The mental health system and alcohol treatment services are too often siloed - which means people with co-occurring conditions fall through the gaps in both. That's a clear system failing. Read our recent report this #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek. ias.org.uk/report/barriers-to-recovery

Today's ONS figures show Scotland's alcohol death rate at 20.9 per 100,000. A slight decline but remains a public health emergency. The newly re-elected Scottish Government must set out a clear plan to reduce these avoidable deaths. Read SHAAP's full comment on our website👇 buff.ly/SyoJ7D7

UK alcohol-specific deaths fall in 2024 but remain well above pre-pandemic levels. "Given that alcohol harm is one of the largest drivers of health inequality, continued inaction [by the UK Government] on proven measures is increasingly difficult to justify." - Dr Katherine Severi

The @ONS has today published the latest alcohol specific deaths figures for the UK In 2024, there were 9,809 deaths caused solely by alcohol across the UK Read our response 🔽 www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/news/news/af...

New figures published by the ONS show 9,809 people died from conditions caused by alcohol across the UK in 2024. Prof Sir Ian Gilmore has called on the government to act on it's responsibility and introduce a national alcohol strategy that matches the scale of the problem. ahauk.org/news/ons-alc...

🤔Currently in the UK, a bottle of orange juice is required to display more nutritional information than a bottle of beer. We all have a right to know what's in our drinks, and the health risks associated with it. 👏Great to see this piece championing a call for mandatory labels on alcohol.

📢New blog alert Cassie, campaigner & advocate, shares her family’s experience of addiction and how online delivery apps have made alcohol easier than ever to access. She reflects on how a system built for convenience is failing to protect people, and what needs to change. ahauk.org/alcohol-harm...

🎉 Yesterday’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill becoming law is a major public health milestone in the UK. This is a powerful example of meaningful change made possible, even on issues that were once deeply normalised in everyday life. Norms and attitudes can shift when evidence is met with political will.

📉 New evidence from Lithuania shows a full marketing ban on alcohol has cut adolescent intoxication by 35%, with declines in binge drinking too. Our children have the right to grow up in an environment free from exposure to harmful marketing. Full study: bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/4/2/...

📢New bulletin alert! Get up-to-date with the latest news from the AHA & members. In this edition: 📝A shared vision for reducing alcohol harm in Wales 🎬New film: Big Alcohol in the Global South 🚑Alcohol and road safety in Ireland 🎟️Events & more! ➡️https://ahauk.org/news/aha-bulletin-april-2026/

📢Northern Ireland's Health Minister has announced Minimum Unit Pricing will not be introduced during this assembley, despite much support for the policy. Hugely disappointing news that will have grave implications for the most vulnerable in our society. Our full response: ahauk.org/news/mupnoti...

Bribing politicians. Writing governments' own alcohol policies. Targeting children with cheap sachets to hook new drinkers. Modern slavery. This is Big Alcohol in the Global South - and it's been hidden for too long. Watch and share our new film: youtu.be/gEs1IW58bd0

Stay up-to-date with the latest alcohol news from the AHA & its members. In this edition: 📄A manifesto for alcohol ahead of Scottish elections 📈Young people & alcohol sports sponsorship 🎤New 'Conversations about Alcohol' podcast 🎟️Events & more! ➡️https://ahauk.org/news/aha-bulletin-march-2026/

"It wasn’t that I was lacking empathy and desire to help this lady, but I had absolutely no idea how to go about it." Dr Rachel Phillips describes why she started her podcast providing resources for GPs dealing with alcohol-related issues. thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/hea...

‼️ The Scottish Government published their new Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan today. SHAAP's Dr Alastair MacGilchrist responds: the plan is welcome, but we need urgent action and firm commitments. We'll advocate for accountability beyond May's elections. Full comment: shorturl.at/5jtTt

Kelly from Washington, left daily drinking behind after it damaged her liver & nearly cost her life. Now 2½ years alcohol free, she shares how asking for help changed everything.Find out more and share to help others reduce their risk reducemyrisk.tv #AlcoholIsToxic @ias.org.uk @aha-uk.bsky.social

Gillian of Our Circle, who support mums to become alcohol free, speaks about why she backs our #AFSManifesto We're calling for #NoMoreHalfMeasures on reducing alcohol harm from the next @ScotParl Read more 🔽 www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/news/news/no...

“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

49% of dementia cases could be prevented through addressing risk factors including alcohol consumption. "This is a call to action...Prevention is not only possible, it is powerful, and the benefits extend far beyond dementia to improve overall health and wellbeing." phw.nhs.wales/news/almost-...

How do alcohol brands use no- and low-alcohol options to dodge advertising restrictions? @theguardian.com explains... www.youtube.com/shorts/Nzg7r...

Proud to have signed @aha-uk.bsky.social letter to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland calling for urgent action on alcohol harm, inc Minimum Unit Pricing alongside action on labelling, alcohol duty & treatment access ➡️ bit.ly/4s19afV

Really glad to be a co-signatory on this and important that the impact of alcohol on health continues to be emphasised

Alcohol-specific deaths in Northern Ireland are at record highs. BMA Northern Ireland is a proud signatory to this joint letter calling for urgent action: minimum unit pricing, mandatory labelling, increased alcohol duty and improved treatment access.

📢 After alcohol-specific deaths reached record highs in Northern Ireland, the AHA sent a joint letter to the First and Dept First Minister calling for urgent action to save lives. We call for minimum unit pricing, alongside mandatory labelling, increased alcohol duty and better treatment access.

📈New data shows that alcohol-specific deaths have risen again in Northern Ireland, to the higest on record. With an 81% rise in deaths exclusively caused by alcohol in the last decade, we urge the goverment to join Scotland and Wales in introducing Minimum Unit Pricing to help save lives.

ICYMI: New @StirUni research discovers the insidious impact of alcohol marketing on young people. @RickPurves explains more below More info 👉 brnw.ch/21wZG85

📢In response to the National Cancer Plan for England, Sir Ian Gilmore welcomes the recommitment to health warnings on alcohol labels, but says this alone will not go far enough to prevent the tens of thousands of annual cancer cases linked to alcohol. Full statement 👇 ahauk.org/news/aha-res...

On #WorldCancerDay, we're pleased to see health warnings on alcohol labels in the National Cancer Plan. Alcohol is causally linked to 7 common cancers, yet public awareness is worryingly low. This is the first step to address this. Here's why we need mandatory cancer warnings on alcohol labels 👇

Reform’s plans to push half a million children into poverty to fund a suite of hospitality tax cuts are indefensible. ✒️ @henryippr.bsky.social spoke to the @bigissue.com 👇 www.bigissue.com/news/politic...

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: