Some media stories since the December round-up:
Neknomination - a drinking game thought to have started in Australia and now popular here through social media - has been condemned by Alcohol Action Ireland for encouraging excessive alcohol consumption and dangerous behaviour. Full explanation at knowyourmeme.com
Update: Brother of a man who died after playing 'NekNomination' has been speaking about the tragedy - BBC report.
Drinking in the sun may raise risk of skin cancer, reports the Telegraph, as alcohol increases the skin's sensitivity to light. Details of the research from the British Association of Dermatologists.
A Daily Mail headline that one binge drinking session in pregnancy affects childs behaviour has been 'fact-checked' by NHS Choices. Also from NHS Choices an exploration of whether wine and chocolate can help diabetes risk.
Scottish deaths from liver disease are among the highest in Europe, reports the BBC, citing recent statistics from the Scotttish Public Health Observatory.
Trade and industry
The Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme was launched by HM Treasury in January to help consumers in the UK and abroad identify genuine products and avoid the fakes. See here for our recent report on alcohol duty fraud data.
Alcohol companies could lose multi-million pound sponsorship deals for sporting events if they fail to promote responsible drinking, under a code of conduct brokered by industry groups and major sporting bodies, reports the Telegraph.
JD Wetherspoon has opened the first motorway pub in Britain, at services next to junction two of the M40 near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, - and created something of a furore amongst alcohol campaigners reports the Guardian. Pete Brown, 'Beer Writer of the Year', called it a PR own-goal for the pub industry in the Morning Advertiser.
UK beer sales have increased for two consecutive quarters - the first time in 10 years – although pub beer sales were down by 2.2% reports the Morning Advertiser, which also says the average sale price of a pub has increased for the first time since 2007 and a record number of pubs are remaining as pubs after sale.
Licensees in London are being forced to serve drinks in plastic containers as police and councils crackdown on glassware in pubs and clubs operating after midnight, reports the Morning Advertiser.
The number of town centres and neighbourhoods officially classed as being blighted by problem bars and pubs soared by 150% after the licensing refoms came in, reports the Telegraph.
The Scottish government and the drinks industry are promoting a voluntary campaign that includes making 125ml wine glass measures more widely available, reports the BBC.
Recent Comments