Welcome to the Alcohol Change UK October newsletter
Our annual Alcohol Awareness Week campaign kicks off on 16 November on the subject of ‘Alcohol and mental health’. Throughout the week we’ll be sharing information and advice about alcohol and mental health, and more. You can download free resources or buy printed materials via our shop. Read on to find out more about this, as well as resources for Dry January, this month’s alcohol news highlights, the latest blogs and more.
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Alcohol Awareness Week is just around the corner!
Less than a month to go until Alcohol Awareness Week! This year’s campaign takes place from 16-22 November on the theme of ‘ Alcohol and mental health’. Last year over 2,000 local authorities, charities, GP surgeries, pharmacies, hospitals, workplaces and other community groups across the country took part!
The week will be an opportunity to highlight the relationship between alcohol and mental health, and the impact that drinking can have on our mental wellbeing. We’ll be sharing information and advice about alcohol and mental health, as well as people's personal stories.
Free downloadable resources are now available to help you run Alcohol Awareness Week in your community or workplace. This year, we’re also offering professionally printed copies of our key resources. You can buy these from our shop to use for the campaign, or year-round. They are a great way to get people thinking and talking about their drinking habits and can really boost your campaign.
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Dry January – time to get planning
Many of us have spent this year stressed out, scared and tired. We’ve found ourselves slipping into habits we wish we could break. It’s no wonder that many of us don’t feel much like ourselves.
That’s where Dry January comes in. It's your 31-day alcohol-free challenge to get your you back. 31 days alcohol-free. Your chance for a break. A reset.
This isn’t about stopping drinking forever. But it’s about more than January. It’s about you, year-round. It’s about learning that you don’t need alcohol so that for the rest of the year you’ve got a real choice. It’s about making 2021 the best it can be.
Dry January is the perfect complement to Alcohol Awareness Week. While the latter gets people thinking about their drinking, Dry January gives them a concrete action to take to reset their relationship with alcohol.
You can now get your free, downloadable Dry January resources including posters, flyers and social media resources. If you prefer your resources printed, you can buy Dry January calendars for people in your community to fill in throughout the month, plus high-quality printed posters, on our shop. Visit our shop today!
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Don't miss 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 are gathering together a multidisciplinary slate of academics, practitioners, and people with lived experience, to help us all work better to support the whole person. Join us to explore new ideas and thinking around alcohol and mental health.
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One in 10 drinkers "drinking less" because of minimum pricing
Six months after minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol was introduced in Wales, one in ten drinkers say they have been drinking less as a result, according to a survey published by Alcohol Change UK. Researchers from OnePoll, on behalf of Alcohol Change UK, surveyed 1,000 adults in Wales who normally drink alcohol. Three-quarters of respondents said they knew about MUP, compared with just half of drinkers when asked a year ago. Of people who were aware of MUP, 10% said they were drinking less alcohol because of it.
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Call for evidence on reform of alcohol duty system
The UK Government has launched a call for evidence for reforming the alcohol duty system. The call, which was announced in the Budget in March, aims to assess the current system in light of the UK leaving the European Union. The duty system is regarded by many as highly inconsistent and is one of the reasons why products such as high-strength ciders are charged very little tax and can be sold so cheaply.
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Brexit Bill “could mean court challenge for minimum pricing”
The Scottish Government may face a court challenge if it seeks to raise the minimum alcohol price in the future. UK Internal Market Bill would mean a "higher bar" for measures which potentially discriminate against fair market access for goods from outside Scotland, an advisor to Holyrood's Constitution committee has warned. The UK Government rejects claims that the controversial legislation will have any impact on Holyrood's ability to raise the minimum alcohol price.
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ScotsRail “considering drinking ban” on its services
A blanket ban on alcohol on ScotRail services could be imposed as part of Covid safety measures, according to the BBC. The travel operator told BBC Scotland the measure is being considered, although the firm said they were "not in a position" to confirm details. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers welcomed the move but said it could be "problematic".
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Not consultation – partnership: lessons from alcohol services’ work with Punjabi communities
Professor Sarah Galvani discusses the lessons we can learn from guidance published in June this year on alcohol services' work with Punjabi communities.
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Matthew’s story: “I’m glad I gave up alcohol when I did – it has made me feel happier and healthier.”
Matthew committed to going alcohol-free for six months for a fundraising challenge, but after realising the positive impact it had on his health, he decided to keep going.
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