Welcome to the Alcohol Change UK July newsletter
Read on to find out more about drinking during lockdown and beyond, read research into alcohol treatment cuts, check out an appearance from our CEO at this year’s Mindful Drinking Festival, get up to date on the latest alcohol news and more.
|
|
Our response to the Government’s new plan to tackle obesity
On 27 July the Government announced a new plan to tackle obesity, and has included action on alcohol – specifically, they have announced that a new consultation will be launched before the end of the year on plans to provide calorie labelling on alcohol products.
In this blog our Director of Research and Policy Lucy Holmes looks at why it’s vital that alcohol is included in this strategy – and why it’s also essential that, if the Government is serious about our health, they go much further.
|
|
|
Research: drinking during lockdown and beyond
This month we published the results of research we commissioned from Opinium to find out how people’s drinking habits have changed over the course of COVID-19 lockdown.
The representative survey of over 2000 people suggests that heavier lockdown drinking will not end spontaneously when it eases. More than a quarter (28%) of people who have ever drunk alcohol believe that they have been drinking more during lockdown. As pubs reopen and lockdown eases, two in three (66%) expect to continue drinking as they have been during lockdown, or even drink more. Those who have drunk more frequently during lockdown are less likely to say that they will cut down as lockdown eases.
|
|
Coming up this Sunday: Mindful Drinking Festival
Brought to you by Club Soda, he Mindful Drinking Festival is a weekend of exciting talks, panel discussions, low- and no-alcohol drinks tastings and more. It's free to attend, and this year will take place online between 30 July and 2 August. Find out more about it and register your interest here.
On Sunday 2 August, our CEO Richard Piper will be hosting a session at the festival about how to deal with sober shaming, and how we can use cultural activism to address the stigma around not drinking. It’s a great opportunity to meet with like-minded people, discuss sober shaming and collectively think about how we can challenge our alcocentric culture. Join us between 12 and 1pm!
|
|
When alcohol treatment cuts become a false economy
There are a growing number of research reports which suggest a clear link between spending cuts in the provision of alcohol treatment services and potential increases in alcohol harm in local communities. We looked at two reports published in the same week, one highlighting the implications of the recent changes in the commissioning process; the other looking at the knock-on effects in the community, and analysed the findings.
|
|
A story from a fundraiser: Michael's 'Dry LyAug'
Michael is taking on a month-long alcohol-free challenge to raise money for Alcohol Change UK. He stopped drinking in the middle of July (there’s no time like the present!) and will continue into the middle of August, so he creatively called his fundraising challenge: Dry LyAug. "I'm off the ol' booze for a month... for those that know me, know I like a drink or two, so this is going to be a big challenge."
You can read Michael's story and support him, or come up with your own fundraising challenge.
|
|
|
Off-trade alcohol sales up 41%
Off-trade alcohol sales in the UK were up by 41% in the four weeks to 12 July 2020, according to Kantar data released this month, emphasizing again that consumers are not rushing back to the pub following their reopening. The sharp rise in sales of alcohol in the past month has underpinned the fastest rise in grocery sales since records began 26 years ago.
|
|
|
Updated COVID-19 guidance issues
Updated guidance has been published outlining COVID-19 advice for commissioners and service providers involved in assisting people who are dependent on drugs, alcohol or both. The UK Government advises that it is important that drug and alcohol services keep open and operating as they protect vulnerable people who are at greater risk from COVID-19 and help reduce the burden on other healthcare services, but to continue to keep face-to-face contact to a minimum.
|
|
|
Pregnancy warning labels "to be mandatory" in Australia and New Zealand
“Pregnancy warning” labels on alcohol sold in New Zealand and Australia will be mandatory within three years, according to media reports. The new labels will be printed in red, black and white, and read “Pregnancy Warning”. The labels have been approved despite lobbying from alcohol industry representatives who argued it would cost manufacturers too much to use red ink. In the UK, there are currently no requirements for similar warnings to be included on alcohol labels.
|
|
|
New research into adult peer pressure
A study published this month provides insights into peer pressure among adults in the UK, based on a review of existing qualitative research. One of the study's key findings is that peer pressure to drink is not just experienced by adolescents and young people, but older adults too. Despite seeing themselves ‘older and wiser’ compared to when they were young, many still experienced pressures to drink and continue drinking. Ironically, to get rid of peer pressure many people gave in and drank more alcohol, but regretted this decision later.
|
|
|
|
Martin's story: "Alcohol was the way I coped with anxiety and depression"
Martin tells his story about struggling with alcohol from a young age, going into a detox clinic, and how his sister finally made him realise it was time to make a change.
|
|
Staying on top of your drinking as lockdown lifts: our top tips
We asked some people who moderate or don’t drink for some of their top tips for managing their drinking now that pubs and bars are slowly reopening.
|
|
|
|
|
