Alcohol News - 51/2024

The Lancet Regional Health – Europe - Confronting alcohol’s costly toll: why the European region needs clearer, evidence-based policy
Despite decades of research on alcohol’s harms, the reality remains striking: the health risks of alcohol are largely misunderstood or downplayed, both in the policy arena and by the public.
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University of Chicago News - What’s the truth about alcohol’s benefits and risks? with Tim Stockwell
We have long heard the claims that a glass of red wine is good for your heart, but it turns out that the research that fueled this wisdom was actually skewed.
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News-Medical - Understanding the mechanisms behind alcohol-associated liver disease
A newly published review in eGastroenterology compiles recent research on alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), offering an overview of its pathogenesis and efforts to better understand this condition.
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The Conversation (South Africa) - South Africa wants to make alcohol more expensive. Why it’s a good idea – health economist
South Africa’s National Treasury has proposed raising excise taxes to curb excessive drinking in the country. According to a 2018 World Health Organization report, 60% of South African drinkers aged 15 and older engage in heavy episodic drinking.
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BBC (England) - Deaths from alcohol at record high in England
There has been "a catastrophic rise" in deaths caused solely by alcohol in England over the past four years, government figures suggest.
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RNZ (New Zealand) - Gen Z drinking alcohol less, or not at all
A trend away from alcohol for Gen Z is being replicated here in New Zealand, according to a local industry body.
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The Guardian (Sweden) - The Swedish sobriety secret: dry December – and off-licences shut on a Saturday night
For decades, the authorities in Sweden have encouraged people to drink responsibly – and with a state alcohol monopoly, strict rules and growing abstinence, they seem to be succeeding
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Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (Ireland) - It’s time for action to tackle dangerous effects of alcohol, says Donnelly.
Alliance Health Spokesperson, Danny Donnelly MLA, was speaking following the publication of alcohol-specific deaths in Northern Ireland which revealed that deaths caused by alcohol has risen by 65 per cent in the last 10 years, stating it’s time we took action to tackle the harmful effects of alcohol and save lives.
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Medical Xpress - Alcohol, adolescents and parental perceptions
New research led by Flinders University is expanding the understanding of parents' attitudes towards supplying alcohol to their underage children.
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Alcohol Change Australia - New data highlights the need for prompt action on alcohol in Australia.
New data out this week from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reveals that alcohol use remains a leading risk factor contributing to the burden of disease in Australia, motivating Alcohol Change Australia to continue to call for prompt government action to reduce alcohol-related harm for all Australians.
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IAS Blog - Beyond the ‘Wine Mum’: Understanding Midlife Women’s Drinking
Alcohol use among midlife women (late 30s to 50s) has received increased attention in research recently. Alongside this, popular representations of “wine mums” – stressed caregivers who turn to wine for relief – have grown.
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IAS Blog - New alcohol mortality data presents a bleak picture for England
New figures, published by the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) as part of their Local Alcohol Profiles for England, show that England set another unwanted record in 2023, with the highest number of alcohol-specific deaths on record.
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NordAN (Norway) - Half of Oslo residents agree: Too much alcohol is consumed around children during Christmas
A new survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Av-og-til reveals that 50% of Oslo residents believe too much alcohol is consumed during Christmas when children are present.
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NordAN (Estonia) - Estonia sets new goals with "Alcohol use reduction directions 2025–2035"
The Ministry of Social Affairs has released the draft strategy Alcohol use reduction directions 2025–2035 for public discussion before it proceeds for final approval by the government.
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Alcohol and Cancer  - New research explores population-level alcohol consumption and cancer mortality
The link between alcohol and cancer is well-established, with a growing body of evidence cementing alcohol's role as a significant risk factor for an array of cancer types.
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Alcohol Awareness (Estonia) - Breaking the silence: addressing alcohol-fueled family violence during the holidays
The Estonian Police and Border Guard’s new campaign addresses a deeply concerning issue that resurfaces with greater intensity during the festive season: family violence. Alcohol consumption, often amplified during holiday celebrations, is identified as a major factor fueling these incidents.
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Alcohol News - 49/2024

NordAN (Denmark) - A call for change in Denmark's alcohol culture: Lægeforeningen’s proposals for a healthier future
Denmark's drinking culture has long been a topic of concern, and Lægeforeningen (the Danish Medical Association) is urging a national conversation and decisive actions to address the significant role alcohol plays in the lives of Danes of all ages.
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ERR (Estonia) - Growing alcohol consumption among women worrying health promoters
According to statistics, each adult consumes an average of 11 liters of pure alcohol per year. This equates to half a liter of vodka or two and a half bottles of wine per week.
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ERR (Estonia) - Additional alcohol excise tax hike canceled for next year
The Riigikogu Finance Committee has decided that the additional increase in alcohol excise duty planned for next year will not take place.
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Ohio State News - ‘I don’t feel your pain’: How alcohol increases aggression
Alcohol’s ability to increase people’s pain threshold is one reason that drinking also leads to more aggressive behavior, a new study suggests.
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Sky News - Netherlands: Strong alcohol banned for elderly residents in seniors home
An organisation in the Netherlands has decided that strong alcohol and spirits should not be allowed in a home for senior residents for health reasons.
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Psychology Today (Australia) - Gambling and Alcohol Use in Australian Youths
Gambling and alcohol consumption are prevalent behaviours among Australian youths and young adults, often leading to various social and health-related harms.
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STV News (Scotland) - Calls to restore funding in Budget to tackle alcohol-related problems
An organisation that works to reduce alcohol-related harm has called for funding to be restored in the upcoming Scottish Budget.
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EASL (EU) - Alcohol Labelling: Why Are Citizens Denied the Right to Know?
Tuesday 3 December 2024, will mark the launch event of the European Awareness Week on Alcohol Related Harm (AWARH), hosted by Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, former European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.
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Eurocare - Eurocare at CCFL48: Paving the Way for Global Progress on Alcohol Labelling
As the only NGO with observer status at Codex dedicated to prevent alcohol-related harm, Eurocare attended the CCFL48 in-person, to ensure public health interests were represented during discussions on alcohol labelling.
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IAS Blog - “Outta sight, outta mind?”. What do the public and professional stakeholders think about alcohol policy?
Alcohol policies are important for reducing the negative effects of alcohol. The World Health Organisation recommends that countries take steps to control how alcohol is priced, advertised and sold.
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IAS (UK) - Alcohol-specific deaths in England rise by 4.6% in 2023
Deaths from conditions wholly attributable to alcohol have increased by 4.6% from 2022 to 2023, reaching the highest number for the fourth year in a row.
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Alcohol Action Ireland - Who cares about cancer when there’s profit to be made? Certainly not the alcohol industry
With political parties about to start the horse trading to form the next coalition, during what is EU Alcohol Harm Awareness Week, Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) is calling on the next government to take a public health approach to interactions with health-harming industries especially the alcohol industry which produces, markets and sells a product that is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions.
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NordAN (Sweden) - Sweden: Young people drink less – but spirits dominate when they do drink
Young people are consuming less alcohol overall, but spirits remain the most popular choice for those who do drink.
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Alcohol and Cancer (Spain) - 2024 cancer prevention recommendations in Spain: spotlight on alcohol
The "Recomendaciones de prevención del cáncer. Actualización 2024" provides an essential update on strategies for reducing cancer risk through evidence-based recommendations.
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Alcohol Awareness (Norway) – The Third Glass
Av-og-til’s latest campaign, “The Third Glass,” delivers a powerful message about how alcohol consumption affects children during the holiday season. Narrated by Norwegian singer Maria Mena, this three-part Christmas story offers perspectives from a mother, her child, and the grandmother during “Kvelden før Kvelden,” Norway’s traditional family gathering the night before Christmas Eve.
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Alcohol News - 48/2024

ERR News (Estonia) - Estonia's health minister wants to tie alcohol excise duty to inflation
According to Minister of Health Riina Sikkut (SDE), the specific model for calculating alcohol excise duty based on inflation is still under consideration and will be included in the ministry's forthcoming alcohol strategy.
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EuroHealthNet Magazine (France) - Alcohol advertising in France: How big investments fuel youth exposure
Why are French youth still seeing so many alcohol ads, despite strict laws? Passed in 1991, the Évin Law was supposed to shield young people from alcohol marketing, banning ads from TV, youth media, and any attempt to make drinking look glamorous.
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The Conversation - The rise of ‘sober curiosity:’ Why Gen Zers are reducing their alcohol consumption
Generation Z is leading a significant shift in drinking habits. In fact, compared to preceding generations, Generation Z may be the soberest generation yet.
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Auckland Council (Australia) - Auckland’s new alcohol rules coming soon
From 9 December, off-licences such as bottle shops, supermarkets and other shops that sell alcohol to take away, will no longer be able to sell alcohol after 9pm in a change introduced under Auckland’s new local alcohol policy.
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Annenberg Public Policy Center (USA) - Most Don’t Know That Alcohol Raises Cancer Risk
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that you can “lower your risk for cancer by drinking less alcohol or not drinking at all,” Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) data show that less than half of Americans know that regularly drinking alcohol increases the risk of later developing cancer.
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The Conversation - Researchers of tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed foods face threats and intimidation – new study
Cancer, heart disease, chronic respiratory conditions, diabetes and stroke now account for nearly three-quarters of all deaths globally. Investigating the causes of these diseases has never been more crucial for public health.
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News-Medical - Alcohol use found to be major factor in cannabis vaping among youth and young adults
Alcohol use was the most common predictor of escalating cannabis vaping among youth and young adults, independent of demographic factors, according to research by UTHealth Houston published this month in the journal Social Science & Medicine.
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RNZ (New Zealand) - Alcohol to your door with no ID required: researchers call for law change
Alcohol sales laws need an overhaul, researchers say, after finding 73 percent of door-to-door booze deliveries happen with zero identification checks and almost half the alcohol is left unattended at the door.
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Institut de la statistique du Québec (Canada) - Fewer high school students consume drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, sugary drinks and junk food
The proportion of students who consumed alcohol in the 12 months preceding the survey declined from 60% in 2010–2011 to 47% in 2022–2023. The proportion of students who consumed alcohol excessively in the 12 months preceding the survey also dropped, from 41% in 2010–2011 to 29% in 2022–2023.
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Wiley Analytical Science - Study links alcohol use disorder to Alzheimer’s progression through shared gene expression changes
The research revealed molecular pathways that may underlie the impact of alcohol use on Alzheimer's progression, offering insights for potential preventative and therapeutic strategies
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The Mail & Guardian (South Africa) - Treasury proposes minimum pricing for alcohol to curb harmful drinking
The treasury has proposed setting a minimum price for alcoholic beverages to reduce harmful consumption which is a drain on the country’s health resources.
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IAS (UK) - Cuts and freezes to alcohol duty will cost the Treasury £28.6 billion by 2030
In our latest Budget Analysis, we found that cuts and freezes to alcohol duty since 2013 will cost the government over £28.6 billion by 2030.
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Balance (UK) - Balance calls for conversation about alcohol industry targeting as BBC Panorama explores rising liver deaths among young women
Balance and former dependent drinker Karen Slater today added their voices to mounting concerns about rising numbers of women dying from alcohol-related causes – and highlight the role of relentless alcohol marketing towards women.
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Alcohol Action Ireland - Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan: How Big Alcohol lobbying diluted a historic public health breakthrough
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, and the following BECA report in the European Parliament were initially groundbreaking initiatives on European alcohol policy. For the first time, a clear encompassing mandate had been given to prioritise health policy and to adopt EU legislation to prevent alcohol consumption as a key cancer risk factor.
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YLE (Finland) - Finland's new dietary guidelines — Less meat and booze, more veg and berries
The Finnish Food Authority published a set of national nutritional guidelines on Wednesday, advising people to eat less meat, more vegetables and to cut down on the consumption of coffee and alcohol.
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Alcohol Awareness (Norway) - Brewed for Thought
Akan kompetansesenter has launched an innovative campaign to spark conversations about workplace drinking culture. Nearly 250 leaders across Norway recently received a sixpack of alcohol-free beer, each bottle displaying striking statistics about alcohol use—a unique take on “alcohol percentage.”
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Alcohol News - 47/2024

The BMJ - Conflicts of interest: moving towards zero tolerance
Harmful industries still exert their influence over health professionals, academia, and health systems; robust change is required, write Chris van Tulleken, Nigel Rollins, and Rebecca Coombes
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NordAN - NordAN General Assembly adopts resolution to protect Nordic alcohol control policy
At the 2024 NordAN General Assembly in Oslo on November 7, a second resolution was adopted, building on a prior call for transparency and accountability in global alcohol policy.
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World Health Organization (WHO) - A life lived in full: Denise’s freedom from alcohol translates into enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures
“On a recent holiday, I woke up really early, went to the ocean and had a swim at an empty beach. It was so beautiful, so freeing. Maybe that would’ve been different if I’d had a few alcoholic drinks the night before,” Denise reflects.
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World Health Organization (WHO) - Shaping the future of alcohol screening and brief interventions at INEBRIA 2024
WHO/Europe is leveraging its expertise to highlight the potential of screening and brief interventions (SBI) for alcohol use in different settings at the 20th INEBRIA conference, taking place in Barcelona, Spain, on 21–22 November 2024.
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Sur in English (Spain) - New study reveals alcohol drinking habits of the Spanish population
The frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages is a habit that is harmful to health, yet it is regarded as a normal habit among the Spanish, and it is also widespread, affecting all social and age groups in high proportions.
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PsyPost - High school IQ predicts alcohol use patterns in midlife, study finds
A recent study published in Alcohol and Alcoholism reveals a surprising link between intelligence in adolescence and drinking habits later in life.
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Medical Xpress (USA) - Alcohol-related deaths in the US more than double from 1999 to 2020, overall trends reveals
In the United States and globally, alcohol consumption is a major cause of preventable death and disability and increases liver disease, mental health disorders and accidents.
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Cancer Council (Australia) - Concerning new data shows three in four Australian adults are misled by health-related claims on alcohol labels
New research from Cancer Council Victoria’s Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer shows three in four Australian adults (75%) misunderstood at least one health-related claim on an alcohol product, incorrectly believing that it meant the product was better for them.
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Medical Xpress (USA) - National survey shows millions of Americans hurt by others' drinking, drug use
The risks of alcohol and other drug consumption to the user are well known, but many Americans—nearly 160 million—say they've been harmed by someone else's substance use, according to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
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Mental Health Commission of Canada (Canada) - How Alcohol and Suicide are connected – A Fact Sheet
The MHCC partnered with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) to examine what is currently known about the relationship between alcohol use and suicide, who is most affected, and how to effectively reduce risk.
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NordAN (Norway) - Launch of a new support tool: "Alkoholpraten.no"
One in three Norwegians has been concerned about the drinking habits of someone close to them. A new tool aims to help Norwegians start a conversation about alcohol.
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Alcohol and Cancer - Alcohol use contributes significantly to global liver cancer burden, study finds
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology has highlighted the substantial public health challenge posed by liver cancer attributable to alcohol use (LCAL) and hepatitis B (LCHB).
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Alcohol and Cancer - OECD report: Lifestyle choices driving preventable cancer deaths in Europe
The OECD and European Commission’s Health at a Glance: Europe 2024 report highlights a significant health crisis in the European Union, where preventable lifestyle factors play a substantial role in cancer-related deaths.
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NordAN (Sweden) - CAN report: The more alcohol – the more nicotine
The new report Self-reported alcohol habits in Sweden 2004–2023 reveals that nicotine use is nearly twice as common among those who consume alcohol compared to those who do not.
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FARE Australia (Australia) - Launch of new health campaign ‘Be Nice to Brain’ in Tasmania
The Foundation of Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), in partnership with the Tasmanian Government, has launched a new digital campaign highlighting the link between alcohol and mental health.
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FASD News - 46/2024

Saltwire (Canada) - GRANT FROST: Time for a task force on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
What condition affects one out of every 25 people in Nova Scotia? Which developmental disability has a higher incidence rate in our province than autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy combined?
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University of Bristol (UK) - UK’s hidden disability: new codes to help thousands with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
People living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) — one of the most common yet under-recorded neurodevelopmental conditions worldwide — can now have the condition accurately recorded in their medical records thanks to new clinical codes.
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MedicalNewsToday - Can doctors detect fetal alcohol syndrome on ultrasound?
Despite fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) developing in fetuses, doctors cannot reliably use ultrasound to diagnose the condition. Diagnosis only occurs after birth.
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MedicalNewsToday - How do babies with fetal alcohol syndrome cry?
Babies with fetal alcohol syndrome do not appear to cry in a specific way. They can be irritable or jittery, but the most noticeable sign of the condition will be the shape of the baby’s face.
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Todayville (Canada) - Red Deer RCMP recognized for work with young offenders with FASD
Members of the Red Deer RCMP’s Community Policing unit were honoured with the Central Alberta FASD Network’s 2021 FASD Champion Award last month.
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DESTINATION FOR TEENS - What Happens When Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Become Adults?
When delving into the realm of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), it is crucial to grasp the fundamental aspects that define this condition, including its causes, risk factors, and prevalence in children.
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VIDEOS and MATERIALS
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Stories of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – Diagnosis
A series of stories and recommendations from individuals and families about their experience obtaining diagnoses of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Stories of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – Support and Care
They also underscore the complexity of FASDs as lifelong conditions and call for accommodations, empathy, education, respect, and partnership in healthcare settings.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Lived Experiences with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Rebecca
Rebecca struggled with health & academic issues due to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which is linked to exposure to alcohol before birth. It wasn't until her mother read a pamphlet on FASDs that Rebecca pursued a diagnosis, which she finally received at 34.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Stories of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – Celebration and Resilience
Together, these stories highlight the importance of recognizing and building upon individual strengths, offer encouragement, and underscore the value of supportive communities.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Stories of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – Stigma
They highlight the challenges of living with an "invisible disability", the importance of compassionate care, and experiences of internalized stigma.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Lived Experiences with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Patima and Rachel
Patima and her mother, Rachel, share their challenges getting a diagnosis of a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) for Patima due to lack of visible symptoms and medical history.
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HNY Health and Care Partnership - Raising awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder FASD
As part of Baby Week, Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership hosted a webinar to raise awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - FASD & Addictions: a Candid Conversation with Shannon Butt
My Candid Conversation this week is a replay of my talk with Shannon Butt, one of the members of the Adult Leadership Collaborative (ALC) of the FASD Changemakers. As a member of the ALC, Shannon shares her story in the hopes of educating and encouraging others whose lives have been impacted by prenatal exposure to alcohol.
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CAMH Professionals Videos - What we know about FASD: Prevention, Treatment and Support
Nancy Poole, Prevention Lead, CANFASD network explains how to talk to families about FASD and about FASD prevention.
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Health Nexus Santé - Red Shoes Rock Ottawa - Health Nexus FASD Awareness Day 2024
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FASD Hub Scotland and FASD Hub UK - Young People FASD conference
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Interwoven Connections - Siblings of young people with FASD : What do siblings need?
In this video Dr. Maude Champagne discusses how we can better support the siblings of children with FASD, within our home and the unique challenges faced as a family, with practical techniques.
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Neurodivergence Wales - Prof. Raja Mukherjee – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): An Overview
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FASD Hub Scotland and FASD Hub UK - Wednesday Webinar with Jacquie Pei
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Alcohol Healthwatch - Anna Gundesen, FASD-CAN Navigator | Developing our Voices: FASD-CAN Individuals Development Program
Presented at the FASD Symposium, 25th and 26th September 2024, in Auckland, New Zealand
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Lakeland Centre for FASD - I've Hired Someone with FASD, Now What
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Justice For Orphans - Ep. 453 - FASD & Addictive Behaviors w/ Dr. Jerrod Brown
This week we welcome back returning guest, Dr. Jerrod Brown. Dr. Brown is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses.
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Golden Oldie Shower Records - METH the Musical: F.A.S.D
From the hit musical "METH". F.A.S.D is the breakout performance of Cynthia Foogsworth. Cynthia is praised for her commitment to her role in the musical, specifically giving birth live on stage during every performance. "METH" was performed over 15 years, with only 10 shows total.
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Lisa Butcher - Let’s Start a Conversation - Original Song by Lisa Butcher
This song was created to raise awareness of the lifelong disability Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Many young people in the justice system have undiagnosed FASD and/or other neurodisabilities.
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RESEARCH
Alcohol - Single essential oils and their binary mixtures protect against ethanol-induced defects in a zebrafish fetal alcohol spectrum disorder model at the same level as folic acid
This study evaluated protective effects of clove (SEO), thyme white (TEO), oregano (OEO), and caraway (CEO) essential oils (EOs), and their binary mixtures, in a zebrafish fetal alcohol spectrum disorder model.
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Pedagogy in Health Promotion - Delivering Education Through a Podcast to Change Provider Practice: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Podcast
Education delivered through podcasts can be effective in improving provider knowledge and self-efficacy and in promoting practice change. Podcasts offer broad reach and accessibility providing an opportunity to educate on topics including FASD.
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helda.helsinki.fi - Early environmental effects on the placental epigenome and gene expression, and newborns’ phenotype : Focusing on prenatal alcohol exposure and Assisted Reproductive Technology
To clarify the etiology of adverse health outcomes mediated by the prenatal environment, this thesis focused on two prevalent and socially significant, but rather distinct environmental factors, prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and assisted reproductive technology (ART).
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Bratislavske lekarske listy - Risk factors for self-reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy
In accordance with certain European data, the best means of protection against alcohol consumption during pregnancy include complete abstinence prior to conception, pregnancy planning, and high-quality education regarding the negative effects of alcohol during pregnancy (Tab. 4, Ref. 19).
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Rivista do psichiatria - Italian Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: structural abnormalities
Timely diagnosis and intervention are crucial as they can significantly enhance outcomes through appropriate support and management strategies. Increasing awareness among citizens about the detrimental effects of alcohol use disorders on newborn health is of utmost importance.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Prenatal alcohol exposure and health at midlife: Self-reported health outcomes in two cohorts
Patients affected by alcohol may report greater frequency and range of health adversity. That PAE was only uniquely associated with a limited set of problems suggests that many health outcomes in midlife result from an initial vulnerability potentiated by postnatal stress resulting from other associated factors.
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IBRO Neuroscience Reports - Transgenerational of Oxidative Damage Induced by Prenatal Ethanol Exposure on Spatial Learning/Memory and BDNF in the of Male Rats
The findings underscore the role of OS in developmental and behavioral issues in FASD rat models and suggest that lasting transgenerational effects in the second generation may stem from alcohol-induced changes.
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PrePrints - What Do We Know About Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Nigeria?
Despite limited empirical evidence, anecdotal reports suggest that alcohol consumption during pregnancy is not uncommon in Nigeria, driven by factors such as social norms, lack of awareness, and limited access to prenatal care and education.
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Alcohol, clinical & Experimental Research - Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and child development: Role of ADH1B and ALDH2 gene polymorphisms-The Yamanashi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study
Our results suggest that alcohol consumption by pregnant females carrying the deficient variant ALDH2*2 genotype may increase the risk of developmental delay in their offspring.
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Archives of Women's Mental Health - Severe alcohol withdrawal during pregnancy or early postpartum: maternal and fetal outcomes
The findings highlight the severe implications of AWS during pregnancy, impacting both maternal and fetal health. The severity of AWS requires attentive clinical management and preventative interventions.
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International Journal of Molecular Sciences - Prenatal Opioid and Alcohol Exposures: Association with Altered Placental Serotonin Transporter Structure and/or Expression
Fetal exposures to many drugs of abuse, e.g., opioids and alcohol (EtOH), are associated with adverse neurodevelopmental problems in early childhood, including abnormalities in activity of the serotonin (5HT) transporter (SERT), which transports 5HT across the placenta.
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Authorea - Prenatal alcohol use or smoking and their effect on fetal growth, stratified by dose, timing and single or dual use: a prospective cohort study.
Dual exposure to smoking and drinking (even low) reduces fetal growth.
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AIDS - Substance use during pregnancy and postpartum among individuals with perinatally-acquired HIV in the United States
Use of cannabis and alcohol were common during pregnancy and the first year postpartum among people with HIV in the United States (2007–2019), but there were no major differences in substance use during pregnancy based on mode of HIV acquisition.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Miasto Kraków (Poland) - Mamo, nie ryzykuj! Kraków edukuje o FASD i stawia na profilaktykę
Kraków zainaugurował kampanię społeczną skierowaną do kobiet w ciąży i osób z ich najbliższego otoczenia. Jej adresatami są też uczennice i uczniowie krakowskich szkół oraz studentki i studenci. Kampania ma uświadomić, że nie ma bezpiecznej dawki alkoholu, którą może wypić kobieta w ciąży.
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Chaos im Kopf Podcast - Dein FASD Podcast (Germany) - FASD Selbsthilfegruppe Porta Westfalica C75
In dieser Episode des Podcasts "Chaos im Kopf" spricht Wolfgang mit Anne-Meike Südmeyer und Birte Schilling über die FASD Selbsthilfegruppe Porta Westfalica.
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NeuronUp (France) - Consommation d’alcool pendant la grossesse : effets sur le cerveau fœtal et risque de handicap intellectual
Rafael A. Salas Muriel, docteur en psychologie, expose dans cet article comment la consommation d’alcool pendant la grossesse peut affecter le cerveau fœtal en augmentant le risque de handicap intellectuel.
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Kehitysvammaliitto (Finland) - FASD ja aikuisuus
Kehitysvammaliiton tuottama podcast-sarja käsittelee elämää FASDin kanssa eri näkökulmista. Kuulemme elämän kompastuskivistä ja huippuhetkistä sekä siitä, miten FASDin tuomia haasteita on taklattu.
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FAS Portalen (Sweden) - Rekordstort intresse för Fokus FAS
Intresset för den tredje konferensen Fokus FAS om alkohol- och drogrelaterade fosterskador var stort, med över 200 deltagare.
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Alcohol News - 46/2024

NordAN (Finland) - Anxiety and binge drinking among youth remain prevalent – alcohol is increasingly purchased online
Over the past decade, young people’s mental health issues have increased, while alcohol use has decreased. However, the downward trend in underage drinking seems to be slowing and may even be stabilizing in some cases.
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Keck Medicine of USC (USA) - Pandemic-era increase in alcohol use persists
Study finds that heavy drinking among adult Americans increased more than 20% during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued for the following two years
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SciTechDaily - Drinking and Dementia: New Study Shows Alcohol May Accelerate Alzheimer’s
New research from Scripps Research links Alzheimer’s disease and alcohol use disorder, showing similar gene expression changes in the brain that impact inflammation and cell function.
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Times of India (India) - The rising toll of alcohol addiction in Goa: A sobering reality
Goa’s reputation for its sun-drenched beaches and lively festivals has long attracted revellers from across the globe. Known for its bustling tourism scene and laid-back lifestyle, Goa embodies a culture of celebration.
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia) - Facebook targeting vulnerable people with gambling and alcohol advertising
A study by University of Queensland has found that gambling and alcohol ads are being served up many times in a short period to people at high risk of gambling or alcohol-related harms.
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HealthandCare.Scot (Scotland) - Scotland can lead gender tailored alcohol policy
A Glasgow researcher leading a landmark World Health Organization (WHO) policy initiative is now calling on public health services across the world to recognise that the impact, experience and stigma of alcohol problems are different for men and women.
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WHO Europe - Empowering public health advocates to navigate alcohol policy challenges: alcohol policy playbook
Developed by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Alcohol policy playbook is designed for policy-makers, advocates and public health professionals.
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IAS Blog - How does alcohol affect the brain?
Do you know how alcohol interacts with the brain? And did you know that heavy episodic drinking as an adolescent is one of the strongest risk factors for developing early onset dementia?
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OSF Healthcare - The cancer-causing cocktail
If you’re looking for more reasons to switch from cocktails to mocktails, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)’s newest study may encourage you to embrace sobriety.
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The Microbiologist - Scientists reveal significant burden of liver cancer attributable to hepatitis B and alcohol globally
Liver cancer is a digestive system malignancy that poses a significant public health challenge globally. This study, published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology, aimed to analyze and compare the epidemiological trends of liver cancer attributed to hepatitis B (LCHB) and alcohol use (LCAL) over the past 32 years.
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Iceland Review (Iceland) - Consensus on Nicotine Pouches, Disagreement on Alcohol Sales
All political parties that responded to questions from anti-addiction organisations agreed on the need to curb nicotine pouch use among children and adolescents. However, only the Independence Party and the Liberal Reform Party supported dissolving the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company (ÁTVR) and allowing alcohol sales in general retail stores.
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NordAN - NordAN 2024 conference and General Assembly emphasize transparency and Nordic-Baltic collaboration
The NordAN 2024 conference, held in Oslo on November 7-8, brought together experts and advocates from across the Nordic and Baltic regions to discuss key issues in alcohol and drug policy.
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NordAN - NordAN General Assembly resolution calls for Nordic and Baltic leadership to redefine WHO’s engagement with the alcohol industry
At the 2024 NordAN General Assembly in Oslo on November 7, a critical resolution was adopted, urging Nordic and Baltic member states to lead in securing transparency and accountability in global alcohol policy.
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Alcohol Awareness - Can We Be Serious Now?
The #CanWeBeSeriousNow campaign targets EU policy-makers with a clear message: health-harming industries—such as those producing alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy foods and drinks—prioritize sales and profits over public health.
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Alcohol And Cancer (Netherlands) - Socioeconomic status and cancer survival in the Netherlands: new insights from IKNL report
A new report from the Integraal Kankercentrum Nederland (IKNL) has highlighted stark socioeconomic disparities in cancer outcomes across the Netherlands.
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Alcohol News - 44/2024

NordAN (Norway) - Nine out of ten elderly people report that their doctor does not discuss how alcohol affects health as we age
Most people aged 60-80 consume alcohol, yet many are unaware that their bodies tolerate alcohol less effectively as they get older. Ninety percent of people over 70 take medication, which, when combined with alcohol, can pose health risks.
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THL (Finland) - High-risk alcohol use is still common, although total consumption has decreased
Although the total consumption of alcohol in Finland has decreased from 2008, risky drinking is still common. Of those aged 20–79, 11% or 450,000 people were in the moderate or high-risk group for long-term alcohol-related harm.
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Euronews (Scotland) - Scotland curbed alcohol deaths by raising prices on cheap booze. Will Europe follow suit?
Scotland saved lives by raising prices on cheap supermarket alcohol, but the policy isn’t a silver-bullet solution.
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The Kyiv Independent (Ukraine) - Ukraine expands long-range drone strikes target list, alcohol now on the menu
"Russian military aviation cannot function without alcohol," Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation department at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said in a post on social media.
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Psychology Today - Recent research indicates drinking any alcohol could increase dementia risk
Is it unsafe to drink any alcohol? A new study indicates any drinking may cause dementia, which scares a lot of people. This study jars the belief that light to moderate drinking could provide cognitive benefits.
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PsyPost - Reflecting on calorie consumption from past drinking lowers desire for alcohol in women
A recent study published in Food Quality and Preference explored how recalling a past drinking experience may influence future alcohol consumption desires in women.
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NZ Herald (New Zealand) - Alcohol licence opposed for charity fashion show supporting suicide prevention in Dunedin
A special licence application for a charity fashion show, intended to raise funds for suicide prevention and mental health awareness, has been met with opposition days before it takes place.
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Medical Xpress - Echoes of youth: High school binge drinking found to predict midlife alcohol use with women most affected
The high school party days never really ended for a surprising number of middle-aged adults. A University of Michigan study reveals that adults aged 35 to 60 are drinking at unprecedented rates, with a striking link between high school binge drinking and risky midlife alcohol consumption.
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Politics Home (UK) - The Budget Is A "Critical Moment" For Drug And Alcohol Rehab Services
The UK's largest provider of drug and alcohol treatment services has described the Budget as a "critical moment" for the sector with any reduction in funding risking an "unravelling" of rehabilitation provision.
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VoxDev (South Africa) - What happened to violence, crime and mortality when South Africa banned alcohol?
A nationwide alcohol ban in South Africa reduced violent crime and injury-related deaths, offering critical lessons for public policy.
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Alcohol Change (UK) - Budget action on alcohol harm is an open goal – will Government take the shot?
This week’s IPPR poll suggests voters want the Government to prioritise fixing public services over balancing the books.
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ADF (Australia) - New report spotlights increasing alcohol and other drug harms in older Australians
The serious and increasing levels of harm older Australians face from alcohol and other drugs can no longer be ignored, a new Alcohol and Drug Foundation report released today has shown.
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VeryWell Health - Is It time to Add Cancer-Specific Warning Labels to Alcohol?
Could adding cancer-specific warning labels to alcoholic beverages help deter excessive alcohol consumption? That’s an idea raised by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), whose most recent report highlights that many people are unaware alcohol increases the risk of certain cancers.
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PopNAD (Finland) - Alcohol’s hidden costs: Can we afford this burden?
Alcohol is a major contributor to premature deaths across Finland and Europe. While much of the focus often lies on deaths directly caused by alcohol, these represent just the tip of the iceberg.
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ERR News (Estonia) - City of Tallinn: Proving alcohol sales during restricted hours near impossible
Tallinn City Council wants all alcohol retailers in the Estonian capital to install cash registers which enable them to prove compliance with late night sales restrictions.
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NordAN (Sweden) - Young people skeptical of parents offering alcohol
Young people believe that those who are allowed to taste alcohol at home during their teenage years develop a more relaxed attitude toward alcohol.
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Alcohol News - 43/2024

MedCentral (USA) - As Alcohol Consumption Risks Rise, New Guidelines Loom
Updated every 5 years, the guidelines – which include everything from infant nutrition to adult sodium intake – are set by the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Health and Human Services.
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Financial Times (UK) - Fewer than a quarter of UK workers want alcohol at social events, study finds
Only one in four UK employees want alcohol at workplace social events while little more than half attend after-hours events owing to travel time and family duties, according to research that signals the end of the boozy Christmas party.
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ScienceAlert - Alcohol Can Trigger Serious Cardiac Effects in Young People
Excessive alcohol intake can mess up the normal rhythm of the heart and bring on cardiac arrhythmias, a new study shows – adding to concerns about the negative health impacts of binge drinking.
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The Conversation - The effects of binge drinking on teenagers’ brain development
Alcohol is deeply rooted in our cultures and habits, and in most Western countries, its significant economic weight grants it a much more favourable legal status and social perception than other drugs.
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Kyiv Post (Ukraine) - Ukraine Reportedly Strikes 4 Alcohol Distilleries in Russia in Drone Attacks
Ukrainian drones struck two alcohol distilleries in the Tula region, one in the Tambov region, and an industrial facility in the Voronezh region in an overnight attack Oct. 21-22, Russian officials and media reported.
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Stuff (New Zealand) - Calls increase for tougher booze rules
Health experts are calling on councils to set tougher restrictions on alcohol sales to reduce potential harm, including cutting the hours that booze can be sold.
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IAS Blog - How can we improve public understanding that alcohol can cause cancer?
Understanding among the British public that alcohol can cause cancer is worryingly low. Surveys periodically show very low percentages of people recognising the danger of alcohol in relation to cancer, including breast and bowel cancer, despite well-established research showing this link clearly.
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Alcohol Action Ireland (Ireland) - Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol – an opportunity to save lives across the island of Ireland
Alcohol Action Ireland warmly welcomes reports that Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) looks set to be introduced in Northern Ireland. MUP is an evidence-based public health measure which provides a floor price beneath which alcohol cannot be sold. It was introduced in Ireland in January 2022 and is also in place in Scotland and Wales.
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The ASCO Post  - Raising Awareness of the Health Consequences of Alcohol Consumption During and After a Cancer Diagnosis
In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that “no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.” The warning came decades after the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, which is the highest risk group, and also includes asbestos, radiation, and tobacco.
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Women´s Health - The Lies We’ve Been Told About Alcohol
It took only seven years for cigarette sales to dip after the U.S. Public Health Service’s first public acknowledgment that smoking causes cancer. Drinking alcohol causes cancer, too, and we’ve known that for at least 37 years, since the World Health Organization (WHO) first published findings in 1987. Yet sales remain strong: In 2023, the alcohol market hit $37.7 billion.
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NordAN (Greenland) - Greenlandic MP urges retailers to stop alcohol advertising
According to a recent report by Sermitsiaq.gl, Greenland MP Aaja Chemnitz is urging retailers to stop alcohol advertising, citing its connection to violent crime. Chemnitz’s comments come as Greenland is in the process of drafting a new alcohol policy, with discussions on potential restrictions and preventive measures to reduce alcohol-related harm in the country.
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Alcohol Awareness - Alcohol and Breast Cancer: What are the risks?
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an important time to highlight the various factors contributing to breast cancer risk, including alcohol consumption.
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FASD News - 42/2024

The Conversation - We shouldn’t lock up young offenders with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Here are the alternatives
Barely a month goes by without news of children and adolescents who are imprisoned and being mistreated in youth detention.
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Neuroscience News - Early Alcohol Exposure Leaves Molecular Signature in Fetal Placenta
A recent study shows that alcohol exposure in the earliest stages of pregnancy can lead to detectable molecular changes in the late-gestation placenta, even influencing gene expression through DNA methylation.
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News-Medical - Alcohol's effects on embryo development detected in late-gestation placenta
A new study led by Pr. Serge McGraw, researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine and professor at Université de Montréal, shows that the effects of alcohol exposure on an embryo prior to implantation in the uterus can be detected in the late-gestation placenta.
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FASD United - Addressing the Recommended Changes to FASD Diagnosis Published in The Lancet
An article by a group of developmental pediatricians in Canada published this fall in the pediatric journal The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health raises major concerns about the use of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) as a diagnostic term.
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CanFASD (Canada) - New Brunswick study improving the path to referral for a FASD diagnosis for youth
Concerns about the long and challenging road to a referral for an FASD diagnosis has inspired a New Brunswick research study.
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WKBN27 (USA) - FASD Is My Superpower: Helping Kids Understand the Strength of Their Diagnosis Sets to Break Barriers
Author Emily Hargrove opens a new chapter of empowerment with her latest book, FASD Is My Superpower, dedicated to all Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) superheroes.
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CHU Sainte-Justine - Effects of exposure to alcohol in early pregnancy can be detected in the placenta
A new study led by Pr. Serge McGraw, researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine and professor at Université de Montréal, shows that the effects of alcohol exposure on an embryo prior to implantation in the uterus can be detected in the late-gestation placenta.
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VIDEOS and MATERIALS
Angela Geddes | Integrative Support & Wellness - EPISODE #91: It’s Complicated; Stigma and FASD
In this podcast episode, Angela tackles a significant issue surrounding the term "FASD" (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) and whether the name itself contributes to the stigma faced by many who experience misdiagnosis and misunderstanding.
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Rogers tv Community Shorts - FASD Learning Strategies for Children
Kaitlyn Rebmann, FASD Instructional Coach presents "adjusting expectations when working with individuals with FASD."
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Rural FASD Support Network - Jessica Danielle, CDA of Wellington Kids
Jessica Danielle, CDA shares how why communication and AAC is so important for children living with FASD and the key is early intervention.
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Wisdom for health - Alcohol in Pregnancy Risks Explained
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NDARC UNSW - Maternal use of NRT during pregnancy unlikely to increase the risk of birth defects in babies
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), varenicline and bupropion are common quit smoking medicines; however, we do not know whether they are safe to use during pregnancy. This international study analysed health data from New Zealand, Australia (New South Wales), Norway, and Sweden to understand whether these medicines increased the risk of major birth defects in early pregnancy.
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RESEARCH
International Journal of Law and Psychiatry - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and the criminal justice system: A guide for legal professionals
This article is intended to provide valuable information and best practices for professionals in the legal system, particularly judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, social workers/mitigation specialists, and psychologists, who are likely to encounter individuals living with FASD or suspected FASD early in the judicial process.
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BMC Medicine - Prenatal alcohol exposure and associations with physical size, dysmorphology and neurodevelopment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This comprehensive review provides guidance on which components are most useful to consider in the diagnostic criteria for FASD.
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International Social Work - Using living experience and practitioner research to create unique programmes providing help for caregivers, professionals and students to increase support for children living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
In this article, I draw on my intersectional identities as a caregiver of a child with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, as a registered social worker with extensive experience in the justice sector, and as an employed educator and researcher at a tertiary institute, to explore how I have used these multiple identities to create new initiatives that support families where Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is an issue, and introduce critical disability training for professionals working in the field.
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Nutrients - Exploring Nutritional Status and Metabolic Imbalances in Children with FASD: A Cross-Sectional Study
These findings suggest that the principal issue among patients with FASD is an altered metabolism rather than nutritional deficiencies. Potential causes of these abnormalities could include oxidative stress and changes in body composition.
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Military Medicine - Mapping the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Continuum of Care Across the Military Health System
Findings suggest opportunities to raise awareness, educate providers, and improve guidelines, policies, and practices in the MHS.
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Journal of Public Child Welfare - Foster parents’ need for greater information sharing when caring for children with prenatal substance exposure within child welfare
This article presents information on how the child welfare (CW) system informs caregivers about prenatal substance exposure (PSE) and related concerns, and how those caregivers communicate back to CW about PSE issues.
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CNS drugs - The Safety of Alcohol Pharmacotherapies in Pregnancy: A Scoping Review of Human and Animal Research
There is insufficient research on the safety of alcohol pharmacotherapies in pregnancy. Despite this, given alcohol’s teratogenic effects, naltrexone could be considered to help maintain abstinence in pregnant individuals with AUD, particularly when psychosocial treatments have failed.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Hogrefe eContent (Germany) - Fetale Alkoholspektrumstörungen – ein wichtiges Thema für die Suchtmedizin?
Im folgenden Artikel geben wir Ihnen einen Überblick über Pathophysiologie, Screening, Diagnose, Therapie und Prognose bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Fetalen Alkoholspektrumstörungen (FASD).
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Hogrefe eContent (Germany) - Fetale Alkoholspektrumstörungen bei Erwachsenen
Mit einer geschätzten Prävalenz von 1 bis 2 pro 100 Personen sind Fetale Alkoholspektrumstörungen (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders [FASD]) in Europa häufig und verbunden mit einer hohen Belastung für Menschen mit FASD, deren Angehörige sowie die Gesellschaft.
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WDR (Germany) - FASD-Syndrom: Wenn die Mutter in der Schwangerschaft Alkohol trinkt
Luise und Clara sind Zwillinge und haben beide das Fetale Alkoholsyndrom, auch FASD genannt. Ihre Mutter war Alkoholikerin. Beide kommen viel zu früh auf die Welt, wachsen bei Pflegeeltern auf. Lange Zeit ist nicht klar, ob sie einen normalen Lebens- oder Berufsweg einschlagen können.
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Welt (Germany) - Diagnose FASD – Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft und die Folgen
Studien gehen davon aus, dass etwa jede vierte Frau in Deutschland Alkohol trinkt, während sie schwanger ist. Ab welcher Menge schadet Alkohol dem Ungeborenen?
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Alcohol News - 42/2024

The Conversation (Australia) - Cheap grog, new drunkenness offence and mandatory rehab: why 9 experts think proposed NT alcohol reforms would be a disaster
The new Northern Territory government is planning a swathe of changes to alcohol policy. If implemented, these changes fly in the face of what evidence shows works to reduce alcohol-related harms. Some are also out of step with the rest of Australia.
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News-Medical - Research reveals misleading practices in alcohol industry apps
Alcohol industry-funded apps may use covert 'misinformation strategies', omit important public health information and could 'nudge' users towards drinking more alcohol, new research has found.
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BBC (Northern Ireland) - Minimum alcohol pricing looks set to be introduced in NI
Minimum pricing for alcohol looks set to be introduced in Northern Ireland. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is seeking the backing of his executive colleagues to bring the legislation to the assembly.
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TVP World (Poland) - Polish e-commerce giant stops alcohol sale scheme, amid crackdown on ‘alco-tubes’
Poland’s e-commerce group Allegro has suspended its scheme for the online sale of alcohol, amid a crackdown on controversial alcohol products.
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RNZ (New Zealand) - Alcohol-related suicides higher risk for Māori and Pacific women – study
Researchers are calling for more kaupapa Māori targeted public health interventions, after a study found Māori and Pacific women are disproportionately affected by suicide involving heavy alcohol use.
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IAS Blog - How can genetics help assess the potential harms of moderate drinking?
Is drinking a moderate amount of alcohol bad for you? Answering questions about potential causal effects in humans is difficult. If you want to know what factors affect the lifespan of a lightbulb, your task is simple: get a few hundred lightbulbs, and start experimenting.
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Insight - Journal article - Zero alcohol products and adolescents: A tool for harm reduction or a trojan horse?
A recent Australian study is featured in the international journal Appetite exploring zero alcohol products (ZAPs). ZAPs may help reduce alcohol-related harm by offering an alternative to alcoholic drinks, but concerns exist that they could expose young people to alcohol-related stimuli, potentially normalising alcohol use and acting as a gateway to underage drinking.
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Alcohol Change (UK) - Continued decline in youth drinking no cause for complacency
NHS England has today (17 October 2024) published new data on smoking, drinking, and drug use among secondary school pupils in England for 2023.
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Royal Society Te Apārangi - Alcohol causes cancer: more awareness and action needed in Aotearoa – Report
A new factsheet 'Ka Hua Mai Te Mate Pukupuku I Te Inu Waipiro – Alcohol Causes Cancer' by Royal Society Te Apārangi compiles the evidence of alcohol causing cancer from an Aotearoa New Zealand perspective and is calling for greater awareness and action to address the issue.
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NordAN (Finland) - Changes to alcohol legislation increase the risk of illicit trade
In Finland, efforts to reduce alcohol-related harms have primarily focused on the retail monopoly on alcoholic beverages, a strict licensing system, and effective oversight by authorities.
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Alcohol Awareness (Denmark) - One more beer can’t hurt, right? Or can it…
A recent report by Kræftens Bekæmpelse (Danish Cancer Society) and TrygFonden highlights how Denmark’s youth alcohol culture can be exclusionary and damaging to social interactions.
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Alcohol and Cancer - Global efforts to highlight alcohol's role in cancer prevention
In recent years, the link between alcohol and cancer has gained more traction in global public health discussions. While this connection is not new, the work of several organizations has helped bring it into sharper focus.
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