Alcohol Policy UK

Commission on Alcohol Harm (2020) report calls for 'science-led' alcohol strategy

A report from a recent Commission on Alcohol Harm undertaken by the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) has been released, calling for a new comprehensive alcohol strategy for England.

The Commission received over 140 written submissions of which around 40 were from people with direct lived experience of alcohol harm. Key themes presented include harm to others, society and individuals, and the need for a new strategy given that 'nothing has really changed' since the last national alcohol strategy published in 2012.

IAS Alert August 2020: pubs, drink-driving, mental health, advertising & more

The latest Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) Alcohol Alert: August 2020 is now available. Reports include:

• The UK Government weighs up the trade-off between keeping pubs open or reopening schools in light of potential new lockdown

• New drink-driving data from the Department for Transport show no ‘significant improvement’ for another year, as road accidents and casualties stay largely unchanged since 2010

• Research looks into the recent history of alcohol and mental health policy for older people in the UK  (Podcast feature)

• A study finds alcohol advertising in Formula One racing is a potential driver of alcohol consumption

• Top health experts call for alcohol labelling overhaul as investigation finds consumers are not provided with adequate information about the beverages they drink

• In Ireland, the 2020 Alcohol Market Review and Price Survey finds drinkers are able to reach their weekly alcohol limit for pocket money prices

• Better Health campaign urges drinkers to think about the ‘empty calories’ in alcohol

• Global drinks producer Diageo manage to keep their UK sales operation afloat during the pandemic, through targeted e-commerce tactics

• Rumours that a booze ban on drinking in football stadiums will be lifted resurface in the press

Access the full Alcohol Alert here.