Alcohol across society

Reducing Alcohol Harm – a blueprint for urgent national action

For far too long, the harm caused by alcohol has been soaring, yet efforts to address it have been hampered by a reluctance to take...

Do alcohol warning labels work?

How are different types of cancer warning label perceived by people, and could this give an indication of what should be on alcoholic products?

How do economic crises impact levels of alcohol harm, and who is most affected?

Overall, evidence suggests that alcohol consumption falls during times of economic crises. However, population-level trends mask hidden pockets of risk amongst vulnerable groups.

Is a little bit of alcohol really good for us?: What we have learned from better-designed studies

Causal understanding of alcohol and health effects has improved markedly in recent years. A recent critical review looked at better-designed studies to understand whether light...

Rethinking “Justice”: Racial Inequity in Justice-Involved Alcohol Treatment in the United States

Although referral to alcohol treatment via the criminal legal system can lead to greater completion among some groups, there is significant inequity in both who...

Children of alcohol-dependent parents programme abandoned by government

The UK government abandoned its strategy to support children of alcohol-dependent parents, despite a 10% year-on-year rise in calls to the national charity Nacoa. The...

What really are ‘alcohol problems’, and why does it matter?

There is a discrepancy between public beliefs of alcohol problems, dominated by the concept of "alcoholism", and scientific conceptualisations such as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)....

Acceptable, accessible and affordable – but at what cost?

Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health for Gateshead, discusses why it is becoming increasingly important to implement evidence-based policies to reduce alcohol consumption and harm.

Seeking ‘honest’ conversations online: how is alcohol and pregnancy talked about on Mumsnet?

How do people posting on Mumsnet discuss the risk of alcohol and pregnancy? Dr Lisa Schölin and Rachel Arkell analysed such discussions to understand what...

Rainbows in June: Selling alcohol to LGBTQ+ people

Dr David Whiteley explains why his anger with the alcohol industry targeting LGBTQ+ communities with alcohol marketing led to carrying out a scoping review.

How much does health behaviour contribute to socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol harm?

What happens to the Alcohol Harm Paradox when you account for other health measures such as smoking and unhealthy diet?

How the cost of living crisis affects alcohol harm

Financial crises can have the dual effect of increasing harmful drinking while reducing overall population consumption. Dr Broadbent explains some of the nuances of consumption...

Drinking Alone Predicts Future Alcohol Problems

Drinking alone during adolescence and young adulthood is a significant risk factor for alcohol use disorder later in life, a study shows. It suggest that...

How Does Drinking Alcohol Increase Suicide Risk – and How Can it Be Managed?

There is a clear link between alcohol and suicide. Here Jason Isaacs explains the key risk factors that increase a person’s likelihood of suicide, and...

‘It’s everywhere’: Considering the impact of alcohol marketing on people with problematic alcohol use

Dr Amanda Atkinson looks at how alcohol marketing affects women in recovery from alcohol dependency, and the pressure and stigma it can create.

Changing the Conversation About Alcohol: A New Partnership Will Leverage Policy to Tackle Alcohol-Related Harms

RESET Alcohol intends to reduce alcohol-related harms in hard-hit countries through policy change. Led by Vital Strategies, it brings together governments, civil society, research organizations,...

What happened with UK alcohol consumption and harm in 2022?

What were the trends in alcohol consumption and harm in the UK in 2022, and how might this affect future harm?

“Pub-ageddon!” How alcohol licensing changes during COVID-19 lockdown were portrayed in UK news media

Changes in alcohol licensing throughout the COVID lockdowns were portrayed by the UK media in different ways as the pandemic developed. Generally this moved from...

How does the Late Night Levy spur change in the night-time economy?

The Late Night Levy is a fee paid by alcohol retailers in some areas open after midnight, which is used to fund police and licensing...

Gender double standards in drinking

There continues to be gendered norms around men and women's alcohol consumption and behaviour while drinking. Here Dr Amy Pennay explains those perceived differences and...