iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by John Holmes

Abi Stevely @abi-stevely.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I spoke to Elle Wadsworth on the Addiction Audio podcast about our recent paper on the pricing of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks! Open-access paper here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... Podcast here: shows.acast.com/5eaeb1c98ad1...?

shows.acast.com

Comparing the price of alcohol-free and regular strength drinks with Abi Stevely | Addiction Audio

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John Holmes @jholmessheff.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Very excited to part of this new centre leading research on gambling-related harm! Looking forward to our new (and old) friends in Glasgow, Swansea and King's and bringing what we've learned at @sarg-scharr.bsky.social from alcohol and tobacco research

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John Holmes @jholmessheff.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

How should alcohol policy approach alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks? Hear the thoughts of experts (and me) in this excerpt from our @addiction-ssa.org roundtable. youtu.be/hRx1y_C7Bok?...

youtu.be

'NoLo' drinks and alcohol harm | Policy roundtable clips

YouTube video by Society for the Study of Addiction

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John Holmes @jholmessheff.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

You can watch the full version of the @addiction-ssa.org roundtable on the future of UK alcohol policy now www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwSc... I chaired an amazing panel of experts that cover everything from the role of industry to rethinking who is harmed by alcohol. A short trailer below.

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John Holmes @jholmessheff.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Keep your eyes open for a roundtable I recorded with @addiction-ssa.org Society for the Study of Addiction and leading UK experts on what the UK needs from a new alcohol strategy. The full discussion will be published later this week and you can see a preview here

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Reposted by John Holmes

APSAD DAR @apsad-dar.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

🆕 Regulation of Alcohol-Free and Low-Alcohol Drinks: Learning From a Comparative Analysis of 8 Countries Robyn Burton, Kathryn Angus, Amber Morgan, Rebecca Howell, Nathan Critchlow, ... @jholmessheff.bsky.social, ... @miamiller1.bsky.social, ... @niamhfitzgerald.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/dar....

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Reposted by John Holmes

Institute of Alcohol Studies @ias.org.uk · 29/01/2026

In our new FOI study we found that Budweiser directly urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to intervene and "ensure" that DHSC removed alcohol marketing restrictions from the NHS’s 10 Year Health Plan. Health policy should be protected from industry influence. www.ias.org.uk/report/now-y...

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Reposted by John Holmes

Institute of Alcohol Studies @ias.org.uk · 20/01/2026

Has England’s drinking returned to “normal” after COVID? In our latest blog, Dr Vera Buss explains how alcohol dependence and harm remain elevated - especially among more disadvantaged groups. www.ias.org.uk/2026/01/20/h...

ias.org.uk

Has England’s drinking returned to “normal”? - Institute of Alcohol Studies

Nearly five years on from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, England’s drinking patterns are only partly returning to pre-pandemic levels. New research shows that while average consumption is falling...

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John Holmes @jholmessheff.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Our new paper in the @bmj.com explores how public health should respond to alcohol-free and low alcohol drinks. We argue for a precautionary approach that shapes the emerging policy framework to maximise the public health benefits and minimise the risks of these products www.bmj.com/content/392/...

bmj.com

How should public health respond to rise of alcohol-free and low alcohol drinks?

John Holmes and colleagues argue for a precautionary approach that is guided by public health interests and considers both risks and benefits Sales of alcohol-free and low alcohol (nolo) drinks have ...

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Reposted by John Holmes

Addiction journal @addictionjournal.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Addiction is currently seeking to expand its pool of Statistics & Methodology Editors - please see here for more details, including how to apply www.addictionjournal.org/newsroom/dep...

addictionjournal.org

Addiction Journal - Deputy Statistics & Methodology Editor Role with Addiction

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Reposted by John Holmes

Addiction journal @addictionjournal.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Has alcohol consumption in England returned to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels? A monthly population study, 2014 to 2024 buff.ly/OQC8Ii3 @melissaoldham.bsky.social @drsarahejackson.bsky.social @lionshahab.bsky.social @victimofmaths.bsky.social @jholmessheff.bsky.social @jamiebrown.bsky.social

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Reposted by John Holmes

Institute of Alcohol Studies @ias.org.uk · 26/11/2025

The UK government has confirmed that alcohol duty rates will be increased in line with inflation, staying the same in real terms. We welcome this decision. Our statement:

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Reposted by John Holmes

Alex Hern @hern.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

From now on, when discussing the budget, please use “is this measure bigger than the cost to the exchequer of gen Z drinking less” as your metric for assessing whether something actually raises or costs a significant sum

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John Holmes @jholmessheff.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Our new paper looks at trends in alcohol consumption after the COVID-19 pandemic and finds mixed results - some indicators are returning to pre-COVID levels (but are not there yet) and the main indicator of alcohol dependence is staying high.

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Reposted by John Holmes

Colin Angus @victimofmaths.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Another new @addictionjournal.bsky.social paper out today looking at trends in alcohol consumption in England and trying to answer the important question as to whether this has returned to pre-pandemic levels after rising during the first lockdown. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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Reposted by John Holmes

Institute of Alcohol Studies @ias.org.uk · 07/11/2025

This is one of the major concerns regarding zero alcohol products: that they only benefit wealthier people because they're more expensive than standard alcohol. Reducing alcohol deaths among the lowest socioeconomic groups has to be the priority, (🧵) www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

theguardian.com

Why are alcohol-free drinks so expensive? Some fake spirits cost over £25 a bottle!

In this new series, our money and consumer editor considers the often perplexing reasons items cost what they do. As a new report suggests booze-free booze can cost 25% more than the alcoholic equival...

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Reposted by John Holmes

Charlotte Head @charlierosehead.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

I'll be presenting a poster at the European Public Health Conference next week in Helsinki bringing together my postdoc work with @lhgp.bsky.social and my PhD/MSc work on environmental contamination in wastewater. academic.oup.com/eurpub/artic...

academic.oup.com

Wastewater-based epidemiology for local tobacco and nicotine use with small-area estimations

AbstractBackground. Tobacco and nicotine use is a significant global public health threat, increasing the risk of many cancers and cardiovascular disease.

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Reposted by John Holmes

Policy Research Unit in Addictions @nihr-pruaddictions.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Our new video introduces the Policy Research Unit in Addictions, showing how our research helps inform policy and tackle the challenges of addiction and addictive products. Watch it on Youtube and subscribe for more on our latest research youtu.be/Qwp4VrnFfnk

youtu.be

Introducing the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Addictions: Research That Shapes Policy

YouTube video by Policy Research Unit (PRU) in Addictions

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John Holmes @jholmessheff.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

This is a hugely important editorial that sets out how UK Government proposals to reform alcohol licensing will undermine the entire purpose of the licensing system. It will explicitly move the focus from protecting public health and social order to promoting economic goals and business priorities.

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Reposted by John Holmes

James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

New @addictionjournal.bsky.social editorial on the licensing reforms currently being rushed through by the UK Government. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... The Call for Evidence closes on November 6th www.gov.uk/government/c...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Regulatory capture in UK alcohol licensing policy: The 2025 ‘licensing taskforce’ report

Click on the article title to read more.

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Reposted by John Holmes

Alcohol Focus Scotland @alcoholfocus.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

We're recruiting for a new CEO! You will be the driving force behind our mission to reduce alcohol harm and improve lives across Scotland and beyond. Find out more and apply ⬇️ www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/about-vacanc...

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Reposted by John Holmes

SARG - SCHARR @sarg-scharr.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Lots of media coverage this morning of findings from our new report 'Alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks in Great Britain: Monitoring report on 2023 data'. The no/lo market continues to expand and no/lo drinks are more likely to be consumed by risky drinkers. Find out more 👇 @nihr.bsky.social

sarg-sheffield.ac.uk

New report reveals further growth and key trends in alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks market - Sheffield Addictions Research Group

A second Monitoring Report from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group has been published, revealing further growth in the alcohol-free and low-alcohol (no/lo) drinks market and offering new insights...

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Reposted by John Holmes

Institute of Alcohol Studies @ias.org.uk · 23/09/2025

Sober months like Dry January have become increasingly popular in recent years, but do they actually change how we drink? In this blog, @aishamoolla.bsky.social outlines the findings from recent @sarg-scharr.bsky.social research on the short and long-term impacts. www.ias.org.uk/2025/09/23/d...

ias.org.uk

Does Dry January change how we drink? - Institute of Alcohol Studies

A new study finds that Dry January does show up in national alcohol sales data – people drink less and buy more no/lo options during the month. But most return to old habits by February, raising quest...

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Reposted by John Holmes

Addiction journal @addictionjournal.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Exploring the impact on emotional wellbeing of having a spouse or cohabiting partner with elevated Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) scores: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional health survey data buff.ly/IPZyUGS @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @shwardle.bsky.social

buff.ly

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Reposted by John Holmes

James Nicholls @jamesnicholls.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

This is a great discussion of generational change, risk, anxiety and drinking behaviours featuring @amypennay.bsky.social and @jholmessheff.bsky.social from the @ias.org.uk podcast. open.spotify.com/episode/1avJ...

open.spotify.com

Alcohol Alert June 2025

Alcohol Alert Podcast · Episode

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Reposted by John Holmes

Colin Angus @victimofmaths.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

The Government's big new 10 year health plan has finally been published. In spite of lots of talk about moving towards prevention rather than treatment, there is basically no meaningful alcohol prevention policy here. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/686638...

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Reposted by John Holmes

Anne Greaves @annefgreaves.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Opportunity for Sheffield people to get involved in research led by my colleague @mervemolla.bsky.social

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Reposted by John Holmes

Eleanor Winpenny @eleanorwinpenny.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Our latest paper led by Oscar Rousham finds three trajectories of diet quality across adolescence and early adulthood. We find independent contributions of both parental SEP and individual education years to odds of following different trajectories in data from Western Austr. doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...

Graph depicting 3 different trajectories of diet quality: (1) low, (2) low to high and (3) high

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Reposted by John Holmes

Institute of Alcohol Studies @ias.org.uk · 27/06/2025

Why is youth drinking in decline? Listen to our latest podcast to hear why it's more than any one cause, and needs to be understood from a broader sociological position of generational change. Ft. @jholmessheff.bsky.social and @amypennay.bsky.social Listen here: www.ias.org.uk/podcast/why-...

ias.org.uk

Why are young people drinking less? - Institute of Alcohol Studies

On this month’s podcast we spoke to Professor John Holmes, University of Sheffield, and Amy Pennay, La Trobe University, about their new book: Young People, Alcohol, and Risk: A Culture of Caution. W...

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Reposted by John Holmes

Institute of Alcohol Studies @ias.org.uk · 28/05/2025

A new book explores why young people in high-income countries are drinking less, linking the decline to growing health consciousness, closer parental relationships, and a broader culture of caution. In our latest blog, the authors discuss the findings. www.ias.org.uk/2025/05/28/y...

ias.org.uk

Young People, Alcohol and Risk: A Culture of Caution - Institute of Alcohol Studies

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John Holmes @jholmessheff.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

The latest 'Alcohol Explained' video from @ias.org.uk focuses on Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol, with contributions from me and @victimofmaths.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3EX...

youtube.com

Minimum Unit Pricing: Explained

YouTube video by Institute of Alcohol Studies

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Reposted by John Holmes

Melissa Oldham @melissaoldham.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

We have a new paper out today in Lancet Public Health looking at increases in alcohol-specific deaths in England. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

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John Holmes @jholmessheff.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Important short article explaining why the NAS report on alcohol consumption and health uses a flawed approach to understanding the risks of low levels alcohol consumption. In short, claims that low levels of drinking are associated with reduced health risks are not robust.

sciencedirect.com

Biases inherent in all-cause mortality studies: implications for shaping the 2025–2030 dietary guidelines for Americans on alcohol consumption

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