Alcohol News - 45/2025

Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Norway) - Drug and alcohol poisonings: new trends challenge emergency departments
Alcohol remains the leading cause of substance-related poisonings; however, the rising incidence of cocaine and ketamine poisonings among young adults and women is impacting on emergency preparedness and public health.
https://tidsskriftet.no/en/2025/11/invitert-kommentar/drug-and-alcohol-poisonings-new-trends-challenge-emergency-departments

Le Monde.fr (France) - Last orders? Report recommends ending alcohol sales in French Parliament
While some lawmakers have called for setting the example, as alcohol is banned in most French workplaces, others defend the bar as a 'showcase for wines from our regions.'
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/11/05/last-orders-report-recommends-ending-alcohol-sales-in-french-parliament_6747131_7.html

Euractiv - MEPs toast ‘reduced-alcohol’ wine label despite industry hangover
Lawmakers in the European Parliament’s agriculture committee have backed plans to label wine as ‘reduced-alcohol’ rather than with with a ‘low’ or ‘light’ rating as part of measures to support the industry – despite pushback from winemakers.
https://www.euractiv.com/news/meps-toast-reduced-alcohol-wine-label-despite-industry-hangover/

ScienceDaily (USA) - Most Americans don’t know alcohol can cause cancer
Most U.S. adults don’t realize alcohol raises cancer risk, and drinkers themselves are the least aware. Scientists say targeting these misbeliefs could significantly reduce alcohol-related cancer deaths.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251105050722.htm

Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials - Why Alcohol and Antidepressants Don’t Mix
If you take antidepressants, you may have been advised to avoid alcohol. But why? Is a glass of wine really all that bad? What about just one night of heavy drinking? Psychiatrist and substance use disorder specialist David Streem, MD, shares the trouble with mixing alcohol and antidepressants.
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/antidepressants-and-alcohol

NR Times - Heavy alcohol use linked to brain bleed in later life
People who drink heavily are more likely to suffer severe brain bleeds at a younger age, with larger haemorrhages occurring about a decade earlier than in non-drinkers, new research has revealed.
https://nrtimes.co.uk/heavy-alcohol-use-linked-to-brain-bleed-in-later-life-nrlaw25/

PressProgress (Canada) - Alcohol Still Leading Cause of Substance-related Hospitalizations in Canada, With Cannabis now a ‘Concerning’ Second
After alcohol, cannabis accounts for the second highest number of substance use-related hospitalizations across Canada in the last year, according to new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
https://pressprogress.ca/alcohol-still-leading-cause-of-substance-related-hospitalizations-in-canada-with-cannabis-now-a-concerning-second/

Our Watch  (Australia) - Our Watch and FARE urge stronger action on alcohol to prevent violence against women and children
A new policy brief released today by Our Watch and endorsed by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) calls for alcohol harm minimisation strategies to be integrated into national efforts to prevent violence against women and children.
https://www.ourwatch.org.au/news/our-watch-and-fare-urge-stronger-action-on-alcohol-to-prevent-violence-against-women-and-children

IAS Blog (UK) - Deregulating alcohol licensing: how the government’s proposals risk undermining public health and democracy
In April 2025, the UK government launched a ‘Licensing Taskforce’ to review the Licensing Act (2003). On the surface, the review promised to “modernise” the system and “support growth” in the night-time economy.
https://www.ias.org.uk/2025/11/04/deregulating-alcohol-licensing-how-the-governments-proposals-risk-undermining-public-health-and-democracy/

European Heart Network - Launch of the European Declaration on Reducing Harm from Tobacco, Nicotine, Alcohol and Unhealthy Food
On 3–4 November 2025, the FILTERED Project held its Final Conference in Brussels, marking the launch of the European Declaration on Reducing Harm from Tobacco, Nicotine, Alcohol and Unhealthy Food.
https://ehnheart.org/news-events/news/category-1/european-declaration-on-reducing-harm-from-tobacco-nicotine-alcohol-and-unhealthy-food/

Wonca (EU) - WONCA Europe Highlights Crucial Role of Primary Care in Implementing IARC's Alcohol-Cancer Prevention Evidence
WONCA Europe, is drawing attention to the profound implications of the recently launched IARC Handbook for Cancer Prevention Volume 20 on primary care practice across Europe.
https://www.woncaeurope.org/news/view/wonca-europe-highlights-crucial-role-of-primary-care-in-implementing-iarc-s-alcohol-cancer-preventio

NordAN (Finland) - Finns want society to support healthy lifestyles
Finns want to live healthily, but everyday life does not always make that easy. The majority of respondents to a survey by the Cancer Society of Finland feel that society has a responsibility to make healthy choices easier.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/finns-want-society-to-support-healthy-lifestyles

NordAN (Sweden) - MHF highlights Week 45, the national awareness week on alcohol, this year with a focus on older adults and alcohol
During Week 45, MHF will highlight the annual alcohol awareness week. This year the focus is on a group that rarely receives attention in the alcohol debate, older adults and alcohol.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/mhf-highlights-week-45-the-national-awareness-week-on-alcohol-this-year-with-a-focus-on-older-adul

Alcohol Awareness (Finland) - Preventive substance use work week
Finland’s national Preventive Substance Use Work Week takes place every year during week 45. The 2025 theme focuses on talking about dependency early. The core message is to ask a clarifying question, since dependency does not disappear by staying silent.
https://alcoholcampaign.org/2025/11/04/preventive-substance-use-work-week/