Alcohol Policy UK

IAS Alert March 2020: Tax, regulation, lobbying & more

The latest Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) Alcohol Alert: March 2020 is now available (here for PDF version). Read the editorial here and articles below:

• COVER STORY – King’s Fund: Taxes and regulation on alcohol ‘highly effective’
• Busiest MPs up to three times more likely to be ‘risky’ drinkers
• Four every minute: Six Nations references to alcohol
• Ireland: Cross-border talk of a uniform MUP
• Irish ministers lobbied daily by industry
• Seven out of ten alcohol labels fail to display guidelines
• Budget 2020: Alcohol duty frozen, again
• Barnsley backs call for Minimum Unit Pricing in England
• Irish drank less in 2019
• Alcohol and public health in the time of a pandemic
• ALCOHOL SNAPSHOT – The effectiveness of duty increases in raising prices at the checkout varies widely between drink types

Coronavirus (COVID-19): SHAAP recommendations for services on alcohol related problems

SHAAP (Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems) has released new recommendations for services supporting people with alcohol-related problems, including ADPs, Commissioners, Alcohol Service Managers, Community Services and Mutual Aid and Support Groups, to enable them to reduce risks and ensure continued support in the COVID-19 context.

Download 'Coronavirus (COVID-19) and People with Alcohol-related Problems: Recommendations for Services' [pdf].

IAS announce small grants scheme & 2020-23 strategy

The Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) has announced a new small grants scheme for innovative research ideas that can help inform public policy debates on how to tackle alcohol harm.

The scheme forms part of a new IAS Strategy for 2020–2023 [pdf] which sets out its goals and priorities, including attention to key areas of affordability, marketing, crime and enforcement and social and environmental impact.

Early career researchers can apply for small grants between £500-£10,000 for up to 12 months. Priority will be given to proposals that align with the organisational objectives outlined within the new strategy. Outline proposals are invited for submission by Friday 15th May 2020.

Further information and how to apply is available on the IAS Small Grants Scheme webpage. All pre-submission enquiries should be directed to Dr Sadie Boniface [email protected].

Health groups disappointed again as 2020 budget freezes duties

The 2020 spring budget has again left health groups dismayed by freezing all duties, which the IAS point out is the seventh year out of the last eight that alcohol duties failed to keep up with inflation.

Meanwhile, alcohol industry groups behind various campaigns to cut duties celebrated the news, claiming the move would help the industry in facing difficult times. However, industry campaign claims have been repeatedly questioned in several regards, notably the implication that tax rises on alcohol would lead to lower revenue, referred to as the Laffer curve. The Government's own analysis indicates the latest freeze in duties will come at a cost to the Treasury of just over £1bn to the year 2024–25.

IAS Alert February 2020: alcohol duty impact, admissions, drinking driving & more

The latest Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) Alcohol Alert: February 2020 is now available (here for PDF version). Read the editorial here and articles below:

• Alcohol duty doesn't penalise the poor
• IARD crackdown on underage drinking raises suspicion
• South Tyneside: 70p MUP saves lives
• SHAAP to Scottish Government: lived experience matters
• Alcohol admissions in England at highest ever level, once more
• New action plan on alcohol sees WHO into next decade
• Drink-driving statistics: On the road to nowhere
• Wales: MUP is coming, retailers told
• All-inclusive alcohol ban in Mallorca and Ibiza
• Alcohol, the solution to overcome loneliness?
• ALCOHOL SNAPSHOT – Men pay the lion’s share of most alcohol taxes in England – except wine duty