Welcome to the Alcohol Change UK September newsletter
Can no- and low-alcohol drinks reduce the harm caused by alcohol? That’s the question new research from the Social Market Foundation, commissioned by us, seeks to answer. The research found that a quarter (27%) of adults have tried a no- or low-alcohol drink in the last year. Read on to find out more of the findings, as well as our response to the much-anticipated report of the Commission on Alcohol Harm, our annual conference in Wales, the latest alcohol news and more.
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No- and low alcohol drinks: can they reduce alcohol harm?
A new report from the Social Market Foundation, commissioned by us, has been published exploring the growth in popularity of no- and low-alcohol (NoLo) drinks. It found that a quarter of adults (27%) have tried a NoLo drink in the last year, and four in ten (41%) people who have drunk NoLo drinks recently said their alcohol consumption has fallen as a result.
The report concludes that, although drinking NoLo drinks can help individual drinkers to reduce their alcohol consumption, on their own they will be insufficient to significantly reduce alcohol harm in the UK – meaning that the current Government intention to grow their availability as an approach to reducing harm is simply not enough.
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The Commission on Alcohol Harm report: ‘It’s everywhere’
On 14 September, the Commission on Alcohol Harm report was published by the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA). It highlights the wide-ranging impacts of alcohol harm on all parts of society, including the devastating effects on children. The Commission on Alcohol Harm was established to examine the current evidence on alcohol harm, recent trends and the changes needed to reduce it. Key recommendations in the new report include a call to implement minimum unit pricing in England, and a renewed focus on reducing stigma.
Lucy Holmes, Alcohol Change UK Director of Research and Policy, said:
“The report is both timely and urgent. As we look ahead to rebuilding after the coronavirus pandemic we need a determined national focus on public health, and alcohol policy in particular. Addressing alcohol harm should form a key part of the UK's approach to building our resilience to future health threats.”
You can read our full response to the report here.
We urge the Government to implement the recommendations of the report and introduce an evidence-based alcohol strategy for the UK. You can help by emailing your MP and ask that they take action to reduce alcohol harm now. Find more about that here.
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Call for research participants whose relationship has been affected by alcohol
The Alcohol and Families Alliance are conducting research into alcohol and intimate partner relationships and are looking for couples and individuals to interview over the telephone. Has your relationship with your partner or ex been affected by either one or both of you drinking alcohol? Share your experience. Please fill out this form if you are interested in being interviewed, or contact [email protected] for more information.
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Book your place at our first online interactive conference
Working with the whole person: alcohol, mental health and complex needs
Wednesday 2 December and Thursday 3 December 2020
Alcohol misuse is often just one symptom of the complex challenges in someone’s life. Alcohol Change UK have gathered together a multidisciplinary slate of academics, practitioners, and people with lived experience, to help us all work better to support the whole person.
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“Surge in higher risk drinking” could overwhelm addiction services
Addiction services in England could struggle to cope with "soaring" numbers of people misusing alcohol, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The college estimates that in June, nearly 8.5 million people in England were drinking at higher-risk levels, up from 4.8 million in February. It says deep cuts made to addiction services could mean patients will miss out on lifesaving care, and calls on the UK Government to commit to substantial investment in public health, including adult addiction services.
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Portrayal of addiction in the media “increases stigma”
A new research project from Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs and the Scottish Recovery Consortium has found that the use of stigmatising language and pictures in media reports has a negative impact on those wishing to share their stories. Both charities shared concerns around the stigma towards people with addictions, and the lack of lived/living experience highlighted in the media.
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Concerns over increase in alcohol-industry funded research
The alcohol industry is increasingly funding academic research into the impacts of alcohol consumption – with some studies making claims about the health benefits of alcohol, according to new research from the University of York. The study found that since 2009, there has been a 56% increase in research funded by alcohol companies or affiliated organisations, raising concerns over the potential for bias, conflicts of interest and selective reporting of outcomes.
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Male identity and alcohol under the spotlight in new report
A new study from Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and the Institute of Alcohol Studies examines the relationship between alcohol consumption and male identity, looking at how commonplace tropes of the ‘hard-drinking man’ and ‘one of the lads’ shapes men’s consumption. It also explores how alcohol-related harms, both mental and physical, remain a significant issue for men, who are typically less likely to seek help for mental health issues. The report argues for more to be done to address the stigma around seeking help for both alcohol and mental health issues, as well as tackling wider social and economic inequality.
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Dave's fundraising challenge: "Alcohol Change UK helped answer my questions"
Dave stopped drinking in early 2019 after a friend challenged him to go without alcohol for three months. This year, he set himself the challenge of cycling 600 miles throughout September to raise money to support our work.
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Children affected by their parents' drinking: what's happening and how can we help?
Piers Henriques from charity Nacoa asks what's happening to the hundreds of thousands of UK children living with a heavy-drinking parent during COVID-19, and how they can get the support they need and deserve.
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