Recent Findings bulletins: alcohol industry pledges, teen harm reduction lessons, IBA in A&E

Recent bulletins from the drug and alcohol bank:

Few new initiatives prompted by alcohol industry ‘pledges’

At the heart of the UK government’s alcohol strategy are the ‘Responsibility Deal’ pledges made by alcohol companies, but government-funded evaluators say actions committed to were usually already done or underway

Alcohol industry ‘pledges’ ineffective ... and perhaps worse

A second article from the same research unit says even if fully implemented, the pledges were unlikely to significantly affect consumption or health. Other sources suggest one effect has been to forestall a more effective measure – a minimum unit price for alcohol.

Harm reduction lessons curb drinking and harm where most needed

As with the original in Australia, an alcohol harm reduction programme adapted for secondary schools in Northern Ireland slowed down growth in drinking and related problems most effectively where these effects were most needed – among pupils already engaged in drinking in their early teens.

In A&E minimal ‘Drinking too much’ warning is enough

Like its sister trials, ‘Do just the minimum’ seems the message of the emergency unit arm of the £3.2 million government-funded alcohol screening and brief intervention study intended to inform UK policy. What can really be concluded is unclear, but hard-pressed staff and austerity-hit commissioners may feel justified in cutting provision back to the bone.