Alcohol Policy UK

Alcohol Change UK Rapid Evidence Reviews: mental health, BME, ARBD, Criminal Justice, digital & intimate partner violence

Alcohol Change UK have released a series of six rapid evidence reviews (RERs) on areas identified as priority areas in the field of alcohol harm reduction.

The RERs are highlighted in the context of alcohol policy and research on the Alcohol Change UK website here, based on the six RERs including:

• Alcohol and Mental Health
• Alcohol and Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups
• Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD)
• Digital interventions
• Alcohol and the Criminal Justice System
• Alcohol and intimate partner violence

PHE update CLeaR alcohol self-assessment tool to support local strategy

Public Health England (PHE) have updated its alcohol CLeaR self-assessment tool which aims to help local alcohol partnerships think about how effective their local system and services are at preventing and reducing alcohol-related harm.

CLeaR helps partnerships to develop action plans for improvement through its focus on 3 main areas:

1. Challenge for the services that deliver interventions to prevent or reduce alcohol-related harm.
2. Leadership for the alcohol agenda, which involves considering how local structures and governance arrangements can support collaborative action to reduce alcohol harm.
3. Results achieved through recent activity to reduce alcohol harm, evidenced by national and local data sources.

Public Health England (PHE) have updated its alcohol CLeaR self-assessment tool which aims to help local alcohol partnerships think about how effective their local system and services are at preventing and reducing alcohol-related harm.

CLeaR helps partnerships to develop action plans for improvement through its focus on 3 main areas:

1. Challenge for the services that deliver interventions to prevent or reduce alcohol-related harm.
2. Leadership for the alcohol agenda, which involves considering how local structures and governance arrangements can support collaborative action to reduce alcohol harm.
3. Results achieved through recent activity to reduce alcohol harm, evidenced by national and local data sources.

Drinking amongst young people: NHS Digital 2018 school pupils survey

The latest figures on drinking amongst pupils aged up to 15 have been released in Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England - 2018.

The survey report presents information on the percentage of pupils who have ever smoked, tried alcohol or taken drugs and explores the attitudes of school children towards smoking and drinking, last released in 2017.

In 2018, 44% of pupils said they had ever had an alcoholic drink, the same as in 2016, and ranging from 14% of 11 year olds to 70% of 15 year olds. In 2018, 10% of pupils said they had drunk in the last week, also the same as in 2016.

Alcohol Awareness Week 2019: ‘Alcohol and me’

Alcohol Change UK have announced Alcohol Awareness Week (AAW) 2019 will take place from 11-17 November on the theme of 'alcohol and me'.

Alcohol Change UK say they will be 'encouraging people to test their knowledge on the low-risk drinking guidelines and on the health impacts associated with drinking', and will be 'tackling some common myths around drinking and showcasing what healthy drinking really looks like'.

Jobs: PHE alcohol programme officer, York alcohol industry research programme

Public Health England (PHE) are recruiting a programme officer to 'provide project management support with a focus on preventing alcohol harm'. The job description sates the overall aim 'will be the development of work to implement national programmes, influence policy direction and to undertake specific project planning'. The post will be based at Wellington House, London. See full details of the post here. Deadline for applications is 28/08/2019.

The University of York Alcohol industry, Policy and Science (TRAPS) research programme is recruiting to two post-doctoral positions. The programme aims to develop our understanding of how alcohol industry actors influence science, the science/policy interface, and policy making, and to examine the implications for public policies. Further details here. Apply by 05/09/2019

News & updates July 2019: service cuts, rise of the sober curious, pubs, health & more

Selected media stories since the July update:

An article on 'The rise of the sober curious: having it all, without alcohol', explores a range of views on those promoting sober lifestyles through social media, appeared in the Guardian. The piece says the “sober curious” are those who drink less or not at all, and broadcast their abstinence with pride as a part of their social media personas and argues despite some concerns, they represent a positive shift towards a more accepting culture of non or moderate drinking.

IAS Alert July 2019: hospital patients, taxation, sponsorship, young people & more

The latest Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) Alcohol Alert: July 2019 is now available (here for PDF version). Read the editorial here and articles below:

• COVER STORY – 10% of hospital patients found to be alcohol dependent
• Higher alcohol taxes would boost the economy
• Industry in call for coordination on Irish minimum unit pricing plans
• £1bn tax giveaway costs NHS 40,000 nurses
• Scottish Government criticised for funding cuts amid ‘drug and alcohol crisis’
• Prevention green paper has little to say on alcohol
• Southwark to apply late night levy

Prevention Green Paper: another missed opportunity?

The recent release of the Prevention Green Paper consultation for England has prompted has a series of criticisms over a lack of effective actions to address alcohol harms.

Whilst the Green Paper claims to set out a 'new approach to public health that involves a new personalised, prevention model', alcohol and heath groups have spoken out over the absence of any commitments that reflect Public Health England's (PHE) own evidence review.