Consumption

Alcohol and its Impact on the Adolescent Brain

Alcohol consumption among children in the UK is still worryingly high, particularly due to the damage it can cause to developing brains.

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.

Alcohol and the heart: friend or foe?

Observational studies and Mendelian Randomisation show conflicting associations between alcohol and coronary heart disease. In this blog, the authors discuss these differences, and what the...

Making the wine duty ‘easement’ permanent would negate the public health objective of the duty reform

What is the wine duty easement, why is the wine industry lobbying to make it permanent, and why would that be bad for public health?

Is Youth Drinking Decline a Global Phenomenon? We Need More Evidence Beyond the Global North

In many Western countries there has been a decline in youth alcohol consumption. Yet many countries in the Global South are experiencing the opposite trend....

Alcohol labelling must be part of a ‘manifesto for cancer prevention’

A survey by CancerWatch suggests that cancer charities focus too much on treatment and diagnosis, with a lack of attention on preventing cancer in the...

Young Adults Reduced Drinking During and After Pandemic

Patterns of alcohol consumption changed considerably among many groups during the pandemic. A recent study suggests that heavy drinking young adults in the US reduced...

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...

Saving Lives and Money: A Call for a €1 Minimum Unit Price for Alcohol to Prevent Chronic Liver Disease

How would a €1 minimum unit price reduce liver disease and liver cancer in France, The Netherlands, and Romania?

Beyond Abstinence: Can reducing drinking reduce alcohol craving?

Reducing alcohol consumption, even short of complete abstinence, during treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with lower craving levels, leading to improvements in...

They are effective! Evidence and myths about alcohol taxes

Dr Guillermo Paraje explains the economic rationality for alcohol taxes and why the industry's arguments about tax being regressive are simplistic.

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...

Understanding mothers’ alcohol use: Is it problematic to drink like a “wine-mom”?

The 'Wine-mom' trope of mothers using alcohol to cope with parenthood is pervasive. But does it contribute to problematic alcohol use?

Unveiling the hidden health hazards of alcohol use

A new study has found associations between alcohol and 33 diseases not previously established by the WHO to be alcohol-related. Here the authors explain their...

No significant health benefits from drinking up to three units of alcohol a day

In recent years, research about the supposed health benefits of moderate alcohol has improved significantly, with recent meta-analyses showing no benefit. This blog explains the...

At what cost? The economic impact of alcohol-related cancer deaths

Around €4.6 billion was lost due to deaths from cancer caused by drinking alcohol in 31 European countries in 2018. Dr Rumgay explains her study's...

Last orders? Young people’s perspectives on the decline in youth drinking

Young people explain why they think youth drinking is in decline, such as the risk of alcohol harm, changes to youth culture and socialising, and...