Sports coverage ‘exposing children to alcohol marketing’, new research suggests

A report published in Alcohol and Alcoholism has revealed that rugby fans watched more than four hours of footage containing Guinness branding during TV coverage of the Six Nations rugby championship in 2019.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham examined the on-screen exposure of Six Nations audiences to Guinness branding throughout the tournament. Alcohol marketing was found to be ‘highly prevalent’ throughout the championship, providing a significant amount of exposure for audiences, including young people and children.
Families harmed by alcohol and drugs waiting 8 years for support

A partnership of Scottish family support organisations has launched a new national report on the experiences of families affected by alcohol and drugs. Ask the Family! found that each person using alcohol or drugs was harming, on average, 11 other people around them, and that families facing this harm are waiting an average of 8 years to access support.
Treatment services in Ireland dubbed ‘woefully inadequate’ in new report

Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) has said that treatment facilities and services available for those with alcohol dependency are ‘woefully inadequate’.
A new report from AAI (Alcohol treatment services: a snapshot survey) found that almost half of all drinkers in Ireland do so in a hazardous or harmful way. There are an estimated 250,000 people with alcohol dependency, yet the latest data shows only 3,500 new cases gain access to some form of treatment programme.
The report calls for a national strategy and investment for treatment services.
Tune in to the Alcohol Files podcast to find out more about why Ireland continues to have a high level of alcohol use.
Take part in a new SSA project on substances, alcohol and behavioural addictions in autism
The Society for the Study of Addiction has funded a priority-setting partnership focusing on alcohol, other substances and behavioural addictions in people with autism. The project aims to define the currently unknown scientific knowledge related to addiction in this important and under-represented group, and the results will drive policy, research and clinical practice.
The SSA are looking for input from as wide a range of stakeholders as possible, especially from people with lived experience. If you would like to contribute, please contact the team at sabaa@soton.ac.uk or by following @PspSabaa on Twitter. More information is available on the SSA website.
Latest blog from SHAAP: How does alcohol harm impact men?
Men continue to drink more and consequently face more alcohol-related harms than women. In the latest blog post for SHAAP, Colin Shevills discusses men and alcohol. The blog covers: male identity, sport, and positive signs that young men are turning away from alcohol. Colin discusses public health responses that will make it easier for men – and indeed for everyone – to make healthier decisions every day.
Read the blog here.
We Are With You launch campaign to help people find the right moment to address a loved one’s drinking
If you’re worried about a loved one’s drinking, finding the right moment to have a meaningful conversation can make all the difference.
That’s why We Are With You have launched their new ‘Find the Right Moment’ campaign to encourage open, positive conversations about drinking behaviour, and help people ‘find the right moment’ to have that initial conversation with any loved ones they’re worried about.
Events
Seminar and workshop: Not your neurotypical client: Autism, alcohol, and other substances
Alcohol Change UK, the Centre for Applied Autism Research at the University of Bath, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists
9.30am, 6 September 2021
Find out more and book a place here
Alcohol Change UK’s 2021 online conference: rebuild and recover
Alcohol Change UK
22–23 September 2021
Find out more and book a place here