Selected media stories since the March roundup:
A new Louis Theroux documentary 'Drinking to Oblivion' aired on BBC2 generating widespread Twitter activity and news coverage. Theroux documents three different problem drinkers attending the specialist liver centre at King's College Hospital in London and attempts to understand some of the reasons behind their addictions. The Telegraph described it as 'somewhere between unmissable and unwatchable' and published an article exploring Theroux's relationship with alcohol. See here for the Guardian and other reviews.
'Middle aged drinkers pre load just like their children' said the Telegraph's take on recent Sheffield research on drinking cultures. The research identified a number of differerent drinking 'cultures' than those typically portrayed in the news, including home and mixed location drinking occassions. Overall half of drinking occassions involved modest amounts - see here for Conversation article by researcher John Holmes, or the Huffington Post and Mail Online takes.
The trouble with drinking guidelines: what, in the world, is a standard drink?, asks Science Daily as it reviews research showing the answer varies widely by country. 'Which country says its fine to drink three pints a night?' was the Telegraph's headline. Also reported in the Guardian and a piece on different 'drinking cultures' across the globe.
Research in the news 
A downward trend in serious violence may have ended, according to research from Cardiff's Violence Research Group - see BBC. A total of 210,213 people needed hospital treatment after violent incidents last year, up 1,299 on the previous year.
People who abused both alcohol and cocaine were 2.4 times more likely to kill themselves than other people with suicidal tendencies, according to research reported in Vice news.
'Why kids shouldn't sip booze', stated a Guardian article considering the arguments around introducing children to alcohol. It is of course complicated, but studies have suggested an association with later problems.
Deaths could 'rise relentlessly' in response to alcohol tax cuts, the Mail reported in response to a recent BMJ piece analysing alcohol death and tax rate correlations.
Newborn babies in a Scottish hospital are being tested for alcohol following concerns about pregnant women drinking regularly, reports the BBC. The study found that about 15% of women drink more than one or two small glasses of wine a week during pregnancy.
Drinking comment & features 
Who clears up after alcohol?, asks an NIHR blog by Prof Simon Moore, who is leading a research project evaluating hospital based alcohol diversion services.
I’m sick of explaining why I am teetotal, states an Independent piece. Attitudes toward drink aren’t changing despite the significant number of people who do not drink; it seems you still do need a 'proper' reason to not drink, argues the author.
A Guardian long read article on 'the shelter that gives wine to alcoholics' explores the ideas behind harm reduction and supporting people with severe alcohol dependency.
The Guardian's 'ask Alanis Morrisette' feature sees her advise a reader concerned about their drinking - 'perhaps you drink to release stress at the end of the day, or as a kind of congratulations, or a way to rebel in the face of too much responsibility', she proffers.
Industry and trade
A criminal gang that ran a £15 million illicit alcohol operation has been jailed for a total of 19 years after being caught with piles of ‘dirty’ cash, reports Drinks Business.
A Guardian podcast on BrewDog, the controversial beer company, explores the companies rise; once known more for its stunts than its beers, the ‘punk’ Scottish brewer is now the UK’s fastest-growing drinks company.
Bimingham's first dry bar has been set up by a former problem drug and alcohol user who says Birmingham has long been overdue one following the success of Redemption in London, Sobar in Nottingham and Brink in Liverpool.
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