Alcohol Policy UK

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

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.

News & updates July 2017: memory, diabetes benefit?, drunk in charge of a child, school exclusions & more

Selected news and media stories since the June roundup:

Supreme Court judges retired to consider the latest appeal against minimum pricing of alcohol in Scotland, reported BBC News whilst public health experts continued to put forward their case for the policy (eg in the Guardian and Independent). See our report here.

News & updates February 2017: tax & white cider, lunchtime drinking ban, dry 2017, nightcaps & more

Selected media stories since the January roundup: 

Ahead of the government's spring Budget this week, both 'sides' campaigning for changes in alcohol duty have been seeing some coverage of their calls. The Alcohol Health Alliance and other health groups have been calling for a raise in duties relating to cheap white cider, which were implicated in the recent death of a 16 year old girl - The Mirror. 

Improve services to address addiction related unemployment, says Dame Carol Black

Dame Carol Black's review into the effects on employment outcomes of drug or alcohol addiction and obesity has been released by the Department for Work and Pensions.

The review sets out a series of recommendations to improve options and support for those with drug and alcohol dependence, and does not endorse restricting benefits as was speculated in 2015.

Whilst the scope of the report covers also the role of obesity on employment outcomes, it states the issue is 'different' to substance addiction and 'is treated seperately'. Specifically on alcohol, the report states:

News & updates September 2016: Welsh MUP block, air rage, 'alcohosynth', hangovers, ad bans & more

Selected media stories since the August roundup:

Alcohol in the news

Welsh Government attempts to set a minimum 50p per unit (MUP) have been blocked by Westminster in a move criticised by Doctors - BBC News. MPs refused to devolve pricing powers to the Welsh Government who would seek to stop alcohol being sold "cheaper than water".

The growing number of older people being treated for alcohol dependence is 'all over us like a rash', according to an article in The Huffington Post. The number of people in England aged over 60 being treated for alcohol dependence rose 38% between 2009/10 to 2013/14 as 'the ‘Baby Boomer’ Generation continue with hedonistic lifestyles into their later years'.

Alcohol, drugs and the workplace – BMA medical and employer's guidance

An updated briefing from the the British Medical Assocation (BMA) provides guidance for medical and other professionals on addressing alcohol and drug use in the workplace, including guidance on supporting or recruiting employees with histories of substance misuse. 

See the BMA webpage or 'Alcohol, drugs and the workplace – The role of medical professionals' [pdf] briefing.

Findings bulletins: multi-session brief interventions, individualising treatment, workplace education & more

Recent bulletins from the drug and alcohol bank:

Risky-drinking inpatients respond best to multi-session brief interventions

Review of studies of interventions for heavy drinkers identified among general hospital inpatients concluded that multi-session brief interventions could reduce drinking. “Could” is an important qualifier: yet to be pinned down is why though sometimes they work, brief interventions often fail to produce significant effects.

News & updates January 2016: NHS strains, drink driving, kudzu, industry and problem drinkers & more

Selected media stories since the December roundup, not including the widely reported change in drinking guidelines:

Alcohol, health and the NHS

The NHS faces a ticking timebomb of dementia, brain damage and liver disease due to the heavy drinking of the baby boomer generation, reported the Daily Mail

A study reported in the Daily Mail found that alcohol consumption can increase consumption of unhealthy food via its effects on inhibitory control, although not in highly restrained eaters.

News & updates May 2015: alcohol research, football fans, Formula 1, night time economy

Selected media stories since the April roundup

Alcohol research stories

Binge drinking as a teenager causes long-lasting changes to the regions of the brain that control learning and memory, according to new research reported in the Daily Mail

Teenagers who mix energy drinks with alcohol are more likely to binge drink and abuse alcohol later in life, again according to new research reported in the Daily Mail

The Express asked whether weekend wine could be ruining your waistline (it could).

The Independent looked at how alcohol makes you friendlier – but only to certain people, whilst according to a new study published in the Journal of Sex Research, which included 18 females, booze is a total killjoy when it comes to getting it on and really getting off, reported Metro.