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:

PHE COVID-19 guidance on stopping drinking for people dependent on alcohol

Public Health England have added to the growing list of alcohol resources in response to the Coronavirus crisis with COVID-19: information on stopping drinking for people dependent on alcohol.

Contents include:

1. What you need to know
2. Background
3. Symptoms
4. Protection against infection
5. Considerations for people using drugs or alcohol
6. Children and families
7. Mental health
8. Access to opioid substitution treatment
9. Needle and syringe programmes (NSPs)
10. Drug detoxification
11. Alcohol harm reduction and detoxification
12. Non-medical support
13. Those not in drug and alcohol treatment
14. What else commissioners and providers of drug and alcohol treatment services can do
15. Cleaning and waste
16. Other sources of information

The guidance follows SHAAP guidance on recommendations for services on alcohol related problems and other available reports and resources.

New evidence on risks of low-level alcohol use in pregnancy

In this guest post, Dr Kayleigh Easey (@KayEasey), from the Bristol Medical School’s MRC Intergrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, takes a look at a recent research investigating effects of drinking in pregnancy and child mental health.

Whilst it’s generally known that heavy alcohol use during pregnancy can cause physical and cognitive impairments in offspring, there has been relatively limited evidence about the effects of low to moderate alcohol use. As such there have been conflicting conclusions about the potential harm of drinking in pregnancy, and debate around official guidance.

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.

Alcohol & COVID-19: news, guidance & comment

In the wake of the COVID-19 'Corona' virus pandemic, below we highlight a selection of alcohol-related news, comments and guidance.

News and comment

Britain’s drinking habits are changing under lockdown, as CGA insights say people are reporting drinking less alcohol than before the outbreak, with nearly half (42%) saying they are drinking less alcohol than usual.

COVID-19 and alcohol: an enduring effect on home drinking habits? James Morris explores the range of implications resulting from the rise in home drinking in this piece for the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA). See here for a Twitter thread by Colin Angus exploring some of the data and implications regarding likely consumption impacts.

IAS Alert March 2020: Tax, regulation, lobbying & more

The latest Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) Alcohol Alert: March 2020 is now available (here for PDF version). Read the editorial here and articles below:

• COVER STORY – King’s Fund: Taxes and regulation on alcohol ‘highly effective’
• Busiest MPs up to three times more likely to be ‘risky’ drinkers
• Four every minute: Six Nations references to alcohol
• Ireland: Cross-border talk of a uniform MUP
• Irish ministers lobbied daily by industry
• Seven out of ten alcohol labels fail to display guidelines
• Budget 2020: Alcohol duty frozen, again
• Barnsley backs call for Minimum Unit Pricing in England
• Irish drank less in 2019
• Alcohol and public health in the time of a pandemic
• ALCOHOL SNAPSHOT – The effectiveness of duty increases in raising prices at the checkout varies widely between drink types

Coronavirus (COVID-19): SHAAP recommendations for services on alcohol related problems

SHAAP (Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems) has released new recommendations for services supporting people with alcohol-related problems, including ADPs, Commissioners, Alcohol Service Managers, Community Services and Mutual Aid and Support Groups, to enable them to reduce risks and ensure continued support in the COVID-19 context.

Download 'Coronavirus (COVID-19) and People with Alcohol-related Problems: Recommendations for Services' [pdf].

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].

Health groups disappointed again as 2020 budget freezes duties

The 2020 spring budget has again left health groups dismayed by freezing all duties, which the IAS point out is the seventh year out of the last eight that alcohol duties failed to keep up with inflation.

Meanwhile, alcohol industry groups behind various campaigns to cut duties celebrated the news, claiming the move would help the industry in facing difficult times. However, industry campaign claims have been repeatedly questioned in several regards, notably the implication that tax rises on alcohol would lead to lower revenue, referred to as the Laffer curve. The Government's own analysis indicates the latest freeze in duties will come at a cost to the Treasury of just over £1bn to the year 2024–25.

IAS Alert February 2020: alcohol duty impact, admissions, drinking driving & more

The latest Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) Alcohol Alert: February 2020 is now available (here for PDF version). Read the editorial here and articles below:

• Alcohol duty doesn't penalise the poor
• IARD crackdown on underage drinking raises suspicion
• South Tyneside: 70p MUP saves lives
• SHAAP to Scottish Government: lived experience matters
• Alcohol admissions in England at highest ever level, once more
• New action plan on alcohol sees WHO into next decade
• Drink-driving statistics: On the road to nowhere
• Wales: MUP is coming, retailers told
• All-inclusive alcohol ban in Mallorca and Ibiza
• Alcohol, the solution to overcome loneliness?
• ALCOHOL SNAPSHOT – Men pay the lion’s share of most alcohol taxes in England – except wine duty