Alcohol duty freeze

Alcohol Change UK is deeply disappointed with the freeze in alcohol duty, announced in the Autumn Statement by chancellor of the exchequer, Jeremy Hunt. 

This is damaging to the public purse and will cause more harm than good. Alcohol Change UK is calling on the government to reconsider this decision and remove the freeze on alcohol duty. 

UK drinkers “amongst heaviest in the world” 

Research published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has compared alcohol consumption across 33 countries, finding that “heavy episodic drinking” is prevalent in the UK, with men and women more likely to drink heavily than most other developed countries. The report urges the adoption of stricter policies to target heavy drinkers, the introduction of warning labels on alcohol packaging and tougher restrictions on advertising. 

Industry profits put before nation’s health, says new report 

The alcohol, tobacco, and ‘junk food’ industries make £53 billion every year from harmful consumption of their products, finds a new report by the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), and the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA). The report calls for the UK Government to put in place a comprehensive strategy to prevent ill-health from commercially driven risk factors and redress the balance between industry influence and the public’s health. 

New guide to supporting people experiencing alcohol and self-harm issues

A new guide, called ‘Filling in the Gaps’, has been published, examining the experiences of people who are (or have been) both using alcohol and self-harming, and offers suggestions for ways for services to better support them. It is intended that the guide will enable workers in both self-harm and alcohol treatment services, and others, to increase their confidence and skills in working holistically with those struggling, and so improve outcomes and quality of life. 

Updated advertising rules for alcohol-free published

The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), responsible for writing the UK’s advertising codes, has announced new rules and accompanying guidance on alcohol alternative product advertising which will come into force on 14 May 2024. One key change is that ads for alcohol alternatives (drinks at or under 0.5% ABV) which have the effect of promoting alcoholic drinks or a wider alcoholic brand must comply with the rules relating to alcoholic drinks.