Alcohol Policy UK

Alcohol & COVID-19 pt 2: PHE guidance, Alcohol Change UK survey, WHO factsheet & more

Following our first post on alcohol and COVID-19 related guidance, news and support, the below sets out key subsequent releases.

Alcohol Change UK have released findings from a survey of over 2,000 people on the effect of Coronavirus on consumption, as reported in the Guardian. More than one in three people said they had either stopped drinking or reduced how often they drink since the lockdown. Six per cent have stopped drinking entirely. Around one in five drinkers (21%) said they have been drinking more frequently since the lockdown.

Almost half of drinkers said they were drinking about the same amount on a typical drinking day, but 15% said they have been drinking more per session. However, falls seems to be driven by lower risk drinkers, whilst increases seem to be driven by those already drinking at risky or harmful levels. See here for a Twitter summary thread and separate findings from a YouGov survey here.

News & updates September 2018: Labour pledge hospital alcohol teams, drink-drive limit questioned, health, pubs & more

Selected media stories since the August update:

Alcohol treatment figures are falling despite record numbers of people with dependency, reports The Guardian. The figures come as MP Jon Ashworth pledges Labour would fund an alcohol care team in every district hospital at a cost of £13.5 million, though would result in savings of £40 million to the NHS. Figures suggest that at least 41 English hospitals do not currently have an alcohol care team in place - The Metro.

Drink-drive limits are too high suggests a BBC report. In England, Wales or Northern Ireland, it says 'you can drink a surprising amount of alcohol before you go above the current drink-drive limits'. However even within the limits - 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood- drinkers are up 13 times more likely to kill someone than a driver with a zero BAC. The drink-drive limit is the highest in Europe with most countries at 50mg per 100ml. "The government currently has no immediate plans to lower the drink-drive limit" a Government spokesperson said.

IAS Alert November 2017: MUP, white cider, GPs, deaths, AAW & more

The latest Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) Alcohol Alert: November 2017 is now available (here for PDF version). Read the editorial here and articles below:

• TOP STORY – Minimum Unit Pricing declared legal
• TOP STORY – 2017 Autumn Budget: White cider tax threshold slated for 2019
• One in seven GPs turns to alcohol and drugs to cope
• Almost half of pupils have tried alcohol
• New definition, same old story
• Charity: Parental alcohol misuse ruins children’s lives

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News & updates July 2016: airports, cancer, binge drinking, PM's pubs policy & more

Selected media stories since the June roundup:

Possible changes to how alcohol is sold at airports hit the headlines following comments from a Conservative peer saying he wants to “look at” airports as currently exempt from licensing laws - thus being able to open 24 hours. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said he did not want to "kill merriment altogether", but that passengers need to be responsible and not disrupt flights and others onboard. Increasing concerns have been voiced over 'floozing' and 'air rage' incidents over recent months. See the Independent's 'what you need to know' and Guardian and BBC reports.

News & updates June 2016: MUP, Euro 2016, Heineken F1 deal & research in the news

Selected media stories since the May roundup:

Minimum unit pricing (MUP) was in the Scottish media as the legal case returned to the Court of Session in Edinburgh for the first of two further hearings.

MUP was also being further politicised by being dragged into the Brexit debate; leave campaigners claiming the failure to implement was an example of a lack of sovereignty, despite the case yet to be concluded. The Scottish Licensed Trade Association also wrote in to the Herald to highlight not all sections of the industry were against MUP; indeed they were supporters of it to 'stop it being used as a loss leader in major supermarkets', and that 'alcohol should not be just another "pile it high, sell it cheap” commodity'. A final decision is expected shortly.

News & updates September 2015: stressed mums, hangover prevention, beer goggles & sober students

Selected alcohol media reports since the August roundup:

Alcohol research

British doctors and scientists have developed a pioneering technology that could save the lives of hundreds of people with livers damaged by alcohol abuse and obesity, reported the Mirror.

Stressed mothers are increasingly turning to wine after the school run, according to a report which suggests parents with children at home are the most likely to have a drink problem. Telegraph

News & updates January 2015: alcosynth; health effects; sports sponsorship; policing

Selected media stories since the December round-up:

Policing alcohol misuse

Cliff Mann, head of an A&E doctors' group, wants police to take a “zero tolerance” approach to alcohol-related antisocial behaviour, to stop drunks clogging up emergency wards, reported the Independent. NHS hospitals and surgeries call police 175 times a day - and alcohol is the biggest cause, said the Mail Online.

Police officers are being forced to make “pragmatic decisions” about whether to arrest people for low-level crimes such as drunkenness and minor disorder, according to Inspector Ian Hanson, chairman of Greater Manchester Police Federation - Independent

Health and research in the news

Consuming seven alcoholic drinks over the course of a week could reduce the risk of heart failure, reported the Mirror and others. NHS Choices analysed the research and concluded "it is generally not recommended that people take up drinking alcohol just for any potential heart benefits".

Not long ago research also found one drink a day could be enough to increase the risk of heart disease, a different condition to heart failure. See a related piece in the Independent on 'why are we so obsessed with alcohol health effects?

More than half of the British public are unaware of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer, according to a survey from the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, reported Cancer Research UK.

Alcohol can wreak havoc on your immune system from the moment you start imbibing reported the New Scientist.

Poor sleep in teenage years could be an early warning sign for alcohol problems, illicit drug use and "regretful" sexual behaviour, research suggests. BBC News

Although drinking alcohol before bed can induce drowsiness, it is proven to disrupt the quality of rest and have negative effects on brain function the next day, according to new research reported in the Independent.

Working more than 48 hours a week makes people more likely to drink excessive levels of alcohol, suggests research reported in the Times.

Experts reckon Edinburgh is losing £86 million in economic output through “presenteeism” – when an employee’s performance is weakened by the after-effects of alcohol – as well as absenteeism, drink-related sickness, unemployment and premature death caused by alcohol. Edinburgh Evening News

Policy news

Labour MP Bill Esterson is seeking better labelling of alcoholic beverages to warn pregnant women against drinking alcohol. BBC News

A group of more than 30 health leaders says exposing alcohol sponsorship to children is creating links between drinking brands and sport, calling for a ban on alcohol industry sponsorship of sport, reported Channel 4 News.

Meanwhile Labour has rowed back from banning alcohol brands from sports sponsorship and the party was forced to discard other health policies that were deemed “anti-business”, said the Times whilst Harpers gave a trade perspective.

Alternatives to alcohol

Redemption in Holborn, London - a club and pop-up bar - has opened, offering a bar and restaurant with mocktails on the menu but without a drop of alcohol available. BBC News

Professor David Nutt, in his product 'alcosynth', has cracked a chemical conundrum, which has allowed him to develop new drugs that could wean people off alcohol, while allowing them to enjoy the feeling of being “tipsy”, reported the Telegraph

Trade news

Budweiser brewer AB Inbev has expressed an interest in using alcohol-free beers to win over health-conscious younger drinkers as part of wider efforts to overcome volume declines fuelled by shifts in demographics and consumer preferences. The Drum

Carlsberg’s Special Brew is about to get a makeover and could be watered down to comply with new guidelines designed to stamp out anti-social behaviour, reported the Telegraph.

Drinkers at pubs and clubs in York could face being breathalysed as part of an initiative to reduce drink related disorder. BBC News

News & updates April 2014: consumption 2% down, cancer ad not in breach, alcohol and obesity links, 'Palcohol', Pound Pubs & more

Some stories from the media since the March round-up:

Per capita alcohol consumption down 18% since 2004

UK alcohol consumption per head fell again in 2013 by 2.1%, says the British Beer & Pub Association, which compiles data every year based on HMRC alcohol tax returns. This is the seventh year in the past nine that there has been a fall. In total, Britons drank over seven billion fewer units of alcohol in 2013, compared with 2004 when the downward trend began. However consumption rose steadily over several decades prior.

Alcohol cancer ad not in breach

The Advertising Standards Authority rejected complaints from the alcohol industry about a TV advert linking alcohol to cancer after being presented with some of the large body of evidence about alcohol and cancer risk, reports the Guardian. The ad, produced by Balance North East, shows a tumour in a glass of beer.  

Alcohol and obesity

Drinking more than three large glasses of wine can push people over a "tipping point", meaning they consume about 6,300 extra calories in the following 24 hours, according to Slimmming World research, as reported by the BBC.

A study carried out for the Telegraph found that many alcoholic drinks contain significant amounts of sugar. A single pint of cider contained almost as much sugar as the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends should be an average person’s daily limit. A tin of gin and tonic contains about half that.

Powdered alcohol - confusion over legality

A product called "Palcohol" gained widespread attention (see for example this story from the Independent) after it was reported that the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved the powdered alcohol, including vodka and rum varieties. However, according to The Associated Press, the approvals were issued in error.

Alcohol and celebrity

Alcohol Concern has criticised the former England football captain David Beckham for his decision to promote a whisky brand in partnership with the drinks company Diageo and TV producer Simon Fuller, says Third Sector.

Trade & industry news

Drinkaware has called on all glasses in pubs to have unit lines marked on them so drinkers can better understand how many units of alcohol they are consuming. See the Drinkaware press release or Morning Advertiser report.

The City of London Corporation’s licensing committee has unanimously agreed to introduce a late-night levy, after the authority consulted on the fee for the second time in five months reports the Morning Advertiser.

Plans to open a chain of discount pubs selling beer for just £1 have sparked a furious reaction from drink awareness campaigners says the Mirror. The first of the 'PoundPubs' has already opened in Manchester, bringing customers 'more round for your pound'. A second is about to open in Stockton on Tees, with an application for a special licence to sell beer from 8am.

If successful, the 'PoundPubs' chain has pledged to bring the brand nationwide, with a range of beers, ciders, bitters and cask ales on offer for £1.50-a-pint, or £1 for a half. Mike Wardell, a director at Here for Your Hospitality Ltd, said the latest PoundPub to open in Stockton-on-Tees would bring a traditional local to the High Street. But alcohol campaigner Colin Shevells, director of Balance, said: "Drink is already too affordable, too available and too heavily promoted".

Tackling street drinking

From 5th April, supermarkets across Gloucester are banned from selling cut price alcohol reports the Gloucester Citizen. Strict new tariffs will see cans of lager sold for a minimum of 50p, bottles of wine will cost at least £2.24 and spirits cannot be sold for less than £10.16. Dr Allan Harris, a GP who runs a drop-in health clinic welcomed the initiative, saying:

"Clearly alcohol poses a major and enduring threat to life and health for the homeless population. As has been seen when other drugs become less available, they switch to whatever else is around. Mephedrone is a particular problem in Gloucester at the moment. Those of us providing health care to the homeless need to be on our toes to step in and help homeless people who are reducing alcohol use, to intervene to prevent the complications of acute alcohol withdrawal, including seizures and delerium tremens.”

Meanwhile, street drinkers are being driven from Spalding town centre, bringing a new “sense of well-being” says Spalding Guardian, with the number of incidents dealt with by police almost halved, and the number of calls from the public falling by more than 50 per cent. The measures adopted in the town centre include:

• Adopting a single can policy – an agreement with local off-licences not to sell single cans. Street drinkers were buying one can at a time to minimise their loss when police made seizures.
• Litter removal – the council made an undertaking to remove all litter, including discarded cans and bottles, within the Designated Public Place Order area every 24 hours
• Rough sleepers – many of the street drinkers were also rough sleepers. Joint patrols with the Framework Street Outreach Team took place to break the cycle.
• Foreign nationals – the majority of street drinkers are from central and eastern European backgrounds. Joint working with UK Border Agency removed some of the most prolific street drinkers as the council could evidence that they were not exercising their treaty rights.

News & updates Dec 2013: young people's drinking, resources for schools, MUP in Ireland & more

A selection of stories in the media since the September round up:

Young people

Department for Education returns show that local spending on alcohol and drug services for young people has been cut by 22% since 2011 reports Mentor. 

293 children aged 11 or under were admitted to A&E units across the UK in 2012/13 after drinking too much, according to the BBC, up a third from the previous year.  

A new European Commission report Eyes on Ages: A research on alcohol age limit policies in European Member States. Legislation, enforcement and research says all EU Member States have legal age limits for selling alcohol but, the age limit policies vary widely and countries differ on aspects like sanctions, type of enforcement authorities and communication strategies.

NFER has published Talk About Alcohol: an Evaluation of the Alcohol Education Trust’s Intervention in Secondary Schools which found a statistically significant delay in the onset of drinking amongst the young people in the Talk About Alcohol intervention group.

The Welsh Government's Alcohol in Higher Education Toolkit has been officially launched following extensive trials.  The toolkit has been produced to give student welfare services practical advice on addressing alcohol misuse.

Young people tend to view targeted alcohol marketing via social media sites as ''useful and informative'' instead of recognising it as advertising, research reported in The Telegraph finds.

Adfam has published Identifying and supporting children affected by parental substance use: Resource for schools for the Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Information Service (ADEPIS).  Aimed primarily at school governors and headteachers, it aims to summarise the key issues for children affected by parental substance use, and how schools can consider supporting them.

Demos, in its report Sobering Up has urged the government to introduce tougher punishments for parents, siblings and friends who buy alcohol for children, reports the BBC. However the report, funded by the Association of Convenience stores, has some questionable recommendations - APUK analysis to come.

A research study, Young adults and the decline of the urban English pub: issues for planning, reported in Science Daily, finds evidence for the traditional pub as a site for restrained and responsible social interaction for young adults.

Other news

The Irish Examiner reports on research which found the societal costs of the consumption of alcohol “far outweigh” the employment and tax benefits, and will inform current plans to introduce minimum unit pricing across southern and Northern Ireland. 

The Northern Ireland Chief Constable Matt Baggott (right) has urged politicians to do more to tackle the misery caused by alcohol, saying said one in five crimes in Northern Ireland are alcohol related, and 61% of street violence involved alcohol, reports the BBC.

The BBC reports that the number of motorists arrested for drink-driving the "morning after" has risen, police figures suggest - see APUK analysis here.  Meanwhile, a new report says Scottish drivers are the worst in the UK for driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances, reports the Herald.

Academics have criticised Newcastle's late night levy for lack of evidence, reports the Journal, whilst the Gazette says Colchester is considering such a levy to address its 'image problem' associated with drunken revellers.

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