Join ICARA and ARSUA at #GAPC2026 for our joint interactive workshop "From Evidence to Action" where we will be spotlighting Global South research and real-world strategies to turn alcohol evidence into impact.
10 April, 11am-12:30pm

@globalgapa.bsky.social @icara-atod.bsky.social

Really exciting opportunities available when you become an ICARA board member. Please consider applying to join this great team. Please share @sarnalcohol.bsky.social

I'm now a co-chair of the @sarnalcohol.bsky.social alongside the brilliant Carol Emslie and Hannah Carver. Looking forward to continuing working with @shaapalcohol.bsky.social to Scottish colleagues to progress research addressing harms caused by alcohol in Scotland.

AR2026: Alcohol harm and artificial intelligence + all the latest research, advocacy and innovation. Thursday, March 26th 2026, everywhere. Registrations open

Event update: Professor Kathryn Backholer of Deakin University will share her insights into the automated detection of alcohol ads on March 26th. Video sessions are expected from leading African and EU NGOs. Please register to join one or both elements.
alcohol-review.com/ar2026/

Why we should have cancer warnings on alcohol - Institute of Alcohol Studies With the UK Government planning on introducing health warnings on alcohol labels, Professor Simone Pettigrew looks at the evidence around informing people of the link between alcohol and cancer on-lab...

Alcohol causes cancer - yet most people don’t know it.

In our latest blog, Professor Simone Pettigrew sets out the evidence and explains why clear cancer warnings on alcohol are a simple, effective way to save lives.

www.ias.org.uk/2026/01/27/w... @georgeinstitute.bsky.social

⬇️ SARN Co-chair Prof Carol Emslie (@carolemslie.bsky.social) discusses the SHAAP/ SARN Alcohol Occasionals seminar series.

💡 The call for abstracts is open for the 2026 series. For full details, please see here: bit.ly/49DaEad

📆 Deadline: Friday 30th January

@shaapalcohol.bsky.social

@alcoholfocus.bsky.social is looking for a new Financial Controller AND Senior Policy Coordinator. This is an amazing organisation doing important work in combatting alcohol-related harms in Scotland - please share and apply if interested! 👇🏽

AR2026: Alcohol harm and artificial intelligence + all the latest research, advocacy and innovation. Thursday, March 26th 2026, everywhere. Registrations open

A unique opportunity to learn and share about the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence brings to the global effort to reduce alcohol harm, alongside a global showcase of all the latest research, advocacy and innovation.
alcohol-review.com/ar2026/

Image featuring introductin to eFocus newsletter for November with a selection of main headline stories: IAS publish long-term vision for alcohol harm A fond farewell to Laura Mahon, AFS Deputy CEO IMpact of alcohol on Scottish Ambulance Service

We've just published our eFocus newsletter for November! 📰

Check it out for all the latest news, research and events in alcohol harm prevention! 👀

mailchi.mp/7b5cf7cb9e02...

Scots charity 'sickened' as Tesco pulls 'offensive' diabetes Christmas card The card sparked backlash on social media after appearing on Tesco's website.

How Tesco even thought this was ok... Very glad that the item has been removed but it should never have been available in the first place. news.stv.tv/scotland/sco...

Interesting new report from the Equi Think Tank

Could wider society learn something from abstinent faith communities on how to normalise #AlcoholFree socialising and reduce harm?

Read more 🔽

equi.org.uk/wp-content/u...

Unmasking Influence - Full Documentary Film Unmasking influence is about how commercial actors influence policy and public health. Many of the major public health crises we face today are largely driven by…

Many of the major public health crises we face today are driven by powerful corporations.

The extent and impact of harmful commercial influences need to be revealed and addressed.

📽️In this film, experts unmask the influence of harmful corporations🍿

vimeo.com/1131660477

Reforming the licensing system Seeking views and evidence to develop a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system under the Licensing Act 2003.

Regulatory capture & UK alcohol licensing review

There is currently a call for evidence from stakeholders on reforming the licensing system

www.gov.uk/government/c...

I have written a bit on why this matters here

gregfellpublichealth.wordpress.com/2025/10/29/r...

Alcohol-Free Childhood Campaign Webinar Join us for a webinar exploring alcohol marketing in Scotland and its impact on children and young people!

Save the Date! 🗓️

Alcohol-Free Childhood Campaign Webinar - 6 November

Join our campaign partners for a webinar exploring the findings of Public Health Scotland’s recent evidence review on #AlcoholMarketing and advertising

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/alcohol-fr...

SHAAP Chair Dr @alastairmacg.bsky.social comments on @publichealthscot.bsky.social newly published review into the fall in referrals to specialist alcohol and drug treatment in Scotland.

Read his full statement and see the review: www.shaap.org.uk/news/fall-in...

@alcoholfocus.bsky.social is an amazing organisation that focuses on reducing alcohol-related harm in Scotland, and looking for a new CEO! If you have the expertise, please consider applying: www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/about-vacanc...

www.adph.org.uk/2025/10/alco...

Alcohol licensing reforms

From a public health point of view, it's... well a little disappointing...

Its almost as if there wasn't some concern about high and rising alcohol harm and it's impact on families, UKPLC and the NHS

University of Dundee Founders Project – Transatlantic Connections | University of Dundee, UK A talk on Dundee University’s past with connections to the Caribbean and the Americas

@dundee.ac.uk Founders Project looks at early benefactors of UoD and the various institutions that have become part of it, uncovering connections to slavery and colonialism. On 7th Oct we present more findings in: Transatlantic Connections. Places still available: www.dundee.ac.uk/events/unive...

‘This is strength’: stories of enslaved Africans in Grenada made into searchable archive Depths of Paradise project backed by British family and created by Stephen Lewis, a descendant of survivors

‘This is strength’: stories of enslaved Africans in Grenada made into searchable archive

So excited for @dundee.ac.uk #BlackHistoryMonth! Lots of events on for staff, students & the public. Please come along where you can and share with others! www.dundee.ac.uk/engage/event... @dundeeculture.bsky.social

Job alert! @alcoholfocus.bsky.social are looking for a Policy Manger (maternity cover). Interested in leading and developing initiatives to help reduce harm caused by alcohol across Scotland, and want to work with an amazing team, this is for you: www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/about-vacanc...

Association does not equal causation. #Fact

ICARA's AGM is 21st October. 2 fantastic speakers will focus on putting prevention regarding alcohol, tobacco and other substances back on the policy and practice agenda. Please share! @alcoholfocus.bsky.social @shaapalcohol.bsky.social @healthpromint.bsky.social

Four Pillars drug strategy Vancouver's Four Pillars Drug Strategy is a coordinated, comprehensive approach that balances public order and public health in order to create a safer, healthier community.

And @gabrielcaluzzi.bsky.social discusses #HarmReduction as an addition to structural reforms (pricing, marketing...) and the Q&A highlights the community aspect they may bring into #PublicMentalHealth strategies.

One example
vancouver.ca/people-progr...

#SARN #SubstanceUse #Scotland #Vancouver

Intelligent liver function testing (iLFT): A trial of automated diagnosis and staging of liver disease in primary care - PubMed There is a growing epidemic of advanced liver disease, this could be offset by early detection and management. Checking liver blood tests (LFTs) should be an opportunity to diagnose liver problems, but abnormal results are often incompletely investigated. In this study we were able to substantially …

John Dillon focuses on how to identify alcohol-related liver disease earlier (at the moment: 25% mortality at 60 days). He presents work on the #iLFT and asks what to do now
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31226388/

Research summary
www.dundee.ac.uk/stories/inte...

#SARN #SubstanceUse #Scotland #Diagnosis

Amy Malaguti presents on developing a screening pathway for early diagnosis of chronic liver disease.

The ongoing project explores implementing Fibrosis-4 index & Fibroscan in a community detox setting and whether it is worth it.

#SARN #SubstanceUse #Scotland #Dundee #DDARS #ImplementationScience

Next, Briege Nugent and Ryan Anderson present on #CoProduction with people who identify as having alcohol-related issues, aiming to understand trajectories and what works (e.g., #PeerSupport #Rehabilitation).

Big problems: housing and access to services.

#SARN #SubstanceUse #Scotland #Edinburgh

Alcohol screening and assessment measures for young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis of validation studies There is a strong rationale for clinicians to identify risky drinking among young people given the harms caused by alcohol. This systematic review eva…

First up, @ptoner.bsky.social presents on developing screening & assessment instruments for young people.

Currently available from this work #SysReview -s on
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
and work on #HRQoL assessment
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

#SARN #SubstanceUse #Scotland

Huge thanks to colleagues from @shaapalcohol.bsky.social for attending as well.

SARN - The Scottish Alcohol Research Network SARN brings together those with the vision, passion, and commitment to drive forward alcohol research in Scotland.

Very nice morning and big thanks to the organisers @andymohan.bsky.social (and many of them not being here)!

If interested in the Scottish Alcohol Research Network #SARN, you find them here:
www.sarnalcohol.org

#AlcoholRelatedHarm #Scotland