@ias.org.uk
An independent organisation that seeks to bridge the gap between science and public policies to reduce alcohol-related harm. Website: https://www.ias.org.uk/ Newsletter & Podcast: https://instalcstud.substack.com/
This is a life and death story for the UK – so why is it being brushed under the carpet?
My column on the headline you probably haven't heard, yet which affects you, your family and friends.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Dr Katherine Severi, chief executive at IAS, said the findings that university students report higher rates of heavy drinking were particularly concerning:
"This points to the role of the wider alcohol environment, rather than individual choice alone."
Despite frequent claims that young people are drinking less, this study from @clscohorts.bsky.social suggests that gen Z drinkers in their early 20s may now be drinking as much as – or more than – millennials did at a similar age.
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
“Alcohol is everywhere – supermarkets, corner shops, petrol stations, online.” Laurie explains why she thinks it’s important to reduce alcohol availability, as a means of reducing alcohol harms. #AlcoholIsToxic 🔽
@ias.org.uk @aha-uk.bsky.social
Globally, 28% of healthy years lost to breast cancer are due to just 6 lifestyle factors.
In the UK, 4 in 10 cancers are preventable with lifestyle changes.
The message is clear: prevention policies are crucial in reducing rates of ill-health and death.
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
If the UK Government followed this roadmap, we could see real progress in reducing alcohol harm.
Without stronger, evidence-based policies, too many lives will continue to be affected.
A thoughtful, long-term vision for change from @ias.org.uk
Read it here 🔽
www.ias.org.uk/report/a-hea...
If you’re interested in setting up a Conversation Café at your institution, contact: humanisinghealthcare@gmail.com
And for a inside view of how the Cafes work, check out this film:
youtube.com/watch?v=i1Go...
What does Humanising Healthcare do and how does it bring medical students closer to recovery communities?
Listen to our latest podcast to hear about the innovative Conversation Cafe project:
www.ias.org.uk/podcast/huma...
How alcohol companies use zero-alcohol advertising to avoid regulation, and why this is harmful.
Another excellent @theguardian.com 'It's Complicated' short.
www.youtube.com/shorts/Nzg7r...
'Why are we paying so much for no and low alcohol?'
Excellent 2-min film from @theguardian.com's 'It's Complicated' series, about:
💸 % of a drink that is tax
🍺 Price anchoring to make products seem higher quality
🏭 How some products are more expensive to make
www.youtube.com/shorts/xo-xc...
If you’re interested in setting up a Conversation Café at your institution, contact: humanisinghealthcare@gmail.com
And for a inside view of how the roundtables work, check out this film:
youtube.com/watch?v=i1GofPA9sSI&feature=youtu.be
How can medical education teach students to understand the nature & root causes of addiction better?
In our February podcast we spoke to Humanising Healthcare about their Conversation Café programme, which brings students & people in recovery together
www.ias.org.uk/podcast/huma...
"The DUP's own support base I would have thought would want to see a reduction in alcohol consumption.
"I suggest putting ideology to the side and following the medical evidence."
A powerful letter on introducing MUP in Northern Ireland.
www.newsletter.co.uk/news/opinion...
"If the number of people who died on the road was reflected in aeroplane travel, you'd have an aeroplane falling out of the sky every month."
Listen to our latest podcast with @brakecharity.bsky.social's @lstraker.bsky.social discussing the Road Safety Strategy.
www.ias.org.uk/podcast/plan...
The EU’s new Wine Package protects industry interests 🍷
While Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan promised stronger labelling, wine is given exceptional treatment.
In our latest blog, Wim van Dalen explains why health groups are being sidelined.
www.ias.org.uk/2026/02/24/e...
New study shows exposure to alcohol-promoting posts on Instagram increases young adults’ desire to drink.
In a randomised study of 2,000 18–24 year olds, those shown influencer posts featuring alcohol had 73% higher odds of wanting a drink.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
New EU study finds that knowing alcohol causes cancer is linked to greater support for pricing, availability & point-of-sale restrictions - the very policies that usually face the lowest backing.
Correcting the “wine is good for your heart” myth matters too.
academic.oup.com/eurpub/advan...
...and are now the highest across the UK, including North East England. The Alliance points out that: "Twenty years ago Northern Ireland’s death rates were half those of Scotland."
Read the full letter here: ahauk.org/news/mup-nor... @aha-uk.bsky.social
Rise in alcohol deaths in Northern Ireland is a "deep concern" and minimum unit pricing should be introduced as soon as possible, the Alcohol Health Alliance says in a letter to the country's First and Deputy Ministers.
Deaths have overtaken Scotland's...
www.irishnews.com/news/norther...
If the UK government were to follow this roadmap, alcohol harm across our country would significantly fall.
Without introducing these proven policies, disease and deaths from alcohol will remain unacceptably high.
Read our long-term vision here: www.ias.org.uk/report/a-hea...
...off-trade alcohol sales would lead to significant economic growth in the UK, as spending would shift to much more productive and UK-based products, rather than money leaking out of the country.
In addition, improved health would increase productivity.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
In response to a question on alcohol marketing restrictions, the government says it will continue to consider what measures are needed to tackle alcohol harm.
However, it also frames this as a question of “balance” with economic growth.
But recent research shows reducing...
Climate change is already reshaping health and inequality.
In our latest blog, Prof Sarah MacLean, Dr Megan Cook, Dr Lisa de Kleyn and Prof Lauren Rickards argue that alcohol and other drugs services must be part of climate adaptation planning.
www.ias.org.uk/2026/02/17/a...
...need more regulation. It’s the way the alcohol industry distorts the evidence base for what is effective in preventing harm that is most shocking.”
...It’s the commercial determinant of health which most affects our lives and most affects our communities—which successive governments have neglected.”
May van Schalkwyk, University of Edinburgh research fellow, told The BMJ, “Alcohol is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. We clearly...
...lobby on their behalf and block the proposals.”
Jeff Collin, professor of global health policy at the University of Edinburgh, added, “It’s clear that the alcohol industry got what it wanted out of this process.
“The consequences are likely to be pretty dreadful...
...to be a high level of access behind the scenes to government ministers and departments outside the health department.
“When the alcohol industry didn’t like what the health secretary was proposing, it went behind his back and tried to get the chancellor and the business business secretary to...
DHSC says it is "categorically untrue that any policy content of our 10 year health plan was changed by lobbying" after IAS research exposes how industry lobbying led to marketing restrictions being removed from the Plan.
Dr Katherine Severi told the BMJ:
“There seems...
bmj.com/content/392/...
...fully their objections and what strategy they have to tackle this enormous public health issue."
Read full article here: www.msn.com/en-gb/money/...
With alcohol deaths at record highs in Northern Ireland, The Irish News calls for minimum unit pricing.
"If it is still the case that DUP voices are those blocking agreement, as reported in this paper last year, then they should come forward and explain...
www.irishnews.com/opinion/no-r...
