Duty on alcoholic drinks has been increased by 6% more than the rate of inflation. In his address to the House of Commons, the Chancellor said, “Mr Deputy Speaker, as incomes have risen, alcohol has become more affordable. In 1997, the average bottle of wine bought in a supermarket… Read more »
Review of the Licensing Act 2003 – IAS Comment
Review of the Licensing Act 2003 – IAS Comment The Licensing Act 2003 was brought in at the behest of the licensed trade, to their benefit at the expense of the wider community. The government promised that this legislation would reduce alcohol-elated crime and disorder by putting an end to binge drinking allegedly caused by… Read more »
Evaluations of the 2003 Licensing Act

Evaluations of the 2003 Licensing Act A Home Office report on the impact of the Licensing Act (2003), which came into force in November 2005, is due to be published in the next few weeks. The study found that the consequences of the Act varied across the country but overall it made little difference to… Read more »
Liver Trust Press Release and Report on alcohol pricing

Liver Trust Press Release and Report on alcohol pricing The British Liver Trust has today called for a debate on alcohol pricing, to end the ‘pocket money prices’ currently charged by some retailers, often selling cheap booze as loss-leaders. Evidence collected by the Trust in a snapshot survey last week demonstrates that a harmful binge… Read more »
Stronger government action needed to tackle the epidemic of alcohol misuse, says new BMA report
Stronger government action needed to tackle the epidemic of alcohol misuse, says new BMA report A new hard-hitting report1 ‘Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic’ launched today (Thursday 21 February 2008) by the BMA calls on the government to show leadership and implement a full range of effective control policies that will reduce the burden… Read more »
Home Secretary’s Speech on Tackling Drunken Violence and Disorder
Home Secretary’s Speech on Tackling Drunken Violence and Disorder The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, spoke to an audience of police, local authority licensing officers and representatives from the alcohol and retail industries about problem drinking. She made clear that the focus of her concern “is squarely on the serious harm that alcohol misuse can cause… Read more »
Men drink twice as much alcohol as women
Men drink twice as much alcohol as women Men are drinking twice as much alcohol as women according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics – 18.7 units a week, on average, compared with 9.0 units. A report on smoking and drinking among adults, which uses data from the 2006 General Household Survey… Read more »
Alcohol and Mortality in the Over 50s
Alcohol and Mortality in the Over 50s Two studies published this week, conducted in Britain and Denmark, report on the combined effects of exercise and alcohol on the risk of death (from any cause). Both studies found that moderate drinkers (less than 14 units per week) had a lower risk of dying in the ten… Read more »
Anti-drinking campaign ads may be counterproductive
Anti-drinking campaign ads may be counterproductive Some anti-drinking advertising campaigns may be “catastrophically misconceived” because they play on the entertaining ‘drinking stories’ that young people use to mark their social identity, say researchers who have just completed a three year study of the subject. Adverts that show drunken incidents, such as being thrown out of… Read more »
We’re Drinking More Than We Thought We Were
We’re Drinking More Than We Thought We Were The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revised the way that alcohol consumption is calculated from surveys of drinking habits. The government surveys that provide most of the official statistics on alcohol consumption have always assumed that there is one unit of alcohol in half a pint… Read more »
Ofcom and ASA report on Alcohol: Young People drink more brands that are more highly advertised

Ofcom and ASA report on Alcohol: Young People drink more brands that are more highly advertised A study conducted jointly by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) reports on the effects of the 2005 revisions to the Advertising Standards Codes for both television and non-broadcast advertising of alcohol. Amongst other… Read more »
New Alcohol Health Alliance and Nuffield Council on Bioethics both call for tougher measures on alcohol

New Alcohol Health Alliance and Nuffield Council on Bioethics both call for tougher measures on alcohol A new coalition launched this week is calling on the Government to do more to prevent the rise in alcohol-related diseases. The Alcohol Health Alliance UK is a ground-breaking coalition of 24 organisations, including the Institute of Alcohol Studies,… Read more »
Alcohol Causes Cancer

Alcohol Causes Cancer The most comprehensive review of research into the role of diet in cancer has concluded that even small amounts of alcohol increase the risk of a number of different cancers. The World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer have jointly published, “Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer:… Read more »
How can the public be expected to count their alcohol units when the government doesn’t know how many units are in a glass of wine?
How can the public be expected to count their alcohol units when the government doesn’t know how many units are in a glass of wine? The Department of Health has updated the alcohol advice leaflet, “How much is too much?” which was first published last year. According to the official description, “Information is provided on… Read more »
The House of Lords debated the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy
The House of Lords debated the Harm Reduction Strategy To view the whole debate follow the link below: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/71018-0003.htm#07101815000012… Read more »
Local Alcohol Profiles for England: New Figures Released
Local Alcohol Profiles for England: New Figures Released The alcohol profiles for every local authority in England were published online today by the North West Public Health Observatory, Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University. Figures show the percentage of adults drinking at “hazardous” levels – regularly drinking between 22 to 50 units a… Read more »
Forty years of the breathalyser: RoSPA calls for lower drink-drive limit
Forty years of the breathalyser: RoSPA calls for lower drink-drive limit Tuesday 9th October marks the 40th anniversary of the introduction of the drink-drive limit in the UK, and the roadside testing that enforces it. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is calling a reduction of the limit from its current level… Read more »
Zero tolerance of alcohol misuse
Zero tolerance of alcohol misuse In her speech to the labour conference, the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith said, “I’ve zero tolerance of anti-social behaviour, and zero tolerance of its causes. Causes like alcohol misuse. So from Monday, we are giving councils and police new powers to take the licences away from dodgy premises. We should… Read more »
Alcohol increases the Risk of Breast Cancer, Whatever the Type of Drink
Alcohol increases the Risk of Breast Cancer, Whatever the Type of Drink A US study of more than 70,000 women, over two decades, has concluded that the type of alcohol drunk, whether wine, beer or spirits (liquor), has no impact on the risk of breast cancer. It is the alcohol itself, and the quantity consumed,… Read more »
Long-term study identifies risks associated with adolescent drinking

Long-term study identifies risks associated with adolescent drinking All drinking at the age of 16 is associated with an increased risk of drinking problems at the age of 30, but some problems are specifically related to binge drinking whilst others are more strongly related to frequent drinking. A study of data from a UK national… Read more »
Drinking in 11-15-year-olds in England, 2006
Drinking in 11-15-year-olds in England, 2006 The number of under-age drinkers may be falling, but the amount they drink is increasing, especially amongst the youngest drinkers. Most obtained alcohol from family or friends, but of those who tried to buy it from a shop, pub or club, most 15 year olds claimed to have been… Read more »
Bar Staff have Doubled Risk of Death from Alcohol Consumption
Bar Staff have Doubled Risk of Death from Alcohol Consumption A new report from the Office of National Statistics reveals that bar staff and publicans are approximately twice as likely to die from alcohol consumption as the general population. Other people working in catering, hospitality and entertainment also have an increased risk, as do hairdressers… Read more »
Treasury refusing to think of children’s health over alcopops taxes, says Institute of Alcohol Studies
Treasury refusing to think of children’s health over alcopops taxes, says Institute of Alcohol Studies Higher taxes on alcohol – and particularly the alcopops targeted at adolescents – would reduce the toll of binge-drinking among young people. The Health Secretary, the Institute of Alcohol Studies and nearly the entire health research community knows it –… Read more »
‘Early Days” For Licensing Act 2003 Warns Institute of Alcohol Studies
‘Early Days” For Licensing Act 2003 Warns Institute of Alcohol Studies The Licensing Act 2003, came into force one year ago today. A much contested and controversial legislation, the Act transferred responsibilities for licensing from the Magistrates Court to Local Authorities, in order to allow, in principle, a more comprehensive, localised approach to the issues… Read more »
‘European Commission releases landmark alcohol report by the Institute of Alcohol Studies’
‘European Commission releases landmark alcohol report by the Institute of Alcohol Studies’ The European Commission has today released the first-ever comprehensive study of alcohol in the EU, which has been written by the Institute of Alcohol Studies over the past two years. The full report is available from the EU’s Health Portal: and the Institute… Read more »
UK in ‘premier league’ for binge-drinking, says landmark European report

UK in ‘premier league’ for binge-drinking, says landmark European report UK adults and adolescents are among the top binge-drinkers in Europe, according to the first-ever comprehensive EU-wide report on alcohol released this Thursday. The report, funded by the European Commission and written by the UK-based Institute of Alcohol Studies, shows that: The UK are one… Read more »
Government uses statistical sleight of hand `prove’ Licensing Act cuts crime
Government uses statistical sleight of hand `prove’ Licensing Act cuts crime. The carefully selected crime statistics released by the Home Office on 8 February fail to justify the claims being made by the Government and sections of the alcohol industry that the Licensing Act 2003 succeeded in cutting violent crime during its first month of… Read more »
“Violence down amid pub law change”
“Violence down amid pub law change” Violent crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales fell by 11% at the end of last year, despite longer pub opening hours coming in, figures show. Read the full BBC NEWS Story. Institute of Alcohol Studies Response The carefully selected crime statistics released by the Home Office… Read more »
Institute of Alcohol Studies says binge drinking blitz is only sticking plaster
Institute of Alcohol Studies says binge drinking blitz is only sticking plaster DeHavilland Report – News Comment Summary The Institute of Alcohol Studies today described the Home Office’s Christmas binge drinking crackdown as ‘a sticking plaster’ solution from a government that had failed to prevent the nation’s city centres from becoming a ‘battlefield’. IAS director… Read more »
Government in the pocket of the Alcohol Industry IAS attacks Portman Group influence
Government in the pocket of the Alcohol Industry IAS attacks Portman Group influence The drink industry’s hand is plainly visible in the Interim Analytical Report on the long-awaited national alcohol policy is the view of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, published in the current edition of its journal, Alert. “…the report contains one particularly glaring… Read more »
The national alcohol strategy in the hands of the drink industry
The national alcohol strategy in the hands of the drink industry The long-delayed national alcohol policy will be dictated by the drink industry. This is the accusation levelled at the Government by the Institute of Alcohol Studies. In the edition of Alert No 2 2002 published today the IAS says that responsibility for the strategy… Read more »
Drink drive limit: IAS Condemns Government Betrayal
The Government’s refusal to lower the drink drive limit is a broken promise that will cost lives, the IAS said today in response to the announcement that the 80mg% limit is to be retained Read more »
Young drinkers receive a death warning
Young drinkers receive a death warning Institute of Alcohol Studies calls for government action to stem the tide of dangerous drinking among young people. The IAS today called for government action to contain the barrage of alcohol industry marketing that contributes to the British culture of binge drinking, particularly among the young. The Institute also… Read more »
10 per cent increase in drink-drive casualties – IAS condemns Government’s record
10 per cent increase in drink-drive casualties – IAS condemns Government’s record The IAS today accused the Government of shameful neglect of the drink-drive problem, and of caving in to vested interests. The comments were prompted by the release of figures showing that, despite a fall in the overall number of deaths and injuries in… Read more »
IAS Attacks Government Proposals for 24 Hour Drinking

IAS Attacks Government Proposals for 24 Hour Drinking Government proposals for 24 hour drinking are against both public opinion and the public interest, the IAS commented today. The views of the IAS are in line with those of other critics, notably the British Entertainment and Discotheque Association, some of the London Boroughs, and resident’s associations,… Read more »
Marketing Alcohol to Young People – An Industry out of Control

Marketing Alcohol to Young People – An Industry out of Control. Corporate greed, lies at the heart of the drink industry’s cynical manipulation of their voluntary codes of advertising practice, claims a new report by the Institute of Alcohol Studies. The report Marketing Alcohol to Young People shows irrefutable evidence that young people are a… Read more »
The Labour Government’s record on drink driving casts doubt on whether it can be trusted to deal with the endemic alcohol problem
The Labour Government’s record on drink driving casts doubt on whether it can be trusted to deal with the endemic alcohol problem Two and a half years ago the Government declared its intention to lower the legal limit for drink driving to 50 mgs%. Failing to act has cost the lives of at least 125… Read more »
IAS Condemns Delay in Tackling Drink Driving
IAS Condemns Delay in Tackling Drink Driving Responding to the Government’s White Paper on road safety, the IAS said that while it was delighted the Government still intends to lower the legal alcohol limit, it was dismayed by its delay in actually introducing this and other measures. The IAS said: “There is no valid reason… Read more »
Majority Oppose Late Night Drinking
Majority Oppose Late Night Drinking Most people are opposed to extending drinking hours, especially in residential areas. The huge majority are in favour of local residents having the right to object to late night opening and are opposed to any reduction in the legal drinking age. Over three quarters are against petrol stations being allowed… Read more »
Drugged up on Drink

Drugged up on Drink The drink industry has fought a “recreational drug war” in order to win back the youth market. In a consumer culture characterised by the search for instant gratification, one result has been the growth in teenage drunkenness. This is the argument of researcher Kevin Brain in a new paper* published today… Read more »
Combating Drink-Driving – Next Steps A Consultation Document
Combating Drink-Driving – Next Steps A Consultation Document Letter to Lord Whitty Since the end of the consultation period, 20 months have elapsed during which time the Government has been able to formulate policy with regard to life saving and injury preventing road safety measures, particularly in relation to a lower legal limit and police… Read more »
1999 Budget Excise Duties Brown acused of political cynicism
1999 Budget Excise Duties – Brown accused of political cynicism The Chancellor of the Exchequer decision to freeze excise duties on alcohol while raising them on tobacco is an exercise in political cynicism, the IAS said. If the problem of smuggling is not to be allowed to undermine health policy on tobacco, as the Chancellor… Read more »
National Alcohol Strategy – Press Statement By Institute of Alcohol Studies

National Alcohol Strategy – Press Statement By Institute of Alcohol Studies A focus on the health problems caused by alcohol to the virtual exclusion of social damage will result in the Government’s missing the opportunity to make a real difference. This is the message of the Institute of Alcohol Studies’ submission to the Department of… Read more »
Institute of Alcohol Studies Challenges Government over Millennium Binge Government proposals ‘Against Public Interest’

Institute of Alcohol Studies Challenges Government over Millennium Binge Government proposals ‘Against Public Interest’. Government Ministers are being challenged by the IAS to provide assurances that health and other public services will be maintained over the millennium holiday period. The challenge is contained in the IAS response to Government proposals to allow pubs and clubs… Read more »
Lowering Drink Drive Limit Could Save Over 200 Lives A Year
Lowering Drink Drive Limit Could Save Over 200 Lives A Year Lowering the drink drive limit is the most important element in the package of measures needed if the Labour Government wishes to crown the road safety success begun by a previous Labour Government under Barbara Castle. The beneficial effect on road fatalities of reducing… Read more »
The IAS Welcomes New Drink Drive Proposals
The IAS Welcomes New Drink Drive Proposals The Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) today welcomed the Government’s proposals to combat drink driving, especially the lowering of the limit to 50mg, in the White Paper ‘Combating Drink-Driving – Next Steps’. Speaking for the IAS, Derek Rutherford said, “It is 30 years since the 80 mgs limit… Read more »
UK Presidency of the Council of Ministers gives Britain the opportunity to introduce a 50mg limit
UK Presidency of the Council of Ministers gives Britain the opportunity to introduce a 50mg limit. A reduction in the Drink Drive limit to 50 mgs could save between 100 and 300 lives a year. Lowering the limit affects drivers at all blood alcohol levels and therefore is one of the most effective measures for… Read more »
Barbara Castle’s Social Revolution – May Have Saved Over 62,000 Lives
Barbara Castle’s Social Revolution – May Have Saved Over 62,000 Lives “Everyone has cause to be grateful for the courage of Barbara Castle who pioneered the greatest life saving Act in road safety which may have prevented over 62,000 people from being killed on our roads – equivalent to an average MP’s constituency – over… Read more »
Luncheon to honour the Rt Hon Baroness Castle and the 30th Anniversary of the introduction of the breath test
Luncheon to honour the Rt Hon Baroness Castle and the 30th Anniversary of the introduction of the breath test To mark the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the breath test, a luncheon to honour Baroness Castle will be held at the Law Society on the 9th of October 1997 at 12.30pm (invitation only). The… Read more »
George Howarth Serves up a ‘Bucks Fizz’
George Howarth Serves up a ‘Bucks Fizz’ “George Howarth, Home Office Minister, has served a bucks fizz with his measures to deal with alcopops”, says Derek Rutherford commenting on today’s announcement. Whilst we welcome measures which help to enforce the law to curb under age drinking and protect minors, we believe that the proof of… Read more »
Missed opportunity to curb underage drinking
Missed opportunity to curb underage drinking The Institute of Alcohol Studies expressed disappointment at the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s refusal to hike the tax on ‘alcopops’ in today’s budget speech. In a statement, IAS Director Derek Rutherford said that the Chancellor had declined an opportunity to tackle a serious and growing problem. The public were… Read more »
Alcohol-related death & disability ranks in world order with measles, tuberculosis and malaria
Alcohol-related death & disability ranks in world order with measles, tuberculosis and malaria Alcohol causes three to four per cent of global death and disability putting it on a level with measles, tuberculosis and malaria and is five times more severe than illegal drugs in terms of impact on global health. These facts will be… Read more »
The ‘Alcopops’ Scandal
The ‘Alcopops’ Scandal The drinks industry has behaved so cynically and irresponsibly in promoting ‘alcopops’ despite or perhaps because of their attraction to children and young people that it cannot be left to regulate itself, said Derek Rutherford, director of the IAS. Derek Rutherford was speaking in support of the Daily Express’ initiative to seek… Read more »
Drink drive cases up over Christmas – IAS Comment
Drink drive cases up over Christmas – IAS Comment The 18 per cent increase in the number of motorists caught drinking and driving over the Christmas and New Year period, and the 4 per cent increase in the number of alcohol related road accidents, provides further evidence that the anti-drink drive campaign is floundering and… Read more »
A 50mg limit could produce a saving of 200 lives each year
A 50mg limit could produce a saving of 200 lives each year The increase in the number of alcohol-related road deaths in 1995 may not have happened had last Christmas the Secretary of State announced the lowering of the legal limit for drinking and driving (alcohol-related road deaths increased by 7.5% – from 540 in… Read more »