In this issue: Alcohol tax, an “incredible opportunity”; EU health committee’s “deeply problematic” language; Medical coding under-records alcohol involvement; Alcohol-associated disability rise; WHO launches brief intervention hub; Alcohol-frees no boost to cutting down
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Alcohol tax offers “incredible opportunity”: Global alcohol prices, tax share, and tax structures are only a third as good as they could be, an inaugural yearly “scorecard” evaluation found, showing alcohol tax is an untapped opportunity to improve health and state finances. Read more
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
Medical coding found to massively under-record alcohol involvement: An artificial intelligence powered study found that manual medical record coding correctly flagged alcohol involvement in less than a fifth of alcohol-related hospital attendances. Read more
Alcohol regulation could save 9,000 EU lives a year: Alcohol taxes, minimum pricing, restrictions on physical availability, strong marketing bans and coordinated alcohol policy interventions across all 27 EU member states could avert up to 9,200 cancer cases a year, according to a new report. Read more
Experts forecast steep rise in alcohol-associated disability burden: The burden of disability associated with alcohol consumption is expected to increase by over 50% in Central and Eastern Europe and the US in the next 25 years, according to new research set for release at a conference this week. Western Europe, where the burden is currently highest, is forecast to see a 19% decline. Read more
WHO funds health professional alliance and launches AI-equipped brief intervention hub: WHO Europe today announced funding for a body uniting Europe’s health and medical community behind alcohol policies and unveiled an AI-equipped site to help health and care professionals have effective conversations with clients about alcohol. Read more
Alcohol-free alternatives have not increased attempts to cut down: The rise of low and no alcohol drinks over the last decade in England was not significantly associated with an of cut down attempts amongst at-risk drinkers, found a new study. Read more
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