Yesterday's @sarnalcohol.bsky.social meeting at Stirling University was a fantastic reminder of the strength of Scotland's collaborative approach to alcohol research. Huge thanks to the speakers and organisers for all their work
We're lucky to have this network. Long may it continue🤝
A cost effective way to reduce the estimated £700million annual #NHS alcohol tab would be for the next #ScottishParliament to enact policies in our #AFSManifesto, including:
▶️ Restricting #AlcoholMarketing
▶️ Mandatory health warnings on alcohol products
▶️ Automatic uprating of #MUP
SHAAP fully supports the #AFSmanifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections.
The message is clear: #NoMoreHalfMeasures. It's time for Scotland to get serious about reducing alcohol harm through evidence-based policies that protect public health.
...And these tactics are reaching children too!
Our research with young people in Scotland found they easily recognise alibi marketing tactics and interpret no-low promotions as ads for full-strength alcohol.
One said "it just feels wrong."
Here @richardpurves.bsky.social explains more:
How do alcohol brands get around advertising restrictions?
👇This video breaks down the tactics used to bypass ad bans and continue marketing - from sponsorships > brand extensions > exploiting loopholes.
Worth a watch to understand how the industry operates...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzg7...
⬇️ Registration is now open!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1980473934...
📆 Wed 6 May (10:30-14:30)
📍RCPE (Edinburgh)
🧠We welcome presentations on research findings and on more reflective matters! If you would like the opportunity to present at this event, please submit an abstract by 27th March.
How alcohol companies use zero-alcohol advertising to avoid regulation, and why this is harmful.
Another excellent @theguardian.com 'It's Complicated' short.
www.youtube.com/shorts/Nzg7r...
Here's @maggiechapman.bsky.social using our evidence in yesterday's debate to challenge how we think about substance misuse in prisons...
"If 63% of the prisoner population has alcohol use disorder, that is not a prison problem, that is a public health emergency playing out behind closed doors."
www.shaap.org.uk/publication/...
Cabinet Secretary for Justice @angelaconstance.bsky.social committing that the issues SHAAP raised on alcohol harm in custody will continue to feature in her work with the Scottish Prison Service going forward.
You can read our full briefing here: www.shaap.org.uk/publication/...
Keeping the conversation going on minimum unit pricing in Northern Ireland – insights from Scotland show the real impact MUP can have on reducing harm and saving lives. Essential context as the debate continues.
#MinimumUnitPricing #PublicHealth #AlcoholPolicy #NIADA
Today's Scottish Parliament debate on the prison substance misuse inquiry was encouraging.
Our briefing shaped how MSPs across parties discussed alcohol harm in custody - an issue that's been too long overlooked.
Read what informed the debate: www.shaap.org.uk/publication/...
'Why are we paying so much for no and low alcohol?'
Excellent 2-min film from @theguardian.com's 'It's Complicated' series, about:
💸 % of a drink that is tax
🍺 Price anchoring to make products seem higher quality
🏭 How some products are more expensive to make
www.youtube.com/shorts/xo-xc...
Moving to hear @mareetodd.bsky.social share her personal experience of alcohol harm
Around 1 in 2 of us are harmed by someone else's alcohol use
That's why we need comprehensive, whole population action to prevent and reduce harm
ICYMI!
⌛️There's still time to sign up to next week's webinar on the power of recovery services in communities with @healthimprovescot.bsky.social, Harbour Ayrshire, Professor David Best and SHAAP's Dr David McCartney
🎙️ New episode of Conversations about Alcohol:
@mareetodd.bsky.social joins Dr Rachel Phillips to discuss her work tackling alcohol & drug harms in Scotland and shares powerful personal stories of her family's recovery.
A joint project from RCGP & SHAAP.
Link below 👇
buff.ly/2jKoTOW
@shaapalcohol.bsky.social's Chair and @sheilagilheany.bsky.social joined the BBC to discuss the letter, evidence from Scotland, why Northern Ireland is stalling, and common misconceptions of MUP such as 'penalising the poor'.
📻 Listen in full: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... 14mins in.
You can find out more about our research with Stirling University, delving in to how young people recognise and are influenced by alcohol marketing at sporting events
www.stir.ac.uk/news/2026/fe...
🏉 #SixNations weekend is back...
The fans are ready. The teams are ready. And so are the alcohol brands.
Pitch-side ads, sponsor logos, no-low promotions.
It's everywhere and children are watching.
Watch to find out what this means for young people👇️
Gillian Mackay MSP questioning Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray yesterday on how the population health framework will help to tackle the commercial determinants of health - including measures such as uprating MUP and alcohol advertising
Watch here👇️
SHAAP is a steadfast signatory to this urgent call.
With NI alcohol deaths now highest in the UK, minimum unit pricing is essential. Scotland's evidence shows it saves lives.
🎧 Dr Alastair MacGilchrist discussed Scotland's minimum unit pricing experience on Radio UIster last night.
7 years of evidence shows MUP works: reduced deaths, fewer hospital admissions, lives saved.
Essential listening for the current NI debate (from 13 mins >)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
“While the current proposals [to protect UK children online] focus on harmful content and age verification, alcohol marketing ending up on under-18s’ screens via influencers and social media sponsorship is notably absent from the agenda." @shaapalcohol.bsky.social
www.shaap.org.uk/news/shaap-c...
"Was it simple? No. Was it powerful? Absolutely."
@FreeInRecovery's Jit Chauhan reflects on the journey to create culturally responsive recovery pathways for Black & Asian communities in Scotland. From doubt to hope to action.
Read his story & the full event report: www.shaap.org.uk/9030-2/
UK Gvt announced their online safety plans for children and they're missing a major piece of the puzzle...
🧩We need to protect u-18s from alcohol marketing via influencers and social media sponsors
👇SHAAP Chair, Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, comments on the proposal
www.shaap.org.uk/news/shaap-c...
💡To learn more about the new research with @stir.ac.uk, visit www.stir.ac.uk/news/2026/fe...
🏉 Scotland v England this weekend...
❤️ Passion!
🎉 Atmosphere!
🤔 Alcohol marketing?
SHAAP Chair Dr Alastair MacGilchrist shares what 11-17 yr olds told us: they see alcohol advertising at almost every match, recognise the tactics, and one even said "it just feels wrong"
Jem Roberts and SHAAP's Dr Peter Rice explore what's really happening to British pubs in new @ias.org.uk analysis. The piece examines pub closure claims and separates fact from fiction in the ongoing debate 👇
How can recovery orientated services empower communities to thrive?
Join @healthimprovescot.bsky.social, Harbour Ayrshire, Professor David Best & SHAAP's Dr David McCartney for insights on frameworks bridging harm reduction & recovery.
📅 3 March, 11am-1pm
