message

Our homes are among the riskiest places for alcohol harm, so why not do something about it? We could reduce the risk by deciding not to drink alcohol at home or, as a halfway measure, to stop keeping an alcohol supply there. This increases the price of alcohol, while reducing its availability and brand exposure. This is likely to help protect our kids. ■

In many places most alcohol drinking occasions are binges, increasing the risk of depression, anxiety, suicide, accidents, violence, alcohol dependence, and dementia, says a new report from Sweden. The pattern is also very common among people who drink what would be a low-risk total for a week in binges. To avoid taking the significant risks of bingeing means never drinking more than 75ml of alcohol on any one occasion. This may mean an upper limit of around three beers on any one occasion, something that is likely to be challenging. ■

Alcohol harm experts this week criticised the Trump administration’s new guidance on alcohol for omitting low-risk amounts in favour of saying “consume less alcohol for better overall health”, leaving consumers to decide what this might mean in practice. Read more. ■

Only a tiny fraction of us scan QR codes, making them the perfect way to conceal information while also, technically, providing it. Consumers have a right to be told alcohol’s health effects directly on the label in plain language. ■

Heavy marketing can make it seem that alcohol drinking is essential in pleasure when it really only plays a bit-part, and often a negative one. If we are serious about enjoying our spare time we might benefit from a more open, creative approach, as outlined here. ■