News & Media
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Tobacco company levy could raise up to £4.9bn and prevent 10,000 hospital admissions, study suggests
New modelling from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group shows a 'polluter pays' levy scheme could cut smoking deaths, reduce hospital admissions, and raise billions in tax revenue.
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SARG researchers lead UK's biggest effort to tackle gambling harms
A major new national effort to tackle gambling harms and shape future policy, prevention and treatment across the UK is being led by researchers from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group.
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Later pub opening hours linked to surge in alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and crime
Extending late-night opening hours for pubs and bars can lead to a significant increase in alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and reported crime, according to new research involving the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG).
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New SARG study finds young people are three times more likely to start with alcohol than no/lo alternatives
New research from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) and University College London (UCL) has found that young people aged 16-25 in Great Britain are three times more likely to start drinking alcohol than alcohol-free and low-alcohol (no/lo) alternatives.
Pubs Can't Win on Price. 80% of Open Mics Run Midweek
August 2026
UK music marketplace GigXchange published a blog post directly inspired by the SARG blog post 'Can Andy Burnham save Britain's pubs?'. Combining SARG's analysis of historical shifts in pub drinking and alcohol affordability with data from their national directory of 1,192 open mic nights, the piece explores why tax cuts alone cannot solve the pub crisis and how grassroots live music offers venues an alternative way to survive.
Carling waters down alcohol content of its famous lager to 3.4% as it looks to cut costs
July 2026
Colin Angus is quoted in this Daily Mail article about findings from our 'Reforming alcohol taxes in a cost-of-living crisis' project.
British booze getting weaker as average strength of can of beer or bottle of wine drops by one per cent since 2022
July 2026
Colin Angus is quoted in this Daily Mail article about findings from our 'Reforming alcohol taxes in a cost-of-living crisis' project.
Revealed: Alarming reasons behind Britain's alcohol death crisis – according to the scientists that spotted the surge in victims (and it's not just Covid)
July 2026
Colin Angus was interviewed by the Daily Mail about research published in The Lancet Public Health on trends in alcohol-specific deaths in England.
No/lo drinks and alcohol harm reduction: a targeted tool, not a population-level solution
June 2026
Oscar Rousham talks about his PhD research on the Institute of Alcohol Studies blog.
Latest on the blog
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Can Andy Burnham save Britain's pubs?
In this blog post, Colin Angus examines Prime Minister Andy Burnham's proposed business rate cuts for pubs, clubs and live music venues. He explores how long-term drinking trends and off-trade pricing have contributed to pub closures, and assesses the wider economic and public health implications of the proposed tax changes.
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SARG to showcase latest public health research at UKSBM Annual Scientific Meeting
Members of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) will join researchers from across the country to present work on alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks, agent-based modelling, systems mapping and food insecurity.
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SARG professors appointed to Institute of Alcohol Studies Expert Advisory Panel
The Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) is pleased to announce that Professor John Holmes and Professor Colin Angus have joined the Expert Advisory Panel for the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS).
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SARG Director chairs national alcohol policy roundtable
Professor John Holmes, Director of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG), has chaired a high-level expert roundtable discussing the future of alcohol policy in the UK.
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Help SARG map the advice given on alcohol-free drinks in alcohol treatment and recovery services
The Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) is inviting professionals from alcohol treatment and recovery services to give their insights to a new study investigating the guidance provided to service users regarding alcohol-free drinks.
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SARG researchers to showcase local health modelling at the Prevention Research Conference 2026
Researchers from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) will present work from the Local Health and Global Profits programme at the Prevention Research Conference 2026 in Birmingham on 4-5 March.
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New research shows that spending less on tobacco, gambling and sweets is good for the UK economy
A new study from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) has found that public health policies which reduce spending on harmful products can actually provide a significant boost to UK jobs and the wider economy.
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SARG researcher Dr Parvati Perman-Howe secures NIHR Career Development Award
We are delighted to announce that Dr Parvati Perman-Howe, a Research Associate within the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG), has secured a highly sought-after Career Development Award.
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Professor John Holmes contributes to major new report outlining actions to tackle alcohol harm
SARG Director Professor John Holmes was part of an expert panel that supported the development of 'A Healthier Future: A long-term vision to tackle alcohol harm in the UK', a significant new report published by the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) this week.
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SARG researchers present on economic modelling and wastewater surveillance at European Public Health Conference
Two researchers from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG), Dr Charlotte Head and Dr Esther Chanakira, will showcase innovative local-level tools for policy design, including economic modelling and wastewater surveillance, at the European Public Health (EPH) Conference in Helsinki from 11–14 November 2025.
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SARG to present latest research on alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks at SSA Annual Conference 2025
Researchers from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) are set to present their latest findings on alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks at the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA) Annual Conference 2025.
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New SARG report details alcohol-related health and financial burden in Northern Ireland
The Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) has published new analysis estimating the substantial health and financial toll of alcohol consumption in Northern Ireland, using the most recent available post-pandemic data.
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New report reveals further growth and key trends in alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks market
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 into consumer behaviour and pricing.
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SARG researchers to present at European nicotine and tobacco conference
Two researchers from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG), Esther Moore and Professor Hazel Squires, will present their latest findings at the annual conference of the European Chapter of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT-E).
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SARG researcher secures major Wellcome funding to model how context influences alcohol consumption
Dr Amber Copeland from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) has been awarded a prestigious Wellcome Trust fellowship worth £591,755 over five years. The funding will support a new project to develop a cutting-edge computational model that explores how a person's environment influences their attempts to cut down on alcohol.
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New report on minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Wales
The Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) has published a major new report that models the impact of alcohol pricing policies on alcohol consumption and harm in Wales.
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SARG researchers share insights into youth and student drinking at national conference
Researchers from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) recently presented their findings on youth and student drinking trends at the Student Health Association Annual Conference, held from Sunday 29 June to Tuesday 1 July 2025 in Sheffield.
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SARG researchers co-author new book exploring 'culture of caution' in youth drinking decline
A new book by an international team of experts, including researchers from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG), unpacks the complex social, cultural and economic factors driving the decline in young people's alcohol consumption.
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SARG's Lucy Burke wins Open Research Prize 2025
Lucy Burke, a Qualitative Research Associate and PhD Student with the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG), has been awarded the University of Sheffield Open Research Prize 2025 in the Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) category.
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SARG showcases research at School of Medicine and Population Health event
Researchers from SARG are set to showcase their work at the University of Sheffield's School of Medicine and Population Health Research and Innovation Meeting 2025.
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New project aims to embed youth voices in local tobacco and vape policymaking
A collaborative project emphasising the crucial role of young people's voices in shaping public health policy has been awarded funding from the NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR).
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SARG Heads to Glasgow for 50th Anniversary KBS Symposium
A team of twenty researchers and PhD students from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) will be participating in the landmark 50th Anniversary KBS Symposium for Social and Epidemiological Research on Alcohol next month.
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New project will use machine learning to help improve engagement in gambling addiction treatment
A new project led by Professor Matt Field at the University of Sheffield aims to significantly improve how people engage with treatment for gambling addiction, thanks to funding from the Academic Forum for the Study of Gambling.
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Increase in alcohol deaths in England an 'acute crisis'
The persistent higher rate of alcohol deaths in England since the pandemic in 2020 is an 'acute crisis' requiring urgent action from government, according to a new study led by researchers from University College London and the Sheffield Addictions Research Group.
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SARG experts to present at IAS webinar on minimum unit pricing
SARG Director Professor John Holmes and Research Fellow Dr Abi Stevely will be sharing their extensive knowledge and insights on minimum unit pricing (MUP) at a webinar hosted by the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS).
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Ellen McGrane speaks on gambling marketing at public health event
SARG Research Associate Ellen McGrane presented research on the links between gambling marketing and behaviour at a recent event on the role local authorities play in creating healthier local environments.
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Sheffield research shows Drink Less app could save lives and millions for the NHS
A new study led by Professor Colin Angus of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) has revealed the significant potential of the Drink Less app in reducing alcohol-related harm and saving the NHS millions of pounds.
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Health inequalities and no/lo drinks the focus of upcoming webinar
Are no- and low-alcohol drinks truly a healthier alternative for everyone? PhD student Lucy Burke will explore this question in a free online session on Wednesday 5 February 2025.
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SARG researchers to present at Alcohol Knowledge Exchange Workshop
Professor John Holmes and Professor Colin Angus are key contributors to the Knowledge Exchange Workshop: Alcohol Evidence in Policy and Practice taking place in Edinburgh this week.
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SARG research on drinking guidelines presented in Brussels
Professor John Holmes, Director of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group, recently spoke at a European Alcohol Harm Reduction Symposium on UK drinking guidelines, the decline in youth drinking and how to communicate evidence on alcohol and cancer.
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Researchers win prestigious Public Health Journal Paper of the Year Award with research on gambling advertising and public health
A team of researchers, including members of the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG), has been honoured with the prestigious Public Health Journal Paper of the Year award.
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SARG releases first Budget briefing report
The Sheffield Addictions Research Group has launched an ongoing series of Budget Briefing Notes exploring the potential health and economic consequences of tobacco and alcohol tax changes, beginning with the Autumn 2024 Budget.
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SARG researchers to present at SSA Annual Conference 2024
Researchers from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group will attend the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA) Annual Conference in Newcastle on 14 and 15 November 2024.
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Minimum pricing for tobacco could help to reduce smoking rates in Scotland, new research suggests
New research from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group has assessed the potential effectiveness of minimum pricing policies for tobacco that could help reduce smoking rates and improve health in Scotland.
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IAS funds SARG researcher to study barriers to no/lo drink consumption among disadvantaged groups
Dr Merve Mollaahmetoglu has been awarded a grant from the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) to investigate barriers to the use of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks among individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
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SARG study on UK alcohol tax reforms published in The Lancet Public Health
A new study published this week in The Lancet Public Health by the Sheffield Addictions Research Group shows that while recent reforms to UK alcohol taxation are a step in the right direction, they are unlikely to significantly improve public health outcomes without further changes.
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SARG researchers present work on gambling advertising and inequalities in harms
Researchers from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group recently presented their work on the effectiveness of gambling advertising bans and the unequal impact of gambling and alcohol on disadvantaged communities.
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Colin Angus awarded prestigious public health fellowship
Senior Research Fellow Colin Angus has been awarded Fellowship through Distinction of the Faculty of Public Health.
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Online seminar on behavioural theory and tobacco modelling
Modelling work on tobacco initiation and cessation was the subject of a recent online seminar for Behavioural Research UK.
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Funding available for two PhD projects focusing on women and alcohol
The Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG), a centre of excellence for alcohol and public health research, is seeking two PhD students to investigate women's drinking and its impact on health.
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Sheffield Addictions Research Group to present at KBS Alcohol Epidemiology Symposium
A team of nine will be travelling from Sheffield to Australia in May to share their work with alcohol researchers from across the world.
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Lucy Burke to speak at Pint of Science festival
SARG PhD researcher Lucy Burke will give a talk on no- and low-alcohol drinks at this year's Pint of Science festival.
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SARG contributes to major new report on e-cigarettes
The Sheffield Addictions Research Group has contributed to a major new report on e-cigarettes from the Royal College of Physicians.
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John Holmes to speak on no- and low-alcohol drinks in SHAAP seminar
Prof John Holmes and Prof Niamh Fitzgerald will discuss the implications of no- and low-alcohol products for public health in a free online seminar on 24 April.
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New SARG study shows that going smoke-free could redirect almost £11 billion a year into local economies
Making England completely smoke-free could free up £10.9 billion and provide substantial benefits to local economies, a new SARG study has shown.
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Funding announced for research into commercial determinants of health
Congratulations to SARG team member Zoe Clarke who has won funding for research on commercial determinants of health in Sheffield.
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Choice and flexibility are key factors to support stopping smoking
An evaluation of a smoking cessation service by Sheffield researchers highlights the importance of flexible support to engage with different groups and support their individual needs.
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SARG team to present at UK Society for Behavioural Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting
Luke Wilson, Anna Butters and Maddy Henney will present on no- and low-alcohol drinks, Dry January and food insecurity.
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Spring Budget 2024: What does it mean for alcohol and e-cigarettes?
Following the Spring Budget on 6 March 2024, SARG experts Colin Angus and Duncan Gillespie take a look at what it means for alcohol and e-cigarette taxes.
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Colin Angus presents on alcohol consumption and harm at national conference
SARG Senior Research Fellow Colin Angus spoke at the Managing Addictions in Primary Care conference last week.
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Dr Duncan Gillespie speaks on the Communicable Research podcast
SARG Senior Research Fellow Duncan Gillespie features in the latest episode of the SCHARR Communicable Research podcast 'Quitting Cigarettes: Making cessation support inclusive and equitable'.
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SARG work cited at Health and Social Care Committee inquiry
SARG work on the combined effects of tobacco and alcohol pricing policy was mentioned in the Health and Social Care Committee inquiry on tobacco, alcohol, gambling and drugs this week.
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Dr Duncan Gillespie speaks on tobacco policy at SPECTRUM event
Leading tobacco policy experts gathered at the Academy of Medical Sciences in London for a three-day workshop hosted by the SPECTRUM Consortium, entitled "Nicotine & tobacco: Current Issues, Policy and Practice".
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New report reveals key features of no- and low-alcohol drinks market
The first of a new series of reports into no and low alcohol drinks was published today (15 January 2024) by the Sheffield Addictions Research Group.
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New report on the need for gambling disorder treatment published today
Researchers at the University of Sheffield, in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, have conducted a study that sheds light on the prevalence of harmful gambling in England.
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The Sheffield Alcohol Research Group becomes the Sheffield Addictions Research Group
The Sheffield Alcohol Research Group (SARG) has changed its name to the Sheffield Addictions Research Group to reflect its expanding research portfolio.
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John Holmes to speak at MCA Annual Symposium
SARG Director Professor John Holmes will give a talk on no/lo drinks at the Medical Council on Alcohol's Annual Symposium this week (22.11.23).
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SARG team highlights alcohol and gambling research at the Festival of Social Science
The Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) recently took part in the ESRC Festival of Social Science by hosting an interactive activity stand in Sheffield's Moor Market.
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SARG researchers present at UKPRP Conference
Dr Damon Morris and Dr Duncan Gillespie recently attended the Prevention Research Conference and the SPECTRUM Consortium Annual Meeting in Edinburgh.
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Dr Inge Kersbergen to present Mini Master Class
Lecturer and SARG team member Inge Kersbergen will present an online master class on 'Changing alcohol serving size to reduce drinking' in December.
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Robin Purshouse speaks at the University of Exeter
Professor Robin Purshouse recently gave a talk on Building agent-based models using computational intelligence as part of the University of Exeter's Computer Science Seminar Series.
