Alcohol Policy UK

'Month off' drinking benefits: too soon to tell?

Claimed health benefits for drinkers taking a month off hit the headlines in response to new UCL research, despite the research yet to be concluded. The story hit the Daily Mail's front page and was welcomed by organisations promoting 'month off' approaches.

Alcohol Concern's Dry January campaign has been rising in popularity and received backing from Public Health England, whilst Cancer Research UK's Dryathlon challenge also runs in January. Both reported over 50,000 signs ups each this year, whilst MacMillan's current 'Go Sober for October' has so far raised the cancer support charity over £1.8 million.

Alcohol's impact on emergency services: IAS report

The Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) have released a new report highlighting the impact of alcohol on emergency services in England.

Download the full report, Alcohol's impact on emergency services [pdf], or see the summary report or survey data here.

The report is based on an extensive survey of nearly 5,000 police officers, ambulance and paramedic staff, accident & emergency department consultants and fire officers, demonstrating both the financial burden on the emergency services and the human cost to frontline staff.

Key findings include:

Monitoring hospital setting alcohol services: PHE minimum dataset

Public Health England (PHE) have released a document outlining a 'minimum dataset' to support monitoring and evaluation of hospital based alcohol services.

Over the last decade, the increasing presence of Alcohol Care Teams (ACTs) or other specialist alcohol input has been integral to many areas' local alcohol strategies. Last year a PHE review into the level of provision found that nearly three-quarters of hospitals large enough to merit some level of specialist alcohol service did so.

10 million UK drink drivers survey claims

Nearly a third (31%) of drivers that drink admit to driving when over the legal alcohol limit - equivalent to 10 million UK adults - according to a recent survey. The survey was commissioned by insurance company RIAS, who warn many people are still prepared to risk drink driving despite a huge decline in drink driving.

RIAS warns that those in their 30s appear to be 'particularly irresponsible when it comes to drinking and driving', with over two fifths (44%) admitting to driving when knowingly over the limit. The survey also claims that one fifth (20%) of drivers in their 30s that drink believe they would be 'safe' to drive after six or seven glasses of beer or wine.

Findings bulletins: court ordered treatment, social norming, brief intervention follow ups

Recent bulletins from the drug and alcohol bank:

Re-offending not reduced by court-ordered alcohol treatment in England

The first UK evaluation of court-ordered alcohol treatment to feature an adequate comparison group found no significant reductions in re-offending from alcohol treatment requirements imposed as part of a probation sentence. Why did such a major intervention not prove effective?

Small change to preventive messages could prompt heavy drinkers to seek help

Alcohol & depression - dual diagnosis response still inadequate?

Alcohol Concern have released a new alcohol and depression factsheet [pdf], which highlights 'a complex, powerful and mutually reinforcing relationship between alcohol and depression'.

The factsheet says depression is one of the most common mental health problems in the UK - experienced by as many as one in ten people in any year and costing around £11 billion in England. However treatment offered to those with alcohol problems and depression often falls short, a long running issue for the field.

Research funding: Alcohol Research UK 2015 grants programme, NIHR local interventions, IBA PhD

Alcohol Research UK 2015 grants programme 

Alcohol Research UK's 2015 grants programme has been announced, with a research priority for 2015-16 of ‘measuring change’. See the 2015-2018 Research Strategy here. 

Alcohol Research UK say trends in both alcohol consumption and harm have been shifting, including changes in the principles, structure and delivery of treatment for problem drinkers. As such, applications are invited that address any of the following issues:

Local Nalmefene pathways emerging to ensure prescribing adherence

Following NICE's technical appraisal authorising Nalmefene (Selincro) last year, local areas have been developing protocols to ensure prescribing adherence - see below for examples.

Nalmefene was authorised as a drug to support a reduced drinking goal amongst mildly dependent drinkers, although has been considered controversial in some respects. To be eligible, drinkers must be assessed as alcohol dependent, but not be physically dependent (i.e needing a detox).

News & updates September 2015: stressed mums, hangover prevention, beer goggles & sober students

Selected alcohol media reports since the August roundup:

Alcohol research

British doctors and scientists have developed a pioneering technology that could save the lives of hundreds of people with livers damaged by alcohol abuse and obesity, reported the Mirror.

Stressed mothers are increasingly turning to wine after the school run, according to a report which suggests parents with children at home are the most likely to have a drink problem. Telegraph

New reports on hypertension and drinking behaviours

Under pressure: alcohol and hypertension

'Under pressure' [pdf], a new report on alcohol and high blood pressure, makes a series of recommendations to address what are 'two of the most common preventable health harms in the UK'. The report was developed by an expert group, initiated and supported by Lundbeck pharmaceutical.

The report says improvements in primary care for hypertension and alcohol misuse are required for better integrated screening, brief interventions, and treatment for both conditions, which would reduce the incidence of other cardiovascular diseases. Both alcohol misuse and hypertension affect around a quarter of adults, however four out of ten people with high blood pressure (BP) will be undiagnosed.