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In this issue: Progress “inadequate”, says WHO cancer report; Auckland policy encouraging; Nigeria sachet crackdown exposes large-scale lawbreaking; Pubs host World Cup violence; Kenya slashes spirits tax; Poland and Germany plan tax rises. Watch interviews on a call for alcohol giveaway consent and alcohol distress.
News
Progress on alcohol inadequate and uneven, says WHO report: There has been “inadequate, uneven progress” in the implementation of the WHO’s flagship SAFER alcohol harm reduction initiative, especially in low- and middle-income countries, a WHO report on cancer said month week, with “accelerated efforts” needed to reach 2030 targets. Read more
Auckland policy results “extremely encouraging”: “The first year of Auckland’s Local Alcohol Policy has seen: A 7% drop in reported alcohol-related harm incidents in 2025 compared with 2024; Fewer alcohol-related incidents reported during late-night hours and in the city centre; Early signs of fewer alcohol-related emergency department presentations; …” The results are “extremely encouraging”, said Auckland Council. Read more
Nigeria sachet crackdown exposes large-scale lawbreaking: “Investigations [in Nigeria] revealed that factories traced to banned products circulating in markets were actively producing the alcoholic beverages, adding that the items were not old stock as claimed by some operators.” The enforcement agencies sealed three factories in Ogun state. Read more
Two-fifths of the UK’s World Cup violent incidents involved pubs: Over two-fifths of the UK’s record number of violent incidents during the World Cup took place on licensed premises, according to new figures. At the same time the UK government under its new leader Andy Burnham gave pubs a special tax break. As AR discovered, the former Manchester mayor’s carefully curated image revolves around pubs and pints, while his closest political allies have strong alcohol business ties. At the same time Manchester has an alcohol policy drawing on WHO’s template. The right-wing populist Reform party and alcohol business interests used this policy to concoct a story saying Burnham poses a threat to pubs. Read more
Nearly 30% of World Cup player awards done minus alcohol branding: 29 of the 102 World Cup player of the match awards were made without beer branding, including awards to two prominent non-Muslim players, three to Kylian Mbappé and one to Virgil van Dijk. But FIFA still appears to discriminate against non-religious players. Read more; Comment
German railways alcohol ban to curb violence: Germany’s Deutsche Bahn railway plans to enforce a ban on alcohol at all 5,400 train stations in Germany by October 15th, 2026 in an effort to curb violence. Read more
Kenya to slash spirits tax 84%: To the disappointment of alcohol harm experts Kenya’s government is poised to slash tax on spirits by 84%, cutting it from 500 shillings ($3.9) per litre to 80 shillings. Read more; Comment
German tax rise plans: “The German government plans to raise the tax on alcoholic spirits by 20% from the beginning of next year with the aim of bringing in additional annual revenue of €455m ($520m) for the federal budget, according to legislation drafted by the Finance Ministry.” Read more; Comment/share
WHO softens guidance on alcohol and cognitive impairment: “To reduce the risk of cognitive decline and/or dementia specifically, interventions aimed at reducing or ceasing hazardous and harmful drinking (including providing support to people with alcohol dependence) may be offered to adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment,” says the second version of guidance from the World Health Organisation. Read on
“Poland plans to raise 18bn zloty ($4.8bn) over the next decade from higher excise duty on alcohol as the government is searching for new sources of funding for the strained public healthcare system, according to the Finance Ministry.” (See draft) Read more; Comment
Features
Call for full giveaway consent: Companies can deliver alcohol products as giveaways without consent in the UK, ignoring the preferences of a wide range of people who prefer to avoid alcohol. Samantha Morgan’s Not Everyone Drinks campaign aims to change this. Watch video ■