The report – Spin the bottle: How the UK alcohol industry twists the facts on harm and responsibility – analysed over 140 public communications from six leading alcohol companies and industry-funded groups. It uncovers a coordinated strategy of cherry-picking evidence, exaggerating economic importance, and promoting voluntary measures while lobbying against effective regulation.
Availability
Are you being served? PhD research project exploring alcohol-free nightlife spaces for LGBTQIA+ communities
In our latest blog, Beth Meadows discusses her research into LGBTQIA+ communities and alcohol-free nightlife spaces and explores the potential for these spaces as well as the barriers they may face. LGBTQIA+ communities are more likely to experience alcohol related harm, such as alcohol dependency, and have poorer mental health, than cisgender, heterosexual populations. However, […]
“Outta sight, outta mind?”. What do the public and professional stakeholders think about alcohol policy?
Dr Elena D. Dimova from the Substance Use Research Group at Glasgow Caledonian University writes about her latest research exploring public and professional stakeholders’ opinions on several policy suggestions to reduce alcohol use and harms. Alcohol policies are important for reducing the negative effects of alcohol. The World Health Organisation recommends that countries take steps to […]
Briefing for Budget
Submitted 22 November 2024
WHO Alcohol Industry Playbook: Understanding the industry’s shameful tactics
SHAAP Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Helen McCabe reflects on her first month in the new role, the importance of evidence-based policy over industry lobbying and how the new WHO report uncovers industry tactics. I joined SHAAP as Policy and Public Affairs Officer in October and since then I’ve learned a lot about the influence […]
Response to the EU’s consultation on the Swedish alcohol monopoly
Briefing for Ministerial statement on drugs and alcohol
Submitted on 12 September 2024.
Alcohol marketing regulations in Norway
Nils Garnes, the Head of policy and communications at IOGT Norway, writes about the success of alcohol marketing regulations in Norway and how these differ from those currently in place in the U.K. Comparing Norway and the United Kingdom on alcohol marketing regulations Alcohol is strictly regulated in Norway, and exposure to alcohol brands and […]
Master manipulators: we need to learn from alcohol industry conduct
Scotland sits at an important crossroads: our status as ‘world leaders’ in alcohol policy is under threat as our flagship Minimum Unit Pricing policy is due to expire unless renewed by a vote before the end of April. Policymakers are also in discussion around the extent to which Scottish citizens should be exposed to alcohol […]
“Availability is the poor cousin of marketing and pricing”: Qualitative study of experts’ views on policy priorities around alcohol availability
Read the event report for Dr Elena Dimova’s webinar on “Availability is the poor cousin of marketing and pricing”: Qualitative study of experts’ views on policy priorities around alcohol availability The focus of the webinar was for Dr Dimova to present findings from a study that was part of a larger project which aimed to […]
Alcohol and the Scottish economy
In this blog, Aveek Bhattacharya from the Social Market Foundation discusses the findings of his latest report Getting in the spirit? Alcohol and the Scottish economy. On the face of it, the dilemma facing the Scottish Government as it weighs restrictions on alcohol marketing seems clear enough. Saving lives versus supporting the economy. Health versus […]
Looking backwards, looking forwards: a review of SHAAP activities in 2022 and plans for 2023.
By Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, SHAAP Chair and former Consultant Hepatologist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. In this blog, Dr MacGilchrist looks back at SHAAP’s work in 2022, including report launches, Parliamentary events and SHAAP’s first public-facing campaign, calling time on alcohol sponsorship in sports. Dr MacGilchrist also discusses SHAAP’s plans for the year ahead, […]