Recent research from the 
drug and alcohol Bank:
Licensing
Late opening for pubs and bars aggravates alcohol-related harm
UK research is inconclusive, but international research from developed nations reviewed for a national US task force supports the belief that increasing on-licence opening hours leads to more drinking and more alcohol-related harm.
Weekend alcohol sales equals more weekend alcohol-related harm
International research from developed nations reviewed for a national US task force offers some support for the belief that allowing or disallowing Saturday or Sunday alcohol sales affects drinking and alcohol-related harm.
Treatment and recovery
Home visits cost-effectively aid alcohol treatment
In Brazil adding home visits to a three-month alcohol detoxification and treatment programme cost-effectively increased the abstinence rate at the end of treatment. British study suggests that what happens in such visits is critical.
Group therapy wins on cost-effectiveness grounds
For US problem drinkers and drug users not at the severest end of the spectrum, four sessions of group were as effective as four of individual therapy but required far fewer therapist hours per patient. The little research we have suggests this a common finding, commending group approaches on cost-effectiveness grounds.
Student and college based interventions
Group motivational interviewing works for college drinkers
US students who broke college drinking rules and were required to undertake an alcohol programme responded better to three hours of group motivational interviewing than six of alcohol education; enhanced confidence that they could resist risky drinking was the key. For colleges it offers an effective but economical response to problem drinkers.
Drink moderation strategies ineffective unless students want to cut down
What happens when instead of asking students to cut drinking, you ask them to use more moderation strategies such as spacing drinks or avoiding heavy drinking situations? The results of this US study suggest that changes in strategy use can bear little relation to changes in drinking, and that intention to cut back is the most important factor.
Brief motivational interviewing works best for thinkers
This US study found that different types of heavy-drinking college students responded best to different types of brief intervention to promote moderation. In particular, those who as well as hard drinking liked hard thinking were most affected by being led to reflect via motivational interviewing on how their drinking compared to that of the average student.
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