A message from the Editor concerning Alcohol Policy UK/The Alcohol Academy:
Dear readers,
Regular followers of Alcohol Policy UK will have been aware that over the last year or so, updates to the blog have been far less frequent. Below I set out to provide an update as to why and offer some background and reflections.
Alcohol Policy UK was set up in 2005 to share relevant news and information for those working within, or broadly supporting, alcohol harm reduction. In 2009, the Alcohol Academy was set up as a small social enterprise to support skills development and information sharing via workshops, seminars, briefings and other resources. The Academy received a number of grants to support these activities first from the Alcohol Education Research Council (AERC), then Alcohol Research UK (now Alcohol Change UK). The last of these agreements ran from 2015 - 2018. The Academy also operated as a social enterprise, delivering a range of training and consultancy projects, with any profits re-invested back into sustaining its activities. This year the Academy was formally closed as an operating social enterprise.
Alcohol Policy UK was included as a part of the Academy's activities, proving a popular and accessible source of independent information and analysis. Since, 2006, the blog has published over 2,100 posts covering a range of alcohol-related news, policy and other developments. These have generated close to a total of 1.5 million page views and despite less frequent posting, the archive of posts currently gets regular traffic of around several hundred hits a day.
What next?
Without dedicated funding support I have been unable to regularly update the blog, but I intend to update it with key news and developments as much as possible. I have also had a change of career and now have a full time position as a Research Fellow for the Centre for Addictive Behaviour Research at London South Bank University. I am also now producing The Alcohol 'Problem' Podcast, which aims to explore alcohol problems through a range of academic and lived experience perspectives.
In terms of continuing to follow alcohol-related news and updates, as you are likely aware, all of the recognised alcohol charities now have mailing lists and social media accounts, but you may still wish to stay subscribed to occasional Alcohol Policy UK updates and/or its Twitter account.
I would like to thank all our readers, supporters and guest post contributors, and wish you all the best.
James Morris
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