Alcohol News - 28/2026

The Conversation - The 2026 World Cup has been a tournament where alcohol brands hoped to win influence through sponsorship
The 2026 men’s football World Cup has provided great goals, shock results and plenty of entertainment. It has also been extremely lucrative, earning Fifa billions of dollars in broadcasting rights, ticket sales and commercial sponsorship.
https://theconversation.com/the-2026-world-cup-has-been-a-tournament-where-alcohol-brands-hoped-to-win-influence-through-sponsorship-287532

BBC (England) - England advised to avoid alcohol around matches
England men's players have been advised to avoid drinking alcohol on the day before and the day after matches, under new behaviour guidelines.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/cvg5yg4lng4o

Novinite.com (Croatia) - Makarska Becomes First Croatian City to Ban Overnight Alcohol Sales
The Croatian coastal city of Makarska has become the first municipality in the country to prohibit the nighttime  sale of alcohol in  retail outlets after the city council approved new restrictions aimed at reducing disturbances during the busy  tourist season.
https://www.novinite.com/articles/239630/Makarska+Becomes+First+Croatian+City+to+Ban+Overnight+Alcohol+Sales

Contemporary OB/GYN (USA) - CDC: 15% of US women report drinking alcohol during pregnancy
More than 1 in 7 pregnant women in the United States reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days, according to a June 2026 analysis of 2021–2024 survey data, published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/cdc-women-drinking-alcohol-during-pregnancy

Medical Xpress - People with disabilities are diagnosed with alcohol use disorder at much higher rates than non-disabled people
A new study found that adults with disabilities had more than three times the rate of AUD diagnoses compared with adults without disabilities in the U.S., with particularly high rates among disabled men and people with serious mental illness and acquired brain injuries.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-people-disabilities-alcohol-disorder-higher.html

WDET 101.9 FM (USA) - Detroit Evening Report: Alcohol, cannabis ads may soon be banned from being near religious buildings
Houses of worship may soon be added to the list of sensitive locations where certain advertisements are not allowed within a 1000-foot radius.
https://wdet.org/2026/07/14/detroit-evening-report-alcohol-cannabis-ads-may-soon-be-banned-from-being-near-religious-buildings/

Medical Xpress - Alcohol intoxication, stress in adolescence linked with long-term impairments
Repeated alcohol intoxication or exposure to stress appears to change how adolescent brains respond to danger. These changes persist into adulthood.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-alcohol-intoxication-stress-adolescence-linked.html

STAT News (USA) - 12 ideas for tackling the U.S. alcohol epidemic
Drinking’s deadly toll in the U.S. is the result of decades of policy decisions, industry influence, and cultural inertia, as STAT shows in its investigative series, The Deadliest Drug. The U.S. has not made a concerted effort to reduce heavy drinking since Prohibition ended nearly a century ago.
https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/14/alcohol-health-issues-deadliest-drug-series-final-installment-solutions/

IAS Blog - Stigma isn’t only out there. It can be written into the way we work
When we talk about stigma related to drug and alcohol use, we are drawn to looking outwards as if it’s a beast on the horizon.
https://www.ias.org.uk/2026/07/14/stigma-isnt-only-out-there-it-can-be-written-into-the-way-we-work/

Philippine News Agency (Philippine) - Baguio health board backs creation of alcohol regulation task force
The Baguio City Local Health Board is pushing for the creation of the City Alcohol Regulation and Enforcement (CARE) Task Force to strengthen interagency coordination and reduce alcohol-related harm.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1279486

NordAN (Norway) - Majority want the same blood alcohol limit at sea as on the road
A survey conducted by YouGov for Tryg Insurance in Norway shows that 55 per cent of respondents want the same blood alcohol limit at sea as on the road.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/majority-want-the-same-blood-alcohol-limit-at-sea-as-on-the-road

NordAN (Iceland) - Icelandic prevention organisations demand action against illegal online alcohol sales
A coalition of Icelandic prevention and public health organisations has called on the police to immediately stop online alcohol sales that they say are taking place in violation of Icelandic law.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/icelandic-prevention-organisations-demand-action-against-illegal-online-alcohol-sales

Alcohol News - 27/2026

Spotlight (South Africa) - What 49 000 Western Cape teenagers taught us about preventing alcohol abuse and violence
A survey of 49 000 teenagers in the Western Cape reminds us that preventing violence does not begin in a hospital, a police station or a courtroom. It begins much earlier, in families, schools, sports fields, faith communities and neighbourhoods, writes Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health and Wellness Mireille Wenger.
https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/07/10/mireille-wenger-what-49-000-western-cape-teenagers-taught-us-about-preventing-alcohol-abuse-and-violence/

ERR (Estonia) - Government looking to hike alcohol excise duty, shorten selling hours
Estonia's alcohol policy through 2035 calls, among other measures, for increasing the excise tax on alcohol and shortening the hours during which it can be sold in retail stores.
https://news.err.ee/1610071273/government-looking-to-hike-alcohol-excise-duty-shorten-selling-hours

NL Times (Netherlands) - Aviation groups consider new alcohol rules after rise in drunken passenger disturbances
Dutch aviation organizations are considering changes to alcohol policies at airports and on flights after an increase in disruptive behavior involving intoxicated passengers. One proposal under review is adding warning labels to sealed alcohol packages sold at airports.
https://nltimes.nl/2026/07/09/aviation-groups-consider-new-alcohol-rules-rise-drunken-passenger-disturbances

ScienceDaily - Drinking to cope with stress may permanently rewire your brain
Using alcohol to cope with stress when young may permanently alter the brain, making it harder to adapt to challenges and increasing the risk of returning to drinking later in life.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260626030437.htm

RNZ (New Zealand) - Kiwis get 'gold medal for hazardous drinking', alcohol researcher says
New Zealanders over 50 get the gold medal for hazardous drinking when compared with eight other countries, an alcohol researcher says.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/health/680797/kiwis-get-gold-medal-for-hazardous-drinking-alcohol-researcher-says

Medical News Today - How alcohol may lead to cancer, brain damage, early death: Latest evidence
Alcoholic beverages form a casual part of many people’s lives. Whether as a way of relaxing, a habit indulged in socially, a way of complementing a meal, or a treat to celebrate a special occasion, many people all over the world like to enjoy a drink or two, at least occasionally.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-alcohol-lead-cancer-brain-damage-early-death-latest-evidence

The Straits Times (Singapore) - Lower alcohol limits, jail for first-time drink-driving offenders proposed
The alcohol limit for drivers will be lowered by more than half to deter drink-driving, under legislation proposed on July 7.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/lower-alcohol-limits-jail-for-first-time-drink-driving-offenders-proposed

European Medical Journal - Alcohol Consumption Alters Plasticity in Pre-Frontal Cortex
ALCOHOL consumption alters corticostriatal plasticity in rats, with prolonged voluntary intake producing both post synaptic and presynaptic changes in brain circuits that may contribute to the development of alcohol use disorder.
https://www.emjreviews.com/neurology/news/alcohol-consumption-alters-plasticity-in-pre-frontal-cortex/

Yahoo Health - Alcohol and Health: The Surprising Reason Moderate Is No Longer Safe
If you grew up hearing that a glass of red wine was good for your heart, you were not alone. For much of the late 20th century, moderate drinking carried a halo of legitimacy in public health messaging.
https://health.yahoo.com/your-body/substance-use/alcohol/articles/alcohol-health-surprising-reason-moderate-143454259.html

The Korea Times (South Korea) - Binge drinking surges among Korean women in 30s
For a working mother in her 30s using the pseudonym Lim Ji-hyun, alcohol began as a brief escape at the end of the day. After putting her child to sleep, she would pour one or two glasses of soju, a clear Korean liquor, treating the drink as a small reward after hours of work and child care.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20260708/binge-drinking-surges-among-korean-women-in-30s

World Health Organisation (Lao PDR) - Protecting youth and public health from alcohol marketing: Time to put people over profits
In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), festivals, community gatherings and sporting events play a central role in bringing people together. When alcohol brands sponsor such occasions—plastering logos at youth sporting or cultural events—they normalize drinking and associate it with health, success, and celebration.
https://www.who.int/laos/news/commentaries/detail/protecting-youth-and-public-health-from-alcohol-marketing--time-to-put-people-over-profits

Japan Today (Japan) - Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs, yet its presence is ubiquitous in social settings and celebrations
Few substances are as deeply woven into everyday life as alcohol. It is a fixture at holiday celebrations, work-related social gatherings, sporting events, airports, and brunch or dinner tables.
https://japantoday.com/category/features/health/alcohol-is-one-of-the-most-dangerous-drugs-yet-its-presence-is-ubiquitous-in-social-settings-and-celebrations

NordAN (Denmark) - New survey: More Danes want alcohol to play a smaller role
Almost two in three Danes believe Denmark needs to change its drinking culture so that alcohol plays a smaller role, according to a new survey conducted by Voxmeter on behalf of Blue Cross Denmark. This represents an increase compared with last year.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/new-survey-more-danes-want-alcohol-to-play-a-smaller-role

Forward Trust (UK) - Addiction in the UK - a new landmark report about drug and alcohol use in the UK
Today, a new landmark report is released that reveals the extent of drug and alcohol addiction across the UK – the first time it has been done across the four nations.
https://forwardtrust.org.uk/news/article/addiction-in-the-uk-a-new-landmark-report-about-drug-and-alcohol-use-in-the-uk

Cambridge News (UK) - Cancer Research UK warns alcohol linked to 'seven types of cancer'
People have been cautioned that alcohol can cause seven types of cancer, and even small amounts can increase health risks. Cancer Research UK issued a health warning via an Instagram post, highlighting the dangers associated with the widely consumed drink.
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/health/cancer-research-uk-warns-alcohol-34249782

NordAN (Sweden) - MHF calls for alcohol and age limits for e-scooter riders
MHF is calling for a legal blood alcohol limit and zero tolerance for riding under the influence, as well as mandatory helmet use for e-scooter riders of all ages. The proposals were adopted on Sunday during the annual meeting of the Swedish road safety organisation MHF.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/mhf-calls-for-alcohol-and-age-limits-for-e-scooter-riders

Alcohol Awareness (UK) - Alcohol Awareness Week 2026 asks: “Alcohol and me, what’s your story?”
Alcohol Awareness Week is taking place from 6 to 12 July 2026 under the theme “Alcohol and me.” Organised by Alcohol Change UK, the campaign invites people to take a moment to consider how alcohol may be affecting their health and wellbeing.
https://alcoholcampaign.org/2026/07/06/alcohol-awareness-week-2026-asks-alcohol-and-me-whats-your-story/

Alcohol News - 26/2026

News-Medical (Sweden) - Study links alcohol to fatal electric scooter crashes in Sweden
In almost half of all fatal electric scooter crashes in Sweden, the rider has been under the influence of alcohol. These fatal crashes occur mainly in the evenings or through the night, and in all cases, no helmet has been worn.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260702/Study-links-alcohol-to-fatal-electric-scooter-crashes-in-Sweden.aspx

ERR (Estonia) - Tartu looking to ban sale of bottled alcohol after 10 p.m.
Tartu has unveiled a preliminary nightlife strategy through 2035 aimed at making the city's nightlife safer.
https://news.err.ee/1610067133/tartu-looking-to-ban-sale-of-bottled-alcohol-after-10-p-m

The Conversation - Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs, yet its presence is ubiquitous in social settings and celebrations
Few substances are as deeply woven into everyday life as alcohol. It is a fixture at holiday celebrations, work-related social gatherings, sporting events, airports, and brunch or dinner tables.
https://theconversation.com/alcohol-is-one-of-the-most-dangerous-drugs-yet-its-presence-is-ubiquitous-in-social-settings-and-celebrations-278631

World Health Organisation - Implementing what works in alcohol policy: progress report on the SAFER initiative
This report documents progress since the 2018 launch of SAFER – WHO's initiative to help countries implement the five most effective and cost–effective alcohol policy measures: strengthening restrictions on alcohol availability; advancing and enforcing drink–driving countermeasures; facilitating access to screening, brief intervention and treatment; enforcing bans or comprehensive restrictions on alcohol advertising, sponsorship and promotion; and raising prices through excise taxes and pricing policies.
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240120587

Warwickshire County Council (UK) - Promoting positive change and healthier lifestyles across Warwickshire this Alcohol Awareness Week 2026
For many people, alcohol can feel like a normal part of life, especially during the summer months when we’re getting together more with friends and family.
https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/7821/promoting-positive-change-and-healthier-lifestyles-across-warwickshire-this-alcohol-awareness-week-2026

YouGov (USA) - Why 36% of Americans are drinking less alcohol in 2026
New data from YouGov Profiles shows that while most Americans who drink say their alcohol consumption has remained unchanged over the past year, those cutting back far outnumber those who are drinking more.
https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/55082-why-36-of-americans-are-drinking-less-alcohol-in-2026

STAT News - Booze schmooze: The alcohol industry, frazzled by headwinds, wields its power behind the scenes
Len Lichtenfeld had a long-overdue apology to make. He was haunted in late 2024 by an exchange with a New York Times reporter almost a decade earlier, during which Lichtenfeld defended the American Cancer Society’s official stance that a drink or two a day was safe, even for cancer prevention.
https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/01/alcohol-lobby-immense-power-explored-deadliest-drug-part-7/

PsyPost - Brain network patterns in childhood linked to early alcohol use
Children who go on to start drinking alcohol before age 15 may already show distinctive patterns of brain organization years earlier, according to research published in Translational Psychiatry.
https://www.psypost.org/brain-network-patterns-in-childhood-linked-to-early-alcohol-use/

IAS Blog - Applying behavioural insights to cut alcohol with no- and low-alcohol drinks
In recent years, No-and Low- alcohol (NoLo) drinks have become increasingly popular. If handled well, this could have the potential to reduce alcohol harm making it easier for consumers to switch from higher alcohol drinks to NoLo alternatives.
https://www.ias.org.uk/2026/06/30/applying-behavioural-insights-to-cut-alcohol-with-no-and-low-alcohol-drinks/

Irish Independent (Ireland) - World Health Organisation backs Sligo’s community-led push to reduce alcohol-related härm
Sligo has officially become one of Ireland’s Building SAFER Communities locations, joining a growing number of communities implementing the World Health Organisation’s evidence-based SAFER framework to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm.
https://www.independent.ie/county/sligo/world-health-organisation-backs-sligos-community-led-push-to-reduce-alcohol-related-harm/a/158000249.html

The Nation (Thailand) - Thailand considers broader alcohol dispenser restrictions
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee had ordered further study of a draft Prime Minister’s Office announcement after a meeting at the Public Health Ministry on June 29, 2026.
https://www.nationthailand.com/health-wellness/40068065

Emmanuel College - Correlating Alcohol Consumption and Cancer
This new lens on Cannataro’s body of research was inspired by a recent report from the Office of the United States Surgeon General, which compiles multiple studies emphasizing how alcohol consumption has proven to increase the risk of as many as seven different types of cancers (2025).
https://www.emmanuel.edu/pulse/story/summer-research-series-correlating-alcohol-consumption-and-cancer

NordAN (Norway) - FHI evaluation: Norway unlikely to reach alcohol reduction target without stronger measures
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) has published a qualitative midterm evaluation of Norway’s National Alcohol Strategy for 2021 to 2030. The evaluation was commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Care Services and asked FHI to assess both the implementation of the strategy and whether Norway’s target of a 20 percent reduction in alcohol consumption from 2010 to 2030 is realistic with today’s policy instruments.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/fhi-evaluation-norway-unlikely-to-reach-alcohol-reduction-target-without-stronger-measures

Alcohol Awareness (Australia) - Dry July 2026 invites Australians to go alcohol-free for cancer support
Australians are again being invited to take a month off alcohol this July through Dry July 2026, a national fundraising campaign supporting people affected by cancer.
https://alcoholcampaign.org/2026/07/01/dry-july-2026-invites-australians-to-go-alcohol-free-for-cancer-support/

Alcohol and Cancer (Netherlands) - Dutch Health Council: There is no safe level of alcohol use, even one drink a day carries risks
The Dutch Health Council has advised the government to denormalise and discourage alcohol use, concluding that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. According to the Council, even one glass of alcohol per day carries health risks, including an increased risk of cancer.
https://www.alcoholandcancer.eu/post/dutch-health-council-there-is-no-safe-level-of-alcohol-use-even-one-drink-a-day-carries-risks