January 2020
AHA call for alcohol duty increase in Budget 2020 to combat harm
The Alcohol Health Alliance has launched a campaign to increase alcohol duty – 2% above inflation – to fund public health and prevention services.
We are calling on members to write to their MPs to ask the chancellor to end alcohol tax breaks in the upcoming Budget.
RSPH set out to help UK communities tackle alcohol harm
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has set out to help communities tackle alcohol harm, through recruitment and training of locally engaged and RSPH accredited ‘Alcohol Health Champions’ (AHCs).
AHCs are trained to provide individual level brief advice, and on how to champion local action on alcohol availability. Following a successful and pioneering pilot programme across Greater Manchester, evaluated by a University of Salford team, RSPH is now looking to roll the programme out across the UK. To find out more, please contact: KKenth@rsph.org.uk
Parental drinking in Scotland
In December 2019 Alcohol Focus Scotland published a discussion paper focusing on the Scottish data and inquiry results from the UK report Like sugar for adults. The discussion paper will be used to highlight the impact that low level parental drinking can have on children and stimulate policy development in Scotland.
One in 10 UK drinkers take part in Dry January
Over four million people are taking part in this year’s Dry January. That’s one in ten drinkers in the UK. Alcohol Change UK offers those who sign up daily motivational emails and access to a free app, Try Dry, which helps people to drink more healthily long-term. For ACUK Dry January isn’t really about January – it’s about changing behaviour year-round.
But does it work? There is a growing body of research around Dry January’s efficacy in creating long-term behaviour change. In this blog ACUK’s Chief Executive, Dr Richard Piper, sums up the existing evidence, and welcomes further research into the campaign.
Job vacancy in Glasgow
Alcohol Focus Scotland are seeking a skilled policy professional to join their passionate team in the delivery of strategic priorities. The successful candidate will have a varied and challenging role, with a focus on developing and communicating AFS’ policy advocacy work, sharing the latest research, and keeping the team up to date on developments in Parliament.
Events
Men and Alcohol Seminar Series
SHAAP and IAS
Men, Alcohol and Health – January 24, 2020, Edinburgh
Men and Alcohol: What’s Next – March 20, 2020 , London
SHAAP and IAS are pleased to invite you to join us for the fourth and final seminar in our ‘Men & Alcohol’ series in London and Edinburgh. It will assess insights gained from the first three sessions, and a panel of experts from academia, medicine and the third sector will discuss how men will be affected by alcohol in future; how harms to them could be prevented or reduced; and how we strike a balance between state intervention and individual responsibility. The event takes place at IAS, London on Friday 20 March.
Managing Drugs & Alcohol Problems in Primary Care Conference
RCGP and SMMGP
30-31 January 2020, London
The RCGP and the Substance Misuse Management in General Practice are holding a joint conference for GPs, healthcare professionals and researchers interested in, and involved with the management of drug and alcohol users in primary care.
The theme for this year’s conference is Navigating in Stormy Weather. With shrinking budgets there is a greater need to meet together to share best practice, get encouragement from other areas and learn how it is still possible to provide an effective service. Confirmed speakers include Professor David Nut and Lord Charles Falconer.
Event organisers are still calling for papers, so make sure you submit yours.
Mind the Gap: Alcohol and Inequalities
IAS
18 February 2020, London
While the ‘alcohol harm paradox’ has received some attention, many aspects of the relationship between advantage and disadvantage and alcohol use have unanswered questions. For example: what is the relationship between socio-economic status and alcohol-related violence? Is alcohol taxation regressive? And is the link between deprivation and harmful drinking influenced by mental health?
Lucy Bryant, Aveek Bhattacharya and Dr Sadie Boniface will share emerging findings from research on inequalities at the Institute of Alcohol Studies. Please RSVP to reserve a spot at the seminar.
The Global Alcohol Policy Conference 2020
Global Alcohol Policy Alliance
9-11 March 2020, Dublin
The Global Alcohol Policy Conference is the leading forum for the world’s alcohol policy makers, advocates, researchers, civil society activists and practitioners. Building on the strong commitment and recent alcohol policy interventions in the country, Ireland is hosting GAPC 2020 in Dublin, 9-11 March.
The conference in Ireland will have the theme: “Alcohol, Equity and Global Health: the benefit of alcohol control for sustainable development for all.” It maintains the tradition of focusing on advocacy, overcoming vested interests in alcohol policy development and the need for international collaboration to stop the harm caused by alcohol.
Alcohol Health Alliance: full members meeting
AHA
19 March 2020, London
Members of the Alcohol Health Alliance are invited to attend our full members meeting where we will be joined by Melissa Rice, co-presenter of the sensational BBC podcast Hooked.
MCA Annual Symposium
MCA
11 November 2020, London
The MCA Annual Symposium is a key event in the alcohol and health field. The symposium attracts delegates from clinical, policy and research backgrounds and across all the health specialties and disciplines. In 2020 The MCA Symposium will be held at BMA House in London on November 11th on the theme of Interventions and Recovery with a programme of world-class speakers. The Max Glatt lecture will be given by Peter Rice, who has had a major role in the introduction of minimum unit price in Scotland. He will talking about how best practice measures accepted by the health community, such as minimum unit price, brief interventions and restrictions on promotions, can be turned into practice.
Details of how to register to follow soon.
Find out more about the MCA on their website