Alcohol Policy UK

Major study re-ignites 'no safe level' drinking debate

The question of moderate drinking and health returned to the headlines with a vengeance following the publications of a major study in the Lancet using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2016.

The review, which used 592 studies including 28 million people worldwide to study the health risks associated with alcohol, concludes that any possible protective effects of moderate drinking are outweighed by its adverse effects on other aspects of health, particularly cancers.  

News & updates July 2018: flying and boating; University AA, alcoholocks, marketing & more

Selected media stories since the June update:

A government-backed campaign to prevent inebriated passengers from boarding airplanes is being rolled out at ten airports – Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Southampton, Bristol and Newcastle. The One Too Many initiative, where passengers will see warnings about alcohol consumption posted on digital display screens, will be shown in duty-free shops and leaflets handed out by the police. Telegraph

NUS Wales president Gwyneth Sweatman said Cardiff University's successful Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings means they should be rolled out across all universities, reports the BBC. An AA trustee said the number of younger attendees at meetings was rising each year. However Professor Tony Moss Tweeted the article missed two important points; firstly that not all alcohol problems are dependence, and secondly that AA is just one form of support drinkers might seek.

Moderate drinking 'j-curve' headlines return with new dementia study

The latest set of headlines pronouncing the health benefits of moderate drinking have followed the publication of a new BMJ study examining the association of alcohol consumption and dementia risk.

The latest study found as expected, dementia risk was increased amongst those regularly drinking above the recommended guidelines of 14 units per week, but also amongst abstainers. Notably, the increased risk was only shown for those who abstained from wine, though as some noted, wine may act a proxy for uncontrolled socio-economic status.

News & updates June 2018: airports, teenagers, U-shaped curves, consumption & more

Selected media stories since the May roundup:

A forthcoming consultation on how alcohol is sold at airports has been reported. With increasing numbers of alcohol-related problems on flights and at airports over recent years, calls have been made to review the licensing exemptions at airports. A Home Office spokesperson said: “We will issue a Call for Evidence to assess the impact that an extension of the Licensing Act to airside premises at airports in England and Wales could have on reducing alcohol-related disruptive passenger behaviour.”

The “smoke and mirror” tactics of defence lawyers in drink-driving cases have been criticised by the government’s forensic science regulator, who has launched an investigation into the work of a number of expert witnesses. Guardian

UK alcohol consumption trend flat: MESAS 2018

The latest data on UK alcohol sales has been released by NHS Scotland, showing consumption appears to have stabilised since 2013 in England and Scotland.

The report states:

'After increasing over the 1990s and early 2000s, the volume of pure alcohol sold per adult in Scotland stabilised at around 11.6 litres per adult between 2005 and 2009. Following a period of decline to 2013, the volume of pure alcohol sold per adult has remained broadly stable and in 2017 was at a level similar to that seen in 1994.'

Alcohol & Health: DDN special issue

The latest issue of Drink and Drugs News (DDN) includes a special feature on alcohol and health, aimed at raising awareness and understanding amongst professionals and individuals.

Supported by Alcohol Research UK, the introduction states:

'...heavy drinking can cause more than liver damage. Its impact on mental health, hypertension, and cancer risk are only now becoming widely recognised. The revised ‘low risk’ guidelines of 14 units per week for men and women reflect this growing awareness and are based on a comprehensive analysis of the full range of conditions associated with alcohol consumption. Of course, many people reading this supplement will be dealing with individuals drinking at far higher levels than those set out in the guidelines, and here the risks become very significant. However, the signs of harm are not always obvious, which is why a guide such as this is so important.'

Alcohol interventions and support within hospital settings: PHE & CLAHRC resources

Two new resources supporting the commissioning and delivery of alcohol interventions and support within hospital settings have been released.

Developing pathways for referring patients from secondary care to specialist alcohol treatment

The new Public Health England (PHE) resource to support the development of pathways for referral and care and for alcohol dependent patients. Given the recently initiated CQUIN to incentivise routine alcohol screening via Identification and Brief Advice (IBA), hospitals will expect to identify a proportion of dependent drinkers and should ensure they can offer the best possible referral and support.

The main sections of the resource include:

News & updates May 2108: treatment cuts, small measures, new strategy, MUP 'loopholes'

Selected media stories since the April roundup:

Analysis by the BBC found £162m (18%) has been cut from drug and alcohol treatment budgets in England since 2013-14, with budgeted spending falling from £877m in 2013-14 to £716m in 2017-18.

Severe funding cuts and a loss of qualified staff have pushed England’s alcohol treatment services to crisis point, a report published by Alcohol Concern warned. Problems could further worsen from 2020 due to the end of ring-fenced public health funding. LocalGov and APUK analysis.

Wine nation? Industry insights into drinking motives and trends

A major player in the UK wine market recently released a 2018 UK wine report, detailing insights into the nation's wine drinkers and what it sees as opportunities for developing the market.

Wine volume sales are down, but the value of spending is up. The report attributes this 'premiumisation' trend (in which quality is increasingly prized over quantity) to more health conscious consumers. However, the majority of off-trade wine is still sold for under £6 per bottle, and the largest 'segment' of wine drinkers are identified as 'newbies': those who 'know very little about wine and want to be guided when they shop'.

News & updates April 2018: MUP build up, taxes, non-drinking, greetings cards under fire & more

Selected media stories since the March roundup:

Significant media attention to minimum pricing was seen in the run-up to Scotland's implementation date on the 1st April 2018, the Guardian headline reading 'Scotland awaits alcohol minimum pricing with mixed emotions'. See APUK analysis here.

Research from the University of Cambridge and the British Heart Foundation, which looked at 600,000 drinkers across the world, was reported as anything more than five glasses of wine a week, or pints of beer, is dangerous to health, and could be knocking years off a person’s lifespan - the Telegraph. A useful summary from NHS Choices reviewed the research and coverage and concluded that the study adds weight to the recommendations that both women and men drink within the UK limits of 14 units of alcohol a week. APUK analysis here.