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EU health committee calls for urgent alcohol action using “deeply problematic” language: UPDATED: The European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health (SANT) yesterday called on the EU’s executive body to take action to deliver health-related labels and alcohol strategies using “deeply problematic” language, critics say. Comment/share
Mars to halt Pop-Tarts and BuzzBallz co-branding: Food giant Mars reportedly agreed on Friday to halt a co-branding deal between its toasted pastry brand Pop-Tarts and BuzzBallz, a brand of novelty ready-to-drink cocktails, after a protest from US public health organisations. Read more/share
Andy Burnham delivers welcome alcohol-free speech: In a welcome departure from his leadership campaign UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham made no reference to pints or pubs in his conference speech today. Instead his wide-ranging and sometimes emotional speech talked about creating a national care service, finding state pensions savings, reducing the damage of Brexit, AI regulation, housing, electricity delivery and electoral reform. Read more
“The course, given by educational charity Alcohol Change UK, spoke to staff [at Buckingham Palace] about the dangers of drinking on the job and how to deal with colleagues who may be drinking excessively.” Read more
“Dr Joel Gelernter [Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Genetics and of Neuroscience at Yale]…, said he now thinks there is a linear relationship between alcohol consumption and risk for cognitive decline,” says the concluding paragraph of a NYT piece on alcohol and brain health. Read more
“In hopes of scaling back crime, the [Californian] city of Redlands is considering banning neighbourhood bars from selling alcohol after midnight, two hours earlier than state law.” Read more
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UPDATED: Health advocates slam alcohol industry for promoting daily drinking on World Heart Day: European NGOs have protested against a wine-industry-sponsored meeting promoting what one critic has called a “hilariously flawed” concept in the European Parliament on World Heart Day, which is today. Comment
“The government [of Trinidad and Tobago] is proposing to raise the legal age for alcohol and tobacco from 18 to 21, while the minimum age for cannabis and gambling would rise to 25.” The government is expected to bring legislation to parliament tomorrow, September 30th. Read more
“The Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority has banned advertisements promoting prescription medicines claimed to reduce or eliminate the urge to consume alcohol, warning that using such drugs without medical supervision could expose users to serious health risks.” Read more
“Illicit tobacco, alcohol and cash with a combined estimated value of more than €607,000 has been seized following an intelligence-led operation in Co. Westmeath [in Ireland].” Read more
“In 2025, 4.8% of people aged 16 or over in the EU consumed alcohol every day. The share of people who consumed alcohol every week was 19.2%, and 21.8% for those consuming every month.” Read more
UK adults overwhelmingly support continued alcohol ban in football stands: Nearly 70% of UK adults think the ban on drinking alcohol within sight of the pitch should continue, according to a Yougov poll. Over half said that lifting the ban would make watching matches in the stadium worse. Read more
Burnham’s football alcohol ban remarks: The risks of an unbanning alcohol in sight of the pitch in English football would outweigh any benefits, argues Lydia Spencer-Elliott in the Independent, despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s saying it is “unfair”. AR adds that it is hard to see Burnham’s offhand proposal surviving contact with reality. The have more to do with burnishing his everyman branding, while pleasing the alcohol and hospitality industries, to which he has ties. Read more
“The [UK] Conservatives have promised to prevent long-term jobless benefit claimants from spending their welfare payments on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.” Read more
Alcohol Review – Issue 126, September 23rd 2026 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.
Get more: Join directly or on Substack for early access content, to disseminate your work at AR2026 and AR2027 and support dedicated alcohol harm journalism. Read testimonials.
Watch sessions on AI and alcohol harm insights + AR Extra sessions on alcohol and violence and heart health, and more.