"This isn't acceptable in any other workplace." Professor Sir Ian Gilmore of @aha-uk.bsky.social talked with LBC about our new report: 'Under the influence? Perspectives of alcohol in the parliamentary workplace among UK MPs and staff.' Read the report: www.ias.org.uk/news/westmin...

Almost 1 in 10 people working in parliament reported a negative experience because of someone else's drinking at work in the last 6 months - rising to 13% of Westminster-based staff. Unwanted sexual attention and harassment were among the most commonly mentioned. www.ias.org.uk/report/under...

In our latest blog, Jon Hobday sets out an exemplary approach from Greater Manchester: a whole-system alcohol strategy built on WHO's SAFER framework, but shaped by 16 months of listening to people in recovery, families and frontline staff. www.ias.org.uk/2026/08/04/a...

Alcohol harm is not inevitable. But reducing it requires us to act differently - Institute of Alcohol Studies

Alcohol harm is claiming more lives across Greater Manchester than ever - but it isn't inevitable. DPH Jon Hobday explains the city's new strategy that puts listening, prevention and community at its ...

ias.org.uk

Shocking new report highlights the scale of the alcohol problem at #Westminster Given contexts where people are being plied with alcohol from every direction, as they seem to be in Parliament, 'Drink responsibly' really is a phrase that needs to go the way of the dodo.

Institute of Alcohol Studies@ias.org.uk · 2d ago

Parliament's response to our report misses the point entirely. Our report never claimed Parliament hands out free alcohol - but organisations hosting events do, throughout the day. And their response puts the onus on individuals to "drink responsibly."🧵 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

But that ignores our actual finding: it's the sheer availability itself that's driving harm - normalising high-risk drinking, affecting sleep and stress, and creating an environment where MPs described colleagues having their stomachs pumped and going straight back to work. Availability is...

...themselves, suggesting common-sense changes such as limiting free alcohol to evening events and improving support for people experiencing alcohol problems at work."

IAS's Chief Executive, Dr Katherine Severi, told the Guardian: "Very few professions these days would allow free alcohol from midday, or regularly host outside organisations sponsoring events where drinking is the norm during working hours. "MPs and staff recognised this...

.@theguardian.com has covered our report on Westminster's drinking culture. The research found alcohol remains deeply embedded in parliamentary life, with many MPs and staff questioning whether that reflects a modern workplace. Read the article 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

‘MPs have had their stomachs pumped’: concerns over ‘alcohol-soaked’ culture in Westminster

Alcohol is embedded in profession where long hours, loneliness and lobbying are the norm, report finds

theguardian.com

20 years since the founding of @shaapalcohol.bsky.social, we sat down with Drs @alastairmacg.bsky.social and Lesley Graham to trace its history. In our latest podcast, we hear about building the MUP evidence base, and six gruelling years of industry legal challenges. 🔗https://buff.ly/H07AiAB

We've just published our eFocus newsletter for July 2026 📰 Check it out for the latest news, policy developments, research and events from Alcohol Focus Scotland and beyond! mailchi.mp/662f393dca08...

Young people have voiced concerns about the pervasive presence of alcohol sponsorship in sport, research by the University of Stirling has shown. www.stir.ac.uk/news/2026/ju... @kaykinoneill.bsky.social

Study reveals young people’s concerns over alcohol sponsorship in sport | About | University of Stirling

Study reveals young people’s concerns over alcohol sponsorship in sport

stir.ac.uk

🚨 Textbook greenwashing from Big Alcohol. BuzzBallz claimed on its website their packaging was recyclable - it isn't. The plastic-and-metal balls can't be separated and contaminate recycling streams 66% of the time, per one facility's analysis. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

BuzzBallz are 'greenwashing' say recycling experts

BuzzBallz cannot be recycled because the metal lid and plastic body are attached, say experts.

bbc.co.uk

Andy Burnham's new £100m business rates cut supports pubs, clubs & live music venues - but excludes most cafes. Telling that Dialogue Cafe actually has an alcohol licence yet still doesn't qualify because it's not primarily a drinking venue. It does... www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

‘It’s not fair’: cafe owners frustrated over exclusion from business rates cut

Business owners in England say prioritising venues selling alcohol leaves vital community spaces behind

theguardian.com

Thanks to @caramckeegreens.bsky.social for her motion at the #ScottishParliament on #AlcoholAwarenessWeek and also mentioning our new lived and living experience project - the Alcohol Action Network. Find out more about the Network on our website www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/alcoholactio...

Scotland is still experiencing near record #AlcoholDeaths The independent report into violence at the recent #OldFirm Cup match confirmed a rising trend of violent disorder in #ScottishFootball More alcohol, more often isn't going to help with either.🤦‍♂️ www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Aberdeen granted permanent alcohol licence

Aberdeen Football Club have been granted a permanent alcohol licence by city council for matches at Pittodrie.

bbc.co.uk

Many young people didn't distinguish No/Low alcohol campaigns from alcohol ads. "I just saw the alcohol brand, I never really thought of the zeros." If young people can see the contradiction between sport and alcohol sponsorship, perhaps the people who run international football can too.

Young people aged 11-17 described alcohol branding in sport as "confusing" and "ironic" - struggling to reconcile elite athletes and healthy lifestyles with products that increase cancer risk. They also understood why companies invest so heavily anyway. "People see it - they want to get it."

As the World Cup winds down, a new piece by @richardpurves.bsky.social in The Conversation examines what alcohol sponsorship at the tournament has meant for the millions of children and young people watching. The researchers asked young people directly. Their answers are worth hearing...

The 2026 World Cup has been a tournament where alcohol brands hoped to win influence through sponsorship

Tournament sponsors have a captive audience.

theconversation.com

Does the public punish intoxicated offenders more harshly? In our latest blog by Dr Carly Lightowlers, new YouGov data shows intoxication - not dependence - drives calls for tougher punishment. Engaging in treatment, meanwhile, softens judgement. www.ias.org.uk/2026/07/21/a...

Alcohol, crime and public judgements: what shapes the public’s view on punishment? - Institute of Alcohol Studies

New YouGov research shows intoxication - not dependence - drives public calls for tougher punishment in assault cases, while treatment engagement softens judgement.

ias.org.uk

Diageo's new boss "plans to invest heavily in the fast-growing 'ready-to-drink' beverages category, in a bid to attract younger drinkers to Diageo’s brands", according to the FT. www.ft.com/content/5a3f...

Diageo chair hunts for drinks ‘heavyweights’ in board revamp

Chair seeks robust oversight as Sir Dave Lewis restructures struggling spirits company

ft.com

"The strong links between sport and alcohol predate the rise of global alcohol producers, but the alcohol industry has been quick to build on the historic associations between masculinity, success, peer bonding, and alcohol consumption." www.bmj.com/content/394/...

The beautiful game versus our favourite drug

The link between alcohol and football is strong, but can create a trail of harms, say William Gilmore and Ian Gilmore Politicians in the UK have always been keen to show their footballing credential...

bmj.com

We're proud to introduce Liver UK – the new name the British Liver Trust and Children's Liver Disease Foundation. We're here to unite the liver community so that everyone, of all ages, gets the care, support and hope they need. More: liveruk.org/a-new-chapte...

"Are we asking what's wrong with the person, or what's wrong with the system?" Stigma isn't just "out there" - it can be baked into policies, language and processes inside the very organisations trying to tackle it. Our latest blog on the Stigma-Free Toolkit. www.ias.org.uk/2026/07/14/s...

Stigma isn’t only out there. It can be written into the way we work - Institute of Alcohol Studies

Stigma isn't just out there in public attitudes - it's often built into our own policies, language and systems. This piece asks whether we're brave enough to look inward and change what we find.

ias.org.uk

Excellent article in the Daily Mail that tracks the change in alcohol's availability and consumption over the past 60 years - delivery apps, cheap supermarket alcohol, and a labelling loophole all in the mix as deaths have climbed. Read here: archive.is/LRAHR www.dailymail.com/health/artic...

Alarming reasons why alcohol deaths have soared since 2019

Food delivery apps, cheaper-than-ever booze and the myth that wine is 'healthier' than spirits are fuelling a deadly liver disease crisis in the UK, experts have warned.

dailymail.com

"Newer evidence challenges assumptions about what was long considered “safe drinking.” Even moderate drinking carries risk and is not as harmless as people, including experts, once thought." theconversation.com/alcohol-is-o...

Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs, yet its presence is ubiquitous in social settings and celebrations

Despite growing evidence of alcohol’s harms, it remains deeply embedded in social norms and cultural rituals, both in the US and abroad.

theconversation.com

Alcohol awareness posters available to download from Scotland's National Charity working to reduce harm from alcohol #AlcoholAwarenessWeek #MentalHealthMatters #AlcoholAndMe #WellBeing @alcoholchangeuk.bsky.social

Alcohol Focus Scotland@alcoholfocus.bsky.social · 4w ago

This week is #AlcoholAwarenessWeek Looking to raise awareness of alcohol related harm in your service or workplace? You can download a range of alcohol awareness posters from our website 🔽 https://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/resources/?cat=12

Last chance to apply! ⏰ We are looking for a creative, energetic and experienced Business Development Manager. Deadline is 9am tomorrow. Apply below 🔽 www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/about-vacanc...

Checking our drinking is normal. We regularly check our eyesight, teeth and blood pressure - why not our drinking? This #AlcoholAwarenessWeek take the Alcohol Change UK quiz for a clearer picture of your drinking patterns and any potential risks: alcoholchange.org.uk/check-your-drinking

Great to see intention to take action to protect children from this kind of harmful tobacco product marketing. However, Governments across the UK should be showing the same intent to protect children from harmful #AlcoholMarketing www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...

Cola and Cotton Candy-flavoured vapes to be banned to protect children

New government proposals will also mean vape devices can only come in plain packaging

independent.co.uk

"Minimum unit pricing became policy in Scotland in 2012 after a long campaign involving charities, health campaigners, medical professionals and researchers." Paul Johnston, CEO of @publichealthscot.bsky.social on why England should learn from Scotland on #MUP www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

Taking bold action to improve health: what can we learn from Scotland?

What can Scotland’s experience of minimum unit pricing teach us about tackling health inequalities? Drawing on evidence from Public Health Scotland, this article explores bold public health policies.

kingsfund.org.uk