Alcohol across society

“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...

Digital Support Tool Helps People Reduce Their Drinking

A novel digital support tool finds encouraging results in reducing participants' drinking, compared against online support.

Cost of hidden harm: alcohol’s harm to others

The economic cost of alcohol's harm to others is rarely looked at. In this new study, researchers quantified this cost in Australia - including costs...

The COVID hangover: more urgency is needed to tackle alcohol harm as an indirect effect of the pandemic

Changes in drinking patterns during the pandemic are likely to lead to significant increases in alcohol-related disease cases and subsequent death. Here Dr Sadie Boniface...

Should we have lower drinking guidelines for younger people?

Colin Angus looks at the problems with a new study that suggests different drinking guidelines for different age groups.

Healthy life expectancy: why tackling alcohol is key

If the Government is serious about extending healthy life expectancy for all, it must get serious about tackling alcohol. With the Health Disparities White Paper...

‘Let’s get Mortal!’ Alcohol content in reality TV programmes over a 1-year period and youth exposure

Alcohol content was seen 197.3 million times by children aged under 16 across 20 different reality TV programmes. Dr Barker's study shows how alcohol content...

Entertainment-education could be a more effective health communication channel for young people in the UK

With children's education on alcohol harm seemingly having little effect, could education through entertainment - such as soap operas - be a new and more...

2012’s Alcohol Strategy 10 years on: was the ‘GAS’ a lot of hot air?

Our Head of Research looks at 2012's Alcohol Strategy a decade on, highlighting the Government's inertia and failure to achieve the vast majority of what...

Help or harm? Exploring the expanding ‘No and Low’ alcohol market in the UK

Dr Emily Nicholls investigates the marketing and consumption of no and low alcohol products and discusses her new report.

Alcohol and gender: Thinking beyond the binary

A new study assessing alcohol use, reduction and harm among trans and non-binary people is looking to recruit study participants. Read the blog for further...

2021 alcohol consumption and harm: no signs of a ‘return to normal’

Dr Sadie Boniface looks at the trends in alcohol consumption and harm throughout 2021.

Creating a healthy system to help parents

Patrick Myers of the Department for Work & Pensions reflects on the success of a project that brings together treatment and children’s services to improve...

Sentencing people to sobriety and coerced alcohol abstinence

Dr Carly Lightowlers questions the efficacy of 'sobriety ankle tags' and draws attention to a number of considerations of this reactionary policy, particularly around the...

Who drinks zero and low alcohol beer in Great Britain?

Which socioeconomic groups in the UK buy no- and low-alcohol products and what proportion of shopping includes these products when alcohol is bought off-trade?

How can we use legal powers to safeguard vulnerable, dependent drinkers?

Alcohol Change UK has developed a guide to help practitioners to improve the well-being and safety of adults who are highly vulnerable, chronic, dependent drinkers.

Has MUP in Scotland reduced alcohol-related crime in the first 21 months? Reflections on an evaluation

A recent report suggested Scotland's minimum unit pricing has done little to reduce alcohol-related crime. Dr Lightowlers and Ms Bryant look at the limitations of...

Is it time to help alcohol retailers make more money by selling less alcohol?

Public health bodies need to focus on more specific policy aims in order to make a difference and educational campaigns can develop the necessary climate...