Health

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?

The Dry January® challenge: Separating fact from fiction

Millions of people take a month off alcohol in January. This article explores the evidence behind Alcohol Change UK’s official Dry January® challenge, the role...

“Ensure these restrictions are not enforced”: FOI documents reveal alcohol industry lobbying

Freedom of Information documents reveal how alcohol companies lobbied ministers across Whitehall to force the removal of marketing restrictions from England’s 10 Year NHS Health...

Why we should have cancer warnings on alcohol

With the UK Government planning on introducing health warnings on alcohol labels, Professor Simone Pettigrew looks at the evidence around informing people of the link...

Has England’s drinking returned to “normal”?

Nearly five years on from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, England’s drinking patterns are only partly returning to pre-pandemic levels. New research shows that...

Feeling guilty after drinking? You’re not alone

People drinking alcohol at increasing and higher risk levels tend to experience more feelings of guilt about their drinking. But how do people of different...

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...

Deregulating alcohol licensing: how the government’s proposals risk undermining public health and democracy

The government’s proposed licensing reforms risk shifting power from communities to industry, weakening safeguards that protect public health. By prioritising economic growth over evidence of...

Making the case for regulating alcohol marketing in Scotland: A recent review of the evidence and next steps

Alcohol marketing is pervasive and persuasive, driving alcohol-related harm including among children and young people. Dr Peter Rice explains why regulations are needed.

Does Dry January change how we drink?

A new study finds that Dry January does show up in national alcohol sales data – people drink less and buy more no/lo options during...

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?

Growing up with alcohol harm at home: the difference a trusted adult can make

Having a trusted adult to turn to as a child growing up in a household with parental alcohol problems can significantly improve social connections in...

“We’re managing the chaos”: Why Alcohol Care Teams matter more than ever

What is an Alcohol Care Team? How are they structured in hospitals? And why is funding being cut for so many? Listen to our podcast...

Who pays more? Analysing the impact of the UK’s 2023 alcohol duty reform

Who really pays more under the UK’s new alcohol tax system? This new analysis reveals findings about who’s most affected — and what it means...

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...

Alcohol’s harm is likely underestimated and its benefits inflated: Lessons from recent expert reports

Recent expert reviews diverge sharply on the health impacts of moderate drinking, but deeper analysis reveals alcohol’s harms are likely underestimated and its supposed benefits...