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The Alcohol Alert PodcastThe Institute of Alcohol Studies presents the Alc Author: Institute of Alcohol Studies
A monthly podcast exploring alcohol harm, policy, research, and industry influence in the UK and around the world. From minimum unit pricing to corporate lobbying, we speak to the people behind the headlines to uncover whats really going on. instalcstud.substack.com Language: en Genres: News, News Commentary, Politics Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Government licensing reform sparks concerns over public health and local accountability
Wednesday, 26 November, 2025
In our latest podcast we spoke to Professor Niamh Fitzgerald and Dr James Nicholls of the University of Stirling about the UK government’s recent alcohol licensing Taskforce and its proposed reforms. We discussed the implications of the proposals for public health, local accountability, and the hospitality industry, and explored why economic growth arguments are being prioritised over health considerations.On the episode Dr Nicholls explained that:“This is a pretty unique example of quite fundamental changes being made to the system on the basis of an incredibly short report that was produced in six weeks by a very, very small group of people, most of which was dominated by the alcohol industry themselves.”They highlighted that the six-week Taskforce, dominated by industry representatives, proposed measures including a national licensing policy framework, an “amnesty” on licensing conditions, and enhanced powers for licensing officers. These changes could undermine democratic oversight, weaken local control, and shift the licensing system’s focus from public safety to promoting economic growth. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit instalcstud.substack.com
