“The UK already knows what works. Continued inaction on MUP in England is becoming increasingly difficult to justify.” Labour MP Dr Beccy Cooper's @bmj.com letter pushes for minimum unit pricing in England. @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social @sharonhodgsonmp.bsky.social www.bmj.com/content/394/...

UK alcohol deaths: we know that minimum unit pricing works

The slight fall in alcohol specific deaths in the UK is welcome good news but should not distract us from seeking to prevent further harm and lives lost due to alcohol in England.1 As Iacobucci notes...

bmj.com

BuzzBallz. 99p shots. High-ABV canned cocktails marketed to Gen Z. In our latest blog, IAS researcher Emma Thompson examines what the death of 'premiumisation' really means – and why the industry's 'responsible drinking' narrative just got a lot harder to defend. www.ias.org.uk/2026/06/24/t...

The end of premiumisation? - Institute of Alcohol Studies

Alcohol giants are quietly pivoting from "premiumisation" to cheaper, stronger ready-to-drink products targeting Gen Z, even as younger generations drink less overall. This shift threatens to undercut...

ias.org.uk

If you have an idea that could advance the scientific understanding of addiction – and help translate that knowledge into policy and practice – consider applying for an SSA-funded PhD studentship or fellowship tinyurl.com/ssa-funding

Are you an ECR interested in learning how to speak to diverse audiences? Register for this free webinar focused on Science Communication. We have expert speakers on writing for The Conversation, running a podcast and communicating with those working in practice. Book your place tinyurl.com/y4bah836

Upcoming webinar: A practical guide to communicating research beyond academia

The SSA’s Early Career Research Network is running a free [...]

tinyurl.com

Society for the Study of Addiction@addiction-ssa.org · 3mo ago

The SSA’s Early Career Research Network is hosting a free science communication webinar on Wednesday 20 May (14:00–15:00). Book your place tinyurl.com/y4bah836

Sharing, without comment, British newspapers’ depictions of the only Jewish person currently leading a UK political party . Times. Mail. Telegraph. Sun.

The SSA is recruiting people with lived or living experience of addiction to help shape the future of addiction science. -Online meetings (every four to six weeks) -Payment for involvement Apply now: www.addiction-ssa.org/about/joinin... #LivedExperience #AddictionResearch #PublicInvolvement

The EASL–Lancet Liver Commission has published a major new report, that calls for much more action on tackling rising liver disease in Europe, including: - Restricting digital alcohol marketing - Health warnings on alcohol - Aligning alcohol taxes... www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Raise tax on alcohol and junk food to cut deaths from liver disease, experts say

Report calls for tough action to combat ‘escalating and unsustainable burden’ of liver-related problems in Europe

theguardian.com

Our Small Grants Scheme is open! 💷Between £500 and £15,000 ⏰ Up to 12 months 🔍PhD or equivalent, based at a UK university 🖱️https://www.ias.org.uk/small-grants-scheme/ Priority will be given to proposals that align with our long-term vision to reduce alcohol harm: www.ias.org.uk/wp-content/u...

Fantastic new episode of Public Health Disrupted. Listen now: publichealthdisrupted.transistor.fm

Public Health Disrupted

Presented by Doctor, writer and TV Presenter Xand van Tulleken and community health psychologist and self-proclaimed hippie, UCL's Professor Rochelle Burgess. This podcast is about public health, but...

publichealthdisrupted.transistor.fm

UCL Health of the Public@uclhealthpublic.bsky.social · 4mo ago

In the latest episode of Public Health Disrupted, we look into why younger generations are drinking less, and what this means for public health. Xand and @thewrittenro.bsky.social are joined by Millie Gooch and @melissaoldham.bsky.social. Listen now: publichealthdisrupted.transistor.fm

Please share! We're still looking for people who work in alcohol treatment and recovery services in the UK to complete our anonymous survey about alcohol-free drinks 👇👇👇 #AlcoholRecovery #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #Recovery

The SSA is offering two types of bursaries, designed to support different roles and career stages. Find out more and apply: tinyurl.com/ywhtw46k

What should the UK do about alcohol harms? On Wednesday, the Society for the Study of Addiction will publish a full roundtable discussion on the topic, with leading alcohol policy and research experts. @addiction-ssa.org Watch the trailer:

Revisiting some of my favourite pricing data that the ONS quietly publish each month - here's how the price of a bottle of wine has changed over the last 16 years after adjusting for inflation 📊 Big falls for sparkling and rose wine in particular.

Was surprised to see reports today of rising binge drinking among young adults. But the comparison is current 23 year-olds with themselves when they were 17, not with any previous generation. So we've no idea if binge drinking *in 23 year-olds* is rising or not. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Binge drinking rises sharply among gen Z in their early 20s

Research challenges idea of ‘generation sensible’ as alcohol and drug use increase after teenage years

theguardian.com

The latest paper to be published from our project 'Reforming alcohol taxes in a cost-of-living crisis' was led by @drsarahejackson.bsky.social with @jamiebrown.bsky.social @jholmessheff.bsky.social & @victimofmaths.bsky.social. Find out more about the project here: bit.ly/3OGifN3 #PublicHealth

Associations between financial hardship and alcohol reduction attempts in the context of a cost-of-living crisis and alcohol tax reforms: a population study in Great Britain, 2023–25

Rising living costs and changes to alcohol taxation influence drinking behaviours. This study aimed to examine associations between financial hardship…

sciencedirect.com

👀 🍺 👇🏻 👍🏻 www.ias.org.uk/2026/02/10/i...

Is the Great British Pub on the verge of extinction? The truth behind the headlines - Institute of Alcohol Studies

Media headlines often suggest that British pubs are in terminal decline. But is that true?

ias.org.uk

📣New research from Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG)shows that reducing spending on tobacco, gambling & confectionery would boost the economy by keeping ££ in the UK. #HealthEqualsWealth 👀⬇️ sarg-sheffield.ac.uk/news-media/n...

New research shows that spending less on tobacco, gambling and sweets is good for the UK economy - Sheffield Addictions Research Group

A new study from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) has found that public health policies which reduce spending on harmful products can actually provide a significant boost to UK jobs and ...

sarg-sheffield.ac.uk

Should young people be drinking more?

 Scott Galloway thinks so, booze providing a route to the connectivity current generations supposedly lack.
 I dug into it w/experts like @melissaoldham.bsky.social @fmeasham.bsky.social and @michaelkill.bsky.social whatareyouon.substack.com/p/should-you...

should Young People drink more?

Fear in the age of abstinence

whatareyouon.substack.com

Many Black-led initiatives in the UK that support the careers of Black researchers provide mentoring, safe spaces, networks and advocacy. But they're often underfunded. That's why we’re launching a new funding programme in partnership with Do it Now Now to help strengthen these initiatives. [1/3]

“These findings provide clear evidence that data collected on MTurk simply cannot be trusted.”

New paper led by @jamesmorris24.bsky.social focused on othering in relation to alcohol consumption. This meta-synthesis seeks to characterise the ‘problematic other’ people use to justify, normalize or protect their own ‘non-problematic’ drinking identity. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Great stuff here from @soozaphone.bsky.social about the flimsiness of arguments being trotted out today against lowering the drink drive limit in England & Wales open.substack.com/pub/suzigage... I might be one of the cynics complaining about enforcement though...

OF COURSE drink driving laws need to be updated in England and Wales

We are using antiquated regulations, and are out of step with much of the rest of the world

open.substack.com

Check out a new publication that TARG member @clairevgarnett.bsky.social contributed to, led by @sharoncox.bsky.social on exploring differences in gradual versus abrupt smoking cessation quit attempts and success by social grade: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Are there differences in gradual versus abrupt smoking cessation quit attempts and success by social grade? A population study in England

Smoking rates remain higher among individuals from less advantaged social grades, who tend to be less successful when they try to quit. Abrupt quittin…

sciencedirect.com

If you are applying for a PhD studentship or fellowship through the SSA, watch our webinars on 'How to get shortlisted': www.youtube.com/@Societyfort... | Featuring @robcalder.bsky.social @melissaoldham.bsky.social @ptoner.bsky.social

Feelings of Guilt and Remorse After Alcohol Consumption Among People Who Drink at Increasing and Higher-Risk Levels @sharoncox.bsky.social, @melissaoldham.bsky.social, @tattanbirch.bsky.social, ... @clairevgarnett.bsky.social, @drsarahejackson.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/dar....

Another new @addictionjournal.bsky.social paper out today looking at trends in alcohol consumption in England and trying to answer the important question as to whether this has returned to pre-pandemic levels after rising during the first lockdown. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

The SSA is now accepting applications for full-time PhD studentships. Funding will include a stipend (living allowance), tuition fees, and research and training costs. Find out how to apply: tinyurl.com/y3n5dvk2

Today is our annual PhD Symposium – a welcoming space for early career researchers to share work. Thanks to organisers @melissaoldham.bsky.social, @sophieorton.bsky.social, Tsen Vei Lim, and Elle Wadsworth. Read more about the Early Career Research Network: www.addiction-ssa.org/early-career...

The @addiction-ssa.org will soon begin advertising new PhD and Fellowship opportunities. The SSA’s Early Career Research Network has organised two webinars to support and provide tips for potential applicants... www.addiction-ssa.org/news/webinar...

The UK Government has announced £10 million in funding to support the next generation of leaders in addiction research. Find out more about the Addiction Healthcare Goals Research Leadership Programme: tinyurl.com/2sveeum8