Alcohol News - 42/2026

Brown University - Hunger may play a role in alcohol addiction, new study finds
Brown University scientists conducting experiments with fruit flies found that hunger drives cravings for alcohol, providing context for understanding similar processes in the human brain.
https://www.brown.edu/news/2026-10-19/hunger-alcohol-addiction

ScienceAlert - Alcohol Doesn't Just Affect Neurons – It Triggers Immune Cells to Destroy The Brain's Structural Matrix, Mouse Study Shows
It's well known that alcohol has profound consequences on the way the brain works, and research shows that even low levels of the drug can damage your brain.
https://www.sciencealert.com/alcohol-doesnt-just-affect-neurons-it-triggers-immune-cells-to-destroy-the-brains-structural-matrix-mouse-study-shows

Medscape - Alcohol Tied to Pancreatic Cancer Risk, Dose by Dose
A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies found that a higher intake of alcohol was associated with a greater risk for pancreatic cancer.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/alcohol-tied-pancreatic-cancer-risk-dose-dose-2026a10013q5?form=fpf

Source New Mexico - Alcohol-related deaths in New Mexico on the rise, new state health data shows
New data released Tuesday by the state health department shows a 2.6% rise in alcohol-related deaths in New Mexico between 2024 and 2025 after a three-year decline.
https://sourcenm.com/2026/10/20/alcohol-related-deaths-in-new-mexico-on-the-rise-new-state-health-data-shows/

OFM News (South Africa) - Health advocates call for clear roadmap on alcohol pricing reform
Public health advocates are urging the finance minister to provide a clear roadmap for alcohol pricing reform in his medium-term budget policy statement.
https://www.ofm.co.za/article/sa/343712/health-advocates-call-for-clear-roadmap-on-alcohol-pricing-reform

Sixty+me - Is Wine Really the Retirement Treat We Think It Is? 7 Lessons I Learnt After Quitting at 63
Towards the end of my corporate career, I used to spend quite a lot of time dreaming about my retirement. I had a very clear picture in my mind.
https://sixtyandme.com/drinking-wine-treat/

AP (USA) - Supreme Court agrees to review a Reconstruction-era ban on distilling spirits in private homes
The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to consider whether Congress had the constitutional authority to impose a ban on distilling spirits in private homes more than 150 years ago.
https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-distilling-spirits-reconstruction-ban-51131151865ded86093a99ec56451465

The Portugal News (Portugal) - Young Portuguese people prefer paying for an Uber over driving under the influence of alcohol
More than half of Portugal’s Generation Z has used ride-hailing services (TVDE) to avoid driving after consuming alcohol, according to a survey by the Behavioural Insights Unit at the Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics, released on 21 October.
https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2026-10-21/young-portuguese-people-prefer-paying-for-an-uber-over-driving-under-the-influence-of-alcohol/1104034

IAS Blog - The Scotch Whisky Association: a century of alcohol industry influence
Scotch whisky is a globally recognised spirit, with an array of long-established and highly visible brands. How did an industry based in a country of less than six million people gain the influence it sees today?
https://www.ias.org.uk/2026/10/20/the-scotch-whisky-association-a-century-of-alcohol-industry-influence/

WHO Western Pacific - Protecting lives through stronger alcohol control in the Western Pacific
Alcohol continues to take a heavy toll on health and communities across the Western Pacific Region. In the Region, alcohol is linked to one death every minute and contributes to one in every five deaths among men in their twenties.
https://www.who.int/westernpacific/newsroom/feature-stories/item/protecting-lives-through-stronger-alcohol-control-in-the-western-pacific

Alcohol Action Ireland (Ireland) - AAI to brief Justice Committee on alcohol’s role in unprovoked (one-punch) assaults
Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, will tomorrow (Tuesday, 20 October) appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline alcohol’s role in unprovoked (one-punch) assaults and the proven measures that are available to reduce such incidences.
https://alcoholireland.ie/press-release-aai-to-brief-justice-committee-on-alcohols-role-in-unprovoked-one-punch-assaults/

NordAN (Denmark) - Denmark proposes electronic age checks for alcohol sales in physical shops
Denmark’s Parliament will hold the first reading of a bill allowing physical shops to use electronic age verification when selling alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/denmark-proposes-electronic-age-checks-for-alcohol-sales-in-physical-shops

Reuters - Heineken document reveals worries over weight-loss drugs and beer sales
Heineken has urged British pubs and bars to adapt to the booming use of weight-loss drugs or risk losing ​customers and revenue, according to a company presentation seen by Reuters, in a rare acknowledgement from a major alcohol maker that the medicines pose ‌a threat to beer sales.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/heineken-document-reveals-worries-over-weight-loss-drugs-beer-sales-2026-10-23/

NordAN (Sweden) - Research on alcohol dependence recognised with CAN award
Associate Professor Anders Hammarberg at the Centre for Psychiatry Research at Karolinska Institutet has been awarded CAN’s Drug Research Award for 2026. The award will be presented at the drogFOKUS conference in Karlstad.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/research-on-alcohol-dependence-recognised-with-can-award

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