Selected media stories since the April roundup:
The recently amended alcohol guidelines have come under attack in a number of media reports, including a Times piece titled 'Anti-drink lobby drew up official safety limits'. The Times, followed by the Daily Mail, claimed that a number of members of the expert group behind the new guidelines were anti-drink lobbyists because they were associated with the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS), but The Times subsequently corrected inaccuracies in the report.
The Guardian also published a letter by Nick Boley of the Campaign for Real Ale titled 'Don't let drink limits destroy our pubs', as well as 'Experts call for warnings on all alcohol as men refuse to believe the risks' in response to recent Drinkaware Monitor findings.
Meanwhile a perahps timely BBC one programme - The truth about alcohol - saw A&E doctor Javid Abdelmoneim exploring key questions such as: what is behind the recent change in drinking guidelines? Why do some people get drunk quicker than others? What is behind red wine's healthy reputation? Is a nightcap actually good for your sleep? And can alcohol actually make you eat more? The programme is available on BBC iPlayer until 25th June, or read the Guardian's review here.
The boss of Majestic Wines wants Minimum Unit Pricing, as reported in a BuzzFeed News interview. Rowan Gormley warns that too many young people are getting drunk on cheap booze before a night out and that supermarkets selling bottles of wine and beer at “below cost” to entice shoppers into their stores. “It is rife and a big way for supermarkets to pull in customers,” he said. “It’s a very effective way of winning over middle England with discounted Rioja, who then come in and buy sun-dried focaccia with olives and rosemary, which has a 90% profit margin on it.”
Research in the news
Alcohol makes you happier, at least in the short term, news reports proclaimed in response to recent research. The burst of happiness is soon replaced dissatisfaction when drinking for longer periods of time, said the Daily Mail. Furthermore, those people who develop drinking problems were found to be less satisfied with life.
Is a pint of beer a day good for the heart? NHS Choices takes a 'behind the headlines' look at the coverage of industry funded research finding an association with low levels of beer consumption and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The Independent reported "Pint of beer a day could protect you from heart attacks," yet as with red wine, the observational nature of the studies and other limitations led the researchers to conclude that potential benefits were minimal and should not be a reason for tee-teetotallers to take up drinking.
'Online alcohol marketing linked to drinking among European teens', reported Reuters on findings from research published in Alcohol and Alcoholism. In each country studied, higher exposure to online alcohol marketing was tied to greater odds of being a drinker and of binge drinking. In most of the countries online advertising was not regulated by law but instead 'insufficient voluntary codes by the alcohol industry', said the lead author.
Alcohol poisoning among girls is helping fuel a rise in poisonings suffered by teenagers, reported the Daily Mail in response to new research analysing the rates of deliberate poisoning. It reported a 27% rise in poisoning - including accidental, deliberate self-harming and alcohol poisoning - between 1992 and 2012, totalling 17,862 cases among UK teenagers.
'Round-the-clock drinking did increase binge culture after all', reported the Telegraph in covering research by Lancaster University. The relaxation of licensing hours actually lead to an increase in heavy alcohol consumption, despite hopes for a more 'continental' drinking culture, and could also be linked to worsening physical and mental health for some drinkers.
Trade, industry and other news
Football fans have been told there will be a 24 hour alcohol ban ahead of the England and Wales Euro 2016 game in France. The restriction will run from 6am Thursday June 16, the day of the game, until 6am the following day. Alcohol will be available in cafes and restaurants but the ban will be enforced in the streets of Lens, according to BBC Newsbeat.
Alcohol Concern are backing a crowd-funding campaign which aims to oust the last alcohol shirt sponsorship brand in Premiership football. A small family barbershop based in Everton are aiming to raise a rather ambitious £16,000,000 to replace Everton Football Club's Chang Beer shirt sponsorship deal.
A regional 'crackdown on underage drinkers' has seen hundreds of bottles of beer, wine, vodka, and cider seized by police in the North East of England, reports the Northern Echo. More than 539 units of alcohol were removed in Darlington from drinkers as young as 15 years old on 27 May after they had taken to town centre parks and woodland to celebrate the start of half-term. Police officers carrying out Operation Staysafe issued parents £90 fines for providing their children with alcohol.
'What it's like to quit drinking, by those who've done it – or are trying', explores a Guardian article following calls for alcohol warnings on all drinks labels.
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