In this issue: Alcohol-free drinks are not the secret to cutting down, argues AR editor; How the digital world amplifies alcohol harms; Recently closed pubs could comfortably house all rough sleepers. And summer’s news highlights.
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In this issue: Alcohol-free drinks are not the secret to cutting down, argues AR editor; How the digital world amplifies alcohol harms; Recently closed pubs could comfortably house all rough sleepers. And summer’s news highlights.
Features
Opinion: Alcohol-free drinks are not the secret to cutting down: Alcohol-free drinks mimicking alcoholic ones–and often also promoting alcohol brands–do not seem to be very helpful in reducing or eliminating alcohol intake, and may be counterproductive. We need to look beyond them. Read more
How the digital world amplifies alcohol harms: The digital world is bringing new, more powerful marketing methods. Jem Roberts from the Institute of Alcohol Studies discusses how they can lead to alcohol harms and the potential for tackling these harms.
Recently closed pubs could comfortably house all rough sleepers: The space left by pub closures over the last five years could provide comfortable homes for England’s record number of rough sleepers four times over, according to a back-of-an-envelope Alcohol Review calculation.
News highlights (Get live updates)
Germany to end “supervised drinking” for teenagers: “Germany’s federal government has agreed to end the practice of ‘supervised drinking’, which currently allows 14 and 15-year-olds to drink wine and beer [in public places or restaurant] while being overseen by a responsible adult.” The move to end the practice of “begleitetes Trinken” will now be debated by the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament. Read more
Nigeria’s sachet producers comply under threat of shutdown: Nigeria’s alcohol regulator appears to be making headway having told alcohol sachet producers to recall their products or risk being shut down. Read more
“No safe level” message queried: “‘No safe level’ messaging may help to challenge personal exceptionalism biases that underpin low problem recognition amongst heavier drinkers, it may also evoke defensive processing responses that limit its effectiveness for promoting behaviour change,” found a new study. Read more
Heavy alcohol drinking rose over a third among Americans aged 50-64: “While younger [US] adults reduced alcohol consumption, adults ages 50-64 continued to drink at rates higher than before the pandemic. From 2018 to 2024, any alcohol use in this age group increased by nearly 4%, while heavy drinking increased by more than 36%.” Read more
Switching agriculture from alcohol could end hunger: “Only 2.1% of American alcohol-related crops would need to be converted to [food production] to eliminate global hunger-related mortality entirely.” Read more
Wanting alcohol associated with problems: “…Wanting was more strongly associated with drinking motivations than liking,” found a new study published in Nature. AR: This is consistent with a form of hedonism Alcohol Review has long advocated in which we stick to things we like, rather than things we want without liking. Read more
Study warns against promoting alcohol-free products to young and vulnerable people: Alcohol-free drinks do not help people reduce their alcohol intake, found a recent study of thousands of students, meaning we should be wary of promoting them. Read more
South Australia regulates delivery: “An Aussie state [South Australia] has passed tough new rules on alcohol following a major inquiry into domestic violence… The move puts an end to 24-hour alcohol delivery and introduces a compulsory two-hour cooling off period before any orders can be fulfilled.” Read more
Youtube targeting to start: “Alcohol brands will be able to use personalised targeting on YouTube starting October 30th…,” said Google. It will not be allowed in Egypt, India, Indonesia and Poland under the October update, as will some targeting criteria. Read more
Hospital intervention evidence weak: There is “limited evidence that hospital-based interventions can help people with alcohol use disorder connect with outpatient treatment after they leave the hospital”, according to a research review. Read more
Nigerian alcohol-harm NGO welcomes new national policy: A Nigerian alcohol harm reduction NGO welcomed thel aunch the Nigeria Alcohol Policy and its Multisectoral Implementation Plan (2026–2030) yesterday. Read more
Large jump in alcohol-free recreation spending: “In the [US] monthly retail sales report, spending at sporting goods, hobby, musical instruments and book stores rose 15% in June from a year earlier… To compensate for the cost [of her hobbies], Szyfer rarely goes to bars and clubs, spends little on alcohol and has pulled back on restaurants and live entertainment.” Read more
Carlsberg’s alcohol-free beer sales remain small and insignificant: Carlsberg’s half-year results highlighted growth in sales of alcohol-free beer, while ignoring the tiny contribution it makes to the brewing giant’s sales, leading to headlines exaggerating its impact. Read more
Uganda restricts alcohol opening times: “The government [of Uganda] has directed bars and malwa joints [serving a traditional beer] to open after 3pm on working days while tightening controls on underage drinking, betting and local government accountability.” Read more
Ireland’s alcohol health warning labels show persuasive potential: Two-thirds of the people who have noticed new health warning labels on alcohol products in Ireland said the labels made them think about the risks of alcohol consumption, a new WHO-backed study found. A quarter said the labels made them buy less or no alcohol during a shopping trip. Read more
Mamdani’s state-run supermarkets to be alcohol free: “Mayor Zohran Mamandi wants his city-owned grocery stores to focus on healthy eating — and ban the sale of booze and tobacco, new documents show,” says the New York Post, drawing on a request for tenders issued on July 27th. Read more
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