FASD News - 41/2026

SHAAP (Scotland) - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Some Difficult Issues
A number of contributors will explore Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) as part of FASD Awareness Month. FASD is usually viewed through the lens of risk to the child, however I decided to look at this from a different perspective: that of the woman.
https://www.shaap.org.uk/fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder-fasd-some-difficult-issues/

University of Calgary (Canada) - Rethinking how we understand Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder
University of Calgary researcher Dr. Tamara Bodnar, PhD, is bringing together community and clinicians to change how fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is understood and addressed in Canada. Bodnar is working to destigmatize FASD and improve treatment for the estimated one in 25 Canadians with the disorder.
https://ucalgary.ca/news/rethinking-how-we-understand-fetal-alcohol-syndrome-disorder

Contemporary Pediatrics - Early choline in FASD tied to IQ, memory gains 5 years later
Nine months of choline supplementation in early childhood was associated with better nonverbal IQ and working memory among children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) about 5 years after treatment ended.
https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/early-choline-in-fasd-tied-to-iq-memory-gains-5-years-later

Psychology Today - The Death Penalty and Brain Impairment
Brain damage, especially Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), is found in many condemned prisoners. Psychologists, and other forensic experts, tend to miss or give insufficient weight to FASD.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/incompetence/202610/the-death-penalty-and-brain-impairment

CanFASD (Canada) - There Is Hope — If You Can Get the Diagnosis
A diagnosis is not a stigma to be avoided. It is a key. Without it, my daughter spent over a decade struggling in classrooms that had no obligation to help her. With it, my son has specialized teachers, informed doctors, and a future built on strategies instead of guesswork. That contrast is the whole argument: the diagnosis doesn’t create the disadvantage — withholding it does.
https://canfasd.ca/2026/10/07/there-is-hope-if-you-can-get-the-diagnosis/

National Organisation for FASD (UK) - FASD Left Out Again: Mental Health Review Ignored Our Offer
Today the Department of Health and Social Care published the final report of the Independent Review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism. The Government has already said the report will shape its forthcoming Mental Health Strategy.
https://nationalfasd.org.uk/mental-health-adhd-autism-review-ignores-fasd/

WRaP2.0 (Canada) - October Changes More Than the Weather: Supporting Students with FASD Through Fall
October in Alberta is unpredictable. One day students are outside in hoodies and running shoes, and a few days later everyone is digging through backpacks for mittens and wondering where their winter boots went.
https://wrap2fasd.org/2026/10/01/october-changes-more-than-the-weather-supporting-students-with-fasd-through-fall/

European Academy of Paediatrics (EU) - Alcohol can harm children even when they are not drinking
Alcohol-related harm to children is not limited to underage drinking. That is the central message of a new article published by the European Academy of Paediatrics on October 11, alongside a dedicated meeting at the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin.
https://eapaediatrics.eu/protecting-children-from-alcohol-related-harm/

SBS News - Misunderstood and overlooked: living with FASD
As a new Australian research centre dedicated to FASD prepares to launch, people living with the condition and advocates say stigma and misunderstanding remain barriers to diagnosis and support.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/stopped-blaming-myself-jessicas-journey-to-a-fasd-diagnosis/024ep4ibf

Boksburg Advertiser (South Africa) - Protecting little lives before they begin
SANCA Horizon and Soul City Institute have joined forces to raise awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), urging communities to support pregnant women and help prevent alcohol-related harm to unborn babies.
https://www.citizen.co.za/boksburg-advertiser/news-headlines/2026/10/07/protecting-little-lives-before-they-begin/

FASD United Policy and Training Center (USA) - Extend Your Impact and Continue Your Advocacy
Two weeks ago, over 100 advocates attended nearly 90 meetings with House and Senate offices to urge Congress to Fund FASD. Now, you have the opportunity to extend that impact beyond a single day of advocacy.
https://nofaspolicycenter.org/extend-your-impact-and-continue-your-advocacy/

 

VIDEOS
Day One Hāpai te Haeata - My Journey With FASD
WATCH MY JOURNEY WITH FASD: A slice of life animated documentary following a teenager in Aotearoa living with FASD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuNKDrhNjhc

Called to Love with Somer Colbert - Understanding and Caring for Children With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders
For this episode, I am joined by Sandra Flach. After adopting her youngest son in 2010, Sandra co-founded Justice For Orphans and started The Adoption & Foster Care Journey Podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frq7lRs5vEY

FASD Awareness - FASD: In Their Own Words Film Launch- FASD Webinar #37
In this special webinar we celebrate the launch of FASD: In Their Own Words, a powerful new series of short films created for FASD Awareness Month 2026.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ifGypcKLIA

HSJCC - FASD 101 - Foundations and Overview
In collaboration with the Northwest Regional HSJCC’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Justice System Working Group, the Provincial HSJCC is pleased to invite you to join us for an FASD Education Webinar Series, beginning with FASD 101: Foundations and Overview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxOCY-Fsqm4

Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - From Flunking Speech to Podcasting: Overcoming the FASD Narrative with Ann Kagarise
In this warm, candid, and deeply validating conversation, host Patti Kasper sits down with fellow adult on the spectrum Ann Kagarise (host of _Real Talk with Tina and Ann_).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiO1OcOm1Og

PCA Families - FASD and Adolescence
FASD and Adolescence presented by Prue Walker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prBdRzYZ7c8

Harrison's Hope FASD - Living with FASD: The Story Behind Everything Clicks | Mary Byrnes
Mary Byrnes shares her personal journey with FASD, motherhood, and late-in-life diagnosis, offering hope and understanding for individuals living with FASD, caregivers, families, and professionals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twcr5D0joLs

Justice For Orphans - The AFCJ Podcast - Ep. 552 - Finding Hope on the FASD Journey with Rebecca Ciesielski
This episode continues our  FASD Awareness Month series with special guest, foster and adoptive mom, Rebecca Ciesielski.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h30QxDa-mHw

FASD United (formerly NOFAS) - FASD & Life - Sharing Living Experience - FASD United Red Shoes Gala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjXbvpnE8vk

Psychogastroenterologist Podcast Program - Episode 13: Nutrition and Eating Challenges in Kids with FASD
In this episode, we explore the complex relationship between FASD, nutrition, and eating challenges.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oovd3IMLBcE

VCHIP - Beyond Screening: Addressing Substance Exposure From Pregnancy Through Infancy
This webinar focuses on the current landscape of substance exposure at both the local level in Vermont and national level. Participants will learn about the importance of screening for substance use during pregnancy and connecting parents to resources and support services.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSIMD3e-_yE

FASD Florida Center - FASD Collective - Shifts that Work: Mental Health
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsVf0e5ftUc

 

RESEARCH
Journal of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - Advancing FASD education through interprofessional learning: A practice note for health science curricula
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a highly prevalent yet underrecognized condition that requires multidisciplinary, stigma-free care. Despite its significance, FASD education is inconsistently addressed in health science curricula, leaving future health care professionals underprepared to support affected individuals.
https://utppublishing.com/doi/full/10.3138/jfasd-2026-0002

Pilot and Feasibility Studies - A feasibility trial of a psychological intervention for addressing alcohol problems during pregnancy: a study protocol
The pilot trial of the Mommy and Baby Wellness Programme provides initial evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of a community health worker–delivered psychological intervention to reduce alcohol use among pregnant women in South Africa.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40814-026-01932-5

Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcome Following Three Randomized Controlled Trials of Choline in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Very few RCTs have been conducted in FASD, and interventions targeting cognitive functioning are needed. The data reported here suggest that choline supplementation has long-lasting neurodevelopmental benefits, especially in non-verbal IQ and working memory for individuals with FASD.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/acer.70394

biorxiv.org - Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Downregulates Focal Adhesion Molecules Tensin 1 and Tensin 2 Contributing to Cerebrovascular Dysfunction
Overall, we found that miR-150-5p negatively regulates Tns1 and Tns2 in BMVECs and that augmenting Tns1 and Tns2 expression may reverse the negative effects of EtOH, and subsequent miR-150-5p elevation, thus improving endothelial cell sprouting during cerebrovascular development.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.06.757079v1.abstract

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology - B-21: State of the State: Review of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Epidemiology in Alaska
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder remains a significant but underrecognized public health concern in Alaska, characterized by diagnostic complexity, high comorbidity, and system-level capacity constraints.
https://academic.oup.com/acn/article/41/Supplement_2/ii81/8875345

Research in Neurodiversity - Understanding public perceptions of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD): An examination of stigmatizing attitudes in Canada and the influence of strengths
Findings partially support a specific public stigma towards FASD and suggest comparably less stigma towards ADHD. Development of effective interventions addressing FASD stigma is warranted, and future research areas are discussed.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3050579826000653

University of East Anglia - The Educational Experiences of Young People with a Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in UK Secondary Schools: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
The study adds to the limited UK evidence base, highlighting these young people’s educational experiences as multifaceted and how they make sense of school through relationships, trust, peer support, sensory safety, academic self-concept and perceptions of school ethos.
https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104654/

Drug and Alcohol Dependence - Longitudinal Pathways from Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Infant Behaviors to Verbal IQ and Working Memory
PAE was related to poorer Verbal IQ and WM from 4-21 years of age, via 2-year cognitive outcomes associated with 6- and 12-month infant mental and visual recognition performance.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037687162600373X

Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Disrupts Brain Redox Homeostasis and the Activity of Tyrosine Phosphatase STEP in Adult Offspring
These findings demonstrate that moderate PAE leads to long-lasting alterations in the brain's redox homeostasis and compromises STEP function in male offspring.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/acer.70421

South African Journal of Science - Alcohol use before pregnancy recognition among women in seven South African communities
South Africa has the highest prevalence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, globally. In this retrospective, exploratory document study, we evaluated data from intake interviews for an antenatal support programme to investigate the participants’ drinking behaviour prior to pregnancy.
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/sajsci/article/view/336850

Epidemiology - Substance Use and Pregnancy Attempts in the Apple Women’s Health Study
In this sample of AWHS participants, those who started attempting to conceive a pregnancy had a similar prevalence of current cannabis use as those who did not start a pregnancy attempt.
https://www.ovid.com/jnls/epidem/fulltext/10.1097/01.ede.0001282040.94846.90~substance-use-and-pregnancy-attempts-in-the-apple-womens

medRxiv - Patterns of substance use during pregnancy are differentially associated with maternal mental health across the perinatal periood
Our findings highlight the importance of considering the persistence and cessation of substance use during pregnancy in the context of maternal mental health, pointing to patterns of persistent substance use as a potential target to inform screening and early intervention for women at higher risk for perinatal psychological distress.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.26364530v1

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - The Effect of Maternal Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol  Consumption During Pregnancy on Cardio-Metabolic Risk  Factors in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: A Systematic  Review and Meta-Analysis
The association between maternal cigarette smoking and offspring systolic blood pressure was inconclusive due to borderline significance. The evidence regarding vascular outcomes and lipid profiles remained limited and inconsistent.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tammy-Ras/publication/415149705_The_Effect_of_Maternal_Cigarette_Smoking_and_Alcohol_Consumption_During_Pregnancy_on_Cardio-Metabolic_Risk_Factors_in_Infants_Children_and_Adolescents_A_Systematic_Review_and_Meta-Analysis/links/6abf87f7db7d3b1c53a07ff3/The-Effect-of-Maternal-Cigarette-Smoking-and-Alcohol-Consumption-During-Pregnancy-on-Cardio-Metabolic-Risk-Factors-in-Infants-Children-and-Adolescents-A-Systematic-Review-and-Meta-Analysis.pdf

 

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Universitat de Valencia (Spain) - Riesgo percibido del efecto del consumo de alcohol sobre el feto en mujeres en edad fértil
El consumo de alcohol durante el embarazo constituye un problema de salud pública por sus posibles efectos sobre el desarrollo fetal, entre los que destacan los trastornos del espectro alcohólico fetal (TEAF), un conjunto de manifestaciones clínicas relacionadas con alteraciones físicas, cognitivas, conductuales y adaptativas que pueden presentarse a lo largo de todo el ciclo vital.
https://roderic.uv.es/items/8c2fbcc7-2cd2-4037-84ca-c324543e9e90

HanseMerkur (Germany) - Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft: Kein Schluck ist unbedenklich
In Deutschland wird etwa jede Stunde ein Kind mit Schädigungen geboren, die durch Alkoholkonsum während der Schwangerschaft bedingt sind. Das sind mehr als 10.000 im Jahr (mit einer hohen Dunkelziffer), davon etwa 3.000 mit dem Vollbild des Fetalen Alkoholsyndroms.
https://newsroom.hansemerkur.de/pressemitteilungen/alkohol-in-der-schwangerschaft-kein-schluck-ist-unbedenklich/

Welltica (Denmark) - Kolin-tilskud til småbørn med alkohol-relaterede hjerneskader hævede IQ med 7 procent
Hjerneskader fra alkohol i fosterlivet har længe været regnet som permanente, men et nyt opfølgningsstudie peger i en anden retning for en gruppe små børn.
https://welltica.dk/ernaering/vitaminer-og-kosttilskud/kolin-tilskud-til-smaaboern-med-alkohol-relaterede-hjerneskader-haevede-iq-med-7-procent/

Le jour (France) - Dr William Zambo Zambo : « Boire enceinte, c’est faire boire son enfant »
Résident en fin de spécialisation en gynécologie Obstétrique à la Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences Biomédicales de l’université de Yaoundé 1 et interne des hôpitaux de Paris, explique ce que l’alcool provoque chez le fœtus, à quel moment de la grossesse le risque est le plus élevé, et pourquoi aucune quantité ne peut être considérée comme sans danger.
https://lejour.cm/dr-william-zambo-zambo-boire-enceinte-cest-faire-boire-son-enfant/

Detmold Plus (Germany) - Ein bewegender Abend zum Thema FASD im Kreishaus
Fetale Alkohol-Spektrum-Störung (FASD), ein Thema, das viel zu selten öffentlich besprochen wird, obwohl laut Drogen- und Suchtbericht des Bundes schätzungsweise rund 1,5 Millionen Menschen in Deutschland betroffen sind.
https://www.detmoldplus.de/ein-bewegender-abend-zum-thema-fasd-im-kreishaus/

Sin adiccion (Spain) - Síndrome alcohólico fetal: señales, diagnóstico y prevención
El síndrome alcohólico fetal es la forma más reconocible dentro de los trastornos del espectro alcohólico fetal. Estos trastornos pueden aparecer cuando el cerebro y otros órganos quedan expuestos al alcohol durante el embarazo.
https://sinadiccion.com/sindrome-alcoholico-fetal

Portal Zory (Poland) - Ciąża bez alkoholu. Nie ma bezpiecznej dawki ani momentu
Jedno zdanie porządkuje najważniejszą zasadę kampanii prowadzonej także w Żorach: w ciąży nie ma bezpiecznej dawki alkoholu.
https://portalzory.pl/20261015265976/ciaza-bez-alkoholu-nie-ma-bezpiecznej-dawki-ani-momentu

Alcohol News - 41/2026

Stockholms universiteet (Sweden) - Newly published: Healthy workplace culture may reduce risky drinking
Workplaces that prioritize leadership, a healthy work environment, and employee well-being tend to have a lower proportion of employees engaging in risky drinking. This is shown in a new study from Stockholm University.
https://www.su.se/english/divisions/department-of-psychology/news/articles/2026-10-15-newly-published-healthy-workplace-culture-may-reduce-risky-drinking

Notes From Poland (Poland) - Polish parliament approves ban on nighttime alcohol sales in shops
An overwhelming majority of MPs in the Sejm, the lower house of Poland’s parliament, have voted in favour of a bill that would introduce tough new anti-alcohol measures, including a ban on all forms of advertising and on sales in shops during nighttime hours.
https://notesfrompoland.com/2026/10/09/polish-parliament-approves-ban-on-nighttime-alcohol-sales-in-shops/

DW.com (Germany) - Alcohol ban comes into force at all German train stations
Alcohol bans came into force at all German train stations when the clock struck midnight and Thursday began. All the roughly 5,700 stations across Germany, including the train platforms themselves, are now booze-free zones.
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-news-train-station-alcohol-ban-comes-into-force/live-79666807

World Health Organization (WHO) - Alcohol can cause breast cancer, but very few patients get asked about their drinking
Only 15% of people in the European Union1 know that alcohol can cause breast cancer, even though alcohol is an established risk factor. To close this gap, WHO/Europe is launching a new digital hub with a built-in AI assistant during this Breast Cancer Awareness Month that gives health professionals the tools they need to talk about alcohol and cancer risk.
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/14-10-2026-alcohol-can-cause-breast-cancer--but-very-few-patients-get-asked-about-their-drinking

NL Times (Netherlands) - Most of the gov't support 24/7 alcohol monitoring for those convicted of related crimes
A majority in the Tweede Kamer support a bill that would allow courts to require convicted individuals to wear an alcohol monitor. It would apply to those who, for example, have received a ban after driving under the influence, Hart van Nederland reports.
https://nltimes.nl/2026/10/11/govt-support-247-alcohol-monitoring-convicted-related-crimes

Neuroscience News - Alcohol Tricks Brain Cells Into Destroying Themselves
Researchers have discovered that alcohol-induced brain dysfunction is actively driven by resident immune cells rather than direct neuronal toxicity alone. Upon heavy alcohol exposure, microglia retract their surveillance branches and dismantle the brain’s extracellular matrix (ECM), depressing neuronal signaling, inducing sedation, and eventually causing cell loss in the frontal cortex—a cascade that can be blocked by inhibiting the immune switch MyD88.
https://neurosciencenews.com/alcohol-microglia-neuroscience-31311/

Boston University (USA) - Many States with Higher Burden of Alcohol Use Disorder Among Women Have Fewer Treatment Facilities Tailored to Their Needs
A new study found that states in New England, the Midwest, and West had a higher prevalence of alcohol use disorder among women, but fewer services that address women’s concerns and common barriers to alcohol treatment.
https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2026/many-states-with-higher-burden-of-alcohol-use-disorder-among-women-have-fewer-treatment-facilities-tailored-to-their-needs/

Liverpool Express (UK) - Alcohol harm is not inevitable. But building on progress means acting together
As Liverpool launches its new Alcohol Strategy, Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, explores how the city can build on recent progress to reduce alcohol-related harm while supporting healthy, vibrant communities.
https://liverpoolexpress.co.uk/blog-alcohol-harm-is-not-inevitable-but-building-on-progress-means-acting-together/

The Klaxon (Australia) - How the global alcohol lobby plays the long game
Big Alcohol is using same playbook as tobacco to thwart public policy, with the endless revolving door underpinning its “complex webs of influence”, reports Professor Peter Miller.
https://theklaxon.com.au/how-the-global-alcohol-lobby-plays-the-long-game/

The Portugal News (Portugal) - Tobacco and alcohol revenue to increase in Portugal
The Government predicts that tax revenues from tobacco and alcoholic beverages could increase by about €166 million in 2026.
https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2026-10-14/tobacco-and-alcohol-revenue-to-increase-in-portugal/1100505

IAS Blog - Completing the evidence jigsaw: how evidence can drive regulation of unhealthy commodities
When we look at some of today’s biggest public health threats (such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer), a substantial proportion of the burden is linked to products sold by unhealthy commodity industries.
https://www.ias.org.uk/2026/10/13/completing-the-evidence-jigsaw-how-evidence-can-drive-regulation-of-unhealthy-commodities/

European Academy of Paediatrics (EU) - Protecting Children from Alcohol-Related Harm: EAP Takes the Conversation to the World Health Summit
On 11 October 2026, the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) and the European Health Alliance on Alcohol (EHAA) are hosting a dedicated side meeting at the World Health Summit in Berlin, bringing together leading European health organisations to address this challenge.
https://eapaediatrics.eu/protecting-children-from-alcohol-related-harm/

The Clinical Perspective (Sweden) - Three ways of detecting hazardous drinking found three different groups of patients
In Swedish primary care records, a questionnaire flagged 26.5% of patients, a blood biomarker 14.6-18.3%, and self-reported weekly drinks 8.5%. Each method found people the other two missed.
https://theclinicalperspective.org/studies/three-ways-of-detecting-hazardous-drinking-found-three.html

Oar Health - How Much Money Do You Save Doing Sober October?
Ask people why they want to do Sober October and they say health. Ask them what they noticed during it and they say money.

In Oar Health's State of Sober October 2026 report, saving money was the benefit past participants noticed most, ahead of every physical and mental change on the list.

https://www.oarhealth.com/alcohol-use-disorder/sober-october/how-much-money-sober-october-saves

RTE.ie (Ireland) - One in six children affected by parents' drinking, report finds
One in six children are living with the damage being caused by their parents drinking, according to a new report.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/1015/1595447-alcohol-impact-report/

NordAN (Sweden) - Alcohol consumption in Sweden continues to decline
Alcohol consumption in Sweden fell by 2.7% in 2025 compared with 2024. Over the past three years, consumption has declined by 8%. These are the final figures presented by the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAN) in its new report, Alcohol Consumption in Sweden 2001–2025.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/alcohol-consumption-in-sweden-continues-to-decline

NordAN - NordAN adopts resolutions on comparable alcohol data and stronger protection of young people
At its General Assembly in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, on 8 October 2026, the Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network (NordAN) adopted two resolutions addressing important challenges for alcohol policy in the Nordic and Baltic region.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/nordan-adopts-resolutions-on-comparable-alcohol-data-and-stronger-protection-of-young-people

Alcohol News - 39/2026

JA PreventNCD (Iceland) - Less alcohol, lower risk: in conversation with Rafn M. Jónsson
Alcohol has been part of social and cultural life across Europe for generations, from celebrations and traditions to everyday social occasions. At the same time, its effects on health are well established. Alcohol is linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, injuries, mental health harms and wider impacts on families and communities.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/interviews/less-alcohol-lower-risk-in-conversation-with-rafn-m-jonsson/

European Commission (EU) - 5% of Europeans consumed alcohol daily in 2025
In 2025, 4.8% of people aged 16 or over in the EU consumed alcohol every day. The share of people who consumed alcohol every week was 19.2%, and 21.8% for those consuming every month.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20260928-1

BBC Science Focus Magazine - How to permanently change your relationship with alcohol in 30 days
Sobriety is becoming cool. Gen Z, in particular, is less likely to drink than generations before them. Drinking rates among US adults under the age of 34 have fallen by 10 percentage points over the last 20 years, from 72 to 62 per cent, according to Gallup polling.
https://www.sciencefocus.com/wellbeing/how-to-permanently-change-your-relationship-with-alcohol-in-30-days-2

VRT (Belgium) - More and more Flemings are drinking alcohol rarely or never
More and more Flemings – around 44 per cent of the adult population -rarely or never drink alcohol. Four years ago, the figure was 36 per cent. The figure comes from a survey of 2,292 Flemings commissioned by the Stand Up to Cancer charity Kom op tegen Kanker.
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2026/10/01/more-and-more-flemings-are-drinking-alcohol-rarely-or-never/

The Conversation (Denmark/UK) - How do Denmark and the UK compare when it comes to alcohol and drinking habits?
For decades, Denmark and the UK have been known as countries where alcohol plays a big role in people’s social lives. In this way, the two countries make an interesting comparison when it comes to alcohol consumption because they both have a strong drinking culture.
https://theconversation.com/how-do-denmark-and-the-uk-compare-when-it-comes-to-alcohol-and-drinking-habits-282400

Wales 247 (Wales) - Major alcohol pricing change comes into force across Wales today
From today (Thursday 1 October) the minimum price of a unit of alcohol will increase in Wales from 50p to 65p in a move which is expected to save hundreds of lives.
https://www.wales247.co.uk/major-alcohol-pricing-change-comes-into-force-across-wales-today

CBC (Canada) - Alcohol is Canada’s biggest drug problem. So why aren’t people getting help?
Jordan Kawchuk didn’t imagine having a roommate at the age of 54, let alone more than a dozen of them. But for six months at the start of 2026, his home was the Vancouver Island Therapeutic Community (VITC), a treatment centre for men in Nanaimo, B.C.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/alcohol-use-disorder-9.7357272

BusinessTech (South Africa) - Ramaphosa announces 90-day plan to fix streetlights, cut alcohol, and increase policing as violence rocks South Africa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a four-point plan in response to the spate of killings and violence against women in the country. It includes a ‘safety audit’ in municipalities and a clampdown on liquor outlets and consumption.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/877524/ramaphosa-announces-90-day-plan-to-fix-streetlights-cut-alcohol-and-increase-policing-as-violence-rocks-south-africa/

WHO (Latvia) - New alcohol policy measures in Latvia produce rapid public health gains
What happens when alcohol becomes a little less easy to buy and consume? Some relatively simple changes to alcohol legislation in Latvia have made a rapid impact, an early WHO study shows.
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/28-09-2026-new-alcohol-policy-measures-in-latvia-produce-rapid-public-health-gains

Scripps News - Even light drinking may harm brain health, new research suggests
New research suggests even light alcohol consumption could negatively affect brain health, challenging the long-held belief that a glass of wine a day may keep dementia away.
https://www.scrippsnews.com/health/even-light-drinking-may-harm-brain-health-new-research-suggests

IAS Blog - Beyond opinion polls: a citizens’ jury’s verdict on alcohol policy
People want to live in thriving communities, where young people can grow up free from pervasive marketing, and policy decisions prioritise our health and wellbeing.
https://www.ias.org.uk/2026/09/29/beyond-opinion-polls-a-citizens-jurys-verdict-on-alcohol-policy/

Alcohol Focus Scotland - In Focus: The Monthly AFS CEO Blog - Why we need an Alcohol Action Day in Scotland
“Delighted”. It’s a word I challenge myself never to use. If you regularly share news on social media, as I do, then you’ll know it’s the adjective we all tend to reach for – but it can’t always be true. If you took my LinkedIn feed literally, you’d believe everyone is wildly thrilled about absolutely everything, all the time.
https://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/news/news/why-we-need-an-alcohol-action-day-in-scotland-/

Zeroproof.one (Belgium) - Belgium's Alcohol Ad Warning Moves From Abuse to Alcohol Itself, and Alcohol-Free Sits Outside It
One word leaves the sentence and the whole argument changes. A reading of the notified Belgian decree, the instrument that carries it, and the 0.5 percent line that decides which shelf it touches.
https://zeroproof.one/blog/belgium-alcohol-advertising-warning-reform-2026/

AACR - Beyond Hangovers: Binge Drinking and the Risk of Early-onset Breast and Colorectal Cancers
Who binge drinks more often: young men or women? Twenty-five years ago, the answer was unquestionably young men—with rates twice as high as young women. But today, rates among young women have caught up to and even slightly surpassed those of young men.
https://www.aacr.org/blog/2026/09/28/beyond-hangovers-binge-drinking-and-the-risk-of-early-onset-breast-and-colorectal-cancers/

Alcohol Focus Scotland - Alcohol advertising puts people at risk of relapse say members of recovery community - New Report
People with lived experience of alcohol harm have called for a new approach to alcohol advertising and marketing, saying that its ubiquity acts as a potential trigger that puts them at risk of relapse.
https://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/news/news/alcohol-advertising-puts-people-at-risk-of-relapse-say-members-of-recovery-community---new/

NordAN (Lithuania) - NordAN submits TRIS contribution on Lithuania’s proposed age restriction for alcohol-branded NoLo drinks
NordAN has submitted a contribution to the European Commission’s Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS) concerning Lithuania’s proposed restrictions on the sale of certain non-alcoholic drinks to minors.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/nordan-submits-tris-contribution-on-lithuania-s-proposed-age-restriction-for-alcohol-branded-nolo-dr

European Heart Network (EU) - World Heart Day is no platform for alcohol industry influence
On 29 September, World Heart Day, MEP Dario Nardella (S&D) will host an event in the European Parliament on the role of wine in health policy debates, organised by the European Committee of Wine Companies (CEEV). European public health organisations consider it wholly inappropriate that an MEP would give the alcohol industry a platform in a health policy debate, particularly on a day dedicated to raising awareness of cardiovascular disease and its prevention.
https://ehnheart.org/news-events/news/press-releases/world-heart-day-is-no-platform-for-alcohol-industry-influence/

NordAN (Finland) - Finnish study links alcohol use to increased prostate cancer risk
A new study from the Finnish Cancer Registry suggests that alcohol consumption may be associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/finnish-study-links-alcohol-use-to-increased-prostate-cancer-risk

NordAN (Denmark) - Most Danes want others to speak up if they are concerned about their drinking
A new Danish survey shows that concern about other people’s drinking is common, but many people still find it difficult to speak openly about alcohol problems.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/most-danes-want-others-to-speak-up-if-they-are-concerned-about-their-drinking

Alcohol News - 38/2026

Forbes (USA) - Hunger Games IRL: 2.1% Of US Alcohol Land Could End Global Starvation
A new study quantifies the public health and food security benefits of repurposing U.S. agricultural land currently used for alcohol production. It explores the potential for saving lives by mitigating alcohol-related harms and by increasing food availability.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshpearce/2026/09/20/hunger-games-irl-21-of-us-alcohol-land-could-end-global-starvation/

Time Magazine (USA) - Why Older Americans Are Drinking More Alcohol—Not Less
The U.S. is in the midst of a temperance boom. Drinking rates have been steadily declining nationwide, with an August Gallup poll showing that only 54% of Americans ever consume alcohol—sharply down from 67% as recently as 2010.
https://time.com/article/2026/09/21/why-older-americans-are-drinking-more-alcohol-not-less/

BBC (UK) - Burnham brands ban on football fans drinking alcohol in stands as 'discrimination'
Andy Burnham has branded a ban on fans being allowed to drink alcohol in the stands during men's football matches as "discrimination".
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c933ky0nknxko

News-Medical - Why wanting alcohol may matter more than liking it
A survey of 446 adults tested whether the urge to drink, expected pleasure, and reasons such as coping or socializing point to distinct patterns of alcohol use and readiness for change.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260921/Why-wanting-alcohol-may-matter-more-than-liking-it.aspx

ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Push for more detailed alcohol labelling, after low uptake of voluntary system
An analysis of labels from 6,037 different alcoholic drinks sold in Australia has found just one in four included a voluntary warning label. The study's lead author says this indicates harms are not being communicated clearly and wants labels to be more specific, warning consumers about the risk of cancer and liver disease.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2026-09-23/alcoholic-drinks-labelling-overhaul-push/107176258

Euronews.com - World Cup fans were exposed to junk food, alcohol and gambling ads every seven seconds
Advertising for junk food, alcohol and gambling during the match live coverage of the World Cup occupied almost a quarter of the tournament’s total live broadcast time, a new study has found.
https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/22/world-cup-fans-were-exposed-to-junk-food-alcohol-and-gambling-ads-every-seven-seconds

DutchNews.nl (Netherlands) - Road safety institute weighing up zero alcohol limit for drivers
The Dutch Road Safety Research Institute has released a new study on reducing the drug and alcohol limit for drivers to zero, finding it would probably decrease road accidents but would increase pressure on the police.
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/09/road-safety-institute-weighing-up-zero-tolerance-for-drivers/

HuffPost - So THAT’s Why Drinking Alcohol Makes You More Tired As You Get Older
You probably don’t need an expert to tell you that alcohol messes with your body, especially when you’re well past your college years. Alcohol can make you more anxious as you age, for example (hello, “hangxiety”) and just generally make you feel worse — including more tired.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-alcohol-makes-you-more-tired-as-you-get-older_l_6a91a55be4b0fc8477ab7b51

ITVX (UK) - Tory welfare plan to block benefit claimants buying cigarettes and alcohol
The Conservative party have announced plans to ban long-term benefit claimants from buying alcohol and cigarettes, gambling and completing cash withdrawals.
https://www.itv.com/news/2026-09-24/tory-welfare-plan-to-block-benefit-claimants-buying-cigarettes-and-alcohol

RTE.ie (Ireland) - Move on alcohol discounts 'modest', says campaign group
A move to stop supermarkets from discounting the price of alcohol through the use of loyalty points has been described as "modest" by Alcohol Action Ireland.
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0924/1592777-ireland-alcohol/

Planet Biometrics (UK) - England and Wales authorise digital proof of age for alcohol purchases
Licensed venues across England and Wales can now accept digital proof of age for alcohol sales following new regulations that came into force on Tuesday, September 15.
https://identityweek.net/england-and-wales-authorise-digital-proof-of-age-for-alcohol-purchases/

Belga Share (Belgium) - Flemish teenagers consume less alcohol and drugs, but some positive trends are weakening
Flemish youth drink less alcohol and use fewer illegal drugs than ten years ago, but the decline in alcohol consumption has plateaued. This was revealed on Thursday in a student survey conducted by the Flemish Expertise Centre on Alcohol and Other Drugs (VAD), which involved nearly 37,000 secondary school pupils in the 2024-2025 school year.
https://belgashare.be/newsrooms/70/press-releases/36823/flemish-teenagers-consume-less-alcohol-and-drugs-but-some-positive-trends-are-weakening/

Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Health minister bans retailers from offering loyalty card prices on alcohol products
The health minister has banned the use of loyalty cards to buy cheaper alcohol from March 2028. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has brought in the ban in an amendment to existing regulations under the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 (Sale and Supply of Alcohol Products) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41914831.html

IAS Blog (UK) - Alcohol-related liver disease deaths remain high. Many die without recent inpatient care
Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) is a major, preventable cause of death. In 2021, it was estimated to cause over 350,000 deaths globally. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, England has seen a worrying rise in deaths caused by alcohol.
https://www.ias.org.uk/2026/09/22/alcohol-related-liver-disease-deaths-remain-high-many-die-without-recent-inpatient-care/

Levels - Alcohol research is clearer than you think—here's what we know
Alcohol epidemiologist Dr. Tim Naimi explains why decades of studies produced whiplashing conclusions, why the "healthy glass of wine" didn't survive scrutiny, and the one message that has stayed consistent.
https://www.levels.com/blog/alcohol-research-explained-tim-naimi

NordAN (Latvia) - WHO: Initial results in Latvia show that restrictions on alcohol availability have helped prevent more than 60 deaths
At a joint meeting of the Drug Control and Drug Addiction Restriction Coordination Council and the National Council for the Restriction of Alcoholism, held at the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, 23 September, the WHO Regional Office for Europe presented an initial assessment of the impact of measures introduced in Latvia to reduce alcohol availability.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/who-initial-results-in-latvia-show-that-restrictions-on-alcohol-availability-have-helped-prevent-mo

NordAN (Finland) - New Finnish report highlights changing youth attitudes to alcohol, nicotine, drugs and gambling
A new Finnish report provides a broad picture of how young people view alcohol, nicotine products, illegal drugs, gambling and substance-free lifestyles. Published by the Finnish prevention organisation EHYT on 22 September, the Youth Culture and Substances Report 2026 brings together the main findings of its latest biennial survey and compares them with results from previous years.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/new-finnish-report-highlights-changing-youth-attitudes-to-alcohol-nicotine-drugs-and-gambling

NordAN (Norway) - Employers fear young people’s cocaine use but overlook drinking pressure at workplace parties
Headlines about cocaine use can create the impression that “all young people” use cocaine. Meanwhile, young people entering the workforce encounter an unhealthy workplace culture that receives far less attention.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/employers-fear-young-people-s-cocaine-use-but-overlook-drinking-pressure-at-workplace-parties

Alcohol News - 37/2026

Alcohol Action Ireland (EU) - EU’s Kids Act: More robust measures needed to stop manipulative digital and social media alcohol marketing to children
Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, welcomes today’s announcement of the EU Kids Act by EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, but cautions more robust safeguards are badly needed to protect children from predatory online marketing practices when it comes to health-harming commodities such as alcohol.
https://alcoholireland.ie/press-release-eus-kids-act-more-robust-measures-needed-to-stop-manipulative-digital-and-social-media-alcohol-marketing-to-children/

GOV.UK (UK) - New rules pave the way for businesses to adopt digital proof of age for alcohol sales
Pubs, bars, restaurants, music venues and other licensed premises across England and Wales will have the choice to introduce digital proof of age for alcohol sales under new rules coming into force today (Tuesday 15 September).
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rules-pave-the-way-for-businesses-to-adopt-digital-proof-of-age-for-alcohol-sales

National Geographic - The Genetics of Being a Lightweight Drinker
It turns out my status as an alcohol lightweight is likely dictated by my genes. Scientists have long known that excessive alcohol consumption has a strong hereditary component.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/alcohol-tolerance-genes-brain

BBC (UK) - Alcohol-related crime up more than 25% in City
The number of incidents of alcohol-related crime went up by more than 25% in Plymouth city centre from 2023 to 2025, a report has said.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0z74egk11o

BBC (France) - Record heatwaves in France set to make champagne stronger
Champagne lovers may find themselves getting tipsy more quickly after French producers have been given the go-ahead to raise the alcohol content in a bottle of bubbly for the first time following this summer's record heatwave.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgydvrlep1o

The American Journal of Managed Care (USA) - Alcohol Abuse Tops List of Post-Trauma Cardiovascular Risks
Adults diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder within 3 years of a traumatic event face a higher risk of a future heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death, with alcohol abuse being the single strongest warning sign for both men and women, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
https://www.ajmc.com/view/alcohol-abuse-tops-list-of-post-trauma-cardiovascular-risks

NewsNation (USA) - Alcohol is the top sacrifice Americans would make for 10 more healthy years
According to a new survey on what Americans would give up for more time on Earth, booze is the first thing to go.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/alcohol-national-geographic-survey/

Poliisi.fi (Finland) - Drink-driving survey: Fewer and fewer people take to the road after consuming alcohol
In 2026 drink-driving roadside surveys, the police breath-tested approximately 63,000 drivers. Long-term follow-up shows that the proportion of drivers who have consumed alcohol has been declining. However, the number of actual drink-driving offences has remained at the level of previous years or increased slightly.
https://poliisi.fi/en/-/drink-driving-survey-fewer-and-fewer-people-take-to-the-road-after-consuming-alcohol

Movendi International - When Alcohol Looks Like a Toy: Why Marketing Familiarity Is a Public Health Issue
Alcohol products with bright colours, sweet flavours and novelty packaging are becoming familiar to children long before they can legally buy them.
https://movendi.ngo/blog/2026/09/17/why-marketing-familiarity-is-a-public-health-issue/

FARE Australia - ‘A turning point’: South Australia first in the nation to deliver landmark alcohol laws
South Australia has become the first state in the nation to pass landmark alcohol delivery reforms, including commonsense safeguards that will help make women and children safer in their homes.
https://fare.org.au/south-australia-alcohol-delivery-law/

Cancer Council (Australia) - Cancer Council Australia backs push for mandatory alcohol advertising laws
Cancer Council Australia has welcomed recommendations from a federal parliamentary committee calling for stricter regulation of alcohol advertising and marketing in Australia.
https://www.cancer.org.au/about-us/news-and-media/media-releases/cancer-council-australia-backs-push-for-mandatory-alcohol-advertising-laws

NordAN (Lithuania) - Lithuania moves to restrict alcohol-free beer and wine sales to minors
Lithuania is moving towards banning the sale of certain non-alcoholic drinks, including alcohol-free beer and wine, to people under the age of 18.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/lithuania-moves-to-restrict-alcohol-free-beer-and-wine-sales-to-minors

Alcohol Awareness - The Saboteurs campaign shows what gets in the way of healthier choices
Why can healthier choices be so difficult, even when people know what is good for them? A new campaign from JA PreventNCD, called The Saboteurs, turns that question into a deliberately humorous concept. The campaign presents the environments around us as a group of “saboteurs” that quietly influence what we eat and drink, how active we are, and whether we use tobacco and nicotine products. Its central point is that individual behaviour does not happen in isolation.
https://alcoholcampaign.org/2026/09/15/the-saboteurs-campaign-shows-what-gets-in-the-way-of-healthier-choices/

Alcohol News - 36/2026

Psychology Today - Do We All Need to Start Saying No to Alcohol? 
A major new study from Sinead George of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health finds no net health benefit from low-level alcohol consumption and estimates a 1 in 25 lifetime risk of alcohol-attributable death among people consuming 14 drinks per week.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/addiction-outlook/202606/do-we-all-need-to-start-saying-no-to-alcohol/amp

France 24 (France) - France’s record heatwave pushes champagne alcohol levels to historic high
France’s record-breaking summer heat has forced champagne producers to contend with unusually high sugar levels in grapes, forcing authorities to allow alcohol content of up to 15 percent in the region’s sparkling wine for the first time. Champagne is usually capped at 13 percent.
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260909-france-s-record-heatwave-pushes-champagne-alcohol-levels-to-historic-high

TimesLIVE (South Africa) - Calls for higher alcohol taxes to help prevent foetal alcohol syndrome
Increasing liquor excise duties is one of most cost-effective public health measures available to reduce harmful drinking, says doctor.
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-09-09-calls-for-higher-alcohol-taxes-to-help-prevent-foetal-alcohol-syndrome/

Movendi International - Preventing FASD Is Possible and a Human Rights Priority but Big Alcohol Stands in the Way of Governments Protecting Children
Children have a right to be protected from predictable and preventable harms, yet tens of millions of people live with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, a condition governments already have the tools to prevent.
https://movendi.ngo/blog/2026/09/09/preventing-fasd-is-possible-and-a-human-rights-priority-but-big-alcohol-stands-in-the-way-of-governments-protecting-children/

The Brussels Times (Belgium) - Belgium is changing how alcohol is marketed - will it change drinking habits?
The new rules will restrict alcohol advertising in media where at least 30% of the audience is under 18, as well as advertising by influencers primarily followed by minors, and require alcohol advertisements to carry the warning “alcohol harms health.”
https://www.brusselstimes.com/2306891/belgium-is-changing-how-alcohol-is-marketed-will-it-change-drinking-habits

The Citizen (South Africa) - Government moves to enforce zero alcohol limit for drivers
GOVERNMENT is moving to tighten restrictions on driving under the influence of alcohol. This as the Department of Transport (DoT) continues to pursue legislative amendments to the National Road Traffic Act to implement a strict zero per cent blood alcohol policy.
https://www.citizen.co.za/zululand-observer/news-headlines/local-news/2026/09/07/government-moves-to-enforce-zero-alcohol-limit-for-drivers/

Alcohol Change - 100 Days Your Way: The gap between what we expect alcohol to do and what it actually does
Most of us have built up a set of beliefs about what alcohol does for us over many years. “It helps me relax”. “It makes social situations easier”. “It takes the edge off a hard day”. These beliefs feel personal and true. But a lot of research has looked at how accurate they actually are, and the findings are often surprising.
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/blog/100-days-your-way-stage-7-2

MedicalXpress - Caregivers for people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder report increased stress and relational strengths
Caregivers of people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) identified stress levels and emotional health as the factors most negatively affected by their caregiving role.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-caregivers-people-fetal-alcohol-spectrum.html

MedicalXpress - AI helps clarify complex array and interaction of risk factors contributing to alcohol use disorder
Explainable AI (xAI) models are illuminating the multiple risk factors that underlie the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to a new study.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-ai-complex-array-interaction-factors.html

Cancer Network (USA) - Alcohol-Attributable Cancer Mortality Has Doubled in the US Since 1990
Alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in the United States doubled from 11,361 in 1990 to 23,126 in 2023, according to a secondary analysis of Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas.
https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/alcohol-attributable-cancer-mortality-has-doubled-in-the-us-since-1990

NordAN (Lithuania) - Lithuania strengthens its response to FASD
Klaipėda University Hospital is strengthening efforts to improve the recognition of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in Lithuania through the international FASD-Bridge project, implemented with partners from Germany and Poland.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/lithuania-strengthens-its-response-to-fasd

Alcohol Awareness (Denmark) - Few people know it: Alcohol increases the risk of cancer
Only 28% of Danish adults are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer, according to new figures from the Danish Cancer Society.
https://alcoholcampaign.org/2026/09/07/few-people-know-it-alcohol-increases-the-risk-of-cancer/

Alcohol Awareness (Norway) - A sold-out Norwegian youth festival puts music first and alcohol out of the Picture
Young people in the Norwegian city of Ålesund have their own two-day music festival this weekend. Spirefest 26, taking place on 4 and 5 September at Terminalen Byscene, is sold out, with organisers saying demand was so strong that tickets disappeared in record time.
https://alcoholcampaign.org/2026/09/05/a-sold-out-norwegian-youth-festival-puts-music-first-and-alcohol-out-of-the-picture/

Alcohol News - 35/2026

University of Queensland (Australia) - Women bear the brunt of alcohol-related fear
Women are nearly three quarters more likely than men to experience fear because of other people’s alcohol consumption, University of Queensland research has found.
https://news.uq.edu.au/2026-09-women-bear-brunt-alcohol-related-fear

CNN - Just one drink a day may increase the risk of dying from numerous cancers
Alcohol may play a greater role in death from numerous types of cancers in the United States than previously known, according to a new study. “While it’s true that overall cancer mortality has declined, we found the percentage of cancer deaths proportionally attributable to alcohol doubled in people 20 and older over the last 33 years,” said the study’s first author Dr. Chinmay Jani.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/03/health/alcohol-impact-cancer-deaths-wellness

The Conversation - Zero‑alcohol drinks are rising in popularity. What do young people think about them?
Over the past decade, zero-alcohol drinks have gone from a relatively niche product to a staple of our supermarket aisles, bottle stores and pubs.
https://theconversation.com/zero-alcohol-drinks-are-rising-in-popularity-what-do-young-people-think-about-them-289471

Le Monde.fr (Belgium) - Belgian brewers battle government's new alcohol-prevention slogan
As part of a package of public health measures, the Belgian government plans to require alcohol advertisements to carry the warning 'Alcohol is harmful to health.' The decision has sparked fierce opposition from brewers and the hospitality sector and created divisions within the ruling coalition.
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/09/03/in-belgium-brewers-battle-government-s-new-alcohol-prevention-slogan_6757106_4.html

Biometric Update (UK) - ‘Policy intention is becoming much clearer’ on digital ID for UK alcohol sales
New guidance clarifies how certified digital IDs can be used for alcohol sales, while Europe continues to move ahead on digital age verification
https://www.biometricupdate.com/202609/policy-intention-is-becoming-much-clearer-on-digital-id-for-uk-alcohol-sales

News-Medical - Alcohol-related liver cancer deaths were falling. Then the trend reversed during the COVID-19 pandemic
In a recent study published in the journal npj Science of Food, researchers used data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study to investigate global, regional, and national trends in alcohol-attributable mortality from four specific conditions (1990 to 2023).
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260901/Alcohol-related-liver-cancer-deaths-were-falling-Then-the-trend-reversed-during-the-COVID-19-pandemic.aspx

Nova News (South Africa) - Government pushes for zero percent alcohol limit for drivers
South Africa is moving towards a strict zero percent blood alcohol policy for drivers as part of efforts to reduce road deaths and injuries.
https://novanews.co.za/government-pushes-for-zero-percent-alcohol-limit-for-drivers/

Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine - Marshall University research identifies lasting brain changes associated with adolescent binge alcohol exposure
New research from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine provides insight into how binge alcohol exposure during adolescence may cause lasting changes in brain function that persist into adulthood, potentially identifying a new target for future treatment approaches.
https://jcesom.marshall.edu/news/musom-news/marshall-university-research-identifies-lasting-brain-changes-associated-with-adolescent-binge-alcohol-exposure/

Total Croatia (Croatia) - Varaždin to Ban Sale of Alcohol in Shops After 22:00
The continental Croatian city of Varaždin is set to become to first continental city to introduce a ban on the sale of alcohol in shops and kiosks after 22:00.
https://total-croatia-news.com/news/varazdin-ban-alcohol/

PsyPost - Brain waves reveal how alcohol cues hijack decision-making in addiction
People with alcohol use disorder experience automatic emotional reactions to alcohol-related images that disrupt their basic decision-making processes.
https://www.psypost.org/brain-waves-reveal-how-alcohol-cues-hijack-decision-making-in-addiction/

Vital Strategies - Alcohol Is Too Cheap, and It’s Costing Lives and Tax Revenue
New report finds alcohol prices are abysmally low almost everywhere, and alcohol taxes mostly fail to realize their full public health and revenue potential.
https://www.vitalstrategies.org/alcohol-is-too-cheap-and-its-costing-lives-and-tax-revenue/

Voice of Nigeria (Nigeria) - Nigeria Launches New Alcohol Policy, Tightens Product Regulation
The Nigerian Government has launched a new national alcohol policy that introduces stronger measures to reduce alcohol-related health and social harms and tighten regulation of alcohol products.
https://von.gov.ng/nigeria-launches-new-alcohol-policy-tightens-product-regulation/

IAS blog - Beyond national statistics: understanding alcohol harm and recovery in homelessness
With homelessness back in the spotlight following Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s pledge to end rough sleeping in England, an important question remains: do we fully understand the scale and nature of alcohol-related harms experienced by people without a stable place to live?
https://www.ias.org.uk/2026/09/01/beyond-national-statistics-understanding-alcohol-harm-and-recovery-in-homelessness/

Public Health Scotland (Scotland) - Alcohol's hidden impact on health in Scotland
The Alcohol Consumption and Harms dashboard provides a detailed picture across all alcohol-related harms and the impact that they have on Scotland’s health.
https://publichealthscotland.scot/our-blog/2026/september/alcohols-hidden-impact-on-health-in-scotland/

SDU (Denmark) - Parents’ attitudes towards alcohol strongly influence young people’s drinking
Young people whose parents see drunkenness as a natural part of being young drink more than twice as much alcohol as other young people, according to a new report.
https://www.sdu.dk/en/sif/ugens_tal/ut_36_foraeldres_holdninger_til_alkohol_har_stor_betydning_for_unges_alkoholforbrug

NordAN (Greenland/Iceland) - Greenland looks to Icelandic prevention experience as it develops long-term alcohol policy
Greenland’s Minister for Health and Persons with Disabilities, Anna Wangenheim, visited Icelandic prevention organisation FRÆ on 24 August as part of a visit to Iceland connected with a meeting of Nordic health ministers.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/greenland-looks-to-icelandic-prevention-experience-as-it-develops-long-term-alcohol-policy

NordAN (Norway) - Norway considers expanding farm sales of alcohol amid EEA concerns
Norway is considering a significant expansion of direct alcohol sales from producers, a move that Actis warns could weaken Vinmonopolet and raise questions about whether the Norwegian alcohol retail system remains compatible with EEA rules.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/norway-considers-expanding-farm-sales-of-alcohol-amid-eea-concerns

NordAN (Finland) - Finland’s largest substance use prevention NGO says its entire operation is at risk
EHYT Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention has announced restructuring negotiations covering its entire workforce, warning that anticipated cuts to government funding could threaten the organisation’s continued existence.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/finland-s-largest-substance-use-prevention-ngo-says-its-entire-operation-is-at-risk

Alcohol Awareness (Estonia) - Estonia launches “No Alcohol in September” campaign
Estonia’s National Institute for Health Development (TAI) and the Estonian Health Insurance Fund are once again inviting people to take part in the “No Alcohol in September” campaign and spend one month without alcohol.
https://alcoholcampaign.org/2026/09/03/estonia-launches-no-alcohol-in-september-campaign/