Economy

Alcohol industry pushback forces Irish Government to kick health warning labels down the road

Alcohol industry lobbying led to Ireland delaying plans to introduce alcohol warning labels. But what arguments did the industry make against the proposals?

Alcohol and other drugs agencies need to contribute to climate adaptation

Climate change is intensifying health and social inequalities, hitting people who use alcohol and other drugs (AoD) particularly hard. In this blog, the authors discuss...

Is the Great British Pub on the verge of extinction? The truth behind the headlines

Media headlines often suggest that British pubs are in terminal decline. But is that true?

Minimum unit pricing works – and it works for the people who need it most

Real-world evidence from multiple countries shows that minimum unit pricing works: it cuts the purchase of high-strength cheap alcohol, improves health outcomes, and benefits those...

Budget 2025: Alcohol duty kept with inflation, but still far from true cost

What happened to alcohol at the 2025 Budget? Jem Roberts looks at what was announced and the irony of alcohol trade bodies criticising the OBR...

Why we need a long-term vision to tackle alcohol harm in the UK

This blog explains our new long-term vision to tackle alcohol harm in the UK, developed with experts across policy, health, and civil society. It sets...

The effects of alcohol on employment and social outcomes in the UK

New research explores how alcohol consumption affects employment, income, and social outcomes in the UK.

Why England and Wales need a lower drink drive limit

What are the main arguments for and against reducing the drink drive limit in England and Wales?

The politics of inaction: why alcohol policy can’t wait

Jem Roberts argues that the government’s failure to include proven alcohol policies like minimum unit pricing in its 10-Year Health Plan is a political misstep...

Behaving irresponsibly: separating UK alcohol industry claims from reality

In our latest blog, Emma Thompson explains the findings of her IAS/SHAAP-funded study that looked at alcohol industry misinformation from 2024.

Gone but not forgotten: Why was the Northern Territory’s Minimum Unit Price removed?

Why has Australia's Northern Territory ended its Minimum Unit Pricing policy? And do the arguments the governing Country Liberal Party (CLP) made against the policy...

How could the US-EU alcohol tariff war affect alcohol consumption and harm?

How could a 200% US tariff on EU alcohol impact consumption and harm? Dr Norman Giesbrecht and Professor Tim Stockwell explore the potential consequences on...

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.

Beyond Personal Harm: The Costs of Alcohol to Society

Alcohol harm has a significant cost to society in England, amounting to over £27 billion. But how is this split across society, why is it...

Can we increase government revenue by raising alcohol taxes?

The alcohol industry consistently claims that increasing alcohol duty would reduce government revenue. However, a recent study has found that the opposite is true: increasing...

Why do countries with high alcohol taxes still have high rates of alcohol harm?

The alcohol industry claims that raising duty cannot reduce harm because some countries with high tax rates still have high rates of harm. This is...

Alcohol duty frozen in Autumn Statement: What does this mean?

In the Autumn Statement on Wednesday 22 November the Chancellor froze alcohol duties until 01 August 2024. We discuss what this means for hospitality, the...

Can alcohol duties be used to reduce the rate of violence injury?

Changes to alcohol duty at each year's Budget has been found to be causally linked to the rate of violent injury rates. Here Professor Kent...

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...

Good news for public health, good news for pubs, and good news for Treasury revenue

In the Spring Budget 2023, the Chancellor increased alcohol duty in line with inflation. Previous freezes and cuts to duty have increased alcohol's affordability and...