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In this issue: Lobbying review: NZ deregulation; Strange stats; US deaths: Bingeing report; Sex differences; Cancer awareness; Age verification: Royal abstinence. Plus marketing to women and an AR message on bingeing
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News
Lobbying review: The UK will begin a review of lobbying rules, which critics say allow alcohol and other harmful product producers—and other narrow interests—undue influence over government policy. The move was widely praised by pro-democracy campaigners. The commission will look at declarations of ministers’ and officials’ financial interests; integrity data, including the lobbying consultant register; and rules intended to stop politicians and officials being swayed by future appointments. The move came in a letter from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the chair of the recently created Ethics and Integrity Commission, Doug Chalmers. Comment
NZ deregulation: The New Zealand government plans to make sweeping reductions in the level of alcohol regulation. Among the critics of its proposals are Maori health organisations Ki Tua o Matariki and Hapai Te Hauora. Comment
Strange stats: The UK statistical office this month added alcohol-free beer to the list of goods used to track inflation to “represent an uncovered area of the alcohol market”. This is despite the fact there being no solid evidence alcohol-free beer replaces alcoholic products. Comment
US deaths: US deaths directly related to alcohol fell 4% last year compared to the year before, but remained 15% above pre-pandemic levels, according to early provisional full-year figures from the CDC. Comment
Bingeing report: Over half of all alcohol consumption is during binge drinking occasions, and the proportion is higher in some other countries, said a new Swedish report on binge drinking. And still it is a widely overlooked risk. Comment
Sex differences: Male and female brains show different reactions to stress and alcohol, possibly because central stress mechanisms in the brain are organised differently. Comment
Cancer awareness: Americans’ awareness of the link between drinking alcohol and elevated cancer risk remains unchanged since February 2025, despite its omission from the new US dietary guidelines. Comment
Age verification: The Greek government launched a new framework to prevent the sale of alcohol products to minors through the use of digital age verification tools. Comment
Tax proposal: A proposal to collect millions of dollars in from alcohol products in Colorado while preventing alcohol harm fell at committee stage, despite eloquent arguments for it. Comment
Royal abstinence: Kate Middleton, princess of Wales, said she has not “had much” alcohol since she received a cancer diagnosis. This sparked speculation and one anonymously sourced report that she is attempting to reduce the risk of a relapse. The report triggered others to report that some say Princess Anne does not drink alcohol, while disgraced former prince Andrew once said the same of himself. Comment
Delayed impact: Negative cognitive effects start to show up in middle-age—even after long periods of total abstinence—when mice self-medicate for stress in early adulthood, a study found. Comment
Betting boosts bingeing: The legalisation of online sports betting in the US has increased binge drinking frequency-at the intensive margin among young men by approximately 10%, according to a new study. Comment
Gen-Z binges: Binge drinking rates among gen Z in the UK have risen sharply since they were teenagers. Nearly a third of the now 23-year olds said binged at least once a month, up from 10% at age 17. Comment
Features
How glam, wellness, empowerment and escapism associations sell alcohol to women: Marketing associates alcohol with hyperfemininity, sexual glamour, wellness, strength and escapism, found researchers from Torrens University Australia. The impression is misleading, even if some women see through it. Comment
Interview: Crossing paths with Soberistas founder Lucy Rocca
Message
Bingeing is an overlooked risk: Avoiding the significant risks of alcohol bingeing means never drinking more than 75ml of alcohol on any one occasion, or around three beers, something that may be challenging.
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