Alcohol Policy UK

Latest from the IBA blog: 'IBA direct' to the public?, sight loss guide, LGBT, wider workforce, minimum standards & more

The alcohol IBA blog was set up to promote understanding and the delivery of IBA through news, links and ideas. 

Recent posts from the IBA blog include:

• ‘IBA direct’ evaluation shows people welcome IBA in public 

• Substance use and sight loss guide

• Briefing on IBA & LGBT people – a key group to ‘target’?

• IBA and the wider ‘workforce’ – will it happen?

Alcohol and dementia: Adding insult to injury?

In this guest post, Dr Tony Rao, a consultant and visiting researcher in Old Age Psychiatry, considers recent media coverage over drinking and Alzheimer’s disease in the context of the research and his clinical experience.

When I started as consultant old age psychiatrist in an area of high socio-economic deprivation nearly 20 years ago, the thought of taking on the challenge of alcohol related problems in older people couldn’t have been further from my mind.

Alcohol's 'centrality' within Scotland's LGBT community

A new report has explored the role of alcohol within the Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender (LGBT) communities in Scotland, detailing the 'centrality' of alcohol and the strong role it plays in identity. Although little is known about transgender people's drinking, LGBT groups generally experience higher levels of alcohol misuse but feel less able to access services.

Download The social context of LGBT people’s drinking in Scotland [PDF]

The study was undertaken by researchers from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), funded by Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP). The research aimed to explore the social context of drinking among LGBT people in Scotland based on a series of focus groups which identified 'the centrality of alcohol on the commercial gay scene'.

New insights into young people's drinking as parents warned against introducing alcohol

A new HSCIC report detailing the health behaviours of 15 year olds provides further insights into young people's drinking - an alcohol policy area that attracts significant attention.

A decline in young people's drinking in England has driven an overall downward trend in consumption since 2004, although levels for young people's drinking reportedly still remain above the European average for prevalence and likelihood of binge drinking. Adolescent drinking poses significant risks to both health and well-being, including a greater risk of alcohol problems in later life.

News & updates November 2015: Burger King sells alcohol; tax & liver deaths; sales to drunks; slimline mixers and coffee

Selected alcohol media reports since the October roundup:

Alcohol policy

Burger King launches bid to become first fast food chain to sell alcohol in the UK - Independent -  and subsequently confirmed this month.

Liver deaths are 'likely to increase' after relaxation of alcohol tax policies, according to a report from a Lancet medical journal commission on liver disease - The Guardian

Statistics for alcohol treatment in England 2014-15

Public Health England (PHE) have released alcohol treatment figures in England for 2014-2015, though now in a combined report of drug and alcohol treatment data.

The figures show 88,904 individuals started alcohol treatment in 2014-15, of these 61,404 cited alcohol as their only problematic substance. The report's trend analysis shows the numbers receiving alcohol treatment has remained relatively steady, up 3% over the last five years from 86,385 in 2009-10 (and up 2% for alcohol only clients).