Policy

Men and Alcohol: Final Report Launch

Edinburgh,

SHAAP and IAS are delighted to announce that we will be launching the final report of our Men & Alcohol seminar series on 9th September from 2-4 pm BST. 

COVID-19- Alcohol and Tobacco Policies in Africa

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the world, governments made crucial decisions in order to reduce the strain on health services experiencing extreme pressure. One way that some governments chose to reduce this pressure, was to introduce measures to control alcohol-related harm. Below are some of the ways the governments in Africa attempted to control levels of alcohol consumption during lockdown periods. Kenya On the 27th of July, in response to a surge in coronavirus

The Sale of Alcohol in South Africa During the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic

On the 12th of July, in a bid to reduce the volume of trauma patients so hospitals have more beds open to treat COVID-19 patients, President Cyril Ramaphosa reintroduced the alcohol ban. South Africa originally introduced a ban on all alcohol sales on 27 March. However, as lockdown restrictions were reviewed the ban was lifted. According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, however, since the sale and distribution of alcohol was reintroduced in June, hospitals have experienced

Beer Drinking and Tax Levy in Botswana

Sebeelo, T. B. (2020). Beer drinking, resistance and the politics of alcohol tax levy in Botswana. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. https://doi.org/10.1177/1455072520936811

According to the WHO, harmful alcohol use is one of the leading risk factors for the global burden of disease.

In response to concerning trends, governments around the world have intervened in the market for alcohol by levying specific taxes.  

Prices, Alcohol Use Initiation and Heavy Episodic Drinking among Chilean Youth

Paraje, G. R., Guindon, G. E., and Chaloupka, F. J. (2020) Prices, alcohol use initiation and heavy episodic drinking among Chilean youth. Addiction, https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15167.

Research suggests that early initiation of alcohol use is a risk factor for multiple problems later in life, including heavy episodic drinking and alcohol use disorders.

Prevention scientists are particularly interested in understanding the reasons why young people experiment with alcohol and measures that can be introduced to help reduce alcohol use amongst this age group.

2020 Drugs Act of the Maldives

The Maldives Drug Act provides an overview and guidance on the prevention of use and trafficking of drugs.

The publication also provides information for people who are addicted to drugs that will support them in accessing appropriate treatment that includes safe reintegration back into the community.

Finally, the Drug Act addresses the legal implications of the misuse of drugs in the Maldives.

Research Project Grant

Funding Opportunity Title Interventions to Prevent Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Use Among Adolescents Funding Opportunity Description The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement is to support research to test the efficacy or effectiveness of interventions to prevent initiation and/or escalation of ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery system) use among adolescents research on the impact of tobacco control policies, including ENDS-specific policies, on adolescent ENDS use behavior. Of priority is research that is theoretically based and

The Relationship Between Alcohol-related Hospital Admission and Specialist Alcohol Treatment Provision in England

Roberts, E., Hotopf, M., & Drummond, C. (2020). The relationship between alcohol-related hospital admission and specialist alcohol treatment provision across local authorities in England since passage of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 1-3. doi:10.1192/bjp.2020.120

In March 2012 the Health and Social Care Act (HSCA) was approved, resulting in the commissioning responsibility of specialist drug and alcohol service transferring from the National Health Service (NHS) to local authorities in England.

This shift was designed to allow greater flexibility and freedom to respond to local need.