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If you're worried about your own or someone else's drinking, there is support available.

Blog listing

Welcome to the Alcohol Change UK blog, where you can find the latest alcohol research and news, tips to help you cut down, stories from people who have experienced alcohol harm, low and no-alcohol reviews and much more.

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Contact

We would love to hear from you.

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Events

Check out the information below for our upcoming events.

Events

The Alcohol Change UK Conference 2019: New insights into alcohol research, policy and practice

When: 19 June 2019 10:00 - 17:00, followed by alcohol-free Drinks Reception

Where: Rooms on Regent's Park, RCOG, 27 Sussex Place, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RG

This event has now taken place.

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Help and support

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Alcohol facts

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Policy

Alcohol harm impacts all of us, whether on our health and wellbeing, a loved one’s suffering, or the wider effects on our communities.

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Get involved

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About us

Alcohol Change UK is a leading UK alcohol charity, formed from the merger of Alcohol Concern and Alcohol Research UK.

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For practitioners

Alcohol training for practitioners: we work with practitioners and services who provide support and treatment to people with alcohol problems, and those who commission them.

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About the Blue Light Approach

The Blue Light Approach is a nationally recognised framework for improving care and reducing harm among people with entrenched alcohol dependency who are not in contact with treatment services but have complex needs.

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Fundraise

There are so many ways to fundraise for Alcohol Change UK to help create a world free from the harm caused by alcohol.

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About alcohol treatment

If you're struggling with your drinking, help and support are available.

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Check your drinking

Check how healthy your drinking is with this quick quiz.

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Supporting your partner or loved one

Harmful drinking can cause significant issues not only for the drinker, but also for members of their family in the form of health problems, financial worries, relationship breakdown and parenting difficulties.

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A young boy in school uniform looks out of a window.

I think my parent drinks too much alcohol

If you think your parent or carer drinks too much alcohol, it is important for you to know that you don’t have to try to cope on your own, there is help and support available.

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Get help now

If you're worried that you're drinking too much, there's support available.

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Nowcasting of Population Alcohol-Related Harms Using Novel Bayesian Timeseries Methods and Synthetic Controls

Drink review listing

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Low and no alcohol drink reviews

Our taste testers have tried the best and worst of the bunch (and everything in between) to help you find alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks you'll want to drink.

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Alcohol and cancer

Drinking alcohol is a risk factor contributing to seven types of cancer.

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Alcohol and the brain

There are various ways alcohol can affect the health of your brain.

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Alcohol and diabetes

If you have diabetes, moderating your alcohol intake is an important element of diabetes management.

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Alcohol and the heart

Cardiovascular disease is one of the biggest causes of death and ill-health in the UK.

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Alcohol and the liver

The liver is a robust organ that can usually process small amounts of alcohol, but heavy drinking can cause damage.

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Alcohol and mental health

The relationship between alcohol and mental health is complex and seems to work both ways.

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Alcohol in the workplace

Around 10 million of us regularly drink alcohol in ways that can harm our health and wellbeing.

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Drinking trends in the UK

From sleepless nights and high blood pressure to anxiety and cancer, alcohol adversely affects our physical and mental well-being.

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Is alcohol addictive?

What is it about alcohol that keeps us coming back for more, and can we become addicted to drinking?

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Alcohol and prescription medication

Almost all of us will, at some point, have to take a course of medication prescribed by a doctor.

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Alcohol and other drugs

Alcohol is by far the most widely-used recreational drug in the UK.

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Alcohol and sex

Many of us drink alcohol because we feel it gives us confidence in certain situations.

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Challenging the stigma around alcohol

It's time to challenge stigma by talking openly about the issues surrounding alcohol.

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Alcohol and families

There are all sorts of families and all sorts of ways that alcohol can affect family life.

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A list of family support services

For those with a family member struggling with harmful drinking life can be extremely difficult.

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Tips for cutting down

Thinking about your drinking but not sure where to start?

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Family and friends

Harmful drinking can cause significant issues not only for the drinker, but also for those around them in the form of health problems, financial worries, relationship breakdown and parenting difficulties.

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The hardest hit: Addressing the crisis in alcohol treatment services

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An older women with short, cropped hair and wearing glasses looks out of a window.

Managing your drinking

If you feel that alcohol may be having a negative impact on your life, making small changes to your drinking could help you feel better.

Fact sheet listing

Fact sheets

Our fact sheets set out the latest evidence to help you find out more about alcohol.

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Press release: Minimum alcohol pricing in Wales “will save lives”

Maddy Lawson | October 2017 |

New plans for minimum alcohol pricing in Wales, announced Monday 23 October 2017, have been welcomed by Alcohol Concern, as they released new research showing that alcohol can currently be purchased in Wales for as little as 18p per unit.

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Supreme Court rules Minimum Unit Pricing in Scotland is legal

Dr James Nicholls | November 2017 |

Today the Supreme Court has ruled that Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol is legal.

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Alcohol Awareness Week 2017: events across the country

Ellen McHale | November 2017 |

Alcohol Awareness Week is our annual campaign to increase awareness around alcohol harm - and 2017 saw communities across the UK get involved.

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Press release: 3.1 million people to ditch the booze for Dry January® 2018

Maddy Lawson | December 2017 |

A YouGov poll released today (15 December 2017), commissioned by charity Alcohol Concern, has revealed that an estimated 3.

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Government announces £6 million in funding for children of alcohol dependent parents

Maddy Lawson | April 2018 |

On 23 April the Government announced £6 million in funding for children of alcohol dependent parents.

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Minimum unit pricing begins in Scotland

Maddy Lawson | May 2018 |

On 1 May 2018 the Scottish Government introduced a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol.

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New research: Alcohol treatment services in England at crisis point

Maddy Lawson | May 2018 |

A new report, to be launched at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm today (1 May), warns that the alcohol treatment sector is in crisis.

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Government commits to national alcohol strategy

Maddy Lawson | May 2018 |

In early May the Government committed to implementing a new, national strategy on alcohol

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New report calls for overhaul of “ineffective” alcohol marketing regulation

July 2018 |

In a new report published today (6 July 2018) a leading alcohol charity is calling on the UK Government to undertake a thorough review of how alcohol marketing is regulated.

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Three pint glasses on an outdoor table being held by hands.

Pay 3p more for a beer, save lives: the Alcohol Treatment Levy

Maddy Lawson | September 2018 |

Increasing alcohol duties by 1% would raise around £100 million each year which, invested in alcohol treatment, could save the NHS and other public services around £300 million annually.

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Leading voices in alcohol recovery sector call on Government to aim high with a pioneering new alcohol strategy

Maddy Lawson | October 2018 |

Thirty organisations across civil society have put their names behind a new Alcohol Charter urging the government to reduce the damage to society caused by alcohol.

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Confusing research: is moderate drinking safe?

Dr James Nicholls | August 2018 |

In the last two weeks [

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It’s not about the alcohol! Helping communities to drink more healthily

Andrew Misell | August 2018 |

How do you get ‘ordinary’ social drinkers thinking and talking about alcohol?

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Time to look again at alcohol labels

Mark Leyshon | August 2018 |

When was the last time you looked at an alcohol label?

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News roundup: July 2018

Maddy Lawson | August 2018 |

July's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

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A woman with her hair tied back looks sadly out of a window.

Lauren Booker | July 2018 |

In 2012 alcohol consultant Lauren Booker received a phone call from a distraught man asking for help - and it started her on a road of discovery around a range of poorly understood conditions that fall under the umbrella term 'alcohol-related brain damage'.

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I love beer... Or do I just love alcohol?

Andrew Misell | July 2018 |

When you work for an alcohol charity, lots of people assume that you don’t drink.

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Runners' feet in colourful trainers line up along a painted start line.

#DryEighteen: Half-way there

Rob O'Donohue | July 2018 |

Check out Rob's blog giving the background to his dry year here, and his first 100 days here.

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#StigmaMakesMeFeel

Robert Stebbings, Adfam | July 2018 |

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News roundup: June 2018

Maddy Lawson | July 2018 |

June's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

Fact sheet

Am I drinking too much alcohol?

Knowing ‘how much is too much’ can be confusing when it comes to alcohol.

Editorial

A couple buying some wine at a supermarket.

Alcohol marketing

Many of us across the country are impacted every day by the harm caused by alcohol - which is why it is vital that we have evidence-based policies in place to make sure that alcohol is marketed responsibly.

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Understanding the alcohol harm paradox

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Accuracy of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) for detecting problem drinking in 18-35 year-olds in England

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Alcohol pricing and purchasing among heavy drinkers in Edinburgh and Glasgow

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Online health check for reducing alcohol intake among employees: a feasibility study in six workplaces across England

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Marking its own homework: why alcohol marketing regulation needs to change

Andrew Misell | July 2018 |

As it stands, regulation of alcohol marketing in the UK is done by three main bodies: the Advertising Standards Authority, Ofcom, and the Portman Group.

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#Trainwine and “barmaids in the sky”: why are alcohol and travel so tied up in each other?

Andrew Misell | July 2018 |

Quick quiz… When did you last have an airport beer?

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Fancy a Sober Summer?

Catherine Gray | June 2018 |

Today, 21 June, marks the official start of summer - hooray!

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The beautiful, beer-filled game

Andrew Misell | June 2018 |

As the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Moscow on 14 June, the relationship between alcohol and football is again under scrutiny.

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Randomised trial evaluation of the In:tuition programme

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Alcohol harms – what are they, and what is our role?

Alcohol is often a source of pleasure, but it can also cause serious harms.

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A new approach to measuring drinking cultures in Britain

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News roundup: May 2018

Maddy Lawson | June 2018 |

May's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

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Frequent attenders to accident and emergency departments: a qualitative study of individuals who repeatedly present with alcohol-related health conditions

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The 3rd National Emergency Department survey of Alcohol Identification and Intervention activity

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Alcohol Stories: a lifecourse perspective on self-harm, suicide and alcohol use among men

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Delivering Alcohol IBA: Broadening the base from health to non-health contexts

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Pre-detoxification Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Group intervention for dependent alcohol users

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Pharmacotherapy Utilisation in Alcohol Dependence

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Alcohol and transport

Alcohol affects our safety across the transport system — from drink driving on our roads to alcohol use in airports.

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Accessibility and suitability of residential alcohol treatment for older adults

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Alcohol treatment

Alcohol treatment is essential in helping people to turn their lives around; this page looks at the current state of the treatment sector.

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A review of alcohol media literacy interventions and potential applications for a UK context

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A systematic review of alcohol interventions for people living with and beyond cancer

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An exploration of the role of alcohol in the life experiences of the homeless population in Merseyside, UK

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Evaluating the interactive effects of responsible drinking messages and attentional bias on actual drinking behaviours

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Self-Affirmation-Based Enhancement of Risks/Harms-Feedback (SABER-F): First steps in the development of a novel theory-led internet intervention for heavy drinkers

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The Sandwell multi-agency management group for high impact problem drinkers; interim evaluation

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The Time of My Life Project: A Realist Evaluation

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‘Wet’ care homes for older people with refractory alcohol problems: A qualitative study

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Communicating public health alcohol guidance for expectant mothers: a scoping report

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Supporting nurse mentors to reduce the barriers to implementing alcohol Interventions and Brief Advice (IBA) in primary care

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Alcohol price and duty

Evidence shows that managing the price of alcohol is an effective way to reduce avoidable alcohol harm.

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Understanding the language around different patterns of drinking

The language around alcohol harms can be confusing.

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Alcohol outlet density and alcohol-related hospital admissions in England: a geographical analysis

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Know Your Limits: Labelling Interventions to Reduce Alcohol Consumption

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The treatment of alcohol dependence by total abstinence: The experience of residents at Studio House, Nottingham

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Investigating the Potential Impact of Changing Alcohol Product Labels

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Aiming for moderation rather than total abstinence

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Controlling supply: the concept of need in liquor licensing

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FAST screening for alcohol problems

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Alcohol and inequalities

Alcohol can cause problems across the social scale.

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Alcohol, crime and disorder

Alcohol is implicated in an enormous amount of crime and disorder, and the effects on victims can be devastating.

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Reducing alcohol consumption in young men with alcohol-related facial injuries

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The effect of alcohol on surgical dexterity

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A randomised controlled trial of training and support strategies to encourage screening and brief alcohol intervention

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Drinking habits of 16 year olds: Secondary analysis of the 1970 British Cohort Study

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Gender differences in alcohol consumption and problems with alcohol

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Improving methods of estimating alcohol consumption

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Maternal alcohol consumption and the behaviour of the foetus

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The 1999 European School Survey Project on Alcohol & other Drugs (ESPAD).

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‘Optimal’ levels of alcohol consumption for men and women at different ages

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Gender & Alcohol: The UK Part of GENAClS, an International Study

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The Effects of Alcohol Consumption in People with Diabetes

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Annual Report and Accounts

Each year we publish our Annual Report and Accounts which reviews our performance against our strategic objectives and mission as set out in our strategic plans.

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Down your drink: an online treatment programme for problem drinkers

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Primary prevention for alcohol misuse in young people – results from a Cochrane Collaboration Systematic Review

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An evaluation of an action planning intervention to reduce the incidence of high-risk single session alcohol consumption in high risk drinkers

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Negotiating Alcohol Problems in Primary Care Consultation: Power, Evidence and Practice

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Referral for alcohol misuse in an emergency department: Results of a randomised trial

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The effects of hangover on performance

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Alcohol and Breast Cancer

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Alcohol Services and the needs of Black and Minority Ethnic Groups

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Are intoxicated males more aggressive or do aggressive males like a drink?

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Can Warning Signs Training help maintain abstinence?

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Feasibility study for an evaluation of a schools-based, peer-led intervention to reduce the prevalence of pupil problem drinking

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Prevalence of alcohol use disorders in Deaf psychiatric patients

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Review of projects and initiatives that support children and families affected by alcohol misuse

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A Multi-Agency Community-Based Intervention to Reduce Excessive Drinking in Cardiff City Centre: Findings from night time surveys.

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A Randomised Controlled Trial of Brief Intervention Strategies in Patients with Alcohol Related Facial Injury

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A valid and reliable method of evaluating the delivery of manual-based psychosocial treatments for alcohol dependence and misuse

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An Exploration of Psychosocial Risk Factors of Hazardous Alcohol Use in People with Learning Disabilities

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Child Risk and Parental Resistance: Can Motivational Interviewing Improve the Practice of Child and Family Social Workers in Working with Parental Alcohol Misuse?

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Development, implementation and evaluation of a pilot project to deliver interventions on alcohol issues in community pharmacies, ‘Drinking in Pharmacies’

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Implementation of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) 10-14 in Barnsley: The Perspectives of Facilitators and Families

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Parent – young people communication about alcohol

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Risk Factors in Bars

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Strategy for Implementing Screening and Brief Alcohol Interventions in Primary Health Care in England

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The effectiveness of interventions in the alcohol server setting for preventing injuries: findings from a Cochrane Systematic Review

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A randomised comparison of two levels of an intervention to work with relatives of alcohol and drug users in primary care

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An investigation into the environmental impact of off-license premises on residential neighbourhoods

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Binge Drinking and Emergency Departments

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Population based latent class analysis of drinking behaviour: related psychological problems and cognitive impairment

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Relationships between late night drinks marketing and alcohol related disorder

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The effect of alcohol advertising and marketing on drinking behaviour in young people: systematic review of published longitudinal studies

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The Influence of Alcohol on Blood Pressure

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The Normalisation of Binge Drinking? An Historical and Cross Cultural Investigation with Implications for Action

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How our work is funded

We are a truly independent UK charity and we value that independence hugely, so we do not accept funding from the alcohol industry.

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Alcohol units

Want to check how many units you’re drinking?

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Unit calculator

Use the unit calculator to find out how many units are in a particular drink, or to check how much you're drinking.

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Young People’s Street Drinking Behaviour: Investigating the Influence of Marketing & Subculture

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Awareness of unit content of self poured drinks by UK adults: a useful intervention tool

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Implementation of the Licensing Act 2003: A national survey

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Donate

Reducing serious alcohol harm across society is not a simple job as alcohol plays such a central part in our society and culture.

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Consultancy and training for workplaces

Alcohol Change UK is the leading provider of consultancy and training services on alcohol harm to both individuals and organisations.

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Reasons to support us

Find out more about the work we do and the difference you can make.

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The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm

Alcohol Change UK was the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Alcohol Harm.

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Our campaigns

Get involved with our campaigns and support people in your community to drink more healthily.

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The Dry January® challenge

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Why do the Dry January® challenge?

The Dry January® challenge means going alcohol-free for the whole month using Alcohol Change UK's tools and resources, and that can bring huge, obvious benefits - but the really good stuff is under the surface.

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Families affected by harmful drinking

Harmful drinking can cause significant issues not only for the alcohol user, but also for members of their family.

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Alcohol-related bereavement

Alcohol-related bereavement can cause you to experience a whole range of emotions.

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Parents who drink too much alcohol

Living with a parent or carer who drinks harmfully can be very difficult for a child.

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Setting up a family support group

If you are a family member affected by alcohol or drug use, there are sources of local support that you can access.

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Privacy notice

This privacy notice describes how and why Alcohol Change UK uses your personal information, how we protect your privacy when doing so, and your rights and choices regarding this information.

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Go dry for charity

The Dry January® challenge will do amazing things for you, but it can do amazing things for others too.

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The Dry January® challenge blog

Read stories, hints and tips, alcohol-free reviews and lots more, helping you reset your relationship with alcohol at the start of the year and beyond.

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The Dry January® challenge in your workplace

With more and more people wanting to take on the Dry January® challenge, supporting them in the workplace is a brilliant idea - for wellbeing, productivity and more!

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The Dry January® challenge in your community

The Dry January® challenge supports people across the country to change their relationship with alcohol through stopping drinking for one month using Alcohol Change UK's tools and resources.

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A man and a woman stand under a large yellow umbrella in a housing estate.

Dry January® challenge support

Find support for your Dry January® challenge questions.

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Dry January® challenge policies

Read our ethical statement, privacy policy and information about the Dry January® challenge trademark.

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Try Dry®: the app for the Dry January® challenge and beyond

You can now download Try Dry® the app to help you track your time off drinking.

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The Dry January® story

The Dry January® challenge started in 2013 with 4,000 people.

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About Dry January®

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Go dry for charity

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Get involved

Blog

Drinking in pregnancy: how should the guidance work?

Dr James Nicholls | May 2018 |

How should advice on alcohol and pregnancy be communicated?

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News roundup: April 2018

Maddy Lawson | May 2018 |

April's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

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Alcohol treatment: Time for action

Dr James Nicholls | May 2018 |

The alcohol treatment sector is facing acute challenges.

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Top tips for your second month of Sober Spring

Catherine Gray | May 2018 |

If you're aboard Sober Spring, you’re now in your second month.

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Public involvement in alcohol research

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Happy urban women in her 30s walking outside on a chilly day with the sun behind her

The Alcohol Change Report

It’s easy to think that alcohol harm is inevitable.

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Alcohol treatment: what is it and why does it matter?

Maddy Lawson | May 2018 |

On 1 May 2018 we released our new research on the state of the alcohol treatment sector in England.

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MUP begins in Scotland: Looking to the future

Dr James Nicholls | May 2018 |

Today, 1 May 2018, the Scottish Government is introducing a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol.

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Is alcohol good for your heart?

Dr James Nicholls | April 2018 |

Is alcohol good for your heart?

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Running, cranberries and other alcohol myths

Lauren Booker | April 2018 |

“I always run better after a few drinks,” said the man stretching next to me.

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News roundup: March 2018

Maddy Lawson | April 2018 |

March's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

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Review: Alcohol-free and low alcohol beer

Andrew Misell | March 2018 |

Alcohol-free and low alcohol drinking used to have a (deservedly) bad reputation.

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Gambling and alcohol: the odds are stacked

Mark Leyshon | March 2018 |

I was delighted to speak on behalf of Alcohol Concern at last week’s ‘Problem Gambling’ event in Cardiff, hosted by Citizen’s Advice, whose report ‘Out of Luck’ highlighted the devastating effects problem gambling has on individuals and families across the country.

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Two sets of legs walking in an autumnal street; one from a child and one from an adult.

Alcohol and parenting: children and teenagers

March 2018 |

There’s so much confusing information around alcohol and parenting that parents can find it difficult to know what to do for the best.

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Alcohol, now you’re a parent

Maddy Lawson | March 2018 |

There’s so much confusing information around alcohol, pregnancy and children, that parents can find it difficult to know what to do for the best.

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Here comes Sober Spring

Catherine Gray | March 2018 |

One of the reasons Dry January® is such a runaway success with millions of Brits is that it gives us a go-to reason for not drinking.

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Alcohol-free drinks: let’s get things clear

Dr James Nicholls | March 2018 |

Alcohol-free drinks used to have a poor reputation – and rightly so.

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Improved knowledge

Everyone has an opinion about alcohol, but opinions can be wrong.

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Better policy and regulation

Good, evidence-based policy can make a difference to millions of real lives, and is essential to positive change.

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Improved drinking behaviours

Drinking behaviours are learnt behaviours.

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Shifted cultural norms

We are not anti-alcohol; it is a central part of our culture, and at low levels alcohol itself does not cause significant harm.

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More and better support and treatment

For hundreds of thousands of people in the UK, alcohol has become a source of profound suffering.

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Jade plummets for Paul

Victoria Creyton | March 2018 |

Jade lost her brother Paul to alcohol when he was only 40 years old - and she decided she wanted to do something to stop others from going through the same.

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‘Wet February’ and beyond

Maddy Lawson | February 2018 |

Social media is awash with memes encouraging us to binge-drink now that Dry January® is done.

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New research: Family life in recovery

Dr James Nicholls | February 2018 |

Recovery from alcohol or drug dependency is not a journey taken alone.

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Cut down or cut out?

Lauren Booker | February 2018 |

Dry or not dry?

Fact sheet

Alcohol statistics

Find out more about alcohol and its effect on life across the UK.

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Previously funded research

Find out more about research we have previously funded: commissioned work, research and development grants, co-funded projects, small grants, and research studentships.

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Ellie, Kirsty and baby: A recovery story

Ellie | November 2018 |

I worked with Kirsty to help her recover from alcohol dependence.

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From month off to New York Marathon

Sarah | November 2018 |

My daily drinking habit started just over 10 years ago after I stopped breastfeeding my youngest child.

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Alcohol brief interventions: where next for IBA

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The strength to change: Support for family members

Al-Anon | November 2018 |

Al-Anon Family Groups is a fellowship dedicated to helping anyone who has been affected by their relationship with someone with a drink problem.

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From the child of an alcohol dependent parent to an alcohol harm academic

Alicia | November 2018 |

Alicia went from being the child of an alcohol dependent parent to an academic researching alcohol harm.

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Change across the world: Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous | November 2018 |

If you are drinking too much, there is support available to help you to cut down.

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The day my life changed

David | November 2018 |

On 16 February 2001, during my penultimate term at university, I went out for some drinks with friends.

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Change at all ages

Julie Breslin, Drink Wise, Age Well | November 2018 |

Drink Wise, Age Well provide information on alcohol and getting older to allow you to make informed choices about your alcohol use.

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"I don’t drink": Making a change I never thought possible

Emily | November 2018 |

Life and soul of the party, avid gig-goer and bar-hopper; I was the last person you would expect to quit drinking.

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Change at a local level

Fraser Kerr, East Ayrshire Alcohol and Drugs Partnership | November 2018 |

East Ayrshire is one of thousands of local authorities across the country working to change their communities’ relationships with alcohol, to reduce alcohol harm and improve lives.

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Change began when I asked for help

Jo | November 2018 |

My father drank from when I was about six years old.

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Alcohol was my go-to treat. Now I’m learning new habits

Kay | November 2018 |

I run my own small PR consultancy promoting health.

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Change the way you think about alcohol dependence

Rob Cockerill | November 2018 |

When I first published my book about alcohol dependency’s effects on our family, its effects on me, I did so under a pen name.

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The World Cup final and the birthday party

Rowan | November 2018 |

I think I had always been in denial about how much I drank, as well as the impact drinking had on my health – physical and mental.

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The new wave of alcohol-free beers helped me cut down

Tom Hallett | November 2018 |

Like lots of people, I'd always viewed alcohol-free beer as a bit of a joke.

Publication

Can alcohol screening and brief intervention work in a young people’s sexual health service?

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Not In Front Of The Children – Child Protection And Advertising

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Preventing Alcohol and Drug Misuse in Young People

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Researching the effects of digital storytelling as a brief alcohol intervention for young people delivered in non-medical settings

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Why do individuals delay accessing treatment for alcohol concerns? A pilot study

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The representation and reception of meaning in alcohol advertising and young people’s drinking

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“You don’t even wash your face, let alone anything else”

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Acute effects of alcohol on prospective memory

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Governance

Alcohol Change UK is governed by a board of trustees with a wealth of knowledge and skills across a diverse range of disciplines.

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Are you looking at me?

Editorial

Cookies policy

We use cookies on our website to help us provide you with a better website experience and to improve our website performance.

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Reducing alcohol-related harm in the workplace: a feasibility study of screening and brief interventions for hazardous drinkers

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Script representation of alcohol-related aggression in underage drinkers

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The orientation and integration of local and national alcohol policy in England and Wales

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Why do people drink at home? An exploration of the perceptions of adult home consumption practice

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Young people, alcohol and the news: preliminary findings

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About Alcohol Awareness Week

Alcohol Awareness Week is a week of awareness-raising, campaigning for change, and more.

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Alcohol Awareness Week 2018: events around the UK

November 2018 |

Here are just a few of the activities local authorities, pharmacies, GP surgeries, charities, workplaces and other local organisations across the country organised for Alcohol Awareness Week 2018 to raise awareness about alcohol and signpost people to more information and support.

Landing page

Meet our team

Our team is passionate about our work in creating a society that is free from the harm caused by alcohol.

Publication

Liver Disease Risk Factors in Patients Treated for Alcohol and Drug Dependence

Publication

Development of the Brief Addiction Therapist Scale (BATS)

Landing page

Policy insights

Good, evidence-based policy can make a difference to millions of real lives, and is essential to positive change.

Publication

“They’ll drink bucket loads of the stuff” An analysis of internal alcohol industry advertising documents

Publication

A survey of GPs’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the prevention and management of alcohol-related problems

Publication

Building an evidence base on alcohol supply points

Publication

Mediating effects of mental health problems in the stress alcohol relationship

Publication

Psychological Interventions with Families of Alcohol Misusers: A Systematic Review

Publication

Student Choices and Alcohol Matters (SCAM)

Publication

The effect of drinking alcohol during pregnancy on balance ability in childhood

Research hub

Explore our library of alcohol-related research, fact sheets and more.

Blog

Alcohol and inequality

James Nicholls | November 2018 |

On Monday 19 November, the first day of Alcohol Awareness Week 2018, Parliamentarians including Baroness Hayter and Fiona Bruce MP are meeting in Westminster for an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm meeting to discuss the severe inequalities related to alcohol found across the UK.

Publication

The role of parents in preventing alcohol misuse: An Evaluation of the Kids, Adults Together Programme (KAT)

Publication

Use and abuse of alcohol in UK university sport

Publication

An assessment of a participatory theatre project exploring women’s relationship with alcohol

Publication

Getting the measure: An evaluation of alcohol Intervention (AI) training and resources for frontline staff working in the homelessness sector

Publication

Working with older drinkers

Publication

Adult consequences of late adolescent alcohol consumption: A systematic review of cohort studies

Publication

Investigating the effectiveness of education in relation to alcohol

Publication

Partnerships: A mechanism for local alcohol policy implementation

Publication

Providing web-based feedback and social norms information to reduce student alcohol intake: A multisite investigation of Unitcheck

Publication

The cost of alcohol: The advocacy for a minimum price per unit in the UK

Publication

An on-product self-affirmation intervention to promote alcohol consumption within government recommended guidelines: A pilot study

Publication

Developing “Mystery Shopper” capacity for alcohol services

Publication

Glass shape influences consumption rate for alcoholic beverages

Publication

Investigating community gardening as a form of rehabilitation for people with alcohol misuse problems in Northern Ireland: A pilot study

Publication

Problem drinking and peer support in cyberspace

Publication

The 2nd National emergency department survey of alcohol identification and intervention activity

Publication

Alcohol industry influence on public policy: A case study of pricing and promotions policy in the UK

Editorial

The Blue Light training courses

We offer a range of training to help you develop new skills to work more effectively with those drinking at harmful levels.

Publication

An evaluation of the Moving Parents and Children Together (M-PACT) Programme

Blog

We welcome vital new funding for children of alcohol dependent parents. Now let’s do more

Dr Richard Piper | April 2018 |

Today’s [

Blog

Budget 2018: A missed opportunity

Dr James Nicholls | October 2018 |

Under the Autumn Budget 2018, duties are frozen for spirits, cider and beer while there is no new public health funding for alcohol treatment services.

Publication

An evaluation of the option 2 Intensive Family Preservation Service

Blog

Review: Low alcohol wines

Andrew Misell | October 2018 |

We bring you the best low-alcohol wines, based on our extensive reviews.

Publication

Gender, alcohol and interventions

Publication

Identifying promising approaches and initiatives to reducing alcohol related harm

Blog

Time for alcohol-free to leave the kids' table

Lauren Booker | October 2018 |

I recently attended a swanky two-day corporate event.

Blog

A Room Full of Blossom: Writing through grief

Alison Stewart | October 2018 |

The problem with writing is always where to begin.

Blog

News roundup: September 2018

Maddy Lawson | October 2018 |

September's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

Publication

Internet influences on adolescent attitudes to alcohol

Publication

Process evaluation and feasibility study of In:tuition, a life skills education programme for young people aged 9-14 years

Blog

News roundup: August 2018

Maddy Lawson | September 2018 |

August's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

Blog

Going out, without the alcohol

Catherine Gray | January 2026 |

You have to be drinking to enjoy going out - right?

Blog

City guide: Bristol

January 2018 |

Pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants in Bristol are supporting this year’s Dry January®.

Blog

2018's best books about (not) drinking

Laura Willoughby | January 2018 |

If you were ever in any doubt that mindful drinking is the health trend of the moment, then just look at the number of books coming out this January dedicated to helping you change your drinking habits.

Publication

Shop servers’ experience of alcohol-related issues and interventions in socially contrasting neighbourhoods

Blog

Help, I miss my favourite drinks!

January 2018 |

Looking for alcohol-free replacements for your favourite drinks?

Publication

A feasibility study to explore alcohol service engagement among Polish street drinkers in a London Borough

Blog

City guide: Liverpool

Ruth Fishwick | January 2018 |

Check out this blog post from blogger Ruth Fishwick, who writes the blog Ruth Writes, and discover the best spots in Liverpool for Dry January® and beyond!

Blog

A woman lies on a grey sofa with her bare feet up, relaxing.

Five ways to relax without alcohol

Laurie McAllister | March 2026 |

Alcohol can often become a crutch for relaxation, and lots of us may have found ourselves turning to alcohol during stressful times.

Blog

The wine-tasting group taking a month off for Dry January®

Phoebe Mitchell | January 2018 |

Phoebe Mitchell and Yasmine Sefraoui run Decant Be Serious, a monthly wine tasting and food pairing event in Glasgow.

Publication

Alcohol and other drugs in social work practice: Identifying the extent of employment-based training in children’s and adults’ services in England

Blog

City guide: London

Erynn Blansjaar | December 2018 |

Dry January® doesn't mean a boring month of sitting home, staring at the wall and feeling sorry for yourself!

Publication

Investigating parental monitoring, school and family influences on adolescent alcohol use

Publication

Social care practice with older people, people with learning disabilities, and physically disabled people who use alcohol and other drugs

Publication

Substance use in social work education: A national survey of social work qualifying programmes in England

Blog

Why I'm planning on doing Dry January®!

December 2017 |

People take part in Dry January® for lots of different reasons - whether that be to save money, get healthier, or simply to set themselves a challenge.

Blog

Review: "Alcohol-free" spirits

January 2018 |

Spirits depend heavily on alcohol for flavour.

Blog

An aerial view of Newcastle city centre, UK.

City guide: Newcastle

Jeff Lyall | January 2018 |

Food blogger Jeff Lyall, who writes the blog Newcastle Eats, has written us a guide to the best Dry January-friendly spots in Newcastle!

Blog

A woman with long blonde hair wearing a wooly hat walks through a wintry forest with others.

10 tools for a brilliant Dry January® challenge

Lauren Booker | January 2023 |

A month without alcohol is going to do wonders for your health - here we offer some hints and tips to make it the best possible experience for January and beyond!

Blog

Alcohol and your body

December 2017 |

We know that drinking too much isn’t good for us, but what actually happens when alcohol enters the body?

Blog

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Coping with cravings

Lauren Booker | January 2026 |

After the initial high of the first few days off the booze, when the first flush of motivation starts to wear thin, you might start to feel cravings for a drink.

Blog

World Cancer Research Fund menu plan: Risotto, Portugese custard tarts and virgin sangria mocktails

January 2018 |

Check out the final recipe plan from World Cancer Research Fund!

Blog

Menu: Cajun salmon, spiced crumble, and ginger zinger

WCRF | January 2018 |

Liven up your third week of Dry January® with these tasty recipes from World Cancer Research Fund!

Blog

Menu: Curry, cranachans and Virgin Marys

World Cancer Research Fund | January 2018 |

In the first of the series, World Cancer Research Fund have provided a tasty meal plan, to give your Dry January® an additional health boost!

Publication

A national study of acute care Alcohol Health Workers

Publication

Alcohol industry sponsorship and hazardous drinking in UK university sport

Publication

Alcohol misuse and cognitive impairment in older people: An exploratory study

Publication

Alcohol, other drugs and sight loss: A scoping study

Fact sheet

Alcohol and calories

Weight gain is a major concern for many us in the UK, given its links to a range of health problems.

Blog

From homeless and dependent to film festival judge: Kelly’s story

Kelly Judge | September 2018 |

Kelly was alcohol dependent and sleeping rough - but everything changed when she visited Steps to Recovery and entered the Recovery Street Film Festival.

Blog

Britain's booziest sport? My money's on horseracing

Andrew Misell, Director of Alcohol Change UK in Wales | September 2018 |

As we approach the St Leger, last Classic of the flat season, racing fan Andrew discusses an element of horseracing that's almost as distinctive as the horses: the drinking.

Blog

Writing your way to recovery

Maddy Lawson | September 2018 |

We sat down with author Lily Dunn to talk about her latest project as co-editor of A Wild and Precious Life, an anthology of poetry and prose by writers in recovery.

Publication

Tackling alcohol-related anti-social behaviour through Civil Injunctions and Criminal Behaviour Orders

Publication

Fit for Purpose? An analysis of the role of the Portman Group in alcohol industry self-regulation

Publication

“I have no clue what I drunk last night” Using smartphone technology to compare in-vivo and retrospective recorded alcohol consumption

Publication

A think aloud study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a digital intervention for the prevention of alcohol related harm in adolescents

Editorial

Try Dry® App: User Guide

So, you’ve downloaded Try Dry®: the Dry January app®.

Publication

UKCAPP: UK Community Alcohol Prevention Programme

Publication

Effectiveness of schools-based life-skills and alcohol education programmes

Publication

Roles of Alcohol in Intimate Partner Abuse

Publication

Evaluation of the impact of public health transfer to local authorities on alcohol

Publication

Use as Abuse: A Feasibility Study of Alcohol-related Elder Abuse

Publication

Using licensing to protect public health: from evidence to practice

Publication

All night long: Social media marketing to young people by alcohol brands and venues

Publication

Understanding recovery from a family perspective: A survey of life in recovery for families

Publication

Adolescent alcohol use and school disengagement

Publication

All in the mind? The effect of beliefs about alcohol on alcohol binges

Publication

Assessing the role that entertainers play in alcohol marketing and the maintenance of good order within on-trade licensed premises

Editorial

Our staff

Find out more about our team and their roles and responsibilities.

Editorial

Our trustees

Our trustees bring a diverse range of skills and knowledge.

Publication

Cycles of harm: Problematic alcohol use amongst women involved in prostitution

Publication

Effects of Varenicline on alcohol enjoyment and consumption

Fact sheet

Alcohol and fitness

There are many misconceptions about alcohol and exercise, but the truth is that drinking alcohol can affect our fitness in several important ways.

Blog

Bethan's story: "Growing up with an alcohol dependent mother was difficult – but losing her to it was even worse."

Bethan | December 2018 |

My mum Jayne, was a down to earth and incredibly kind-hearted woman.

Fact sheet

There are a number of different symptoms of alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) but with the right support and treatment many of these can improve.

Fact sheet

What is alcohol-related brain damage?

Alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) is an umbrella term used to describe the damage that can happen to the brain as a result of long-term heavy drinking.

Fact sheet

A handbook for the families, carers and friends of people with alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD).

Fact sheet

It can be difficult to diagnose alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) so it's important to know what to look out for.

Fact sheet

A guide to the legal arrangements in place to help someone with alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) who is struggling to manage their own affairs.

Publication

Steps to Cope: A brief intervention for children and young people (CYP) living with parental substance misuse and/or parental mental health problems

Fact sheet

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows another person in authority to make a decision on your behalf.

Fact sheet

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides the legal framework for acting and making decisions on behalf of individuals who lack the mental capacity to make particular decisions for themselves.

Blog

How can I reduce my drinking over the Christmas period?

December 2018 |

The run up to Christmas can sometimes feel like an endless drinking session, with party after party, and lots of excuses to crack open a bottle.

Blog

A few people walk together down a forested path in summer.

Why do I drink, and what can I do instead?

January 2025 |

Ever wondered exactly why you drink?

Blog

A group of people walk down a country lane.

Top 10 reasons to take on Dry January®

Lauren Booker | December 2020 |

With Dry January® fast approaching, people across the country are gearing up for their month without booze.

Blog

An older woman with short, cropped hair looks out of a window.

Alice's Dry January® story: "I had a stereotype in my head of what a heavy drinker looks like."

December 2018 |

Alice took on Dry January® and hasn't looked back since.

Blog

A blond woman looking worried with her hands clasped under her chin, sits next to a window.

I think I might struggle...

Lauren Booker | December 2021 |

I think I might struggle taking a month off for Dry January® – what can I do?

Blog

What happens when you drink?

Lauren Booker | December 2021 |

Ever wondered how alcohol travels through your body and what it does while it's there?

Blog

Telling people about your Dry January®

Lauren Booker | January 2023 |

Maybe you’ll be shouting about Trying Dry from the rooftops (or at least on social media), or maybe you’ll only want to tell your closest friends and family.

Blog

Mental health and your drinking

December 2021 |

We’re often told alcohol is a depressant, but what effects can drinking actually have on our mental health?

Blog

Top 10 alcohol-free drinks in bars

Erynn Blansjaar | December 2018 |

Out and about and worried about what to drink during Sober Spring?

Blog

Man Outstretched By Lake Istock 500963564

Mindfulness for your Dry January® challenge

Lauren Booker | January 2026 |

Here are some simple mindfulness exercises you can try throughout your Dry January® challenge to check in with yourself and how you're feeling.

Blog

Young man sitting at restaurant with friends

Drink-refusal skills: how to say no to an alcoholic drink

Lauren Booker | January 2026 |

A key skill for taking part in the Dry January® challenge is learning how to say no to alcoholic drinks.

Blog

A man and a woman at an indoor climbing wall celebrate with a high-five.

Dry January® with a buddy

Lauren Booker | December 2021 |

If trying Dry January® on your own is a scary thought, why not get a friend involved?

Blog

Sex and dating without alcohol

Lauren Booker | January 2026 |

Sober dating doesn’t need to be scary, but for some the very idea sends shivers down their spine.

Blog

Setbacks, and how to deal with them

Lauren Booker | April 2026 |

Somewhere along your alcohol-free journey you might face a setback – you've had a drink and aren’t sure what to do next.

Blog

1 week alcohol-free - what's happening in your body?

Lauren Booker | March 2026 |

At 1 week alcohol-free you might be starting to see changes on the surface – no hangover, more energy, brighter skin – but what’s going on inside your body 1 week into your booze-free journey?

Blog

2 weeks alcohol-free - what's happening in your body?

Lauren Booker | April 2026 |

By this point you’re almost half way through your dry month!

Blog

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3 weeks alcohol-free - what's happening in your body?

Lauren Booker | January 2026 |

At 3 weeks alcohol-free you're likely to have seen some brilliant benefits - but what's going on under the surface?

Blog

One month alcohol-free - what's happening in your body?

Lauren Booker | January 2026 |

A month alcohol-free sees many people with more energy, a boosted mood and extra cash in their pocket - but there are lots of brilliant benefits under the surface too.

Blog

Dry January® and your relationship

Lauren Booker | January 2023 |

Dry January® is your challenge – but your nearest and dearest will likely be affected by and affect your dry journey.

Blog

Your favourite alcohol-free drinks

Erynn Blansjaar | January 2021 |

Check out some favourite alcohol-free drinks shared by other people taking on Dry January®!

Blog

Having fun on a sober night in

Lauren Booker | January 2023 |

What on earth do you do on an evening in when you’re not drinking?

Blog

Top alcohol-free drinks from high-street supermarkets

Erynn Blansjaar | January 2022 |

Alcohol-free drink sales are booming, so chances are a supermarket near you has a selection of options for you.

Blog

What food goes well with which alcohol-free drink?

Lauren Booker | March 2026 |

Find it hard to imagine enjoying your food as much with an alcohol-free drink in hand?

Blog

A group of runners with event numbers on cross the finish line on a pavement.

The Dry January® challenge - what next?

January 2026 |

If you’ve taken part in the Dry January® challenge, you may have already noticed some changes in the way you feel both physically and mentally.

Blog

News roundup: November 2018

December 2018 |

November's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

Publication

Follow-up Evaluation Communities Together Project: Fishguard and Goodwick

Publication

It’s not about the alcohol - A handbook for addressing alcohol issues in their community context

Editorial

Try Dry®: the podcast

Listen to the Try Dry® podcast now for some added inspiration, interest and ideas for your Dry January®.

Blog

The charity behind the Dry January® challenge

January 2026 |

The Dry January® challenge is run by the charity Alcohol Change UK.

Blog

Try Dry®: The Official Guide to a Month Off Booze

December 2018 |

The Try Dry® book is your guide to a month alcohol-free, written by Alcohol Change UK, the charity behind the Dry January® challenge.

Navigation node

Your dry tools

Blog

Preparing for your dry month: Our top 5 tips

Lauren Booker | December 2021 |

With January fast approaching, you might already be preparing for your dry month - go you!

Publication

One too many? Sales to drunk customers: policy, enforcement and responsibility

Publication

Alcohol and the workplace

Publication

Brand stretch: How alcohol brands are pushing marketing boundaries

Publication

A losing bet? Alcohol and gambling - investigating parallels and shared solutions

Blog

'Tis the season: Four of the best festive non-alcoholic drinks

Ellen McHale | December 2020 |

Who says you need booze to be merry?

Publication

Take care: An Alcohol Concern Cymru project in partnership with NewLink Wales to support unpaid carers to avoid problems with alcohol

Publication

On the road: Alcohol and driving

Publication

All in the mind: Meeting the challenge of alcohol-related brain damage

Publication

On your doorstep: Underage access to alcohol via home delivery services

Publication

On the front line: Alcohol and the armed forces

Publication

Everyone’s problem: The role of local alcohol services in tackling Wales’ unhealthy relationship with alcohol

Publication

Making an impression: Recognition of alcohol brands by primary school children

Publication

Under pressure: supporting unpaid carers in Wales

Publication

Full to the brim? Outlet density and alcohol-related harm

Publication

Out of the way? Alcohol displays in supermarkets

Publication

Hidden harm? Alcohol and older people in Wales

Publication

Mixed messages: Alcohol and energy drinks

Publication

New media, new problem? Alcohol, young people and the internet

Blog

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From duck-in-gin to swan: Josie’s Dry January® story

Josie | December 2018 |

Before I did Dry January®, I’d say I drank the standard British average; loads, all the time.

Publication

An unhealthy mix? Alcohol industry sponsorship of sport and cultural events

Publication

Achieving Positive Change in the Drinking Culture of Wales

Publication

Counting the cost: Irresponsible alcohol promotions in the night-time economy in Wales

Publication

What’s the damage? Negative health consequences of alcohol misuse in Wales

Publication

It’s only a game? Domestic abuse, sporting events and alcohol

Publication

Alcohol and calories

Publication

A drinking nation? Wales and alcohol

Publication

Fuelling the problem? The sale of alcohol at petrol stations in Wales

Publication

Off the rails? Alcohol and public transport in Wales

Blog

What kind of drinker are you?

Lauren Booker | January 2025 |

Find out whether you're a Weekender, Unwinder or Emotional drinker to help your dry challenge go smoothly.

Blog

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City guide: Cardiff

Erynn Blansjaar | January 2019 |

Dry January® doesn't mean a boring month of sitting home, staring at the wall and feeling sorry for yourself!

Blog

Alcohol and sleep

Lauren Booker | January 2022 |

We’ve all felt it: alcohol can make you tired.

Blog

Reducing alcohol harm: where does Dry January® fit in?

Maddy Lawson | January 2019 |

Alcohol Change UK's mission is to end the serious harm caused by alcohol; where does Dry January® fit in with that?

Blog

Dry January®: a recipe for a February binge?

Maddy Lawson | January 2019 |

This year's favourite Dry January® criticism: “We should drink in moderation all year round, not cut out the booze for a month and binge in February.

Blog

Andy's Dry January® video diary

January 2019 |

Andy will be posting a video every week sharing his Dry January® journey - the ups, the downs, his tips and more.

Blog

City guide: Manchester

Erynn Blansjaar | January 2019 |

Dry January® doesn't mean a boring month of sitting home, staring at the wall and feeling sorry for yourself!

Blog

A man eats a donut whilst driving his car.

Sugar cravings

Lauren Booker | January 2026 |

Lots of us find ourselves craving sugar during a sober stint - here are some tips to stop yourself replacing one habit with another!

Blog

#DryEighteen: Looking back and forward 

Rob O'Donohue | January 2019 |

For 2018, Rob and a friend decided to ditch alcohol - for a whole year.

Blog

40 things to do with a bit of extra time

Annie Grace | April 2025 |

Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind and The Alcohol Experiment, shares 40 things to do with that extra time you gain when you cut out the booze.

Blog

News release: 4.2 million people in the UK to go alcohol-free for Dry January® 2019 for healthier drinking year-round

Maddy Lawson | December 2018 |

A YouGov poll has revealed that an estimated 4,2 million people in the UK are already planning to do Dry January® in 2019.

Fact sheet

Key information for professionals who are supporting patients with suspected alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD).

Blog

Helping Durham drink more healthily through Dry January®

Sean Barry, Public Health Practitioner, Durham County Council | January 2019 |

This year more Dry January® signups were driven by Durham County Council than any other Local Authority.

Blog

City guide: Birmingham

Erynn Blansjaar | January 2019 |

Dry January® doesn't mean a boring month of sitting home, staring at the wall and feeling sorry for yourself!

Blog

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City guide: Edinburgh

Erynn Blansjaar | January 2019 |

Dry January® doesn't mean a boring month of sitting home, staring at the wall and feeling sorry for yourself!

Blog

From one month alcohol free to a sober life on the other side of the world

Louise Rowlinson | January 2019 |

My name is Louise and I'm a sober blogger who decided to stop drinking back in September 2013.

Blog

News release: Increasing number of alcohol-related deaths highlights urgent need for Government Alcohol Strategy

Maddy Lawson | February 2019 |

Alcohol caused nearly 6,000 deaths in England in 2017, 6% more deaths than in 2016, statistics published this week by NHS Digital have shown.

Blog

Joe's story: Alcohol destroyed my family, 15 years on

Joe Harrington | February 2019 |

My grandfather died when I was a child, having crashed into another car while drunk - his actions killed a 24-year-old woman.

Blog

Stella’s story: "It’s hard when everyone you know drinks and no one thinks you have a problem."

Stella | February 2019 |

Stella was introduced to alcohol at a young age, and her relationship with it became darker ask she got older - but six months ago, she decided to make a change.

Blog

Dry January® class of 2019

Erynn Blansjaar | February 2019 |

Here, just a few of the more than four million who took on the challenge share their stories.

Blog

What should we do with a drunken footballer?

Andrew Misell | February 2019 |

Pretty much everyone had something to say about Wayne Rooney’s arrest at Dulles Airport, after he arrived intoxicated and allegedly set off an alarm and swore at airport officials - but is the way that the media talks about celebrities' drinking helpful?

Campaign landing page

The Alcohol Charter

Editorial

What is the Alcohol Charter?

The Charter sets out effective and workable policies to reduce the harm caused by alcohol in the UK.

Editorial

Improve support for those in need

We call on the Government to use the upcoming Alcohol Strategy to improve support for those in need, through policies such as a ‘treatment levy’, enforcing action against age inequalities and improving training for health and social care professionals.

Editorial

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Protect public health

We call on the Government to protect public health through policies such as a comprehensive review of alcohol duties, tighter restrictions on alcohol marketing and improved licensing.

Editorial

Focus on alcohol-related crime and disorder

We call on the Government to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder through policies such as reducing the drink-driving BAC limit, investing in family drug and alcohol courts, and expanding the delivery of brief interventions in criminal justice settings.

Editorial

Support for the Charter

The Alcohol Charter is supported by over 30 organisations across the drugs and alcohol sector, and has received increasing cross-party parliamentary support.

Editorial

Why we need an effective Alcohol Strategy

An effective plan to reduce the harm caused by alcohol in the UK is urgently needed.

Blog

Richard Fox: Goodbye 'beer chef'!

Richard Fox | February 2019 |

Richard Fox, plant-based chef, broadcaster and author, shares his thoughts on alcohol and giving it up for good.

Editorial

Share your story

Sharing your story is a powerful way to raise awareness of the harm alcohol can cause and help make sure no one feels alone.

Campaign landing page

Sober Spring

Blog

The good, the bad, and the ambiguous: the Portman Group revamps its regulatory Code

Andrew Misell | March 2019 |

The Portman Group has launched the sixth edition of their Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks.

Blog

Welcome to Sober Spring!

Catherine Gray | March 2019 |

Read this welcome post from Sober Spring mastermind and bestselling author Catherine Gray.

Blog listing

The Sober Spring blog

Check out blogs from sober influencers and experts, every week throughout Sober Spring.

Editorial

A man with a beard reads on public transport on a sunny day.

Your Sober Spring tools

From weekly emails to the free Try Dry® app, daily Instagram stories and three brilliant books, there’s lots of support to help you make the most of Sober Spring.

Blog

News roundup: December 2018

January 2019 |

December's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

Blog

News roundup: January 2019

February 2019 |

January's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

Blog

News roundup: February 2019

March 2019 |

February's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

Body map

Alcohol and your body

Drinking alcohol can affect your body in all sorts of different ways; explore some of the most common effects on our body map.

Blog

Sober curious champions share their stories

Outfox | March 2019 |

We chatted to nine sober curious champions about what inspired them to change their relationship with alcohol, how they overcame challenges and the benefits they have experienced.

Editorial

Meet our speakers

Alcohol Change UK Conference 2019

Blog

Three women cuddle up next to each other on a bench.

Why sober friends are a game-changer

Catherine Gray | March 2019 |

Sober Spring founder and bestselling author Catherine Gray found it hard to find her people when she first went sober - here, she makes the case for alcohol-free friends, and gives tips on how to find yours.

Blog

Public Health England awards £6 million in capital funding to help those affected by alcohol harm

March 2019 |

Today (22 March) Public Health England has announced the award of £6m in capital funding to 23 projects across the UK to help improve the lives of those affected by alcohol.

Editorial

How to make a complaint about alcohol marketing

If you’ve seen a piece of alcohol marketing which you think is irresponsible, you can use this guide to find the right body to contact about it, and give your complaint the best chance of success.

Blog

Why alcohol?

Phil Cain | April 2019 |

Phil Cain, an alcohol-specialist journalist, shares what got him interested in studying alcohol.

Blog

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The 'Why don't you drink?' question

Lauren Booker | March 2019 |

Sober Spring week two: In this blog Lauren Booker tells us how she answers the age old question: "Why don't you drink?

Publication

An Audit of the Focus on Alcohol-related Harm in Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, Joint Health and Well-Being Strategies and CCG Commissioning Plans

Blog

Why sobriety is the best Mother's Day gift

Clare Pooley | April 2019 |

Sober Spring week three: On past Mother's Days Clare Pooley's children knew what to get her - anything to do with wine - but this year things were different.

Blog

News roundup: March 2019

April 2019 |

March's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

Blog

What being alcohol-free has given me

Melanie Sykes | April 2019 |

Sober Spring week four: Presenter and model Melanie Sykes on why she's happier booze-free.

Events

Alcohol and everything else: What to do when drinking isn’t the only issue

When: 18 September 2019 09:00-16:00

Where: Catrin Finch Centre, Glyndŵr University, Crispin Lane, Wrexham, LL11 2HS

This event has now taken place.

Editorial

Jobs

Are you interested in working to end alcohol harm?

Blog

Casually dressed businessmen and businesswomen having informal meeting in a modern office.

The little-known sober superpower: doing five days of work in four

Andy Ramage | April 2019 |

Sober Spring week five: Easter weekend often means overtime the week before and after, given our five-day week suddenly gets shortened - but you may find that this particular Easter, this sober Easter, you feel more together, more productive, less headless chicken.

Blog

My unexpected joys of being sober

Laurie McAllister | April 2019 |

Sober Spring week six: When Laurie McAllister went dry she expected to do her body some good - but there were a lot of unexpected benefits too.

Publication

Still seldom heard and hard to reach. Still drinking? NEET young people and alcohol consumption in a Northern town.

Fact sheet

Alcohol and parenting

We all like to do our best for our children but sometimes we are not too sure what that is.

Blog

Celebs and FOMA

Janey Lee Grace | May 2019 |

In this blog author, commentator and BBC Radio 2 presenter Janey Lee Grace talks FOMA - Fear Of Missing Alcohol.

Blog

Minimum unit pricing in Scotland one year on

Natasha Buckham | May 2019 |

The much-anticipated alcohol harm reduction measure of minimum unit pricing was introduced in Scotland on 1 May 2018 - where are we now?

Blog

How might Alcohol Brief Interventions be affecting health inequalities in England?

Colin Angus, University of Sheffield | May 2019 |

Alcohol Brief Interventions are a key aspect of attempts to reduce the harms of alcohol in England, yet until now we had almost no idea whether they are currently narrowing or widening the gap in alcohol harms between the most and least deprived groups in society.

Blog

Why non-drinking is like skiing

Hilda Burke | May 2019 |

Hilda Burke is a psychotherapist and a couple's counsellor, who often works in the realm of addiction and was a key expert in The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.

Blog

Game of Thrones goes alcohol-free

Lauren Booker | May 2019 |

We may think that spring has arrived but actually winter has just shown up - but what if a Sober Spring did come to Westeros?

Blog

News roundup: April 2019

May 2019 |

April's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

Blog

Why did I feel so pressured to drink at work?

Annie Grace | May 2019 |

Sober Spring week eight: When she stopped drinking, Annie Grace became very aware of the drinking culture at work.

Blog

Where next for public health and alcohol?

Will Haydock | May 2019 |

Alcohol Change UK trustee Will Haydock considers the current issues for public health approaches to reducing alcohol harm.

Blog

Stag dos, love and sadness: the challenges men face going alcohol-free

Marcus Barnes | May 2019 |

Marcus shares some of the challenges of going alcohol-free as a man: "The only times in my entire life when male friends have uttered those three magic words, 'I love you,' have been under the influence"

Blog

Sad Senior African American Woman Istock 641801950

Are Alcohol Brief Interventions with older adults in public spaces hitting the mark?

Julie Breslin | May 2019 |

In England and Scotland, drinkers aged 55-64 are more likely to exceed the recommended weekly guidelines than any other age group; Drink Wise, Age Well are investigating how brief interventions are received by an older population, in a public setting.

Blog

I'm sober, not boring

Joanne Bradford | May 2019 |

Since she stopped drinking, Joanne has has a recurring epiphany: alcohol-free life is what you make it, and it certainly doesn't have to be boring.

Blog

Sober and proud? On alcohol, identity and labels

Prof Isabelle Szmigin | May 2019 |

Some embrace the ‘sober’ label, while others hate it; in this blog our trustee Prof Isabelle Szmigin looks at the relationship between non-drinking and identity.

Blog

Lisa's Year of Fear

Lisa Erlandsen | June 2019 |

In the first of an ongoing blog series, Lisa explains her Year of Fear and why she's decided to challenge herself not once, but twelve times in twelve months!

Blog

A woman in a black shirt with short, cropped grey hair swigs from a green glass bottle. Decorative background.

Alcohol-free at the pub

Laura Willoughby | January 2024 |

Even after several years alcohol-free, Club Soda founder Laura Willoughby is still surprised that not only does she have a great social life, but lots of that social life takes place in the pub.

Landing page

Interactive tools

Use these interactive tools to check your drinking and find out more about alcohol.

Blog

News roundup: May 2019

June 2019 |

May's monthly roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

Blog

When alcohol is your only hobby

Dawn Comolly | June 2019 |

When Dawn discovered alcohol, any and all of her other hobbies went out of the window - so when she stopped drinking she had some time to fill.

Blog

Helping young people affected by substance misuse to share their stories through film

Syeda Hussain | June 2019 |

Syeda Hussain worked with young people affected by a loved one with substance misuse problems to process their thoughts and feelings through film.

Publication

Exploring pathways through and beyond alcohol treatment among Polish women and men in a London Borough

Blog

A person wearing a red jacket stands on top of a craggy mountain.

What happens after Sober Spring?

Maddy Lawson | June 2019 |

Sober Spring ends on 20 June - but what next after three months alcohol-free?

Blog

"You can't change lonely with a bottle of wine"

Mark Leyshon | November 2020 |

The coronavirus pandemic has changed things more than we could ever have imagined.

Blog

News release: Labour Party announces plan for mandatory alcohol labelling

Maddy Lawson | June 2019 |

Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Jonathan Ashworth MP has announced today (Wednesday 19 June), at charity Alcohol Change UK’s national conference, that accurate alcohol labels, which include the UK’s drinking guidelines and nutritional information, will be mandatory under a Labour government.

Blog

A blonde woman and a brunette woman embrace.

The end of Sober Spring: A note on your newfound alcohol-freedom

Catherine Gray and Laurie McAllister | June 2019 |

Congratulations, you've reached the end of Sober Spring!

Blog

20 seconds of courage

Janey Lee Grace | January 2024 |

In this blog Janey Lee Grace talks about finding the courage you need to challenge the voice in your head and change your drinking, one choice at a time.

Editorial

Alison Douglas, CEO, Alcohol Focus Scotland

Presentation given at keynote session 'Anarchy in the UK?

Editorial

Dr Wulf Livingston, Reader in Social Sciences, Glyndwr University

Presentation given at keynote session 'Anarchy in the UK?

Editorial

Dr Helen McAvoy, Director of Research, Institute of Public Health in Ireland

Presentation given at keynote session 'Anarchy in the UK?

Editorial

Dr John Holmes, Reader in Alcohol Policy, Sheffield Alcohol Research Group, ScHARR, University of Sheffield

Presentation given at plenary session on 'What changes social norms?

Editorial

Dr Will Haydock, Senior Health Programme Advisor, Public Health Dorset and Julie Breslin, Head of Programme, Drink Wise, Age Well, Addaction

Presentation given to facilitate discussion at the interactive workshop on 'Where next for public health and alcohol?

Editorial

Alcohol Change UK Conference Programme 2019: New insights into alcohol research, policy and practice

Read our conference programme for the full agenda and to meet our speakers.

Editorial

Professor Dame Theresa Marteau, Behaviour and Health Research Unit, University of Cambridge

Presentation given at plenary session on 'Changing human behaviour.

Blog

Asking myself the right questions helped me make a change

DK | July 2019 |

In this blog, DK discusses his fear of the labels associated with heavy drinking, and how he managed to make a change after he stopped asking 'do I drink too much?

Blog

No wrong door: making alcohol support accessible to all

Andrew Misell | July 2019 |

Failing to recognise the complex and diverse needs of drinkers could mean that we’re excluding many from the help they deserve.

Blog

Why the secrecy? Bringing transparency to alcohol labelling

Natasha Buckham | July 2019 |

It's time for accurate, transparent alcohol labelling; read this helpful summary of the subject, as well as an update on the 25 June 2019 meeting hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm.

Blog

Policy for the people? Alcohol Change UK national conference 2019

James Morris | July 2019 |

In this post James Morris, Editor of Alcohol Policy UK, reflects on our national conference.

Blog

News roundup: June 2019

July 2019 |

The monthly alcohol news roundup from the Alcohol Policy UK blog.

Blog

I don’t fancy alcohol – but what can I drink instead?

Laura Willoughby | July 2019 |

Laura Willoughby from Club Soda takes us through her reasons to try alcohol-free alternatives, her favourite drinks and where to get your hands on some of them.

Blog

Clarke's fundraiser: running the Ilkley Half in memory of my father

July 2019 |

Last year, Clarke took on the Great North Run to raise awareness about alcohol addiction and to raise money for Alcohol Change UK (then one of our predecessor charities, Alcohol Concern).