An important report that exposes how the powerful alcohol industry disrupts, delays and, in this case, completely disappears policies that would benefit our health but risk their profits. The alcohol industry must not be involved in health policymaking. The fox cannot be in charge of the hen house.

This is encouraging news. But deaths from alcohol remain unnacceptably and stubbornly high. Our economy and productivity, our NHS and public services, our communities and loved ones are still reeling from the impacts of alcohol harm. Government cannot see this as job done.

Our new polling with @ashorguk.bsky.social & @oha-updates.bsky.social shows that nanny-state fears don't stick with the public when it comes to health policies. People want policies that reduce pressure on the NHS and tackle harmful industry practices — even if it changes choice or raises prices 👇

Alcohol causes cancer - yet most people don’t know it. In our latest blog, Professor Simone Pettigrew sets out the evidence and explains why clear cancer warnings on alcohol are a simple, effective way to save lives. www.ias.org.uk/2026/01/27/w... @georgeinstitute.bsky.social

📢 New research shows that people with an average lifetime alcohol intake of 14 or more drinks per week significantly increase their risk of colorectal (bowel) cancer compared to those who consume one drink or less per week. Study 👇https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.70201

"This is no longer about the transport police, this is about the fun police" - Mark Littlewood of Popular Conservatism opposes lower drink-drive limits. His idea of fun is a night that is 6x more likely to end in a fatal crash 🧐 Ours is one where everyone gets home alive. Well done #ACUK! 📺36:00

"These are not just statistics – 260 lives were taken from us in 2023." In our latest blog, PPCs Joy Allen and David Sidwick explain why reforms on drink and drug driving must be backed by proper enforcement and public education if it is to reduce road deaths and improve safety for all. #RoadSafety

Excellent points made by Jem Roberts addressing the accusations that lowering the drink-drive limit will lead to pub closures.👏 The evidence shows there's minimal economic impact on hospitality after lowering the limit. But when coupled with proper enforcement, big impacts on RTCs and deaths.

Listen to Dr Katherine Severi discuss evidence around reducing the drink-drive limit and why it wouldn't be bad for rural pubs. From 32:30. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

📢 New road safety strategy to consult on lowering the drink-drive limit We have the highest limit in Europe, so are pleased government aims to bring us in line with Scotland and other EU nations. Reducing the limit is a vital step toward saving lives on our roads. ahauk.org/news/aha-res...

We've long campaigned for alcohol to be included in the marketing restrictions for high fat, salt and sugar products. Some alcohol products exceed 100% of the daily recommended sugar intake, and provide no nutritional benefits. This is a missed opportunity to further protect the nations health.

Signing off for the year 💫 Thank you to our members, partners, supporters and campaigners for your continued commitment to reducing alcohol harm. We're signing off social media, back on the 5th of January. Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful festive season and a healthy start to the new year. 💙

"These are not just statistics – 260 lives were taken from us in 2023." In this new blog, PPCs Joy Allen and David Sidwick explain why the Government's upcoming Road Safety Strategy must include reforms on drink and drug driving to reduce deaths and improve safety for all. ahauk.org/drink-and-dr...

📊The Department of Health NI has released new data on people seeking support substance use for 2024/25. Data gaps remain, but these figures help point to where support, prevention, and policy action on alcohol harm in NI are most needed. www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/statist...

Stay up-to-date with the latest news from the AHA and its members. In this edition: 📑New @ias.org.uk report on barriers to recovery 🔊George Freeman MP Westminster Hall speech 📈Research reveals rising youth drinking in Ireland 🎟️Events and more! ▶️https://ahauk.org/news/aha-bulletin-december-2025/

♀️ For many women, alcohol is used to cope with the physical and emotional symptoms of menopause and other life events. In this blog, Dr Abi Rose explains how alcohol fits into women’s midlife experiences and why it’s time to bring alcohol into the menopause conversation. ahauk.org/menopause-an...

SHAAP, @scottishfamilies.bsky.social, & SRC hosted an event last month on cultivating culturally appropriate alcohol services for Black and Asian communities in Scotland. Keep an eye out for the event report which will include recommendations for policy and practice. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

📢 New report alert 📢 Minimum Unit Pricing in the UK: Who's backing it and who's blocking it? We've analysed stakeholder positions on MUP to build a clearer picture of support and opposition, major reasons why, and whether MUP really is as polarising as portrayed. 📑 ahauk.org/resource/min...

DHSC has published its clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment. Developed by expert clinicians and people with lived experience, they aim to improve the quality and consistency of alcohol treatment and reduce widening health inequalities. www.gov.uk/guidance/cli...

The Treasury should introduce an alcohol duty escalator, targeting off-trade alcohol, to help fund alcohol treatment and narrow the widening gap in price between supermarket and pub alcohol, says Labour MP @catsmithmp.bsky.social. @dantomlinson.bsky.social @aha-uk.bsky.social

The UK government has confirmed that alcohol duty rates will be increased in line with inflation, staying the same in real terms. We welcome this decision. Our statement:

We welcome the Chancellor’s decision in today’s Autumn Budget to allow alcohol duty to keep pace with inflation. However, there's still much more to do. We will continue to call for: 1) An annual escalator of 2% + RPI 2)A national alcohol strategy Our full statement 👉 ahauk.org/news/aha-res...

In today’s Telegraph, Prof. Sir Ian Gilmore reminds us: uprating alcohol duty with inflation at the #AutumnBudget is the norm — not a dramatic tax raid as the alcohol indsustry would have you believe. ✍️ www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2025...

Today #DHSC launched a new Men’s Health Strategy for England. While alcohol is acknowledged as an important factor impacting men’s health, the strategy does not go far enough to address the ill-health and inequalities it causes. Read our full response👇 ahauk.org/news/aha-res...

Imagine a UK where alcohol harm is rare and equal opportunities for good health and wellbeing exist for all. We were pleased to contribute to @ias.org.uk long-term vision to tackle alcohol harm in the UK. Find out what we are calling for, and how you can help: www.ias.org.uk/2025/11/11/w...

✨"Our vision is for a society where alcohol harm is rare and equal opportunities for good health and wellbeing exist for all." ✨ New inspiring and ambitious @ias.org.uk report sets out the ways in which alcohol harm across the UK can be reduced and health inequalities lessened. Full report below👇

📣 Calling all change-makers! Want to help tackle one of the UK’s biggest public health challenges and drive policy change that supports better health outcomes for everyone? Add your voice to a growing community of advocates and sign up to our campaigners network today👇 ahauk.org/become-a-cam...

New research from @stir.ac.uk shows Scottish ambulance staff are frequently subjected to violence when they attend alcohol-related callouts. Government plans to change alcohol licensing in England are deeply flawed & risk ramping up the pressures on emergency services. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

💰How would you spend £3.4bn? 💰 On thousands of nurses or on tax breaks to alochol giants? Ahead of the #AutumnBudget we're calling on HM Treasury to use alcohol duty to protect lives and fund vital public services. Will you join us? 🤝 ahauk.good.do/AutumnBudget...

👀Killer Tactics 2: Business as Usual The latest report from @ashorguk.bsky.social @aha-uk.bsky.social @oha-updates.bsky.social Includes updated 'bingo' style game to help spot common tactics. ash.org.uk/resources/vi...

📝Pleased to see @ashorguk.bsky.social @aha-uk.bsky.social & @oha-updates.bsky.social have published their latest report. Funded by CRUK, they spotlight the tactics used by the tobacco, alcohol and food industry to undermine public health policies in the past year. 👇Read it here: bit.ly/4o86ags

🚨Find out what killer tactics the tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food and drink industries have used to undermine public health policies since the Labour government has been in power. 📰Read our new report with @ashorguk.bsky.social and @oha-updates.bsky.social here: ahauk.org/resource/kil...

The number of people who die from drink driving is equivalent to a Boeing 787 crashing every year, Baroness Hayter explains in the House of Lords. She calls for a reduction in the drink drive limit.

Stay up-to-date with the latest in alcohol policy news from the Alcohol Health Alliance and its members. In this edition: 🏢New @ippr.org report on alcohol and the workplace ⬇️Alcohol deaths falling in Scotland 🎒@nacoauk.bsky.social schools campaign extended 🎟️Events & more! ahauk.org/news/aha-bul...

We've written to @dantomlinson.bsky.social calling for alcohol duty to match inflation, and reintroduction of the 2%+ RPI annual escalator. If introduced at the #AutumnBudget, gov could generate an extra £3.4bn— enough to fund and sustain 37,000 nurses or 35,000 teachers. ahauk.org/news/frontli...

“Licensing exists to protect people, not business profits. To push this through while alcohol deaths are at record highs raises serious questions about who this government is really working for.” Today in @theguardian.com we discuss gov plans to review licensing👇 www.theguardian.com/business/202...

“We think of alcohol harm as a public health issue, but... When nearly half of young professionals are calling in sick after workplace drinking, it’s not just a hangover, it’s a productivity crisis.” New @ippr.org report reveals the cost of alcohol harm on our economy. www.ippr.org/articles/tak...

Join us for the online launch of our new report Killer Tactics 2: Business as Usual. Together with @ashorguk.bsky.social and @oha-updates.bsky.social we discuss real life examples of industry lobbying,delaying and undermining health policy. Register👇 events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f998f9...

Alcohol marketing is pervasive and persuasive, driving alcohol-related harm including among children and young people. In our latest blog, Dr Peter Rice explains why regulations are needed: www.ias.org.uk/2025/10/02/a...

Big Alcohol is ramping up efforts to weaken public health policies as more evidence of harms are revealed. Ahead of a U.N. agreement, due for adoption by countries tomorrow, @reuters.com reveals that lobbying has caused WHO-backed policies to be dropped from it. www.reuters.com/business/hea...

New figures show that 1,185 people lost their lives directly due to alcohol in Scotland last year. While this is a 7% fall on the previous year, it is still far too many. Each one is a preventable tragedy. Our chair, Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, has responded to the news: ahauk.org/news/alcohol...

✍️ To mark #FASDAwarenessMonth, Dr Helen Howlett, Women’s Health Champion and FASD Specialist, draws on her first hand experience and highlights why awareness, compassion, and national action are urgently needed to protect children and empower families in this new AHA blog. ahauk.org/fasd-awarene...

📊74% of people want health prioritised over business growth. Together with @ashorguk.bsky.social & @oha-updates.bsky.social we're calling for stronger action on alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy food to protect the NHS and boost the economy. Read our full letter: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Public opinion is clear: people want government to do more to tackle poor health from smoking, alcohol and food. New polling from @ashorguk.bsky.social , @oha-updates.bsky.social and AHA, breaks down public opinion on health policies by political affiliation. 👉 ash.org.uk/publications...

“Health service leaders are telling us that unless we act on prevention, we may not have an NHS to fix,” - Health leaders warn that without bold leadership, the NHS risks collapse under the weight of illnesses caused by alcohol, unhealthy food & smoking. 🔍 www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

2/2 Alcohol can cause lifelong harm to babies and 76% of NE adults support a clear label warning not to drink alcohol when pregnant or trying to conceive. More in our press release here🔽 shorturl.at/2pSZk @aha-uk.bsky.social @ias.org.uk

📢 New review from Public Health Scotland: alcohol marketing drives consumption. The evidence is clear — restricting marketing can reduce alcohol harm and improve health. We'll continue to push #DCMS to improve marketing regs to protect our health. 🔍 publichealthscotland.scot/media/34628/...

Efforts to change Scotland’s policy on alcohol in football stadia have gathered pace this summer. This @alcoholfocus.bsky.social blog looks at who is behind the push to allow alcohol and asks if this is really for the benefit of the sport and fans. www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/news/news/al...

New survey shows over 1/3 of young people report seeing alcohol-related content from businesses and influencers online. 🚫 If a product is harmful enough not to be sold to children, it should not be marketed to them, online or anywhere else. Marketing regulations to protect children are needed.

“It’s not necessarily that there has been a swing in the pendulum, it’s more that alcohol companies are continually trying to target young people with their products,” Are Gen Z turning their back on 'clean living' or is the picture more complicated than that?👇 www.theguardian.com/society/2025...