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ias.org.uk
Institute of Alcohol Studies
@ias.org.uk
2.1K followers 870 following 680 posts
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/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Institute of Alcohol Studies
collective-voice.bsky.social
Today, Collective Voice is outlining the five essential steps we think the Government needs to take on #alcohol and other #drugs to ensure substance use treatment is accessible and effective for everyone who could benefit from it. 🧵
#Addiction #PublicHealth #MentalHealth
February 11, 2026 at 1:03 PM
ias.org.uk
New study concludes that "the current US alcohol warning fails to actively engage many alcohol consumers" and should be replaced with new, rotating warnings.

The study found only 27% of alcohol consumers read the warning label in the past month.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Consumer engagement with the US alcohol health warning: A nationally representative study
The US has had the same health warning on alcohol containers since 1989. We sought to estimate consumer noticing, reading, and recall of the current U…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:10 AM
ias.org.uk
With news that alcohol-specific deaths continue to rise to record levels in Northern Ireland, the BMA's Dr Clodagh Corrigan says this is why minimum unit pricing is needed.

"Alongside MUP, it is essential that there is help available for those who want to address their drinking."
bma-ni.bsky.social BMA Northern Ireland @bma-ni.bsky.social · 3d
“Minimum unit alcohol pricing legislation is needed in Northern Ireland. It is a cost-effective way to tackle alcohol-related harms and reduce health inequalities.”

BMA NI Council deputy chair, Dr Clodagh Corrigan, comments on latest stats on alcohol-specific deaths.

www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...
Comment on latest alcohol-specific death statistics for Northern Ireland - BMA media centre - BMA
Press release from BMA Northern Ireland.
www.bma.org.uk
February 12, 2026 at 9:21 AM
ias.org.uk
Alcohol deaths in Northern Ireland reach another record high, with 397 alcohol-specific deaths in 2024, up from 341 in 2023

📈81% increase since 2014
♂️Double the deaths among men vs women
💷Four times the deaths in most deprived areas compared to least

datavis.nisra.gov.uk/vitalStatist...
February 11, 2026 at 10:10 AM
ias.org.uk
Interesting moment in obesity policy: M&S calls for alcohol to be included in mandatory health reporting, the government praises them - but still won’t require it themselves.

If alcohol’s “empty calories” matter, why the blind spot?

www.thetimes.com/business/com...
M&S critical of decision to omit alcohol from health clampdown
Supermarkets’ mandatory disclosures on unhealthy food will not include high-calorie products like beer and spirits
www.thetimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:23 AM
ias.org.uk
In our latest blog, Jem Roberts and Dr Peter Rice unpack the panic about pub closures - and show why much of it is misleading 🍺

What’s actually happening?

⬇️ Pub numbers have fallen for over a century - this isn’t new
⬆️ Employment in pubs has stayed stable...

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?
www.ias.org.uk
February 10, 2026 at 9:18 AM
ias.org.uk
Deprived areas have 70% more vape shops, bookmakers, off-licences and takeaways than in prosperous areas.

They also have half the number of childcare facilities and 25% less social infrastructure such as gyms, cafes and pubs.

For years IAS has...

www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
Data shows deprived communities have more off-licences and takeaways and fewer childcare facilities and gyms
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:32 AM
ias.org.uk
“Near universal adherence” - says the alcohol industry about its own rules. Nothing to see here, apparently. 🙄

Self-regulation has always been the industry’s favourite shield, and this Portman Group audit proves why it doesn’t work

A system designed...

www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/portman...
Portman Group hails ‘near universal’ adherence to booze marketing rules
Only 5% of products assessed were deemed in breach of marketing guidelines
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 10:27 AM
ias.org.uk
New @sarg-scharr.bsky.social study busts a big alcohol industry myth.

Claims that reducing alcohol consumption “hurts the economy” ignore a key fact: people don’t burn the money they don’t spend on alcohol - they spend it elsewhere.

Using UK... 🧵

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Modelling the economic effects of reducing the consumption of unhealthy commodities: An inter‐sectoral input–output approach
Aims Industry arguments against public health policies that reduce the consumption of unhealthy commodities often include the assertion that the policy will harm the economy by reducing production a...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:37 AM
ias.org.uk
Is an alcohol-free January better with support?

In our latest blog, Joe Marley of @alcoholchangeuk.bsky.social explores the evidence behind the Dry January® challenge, the role of behaviour change tools, and why approach matters.

www.ias.org.uk/2026/02/05/t...
The Dry January® challenge: Separating fact from fiction - Institute of Alcohol Studies
Millions of people take a month off alcohol in January. This article explores the evidence behind Alcohol Change UK’s official Dry January® challenge, the role of support tools, and how it differs fro...
www.ias.org.uk
February 5, 2026 at 9:08 AM
ias.org.uk
Our new FOI study doesn’t just expose what went wrong with the 10 Year Health Plan - it sets out what must happen next.

Government must:
✔️ Introduce alcohol marketing restrictions
✔️ Reject industry self-regulation
✔️ End partnerships with alcohol companies

www.ias.org.uk/report/now-y...
February 5, 2026 at 8:04 AM
ias.org.uk
Up to four in ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented, according to a new global analysis from @who.int & IARC.

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of cancer, responsible for 15% of all new cancer cases, followed by infections (10%) & alcohol consumption (3%)

www.who.int/news/item/03...
Four in ten cancer cases could be prevented globally
Up to four in ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented, according to a new global analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Th...
www.who.int
February 4, 2026 at 11:27 AM
ias.org.uk
Today is #WorldCancerDay.

Did you know that around 10% of breast cancer cases are caused by alcohol?

Watch our film to find out:
❓ how alcohol causes cancer
🍺 how many deaths it causes
🏭 and alcohol industry misinformation on the topic

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAJ8...
Alcohol and Cancer: Explained
YouTube video by Institute of Alcohol Studies
www.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:47 AM
ias.org.uk
"There have been some genuine concerns expressed about MUP, in particular that some people who are alcohol dependent have been going without food in order to afford alcohol. Sadly, this was occurring long before the introduction of MUP.

"The answer to...

alcoholchange.org.uk/blog/minimum...
Minimum pricing for alcohol to remain in place in Wales | Alcohol Change UK
Members of Senedd Cymru have voted to keep the minimum price for alcohol that was introduced in 2020, and to increase it from 50p to 65p per unit.
alcoholchange.org.uk
February 4, 2026 at 10:21 AM
ias.org.uk
The Welsh Senedd has just voted to continue its minimum unit pricing policy and to increase the rate to 65p to match Scotland's.

"The evidence is clear: MUP has contributed positively to its intended objectives, and its operation has been broadly successful." - @sarah4bridgend.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 4:36 PM
ias.org.uk
Alcohol companies and trade bodies claimed “positive trends” meant marketing restrictions were unnecessary in DHSC's 10 Year Health Plan.

Cherry-picking data helped block evidence-based prevention, when alcohol deaths are at record levels.

www.ias.org.uk/report/now-y...
February 3, 2026 at 3:04 PM
ias.org.uk
Northern Ireland's Health Committee chair has written to the Executive in support of introducing minimum unit pricing.

He said: "we heard compelling evidence about the clear public‑health benefits with MUP".

sinnfein.ie/news/minimum...
Minimum unit alcohol pricing would help to save lives and reduce harm - McGuigan - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan has welcomed the Health Committee’s agreement to write to the Executive in support of the Health Minister’s legislation on Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol. This fo...
sinnfein.ie
February 2, 2026 at 11:20 AM
ias.org.uk
The government promised a “prevention revolution”.

Our new FOI study shows how one of the most effective alcohol prevention policies - marketing restrictions - was dropped after coordinated industry lobbying.

📘 Read the study:
Now you see it, now you don’t - Institute of Alcohol Studies
Now you see it, now you don’t: How alcohol industry interference made marketing restrictions disappear from the 10 Year Health Plan in England In July 2025, the UK Government published its 10 Year…
www.ias.org.uk
February 2, 2026 at 11:09 AM
ias.org.uk
"At a time of shocking levels of alcohol harm, it is deeply troubling that the alcohol industry was able to exert this kind of influence on a flagship NHS policy."

Labour MP @catsmithmp.bsky.social calls for "robust" conflict of interest policies in government to...

labourlist.org/2026/02/alco...
'Alcohol harm is a public health crisis — and industry lobbying is blocking action' - LabourList
Alcohol deaths remain high and harm costs billions, yet industry lobbying helped strip marketing restrictions from England’s 10 Year Health Plan. We need better conflict of interest guidance argues Ca...
labourlist.org
February 2, 2026 at 9:49 AM
ias.org.uk
France, Ireland and Norway restrict alcohol marketing. WHO calls it a ‘best buy’ for public health.

So why did England drop the policy?

In our latest blog, Emma Thompson shows how FOI evidence points to alcohol industry interference.

www.ias.org.uk/2026/02/02/e...
“Ensure these restrictions are not enforced”: FOI documents reveal alcohol industry lobbying - Institute of Alcohol Studies
Freedom of Information documents reveal how alcohol companies lobbied ministers across Whitehall to force the removal of marketing restrictions from England’s 10 Year NHS Health Plan.
www.ias.org.uk
February 2, 2026 at 9:20 AM
ias.org.uk
"If you've been caught drink driving, you should be losing your licence. If you've done it repeatedly, you're just lucky that you've not killed somebody."

🎙️On this month's podcast we spoke to
@brakecharity.bsky.social's
@lstraker.bsky.social about the Road Safety Strategy.
January 30, 2026 at 3:02 PM
ias.org.uk
In our new FOI study we found that Budweiser directly urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to intervene and "ensure" that DHSC removed alcohol marketing restrictions from the NHS’s 10 Year Health Plan.

Health policy should be protected from industry influence.

www.ias.org.uk/report/now-y...
January 29, 2026 at 12:04 PM
ias.org.uk
📢 New report

Alcohol marketing restrictions were meant to be in England’s 10 Year Health Plan.

Then they disappeared.

Our new report uses FOIs to show how alcohol industry lobbying targeted ministers and pressured government departments to kill the policy.

www.ias.org.uk/report/now-y...
Now you see it, now you don’t - Institute of Alcohol Studies
Now you see it, now you don’t: How alcohol industry interference made marketing restrictions disappear from the 10 Year Health Plan in England In July 2025, the UK Government published its 10 Year Hea...
www.ias.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 8:33 AM
ias.org.uk
New survey shows more men are abstaining from alcohol but older groups are much more likely to drink risky amounts.

IAS's Jem Roberts said the survey shouldn't distract from the scale of alcohol harm in England.

"Millions of people are still drinking...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Growing number of adults avoid booze, NHS survey suggests
Almost a quarter of adults in England do not drink alcohol, according to new figures from a health survey.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 3:32 PM
ias.org.uk
"Our vision is for a society where alcohol harm is rare and equal opportunities for good health and wellbeing exist for all."

This is the consensus vision of over 40 alcohol policy experts.

2026 is all about pushing for policies that will achieve this.
A Healthier Future: A long-term vision to tackle alcohol harm in the UK - Institute of Alcohol Studies
Alcohol harm is a serious and growing concern in the UK, impacting people’s health and wellbeing, the NHS, social services, criminal justice, and our economy. These impacts are felt most by people on…
www.ias.org.uk
January 28, 2026 at 8:39 AM