Selected news and media stories since the May roundup:
BBC News reported that plans to introduce a new law setting a minimum price for alcohol in Wales could be revived by the Welsh Government, depending on the result of a Supreme Court challenge against similar plans by the Scottish Government. Meanwhile, the number of alcohol-related deaths in Wales has stabilised following a significant rise towards the end of the last decade, reported WalesOnline.
Now that summer has arrived, the Telegraph took a critical look at white wine, highlighting its role in candida, roseca, weight gain, liver disease, skin cancer and depression. Its refreshing flavour also means people drink more than intend to, apparently, bringing out the consumers' 'inner white wine witch'.
Meanwhile MailOnline explored what a 'night of drinking' does to one's face, causing bloodshot eyes, bloating, dehydration and puffiness.
The global market for all alcoholic drinks contracted 1.3% in 2016, driven by a 1.8% fall in beer sales, the International Wine and Spirits Record found. But the so-called gin revival continued, said BBC News, with sales of the 'iconic British tipple' up 3.7% globally.
A spate of other stories about gin saw Cosmopolitan hailing the winner of 'best gin in the UK' award, WalesOnline reporting a new 61.8% alcohol by volume gin - understood to have the highest alcohol content of any gin produced in the UK, and Aldi launching gin and tonic flavoured ice lollies (reported by somersetlive amongst many others) - prompting police warnings (HuffPost).
In more gin news, headlines such as the Independent's 'Drinking gin and tonics could sooth hayfever symptoms, study finds' apparently linked to guidance from Asthma UK, were debunked by HuffPost and Asthma UK itself.
A new pilot scheme in Lincolnshire will use latest monitoring technology, also known as ‘sobriety tags’, to tackle alcohol misuse and associated offending. The ankle bracelets, which detect alcohol levels in the wearer’s sweat, alert the authorities when someone has breached an abstinence order. The Linconite
A poll commissioned by the Grocer found 41 per cent of adults say they have cut down on their drinking, rising to 51 per cent of those aged 25-34 and 55 per cent aged 35-44. Express
However, figures extrapolated from 2016 alcohol sales data by NHS Scotland suggest the average drinker is typically consuming 21 units of alcohol a week – '50 per cent more than the Government's maximum safe limit' reported MailOnline. Alcohol sales were 17 per cent higher in Scotland than in England and Wales, said inews
Middle class parents are contributing towards their children’s drink and drug addictions by handing over bottles of wine and vodka, reported the Independent, whilst a campaign has been launched in an effort to stop adults buying alcohol for children in North Lanarkshire, said GlasgowLive.
More elderly people are getting caught for drink-driving because they believe they can still drive safely when drunk, reported the Telegraph.
Alcohol research
Research that drinking any alcohol during pregnancy 'changes the way a baby's nose, lips and eyes look' stemmed as covered by the Mirror.
Nick Heather (pictured), Emeritus Professor of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies in Northumbria University’s Department of Psychology, has been chosen as this year’s winner of the 2017 Jellinek Award, established in memory of Dr EM Jellinek's contribution to the field of alcohol studies. Northumbria University
Teenagers who frequently binge-drink are more likely to commit suicide in their 20s, reported MailOnline of new research which suggests those admitted to hospital with alcohol-related injuries face a five-fold increased risk of killing themselves.
Swedish research into the long term relationship between alcohol use and blood sugar levels found young women (and not men) who binge drink increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. MailOnline
Industry news
The industry-funded alcohol education charity Drinkaware has appointed Dr Fiona Sim to succeed Professor Paul Wallace as chief medical advisor from November 2017. The Spirits Business
According to new research reported in Public Health, the voluntary pledge by the UK industry in 2011 to provide information on alcohol calories has not led to any significant provision of this information to consumers. EurekaAlert
The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers urged the Government to adopt an “innovative alcohol duty system” in its response to HM Treasury’s consultation on alcohol duty structures, which closed on 12 June. ALMR chief executive Kate Nicholls (pictured) said introducing new bands for lower-strength wines, ciders and perries could reduce costs for both producers and retailers and “help stimulate demand” for high-quality on-trade drinks. Morning Advertiser
The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint that Global Brands owned VK promoted unwise drinking styles and an advert placed on Facebook was “socially irresponsible”. Morning Advertiser
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