Alcohol Policy UK

Guidelines research, labelling politics & Dry January debate

Alcohol guidelines knowledge 

New research has been released on drinker's knowledge of the previous daily alcohol guidelines, suggesting only one in four drinkers accurately estimated them, with even fewer using guidelines to monitor their drinking.

The study explored knowledge and use of the guidelines prior to the revision to a weekly guideline of 14 units in 2016, before which a daily guideline of 2-3 units per day for women and 3-4 units per day for men (with at least two alcohol free days) had been in place since 1995.

Health Survey England 2016 & Drinkaware Monitor 2017 reports

Two recent reports detailing recent consumption and drinking behaviour insights have been released in the annual Health Survey England 2016 and Drinkaware Monitor 2017.

The Health Survey for England (HSE) 2016 focuses on consumption in the last week, detailed in the adult health trends chapter [pdf]. HSE reports in 2016, 31% of men and 16% of women drank at a level indicating increased or higher risk of harm (more than 14 units per week as per the revised guidelines).

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

Statistics for alcohol treatment in England: falling numbers

Public Health England (PHE) have released alcohol treatment figures in England for 2016-2017 within a combined report of drug and alcohol treatment data.

The reports states 80,454 alcohol only clients received treatment, a decline of 5% from last year (85,035) and a 12% fall from the 91,651 peak seen in 2013-14. A further 28,242 also accessed treatment for an alcohol problem alongside non-opiate drug use. Reporting no longer identifies primary drug where more than one substance is identified.

Public Health England (PHE) have released alcohol treatment figures in England for 2016-2017 within a combined report of drug and alcohol treatment data.

The reports states 80,454 alcohol only clients received treatment, a decline of 5% from last year (85,035) and a 12% fall from the 91,651 peak seen in 2013-14. A further 28,242 also accessed treatment for an alcohol problem alongside non-opiate drug use. Reporting no longer identifies primary drug where more than one substance is identified.

News & updates October 2017: soberocracy, hangover-free prosecco, gin pong, rise of the micropub

Selected news and media stories since the September roundup:

We are witnessing the rise of a 'soberocracy' suggested the Telegraph at the start of Macmillan Cancer Support's 'Go Sober for October' initiative, whose popularity, and that of Alcohol Concern's 'Dry January', make 'the seemingly ingrained British belief that nights out and nights in both require alcohol [look] increasingly anachronistic'.

Drinking amongst young people: NHS Digital 2016 school pupils survey

The latest figures on drinking amongst pupils aged up to 15 have been released in Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England - 2016.

The survey report presents information on the percentage of pupils who have ever smoked, tried alcohol or taken drugs and explores the attitudes of school children towards smoking and drinking, last released in 2015. The latest figures however include a revised question relating to alcohol use meaning the data is not directly comparable to previous years.

IAS Alert October 2017: parental drinking, MUP, Global Alcohol Policy Conference 2017, SBI manual & more

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

• Report highlights childrens’ anxiety about parents’ drinking
• Wales introduces minimum unit price for alcohol
• GAPC2017 – Mobilising for change
• AA Ireland welcomes tougher drink-drive rules
• Most drivers want a lower drink-drive limit
• Alcohol-related deaths will go uncounted in new UK scheme
• Politicians pledge to ‘Protect the Protectors’
• Alcohol a driver of suicides in Armed Forces
• Licensing figures 2017: premises called to review – why the decline?
• Wealth gap remains among Scots drinkers
• Nurse-led service can reduce alcohol-related harm
• WHO Europe launches SBI training manual
• SHAAP launches guidance for treating ARLD

Licensing figures 2017: premises called to review - why the decline?

The Home Office recently released 2017 statistics on alcohol and late night refreshment licensing in England and Wales, showing a further small but steady rise in the total number of licensed premises. Reviews of premises potentially causing problems have continued to fall significantly, though the reasons behind this are still unclear.

As of 31 March 2017 there were 211,500 premises licences, a 1% increase of 1,100 compared with 31 March 2016. The Home Office reports this is a 'in line with the broadly increasing trend since 31 March 2008' when 195,800 were recorded.

As of 31 March 2017 there were 211,500 premises licences, a 1% increase of 1,100 compared with 31 March 2016. The Home Office reports this is a 'in line with the broadly increasing trend since 31 March 2008' when 195,800 were recorded.

News & updates September 2017: Gin trends, stealth drinking, millennials, draft wine, pubs

Selected news and media stories since the August roundup:

A survey by Evenbrite says millennials consume 'just five units' of alcohol each week, reported Mailonline. Some 90 per cent see getting drunk as 'uncool' and a quarter believe it is 'pathetic' and 'embarrassing' when someone has had too much.

Hospital admissions linked to liver damage have doubled in a decade, according to new figures which also show that people from Blackpool are nearly eight times as likely to die from liver disease as those from Norfolk, reported the Telegraph.

Armed forces deploy brief interventions: will it work?

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) have released figures on an initiative to deliver alcohol brief interventions across the armed forces via dental check ups, identifying 61% of military personnel drinking at a risky or harmful levels.

The MoD has previously come under fire over a lack of action to address high levels of alcohol misuse amongst the armed forces. In 2015 Professor Neil Greenberg, lead on military health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a former Navy Commander, said an approach based education alone was not effective. Subsequently an MoD alcohol working group was instigated to "review policy and data to identify what more we can do to tackle alcohol misuse in the armed forces".