Alcohol News - 35/2025

The Lancet - Alcohol's health burden: secondhand harms matter
Estimating the global health burden of alcohol remains a priority for researchers and policymakers, providing necessary context for tracking policy progress and framing public discussion on the harmful effects of alcohol.
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Euractiv (Poland) - Consumer group seeks total alcohol advertising ban in Poland
Legal loopholes and new technologies are used to aggressively market beer brands, despite explicit bans. Authorities rarely intervene, says a new report.
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UC San Diego Today - Alcohol Opens the Floodgates for Bad Bacteria
Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of liver transplantation and death worldwide, and its impact is only growing. In 2022, the annual cost of ALD in the United States was $31 billion.
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News-Medical - Alcohol misuse among college students linked to academic and mental health harms
It's well known that alcohol misuse can harm not only drinkers themselves but also those around them. Now, a new report in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs shows that, among college students, harms such as lower grades, mental distress and even suicidal thoughts are linked to being exposed to a drinker's poor behavior.
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The Independent - The science behind what happens to your body when you quit drinking alcohol
Alcohol has many negative effects on our health, some of which may surprise you. These include short-term impacts such as waking up with a pounding head or anxiety, to long-term effects including cancer.
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canadian affairs (Canada) - ‘Alcohol is a poison’ that needs honest warning labels: Senator Brazeau
Senator Patrick Brazeau may be best remembered for facing off with then Liberal MP Justin Trudeau in a 2012 charity boxing match — or perhaps for the series of scandals that followed, including assault and cocaine possession charges and being suspended from the Senate for improper housing expenses.
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Irish Legal News (Ireland) - Restaurants offering ‘bottomless brunches’ in breach of alcohol legislation
A new paper by researchers at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) highlights “numerous examples” of venues offering unlimited alcohol for a fixed price over a set time period.
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ITVX (UK) - 'Stigma is a barrier': Father of boy with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder calls for more awareness
A Jersey father is calling for more informed training, knowledge and support for children living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - known as FASD.
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IOL (South Africa) - Malema calls for total ban on alcohol ads, says industry hides drinking’s social harm
EFF leader Julius Malema says South Africa should follow the example set with tobacco and impose a total ban on alcohol advertising, arguing that current marketing glamorises drinking while concealing its social costs.
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The Post (New Zealand) - Government drops plan to cut bottle store hours in alcohol law shake-up
The Government has decided not to reduce the hours alcohol bottle stores can be open amid reforms announced today.
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PopNAD - Young people, alcohol and risk: A Culture of Caution
A recent book by an international team of authors theorises the social, cultural and economic shifts accompanying the decline in youth alcohol consumption observed in many high-income countries since the early 2000s.
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IAS Blog (UK) - Why England and Wales need a lower drink drive limit
In mid-August, news emerged that the UK government is considering reducing the drink drive limit in England and Wales from 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood to 50mg*. This would bring them in line with Scotland, which reduced its limit in 2014, and with every other European country, all of which have limits of 50mg or less.
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Oncology News - Alcohol and cancer: what clinicians need to know
A recent JAMA Insights article by Morford et al. highlights the strong link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk, underscoring the importance of patient counselling in routine clinical practice.
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NordAN (Finland) - The future of young people is the future of the state. Increasing youth problems with addiction and homelessness is not the right way to balance public finances
Homelessness among young Finns, as well as problems with substance use and gambling, are on the rise. Today, on 25 August 2025, the Blue Ribbon Association (Sininauhaliitto ry) and the Blue Ribbon Foundation (Sininauhasäätiö) made an appeal to Minister of Sport and Youth, Mika Poutala, on behalf of young people’s lives.
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FASD News - 34/2025

UNC Nutrition Research Institute - Beyond Direct Damage: How Alcohol Alters the Entire Pregnancy Environment
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is the leading known cause of preventable neurodevelopmental disability. In the United States, up to 5% of first graders meet the diagnostic criteria for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which are linked to learning difficulties, behavioral challenges, growth problems, and long-term health issues.
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Clare FM (Ireland) - Ennis Young Adult With FASD Hails Impact Of Increased Awareness
A young adult from Ennis living with FASD claims increased awareness of the disorder has allowed him to greatly develop throughout his life.
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RNZ (New Zealand) - Ministry of Health forced to release documents showing alcohol lobby influence
The tactics are laid bare in documents the Ministry of Health tried to keep secret, only releasing them after RNZ appealed to the Ombudsman. They also show industry efforts to shape a government strategy to combat Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
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The University of Queensland (Australia) - Antenatal visits key to reducing tobacco and alcohol use in pregnancy
Rates of smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy have decreased but high-risk groups still need targeted interventions, researchers have found.
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SciTechDaily - Why Alcohol, Not Cannabis, Is Fueling Surprise Pregnancies in Young Women
Heavy drinking, not cannabis, was tied to a sharp increase in unintended pregnancies—even among women actively trying to avoid them.
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The Nation (Pakistan) - Pakistani scientist leads US study on fetal alcohol effects
Pakistani geneticist Humaira Aziz Sawal is leading a United States research project that examines how alcohol consumption during pregnancy changes the development of the brain and face in unborn children, increasing the risk of lifelong disabilities.
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Interreg South Baltic - FASD – Bridge Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – Building Resources for Innovative Diagnosis and Guidance to
The FASD-Bridge project addresses the critical issue of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, focusing on its harmful effects on unborn children and the support needed for families affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in the South Baltic area.
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Contemporary OB/GYN - Sarah Raifman, PhD, MSc, highlights the link between heavy drinking and pregnancy
In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Sarah Raifman, PhD, MSc, project director and social epidemiologist at Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, discussed findings from a recent study examining the relationship between heavy alcohol consumption and the risk of unintended pregnancy.
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AJMC - Understanding FAS: From Pregnancy Risks to Lifelong Care
The umbrella term "fetal alcohol spectrum disorders" may serve to intimidate, but drilling down to its specific subtypes provides a clearer picture of the often lifelong physical, mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disabilities that follow individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure.
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VIDEOS
Health Nexus Santé - FASD and Sensory Challenges
This workshop will discuss the "Pyramid of Learning" and how children's early developmental movements, milestones, and early life trauma affect the nervous system.  Heather will discuss attachment-based OT interventions, sensory-motor activities, the Safe and Sound Protocol from Interactive Listening Systems, and the importance of co-regulation. 
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Trigger Points: How Reflexes Shape FASD Journeys, with Dr. Janet Oliver
In this enlightening episode of Living with FASD, host Patti Kasper welcomes Dr. Janet Oliver, a developmental psychologist with a wealth of knowledge about the intricate workings of the human brain and its impact on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
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FARR (Foundation for Alcohol Related Research) - FASD - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Welcome to the 2nd video of our series, addressing key aspects related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
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Sheffield Family Hubs - Alcohol and Pregnancy – The Facts
All parents want to give their baby the best start in life, which is why it’s important not to drink any alcohol during pregnancy. Anything you drink, including alcohol, passes to your baby through the placenta. It stays in the fluid that surrounds your baby (amniotic fluid) for a while.
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RESEARCH
Nature - Comorbidities associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in the United States
This study adds to a small but growing body of research on comorbidities experienced by individuals with FASD. We discuss the implications of the identified comorbidity patterns on the ongoing identification, treatment, and surveillance of FASD in the US.
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Laurentian University - HITCHHIKING WITH MOMMA: LIVING WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD)— A COLLECTION OF TRUTHS
This narrative inquiry explores the experiences of a woman likely living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Using intersectionality as a critical social theoretical lens, her daughter travels back in time with her mom to reexamine what it was like living with a disability while navigating her roles as a woman, daughter, wife, mother, and friend.
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Research Square - Exploring fitness to participate in court proceedings among defendants with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A systematic scoping review
This review discusses the legal implications, recommendations, and future research directions necessary to improve fitness to participate assessments and promote equitable access to justice for individuals with FASD.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Behavioral interventions for individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A review of systematic reviews
Numerous positive outcomes were identified from among systematic reviews regarding FASD interventions; however, the current evidence base is limited by methodological weaknesses and potential risks of bias.
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International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology - Intranasal administration of KCNN2 blocking peptide improves deficits in cognitive flexibility in mouse model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Intranasal administration of KCNN2 blockers, such as Lei-Dab7, represents a promising, non-invasive therapeutic approach for treating cognitive inflexibility and possibly other cognitive dysfunctions associated with FASD.
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Neuropharmacology - Perinatal and prenatal alcohol exposure impairs striatal cholinergic function and cognitive flexibility in adult offspring
These findings collectively highlight the critical role of impaired cholinergic signaling in the cognitive and behavioral deficits observed following PeAE and PAE.
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PLOS One - How do the neurocognitive profiles of FASD and complex trauma compare in the pediatric population?: A scoping review protocol
The aim of this scoping review is to compare the neurocognitive profiles of children and youth diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) to those of children and youth diagnosed with complex trauma.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Rat models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders for studying the critical role of cerebellar damage: A scoping review
The third-trimester equivalent period is the most susceptible to alcohol-induced cerebellar damage and is thus the most widely studied by researchers. More research is needed on the effects of alcohol during lactation.
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International Medical Case Reports Journal - Non-Immune Hydrops Fetalis in a Pregnant Woman with Chronic Alcohol Use: A Case Report
The risk factor for hydrops fetalis in this case is likely associated with prenatal alcohol exposure, which may have disrupted fetal teratogenesis.
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Women's Health - Maternal smoking and alcohol use in association with breastfeeding initiation, duration, and infant health – a scoping review
This study demonstrates that alcohol consumption was unrelated to breastfeeding duration. Addressing maternal smoking, alcohol use, and breastfeeding requires more than education, as sustainable behavior change is often hindered by limited resources.
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University of Helsinki - Alcohol Reforms and Health : Register studies about exposure to changing alcohol policies in adolescence and pregnancy
Policies restricting the physical or financial availability, or advertisement of alcohol can reduce alcohol consumption and related health harms on a population level.
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Preventive Medicine - Adverse childhood experiences, resilience, and substance use during early pregnancy
Results indicate that routine screening for ACEs may help identify pregnant individuals at risk for prenatal substance use, allowing for earlier linkage to resources and potentially improved maternal and child outcomes.
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Drug and Alcohol Review - Differences in Reporting Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy by Method of Asking; and the Association of Drinking While Pregnant With Caregiving Responsibilities
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Midwifery - Healthcare professionals’ prevention practices and perceptions of risk regarding alcohol consumption during pregnancy: A qualitative systematic review
Improving prevention practices requires developing continuing education on alcohol-related risks, providing tools for communicating in a sensitive and appropriate way, and making healthcare professionals aware of how their perceptions may influence their practices.
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BMC Cardiovascular Disorders - Carotid intima–media thickness and endothelial function in adolescents exposed to alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking in utero: a mediation analysis
Increased BMI and SBP may contribute to a reduced peak diameter in adolescents exposed to alcohol, potentially indicating lower FMD in adulthood.
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Life - Maternal Lifestyle During Pregnancy and Its Influence on Offspring’s Telomere Length
Given that shorter telomere length has been associated with cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as certain types of cancer, these findings highlight the vital importance of maternal health during pregnancy in order to prevent potential adverse effects on the fetus.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
fmis.org.pl (Poland) - Bliskość, która wspiera – o przywiązaniu w relacji z dzieckiem z FAS/ FASD
Niektóre dzieci, zanim trafią do kochającej rodziny, doświadczają wielu trudnych chwil. Ich wczesne doświadczenia mogą mieć wpływ na to, jak budują relacje, jak reagują na emocje, jak odczuwają świat i siebie samych.
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Chaos im Kopf Podcast - Dein FASD Podcast (Germany) - FASD und Schule in 300 Sekunden (C87)
Die Schule startet wieder nach den Sommerferien. Für Kinder mit FASD ist der Schulalltag oft ein Hindernisparcours: hohe Erwartungen, soziale Anforderungen und ständige Reize.
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Alcohol News - 34/2025

Stanford Report - Is moderate drinking actually healthy? Scientists say the idea is outdated.
For decades, studies suggested that moderate alcohol intake could protect the heart, reduce diabetes risk or even help you live longer. Newer research tells a different story.
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Reuters (EU) - EU still seeking lower US tariff for wine and spirits, says trade commissioner
The European Commission will keep pressing for a preferential tariff for wine and spirits exports to the U.S. that would spare the sector the 15% rate applied on most items under the EU-U.S. trade deal, the EU's trade commissioner said on Thursday.
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Vital Strategies (Brazil) - One life per hour could be saved if Brazilians reduce their alcohol consumption by 20%
If the Brazilian population reduces its alcohol consumption by 20%, 10,400 deaths could be prevented each year. This is equivalent to preventing one death per hour in the country, according to the study “Estimating the Impact of Different Scenarios for Reducing Alcohol Consumption in Brazil,” conducted by researcher Eduardo Nilson of Fiocruz at the request of Vital Strategies and ACT Promoção da Saúde as part of the RESET Alcohol initiative.
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Vox (USA) - The decline of drinking, explained in one chart
Today, around 8,200 or so Americans will turn 21. Which means, of course, they will become eligible to engage in that time-honored habit of adulthood: drinking alcohol.
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RNZ (New Zealand) - Ministry of Health forced to release documents showing alcohol lobby influence
Alcohol lobbyists pushed health officials not to raise taxes, curb supply or cut industry sponsorship of sport - despite those measures being endorsed by the World Health Organisation as among the most effective ways to reduce alcohol harm.
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Center for Science in the Public Interest (USA) - Health advocates call on Trump administration to finalize proposals for transparency in alcohol labeling
Today, the Center for Science in the Public Interest submitted comments on two proposed rules on alcohol issued by the Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB): one to require “Alcohol Facts” nutrition labels and one to require allergen disclosures.
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Times of Malta (Malta) - National Alcohol Policy lacks measures to address drink-driving: Insurers
The Insurance Association Malta raised its concerns that the new National Alcohol Policy lacks any robust enforcement measures to address drink-driving.
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Alcohol Action Ireland (Ireland) - New report shows alcohol costs Ireland €8.5 billion every year in lost workplace productivity
With US tariffs sending shockwaves through the Irish economy and ahead of Budget 2026, which Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers said will be based on decisions that must be “sustainable with global uncertainty”, Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, has published its latest report on the impact that alcohol has on the Irish economy and urges the government to implement policies that will reduce this heavy burden, thereby making the Irish economy more robust and competitive.
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NordAN (Denmark) - Young people lead the way: Half take a break from alcohol
51 percent of young people aged 17 to 34 have taken a break from alcohol within the past year. Among students the figure is even higher.
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NordAN (Denmark) - Almost every second product in supermarket flyers is unhealthy
Supermarket flyers tempt Danes unnecessarily, and this threatens our health. Every time we open a weekly supermarket flyer, we are met with a flood of unhealthy temptations. A new count from the Danish Cancer Society shows that on average 46 percent of all offers in weekly supermarket flyers are for products such as soft drinks, sweets, cakes, salty snacks, alcohol, and ready meals.
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Alcohol Awareness (Finland) - But everyone else does it…
Getting alcohol is easy for young people, and many receive their first drinks from adults. Buying alcohol for a minor sends the message that alcohol should be part of a young person’s life. Alko is running a campaign about the risks of supplying alcohol and encourages adults to refuse to buy it for underage youth. At Alko stores, IDs are checked every three seconds.
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Alcohol News - 33/2025

CNN (USA) - New blood pressure guidelines recommend an earlier start to treatment and skipping alcohol
The next time you get your blood pressure checked, expect your medical provider to be a bit more aggressive about high levels. And if you like a glass of wine with dinner or a cocktail on the weekends, brace yourself: New guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology released Thursday suggest you abstain.
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NordAN (Norway) - Actis´s report launch: 50 years of the advertising ban - one of alcohol policy’s greatest successes
In July 2025, it was 50 years since Norway introduced a total ban on alcohol advertising. Today, we are celebrating the anniversary with a dedicated event and the launch of a new report during Arendalsuka, where we take a closer look at the history behind the ban, what it has meant for public health – and why it is still just as relevant to preserve it.
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The Washington Post (USA) -  Americans are drying out: More say alcohol is unhealthy, poll finds
The percentage of Americans who say they consume alcohol is at its lowest point in at least 86 years, a new poll found
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The Times of India (India) - Orthodox Church head slams Kerala govt’s liquor policy
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church leader, Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, has publicly criticized the Kerala government's current liquor policy, urging a revision for the well-being of families, particularly homemakers and children
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The Scottish Sun (UK) - The number of drinks per week linked to 'the deadliest cancer' - are you putting yourself at risk?
A recent study has highlighted a potential link between alcohol consumption and pancreatic cancer, considered the deadliest cancer due to its aggressive nature and low survival rates,
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The Guardian (UK) - UK ministers urged to do more to protect new drivers in road safety overhaul
The UK government is planning stricter drink-driving measures, including reducing the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to match Scotland’s lower threshold and allowing drug-driving prosecutions based on roadside saliva tests.
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Radio New Zealand (New Zealand) - Alcohol sale hours need to be reduced after reform u-turn - Salvation Army
The Salvation Army says it sees the harm caused by alcohol every day, and wants the government to revisit plans to tighten the hours bottle stores and supermarkets can sell alcohol
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Institute of Public Health (Ireland) - NSAPAG report captures a decade of North-South collaboration on alcohol policy
IPH has published a report capturing a decade of North-South collaboration on alcohol policy through the North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group (NSAPAG).
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ERR News (Estonia) - Estonia's alcohol consumption edges down, but concerns remain
Last year, alcohol use among Estonian residents declined — but only by 1.8 percent. Despite the decline, people remain worried about serious social problems caused by alcohol use, a study by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research (EKI) found.
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journalnews.co.za (South Africa) - South Africans view alcohol consumption as a pressing national issue
A recent poll has found that close to 96% of South Africans believe that alcohol consumption is a national problem and 73% are deeply concerned about alcohol-fuelled violence.
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IAS Blog - Growing up with alcohol harm at home: the difference a trusted adult can make
Growing up with parents who have alcohol problems can increase the risk of difficult and immediate childhood experiences that are directly linked to alcohol use—such as being exposed to violence or other forms of maltreatment
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IAS Blog (UK) - IAS supports potential plans to reduce drink drive limit – letter to Transport Secretary
We welcome potential plans to reduce the drink drive limit in England and Wales, as part of the new road safety strategy set to be published this autumn (reported by the BBC).
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NordAN (Finland) - Every child needs a trusted adult – Maaret Kallio and Matti Rönkä as patrons of the Luottoaikuiset campaign
The A-Clinic Foundation’s Fragile Childhood programme has launched the Luottoaikuiset (“Trusted Adults”) campaign, which highlights the importance of safe adults in the wellbeing of children and young people.
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Alcohol and Cancer - Breaking the link between alcohol use and pancreatic cancer
Despite increasing evidence linking alcohol consumption to cancer, little is known about the biological mechanisms behind the association. A new study, published Aug. 12 in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, suggests that inhibiting a cellular molecule called CREB might thwart pancreatic tumor development in response to alcohol.
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Alcohol News - 32/2025

The Coversation - Why alcohol policies miss those at the highest risk from drinking
People living in the most advantaged areas of Australia tend to drink more alcohol. But people who live in the least advantaged areas suffer the most alcohol-related harms, such as dying from alcohol-related disease or from alcohol-related injuries.
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NordAN (Norway) - Labour Party accused of horse trading on alcohol policy
IOGT Norway criticised the ruling Labour Party for considering concessions that could weaken Norway’s strict alcohol regime. The article notes that Norway has long been recognised internationally for its alcohol monopoly, price regulation and advertising bans, and warns that proposed tax cuts on low alcohol beer and easing the ban on drinking in parks risk undermining proven public health measures.
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NordAN (Denmark) - New survey: Significantly more Danes are cutting back on alcohol
A Voxmeter survey for Blue Cross Denmark found that 42.1 % of Danes had abstained from alcohol for a period during the past year, up from 34.6 % in 2024. Health and wellbeing were the main reasons: better sleep, weight loss and increased energy were cited, and nearly half of respondents had thought about taking a break from drinking.
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Alcohol Health Alliance UK (United Kingdom) - Health experts warn alcohol measures ‘are not sufficient’ to stop harm
In a letter to the UK health secretary, doctors and public health experts called for an urgent alcohol strategy after key interventions were dropped from the NHS long term plan; they said measures proposed so far would not curb alcohol harm. The letter advocates minimum unit pricing, stronger marketing restrictions, fairer taxation and better support services.
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Balance (England) - ‘Think again’ or people will continue to die
The advocacy group Balance urged the UK government to rethink its lack of national action on alcohol harm; it argued that proposals for mandatory labelling alone are inadequate and called for minimum pricing, advertising restrictions and a duty escalator.
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Welsh Government (Wales) - Consultation on raising minimum alcohol price in Wales Official figures show that raising the minimum unit price to 65 p could reduce the number of hazardous drinkers by more than 6,000 and harmful drinkers by nearly 5,000. The consultation runs until 29 September 2025.
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The Independent (United Kingdom) - Government urged to introduce minimum price for alcohol
As Wales announced plans to raise its MUP, public health campaigners pressed UK ministers to introduce minimum pricing in England; the article notes that a similar policy in Scotland has reduced alcohol sales by 3 %.
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Food Bible (United Kingdom) - ‘Problematic’ BrewDog advert banned by Advertising Standards Authority
The UK Advertising Standards Authority banned a BrewDog poster for implying that drinking its Wingman beer could overcome boredom, loneliness or disappointment; the regulator ordered the ad not to appear again and warned the company against suggesting alcohol could solve life’s problems.
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Medical Xpress (United States) - Combined exposure to alcohol and ‘forever chemicals’ increases liver damage
University of Louisville researchers found that exposure to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (a PFAS chemical) together with alcohol causes greater liver injury in mice; the study suggests that common environmental chemicals may make people who drink more susceptible to liver disease.
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ScienceDaily (United States) - Unwanted pregnancies surge with alcohol, but not with cannabis, study finds
Among women who strongly wished to avoid pregnancy, those who drank heavily were about 50 % more likely to conceive unintentionally than those who drank little or not at all; cannabis use did not show the same risk. The research highlights the potential for alcohol to undermine pregnancy intentions.
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Mining Journal (United States) - Moderation in alcohol urged, especially among older people
A public health advisory from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services urges older adults to monitor their drinking because alcohol can interact dangerously with medications and exacerbate existing health conditions. The editorial emphasises moderation and awareness of age related vulnerabilities.
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The Thaiger (Thailand) - Thailand’s booze ad crackdown clears final Senate hurdle
 The Thai Senate approved sweeping amendments to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, tightening restrictions on alcohol promotion, sponsorship and celebrity endorsements; the bill sailed through parliament with 105 votes in favour, 2 against and 12 abstentions and now awaits royal endorsement. The legislation is expected to significantly reduce alcohol advertising, limit event sponsorship and restrict the use of alcohol related branding.
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RNZ (New Zealand) - Cabinet paper leak suggests Minister Nicole McKee's U-turn on alcohol sales reform
A leaked Cabinet paper shows the government was planning to restrict the hours bottle stores and supermarkets could sell alcohol but then backed away to focus on reforms more friendly to the alcohol industry.
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FASD News - 31/2025

CBC - Could honeybees help us understand FASD? This Saskatoon researcher watches hives for clues
A researcher from Saskatoon wants to learn more about the effects of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) by using honeybees.
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Chosun Biz - Alcohol increases unintended pregnancy risk by 50%, study finds
A study has found that women who drink excessively have a significantly increased risk of unintended pregnancy. While both can cause loss of consciousness, marijuana does not increase the risk of unintended pregnancy.
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Hope Rising Clinic - This Isn't Rare. It's Just Overlooked. Let's Do Better for Kids with Prenatal Substance Exposure
A recent article highlighted a child navigating life with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and like so many stories, it was framed as something rare or unusual. But the truth is—it's not.
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National FASD (UK) - Statement on forthcoming book speculating about Princess Margaret and FASD
An article in The Telegraph, 30 July 2025 focuses on a new book by Meryle Secrest that raises questions about whether or not Princess Margeret may have had Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. The book, Princess Margaret and the Curse: An Inquiry into a Royal Life, is due for release on 9 September, international FASD awareness day.
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FASD United - FASD United and Partners Publish Special Section in Research Journal on FASD Prevention and Intervention
A special section, “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevention and Intervention,” was included in a recent issue of Substance Use & Addiction Journal (SAj)—the official journal of the Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance use and Addiction.
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FASD United - FASD Researcher Dr. Sarah Mattson on the Role of CIFASD and Evidence-Based Screening Tools like BRAIN-online
Dr. Sarah Mattson is a leading researcher in the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) with a deep passion for understanding FASD and how the brain impacts behavior.
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CanFASD (Canada) - Alberta FASD clinics spark national dialogue on diagnostic guidelines
In May 2025, the Lakeland Centre for FASD Rajani FASD Diagnostic Training and Support Services held its annual meeting for all the FASD diagnostic clinics in Alberta.
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Medicine Today (Australia) - Australian prevalence data on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
New research estimates the prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in the general Australian population to be 3.64%, comparable with rates in other high-income countries such as the USA and Canada.
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AWHI NGA Matua (New Zealand) - Self-Care for parents of children with FASD
When parenting a child with a disability, your own self-care can make the difference between a good day and a bad one.
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VIDEOS
FASD Hub Australia - Professor Elizabeth Elliott - Why is FASD an essential diagnostic term?
In this video, FASD Hub Australia Chair Professor Elizabeth Elliott explains why is it important to use the term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in assessment and diagnosis.
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Understanding FASD: a Caregiver Guide
In this non-episode episode, Living with FASD podcast host Patti Kasper delves into the often-overlooked challenges faced by families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
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Thriving Adoptees - Thriving with FASD Brian Roberts
FASD is caused by exposure to alcohol in utero. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition with lifelong cognitive, emotional and behavioural challenges. Listen in as Brian shares his learnings on how families thrive with FASD.
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Embracing Hope, Part 2, with Carl Young & Joel Sheagren
In this thought-provoking episode of Living with FASD, a continuation of last week’s episode, host Patti Kasper engages with Carl Young and Joel Sheagren, two passionate fathers dedicated to raising awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and its complexities.
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Continuing Education by Agents of Change - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (1 General CE Credit)
Hi there, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and I have been providing Continuing Education instruction for almost 10 years! From all of this experience, I've built Agents of Change, where we offer unlimited continuing education courses and credits for a low annual subscription price.
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RESEARCH
PrePrints - Docosahexaenoic Acid Increases the Brain Resolution Lipid Mediators of Inflammation in Rat Pups Prenatally Exposed to Alcohol
A study of the response by the lipid mediators of inflammation to alcohol insult and DHA supplementation can provide vital information on the pathogenesis of FASD/FAS and the potential ameliorative role of DHA.
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University of Victoria - Narrated subjects: Parent advocacy, biopower, and the politics of FASD in Canada
This thesis seeks to understand why a self-advocacy movement comparable to those in other neurodivergent communities has not emerged among people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Canada.
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Brain, Behavior, and Immunity - Prenatal alcohol exposure induces microglia to release exosomes with an elevated level of MIP-1α that participates in apoptotic process of stress-regulatory proopiomelanocort in neurons via glutamate excitotoxicity
Microglia are known to participate in ethanol-activated neuronal death of stress-regulatory proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the hypothalamus leading to hyper corticosterone response to stress and anxiety-like behaviors in a rat model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
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Alcohol Research: Current Reviews - Nonconceptus Mechanisms of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure That Disrupt Embryo-Fetal Development: An Integrative View
Exogenous mechanisms of alcohol’s teratogenicity are intertwined. Alcohol remodels the maternal enteric microbiome, with potential consequences to fetal immune function, nutrient availability, and brain development.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Does paternal alcohol consumption affect the severity of traits of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders?
Paternal alcohol consumption was associated with an independent, negative influence on child height, head circumference, and verbal IQ. Maternal drinking, when combined with heavy male drinking, was associated with more severe FASD outcomes.
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Drug and Alcohol Dependence - Prevalence of congenital heart defects among children with and without diagnosed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, 2016–2022
CHDs were more common among children with FASDs compared to those without FASDs in two administrative database samples. Increased provider awareness about CHDs as a potential FASD comorbidity may improve timely CHD care.
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Psychiatry Global Open Science - Decreased Cerebral Blood Flow in Young Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
CBF is negatively altered in children with PAE. CBF reductions may alter nutrient and oxygen delivery to the brain, resulting in impaired neurodevelopment and helping to explain functional deficits seen in PAE.
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European Journal of Epidemiology - Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and healthcare use during childhood and adolescence: a Danish nationwide cohort study 1997–2022
We aimed to quantify their healthcare utilisation patterns compared to all other Danish children in this nationwide cohort study of children born 1997–2020, followed until Dec 31, 2022.
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Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry - Role of gut microbiota and its functional products in prenatal alcohol-induced anxiety-like behavior
This study identified several bacterial taxa and SCFAs potentially involved in the mechanisms through which PAE induces anxiety-like behaviors.
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Pathophysiology - Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Congenital Heart Defects: Retinoic Acid Deficiency as a Potential Mechanism in Dextro-Type Transposition of the Great Arteries
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a preventable cause of developmental disabilities linked to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are frequently observed in FASD, with a notable association between PAE and dextro-type transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA).
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Drug and Alcohol Dependence - DIFFERENCES IN TOBACCO SMOKING AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AMONG 57,757 WOMEN FROM EARLY TO LATE PREGNANCY: A STATE-REPRESENTATIVE STUDY IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
The results highlight that interventions targeting alcohol use should be delivered pre-conception and during early pregnancy, whereas smoking interventions should span the entire trajectory, as these behaviours are less likely to change overtime.
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Addiction - Alcohol and drug use and attainment of pregnancy preferences in the southwestern United States: A longitudinal cohort study
Heavy drinking, but not cannabis use or other drug use, appears to be associated with elevated pregnancy risk among those who most desire to avoid pregnancy.
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PsyArXiv Preprints - The prevalence of antenatal alcohol use and associations with co-occurring substance use and mental health: analysis of 50,225 women during pregnancy in the UK
This study highlights the need to improve adherence to guidelines recommending complete abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy.
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Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law - An international overview of child protection services to protect unborn children from significant harm
This paper presents a comparative analysis of the availability of pre-birth protection orders in cases of imminent harm to the unborn child due to high-risk parenting in the Netherlands and other Western countries.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
UP (Germany) - S3-Leitlinie zu „Fetalen Alkoholspektrumstörungen“ aktualisiert
Der Innovationsausschuss beim Gemeinsamen Bundesausschuss(G-BA) die S3-Leitlinie „Versorgung von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Fetalen Alkoholspektrumstörungen“ aktualisiert. Die Leitlinie kann ab sofort auf der AWMF-Website abgerufen werden.
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Alcohol News - 31/2025

Baltic News Network (Latvia) - New restrictions on the availability and advertising of alcohol will come into effect from August
On Friday, the 1st of August, amendments to the Law on Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages will come into force, providing for significant changes aimed at reducing alcohol consumption in Latvia and its consequences. One of the changes is the shortening of the hours of sale of alcoholic beverages.
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Medscape - Alcohol and Pancreatic Cancer: New Evidence About Risk
Does drinking alcohol increase the risk for pancreatic cancer? Researchers have long suspected it does, but the evidence has remained inconsistent. Now, a global study of more than two million people is firming up the case that a link exists.
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BBC (Wales) - Calls to reinvest money from minimum alcohol pricing to help addicts
Any income made from increasing the minimum unit price for alcohol in Wales should be reinvested in addiction services, the chair of a Senedd committee has said.
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The Copenhagen Post (Denmark) - “Pure candy” alcohol product must not be marketed, board says
The alcoholic shot tube named “Pure Candy” may no longer be marketed, according to a decision from the Alcohol Advertising Board.
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NTV Kenya (Kenya) - Kenya raises legal alcohol drinking age to 21
The government has set 21 years as the minimum legal age for consuming alcohol, effectively ending the 18 year legal limit. Additionally no person under the age of 21 will be allowed to access or enter any alcohol-selling outlets — whether accompanied or unaccompanied by an appropriate adult.
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Philenews (Cyprus) - Limassol leads Cyprus alcohol consumption as drinking increases tenfold in the summer, study finds
Limassol records the highest daily alcohol consumption per resident in Cyprus, exceeding Ayia Napa by 140% and Nicosia by 60%, according to an epidemiological study using wastewater analysis published in Science of The Total Environment.
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Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Alcohol and drug treatment cases jump almost 80% since 2017
Alcohol treatment cases have risen by almost 20% in the last seven years, official figures show.
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Movendi - Movendi Analysis: Second Revised Version of Political Declaration Text
Alcohol industry language, no alcohol policy action: UN Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health risks becoming meaningless.
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UNSW Sidney (Australia) - Why it’s time for cancer warning labels for alcohol
It took 16 years to get labels on bottles warning of the danger of drinking while pregnant. Australians can’t afford for it to take that long for cancer warnings, say UNSW researchers.
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Alcohol and Cancer - The Lancet: Three in five liver cancer cases due to preventable risk factors; obesity-linked cases on the rise, new analysis suggest
The majority of liver cancer cases could be prevented by reducing levels of viral hepatitis, alcohol consumption and MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease – previously called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), suggests an analysis as part of The Lancet Commission on liver cancer.
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NordAN (Latvia) - Latvia tightens alcohol sales and advertising from 1 August
On 1 August 2025 Latvia will introduce some of the tightest controls on retail alcohol sales in the European Union. The amendments to the Law on the Circulation of Alcoholic Beverages were passed by the Saeima (parliament) on 9 January after more than two years of debate.
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NordAN (Finland) - NordAN voices strong concerns over Finland’s proposed alcohol law reform
NordAN has submitted a response to Finland’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Health regarding the draft legislation to amend the Alcohol Act (VN/1531/2024). The proposed changes, open for consultation until 31 July 2025, would legalize home delivery of alcohol, permit cross-border distance sales of wine and spirits, and lift Finland’s longstanding ban on digital advertising of strong alcoholic beverages.
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