Alcohol Policy UK

Alcohol Change UK grants programme & research strategy

Alcohol Change UK have opened a new grants programme alongside a research strategy [pdf] outlining its funding priorities and plans for 2020 to 2023.

The New Horizons grants programme is now open with the first round of grants focused on developing a greater understanding of 'Groups, Communities and Alcohol Harm', particularly those that focus on:

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].

Funding to support Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder projects

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) recently announced project funding to support work around foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). 

The fund totals £473,000 though DHSC are aiming for a smaller number of grants and therefore encourage application via consortia where projects align. However, grants will be awarded according to quality of the bid against the specified criteria.

The guidance states it is particularly interested in innovative approaches from the voluntary sector along the themes of:

Nine areas awarded children & families innovation fund; new safeguarding guidance & capital fund bid

Earlier this month Public Health England (PHE) announced nine projects that have been awarded funding as part of the innovation fund to support local authorities seeking to address the needs of children of dependent drinkers.

New guidance for local authorities on safeguarding children with alcohol and drug dependent parents has also been released, as well as a new round of capital funding to improve access to alcohol treatment in the community.

Alcohol Concern call for treatment levy to address services gap

The charity formed by the merger of Alcohol Concern and Alcohol Research UK has called for a 1% increase in alcohol duties to raise £100 million each year which it says if invested in alcohol treatment 'could save the NHS and other public services around £300 million annually.' Briefing paper here [pdf].

The charity says this would equate to just 5p more for an average bottle of wine and 3p more for a pint of beer and would allow treatment budgets to be boosted by 50%. In recent years ongoing cuts to treatment budgets have resulted in a 'crisis' which is likely to be behind falling numbers of people receiving formal help. Concerns that the situation will worsen have also been raised as a new public health funding structure comes into effect in 2020.

Alcohol treatment 'in crisis': hope for the new national strategy?

Earlier this month Alcohol Concern/Alcohol Research UK released a new report “The hardest hit: addressing the crisis in alcohol treatment services”, calling for action to address the many issues arising from funding cuts and other challenges facing the sector.

Subsequently the Government has made the surprise announcement that it will develop a new alcohol strategy, though whether this will include any commitments to further resourcing alcohol services remains to be seen.

Funding for children of alcohol dependent parents: tackling the stigma of 'alcoholism'?

The Department of Health and Social Care has announced further details on Government support for the children of alcohol-dependent parents. The funding follows a pledge earlier this year by the Health Secretary and campaigning by several MPs including a parliamentary group and a Manifesto for 'Children of Alcoholics'. 

The Government release say £6 million will be available to support a package of measures including £4.5 million for an 'innovation fund for local authorities to develop plans that improve outcomes for children of alcohol-dependent parents'. £1 million will go to fund national capacity building by non-governmental organisations whilst '£500,000 to expand national helplines for children with alcoholic parents' which had been previously pledged.

News & updates March 2018: MUP Scotland and Wales, cuts, older people, beer affordability & more

Selected media stories since the February roundup:

Writing in the Scotsman, Alcohol Focus Scotland Chief Executive Alison Douglas, said "The historic introduction of Minimum Unit ­Pricing (MUP) of ­alcohol is just weeks away and will mark a significant turning point in ­Scotland’s damaging relationship with drink. When this life-saving ­policy comes into effect on May 1, the positive impact on the nation’s health will be felt in a matter of months. In the first year alone, minimum pricing could prevent 60 ­alcohol-related deaths, 1,300 hospital admissions and 3,500 crimes, and those health and ­other benefits will build over time.". See APUK's MUP and UK policy analysis here.

News & updates February 2018: pricing, Baclofen, admissions & new UK Hospitality industry body

Selected media stories since the January roundup: 

"Hazardous or harmful" drinkers must get the help they need if minimum unit pricing is introduced, Alcohol Concern Wales has said as the Welsh Government seeks to follow Scotland with a minimum 50p unit price in law. "I think we've known for quite sometime a lot of the alcohol in this country is consumed by those where alcohol is a problem not a pleasure" said, Andrew Misell, director of Alcohol Concern Wales. BBC

Alcohol resources and policy for 2018... and beyond?

Public Health England (PHE) have released a listing page of information and other resources to support commissioners, service providers and others providing alcohol and drug interventions. 

The resource will mainly be of use to those involved in the treatment sector, though includes an updated 'Alcohol: applying all our health' resource to support preventative activities and recent 'why invest?' resource. A full range of NICE alcohol guidance can be found here whilst Alcohol Research UK have a set of links and resources on identifying the evidence base.