Friday, April 10 2026

Feeling Unfulfilled Could Lead to Riskier, Heavier Alcohol Use

People who have three basic psychological needs met are more likely to have a healthy relationship with alcohol, according to new research from the University of Georgia. Across three different studies in the new publication, researchers found a sense of autonomy, competence and connection led participants to drink more responsibly. That meant drinking less, consuming alcohol more slowly and using a designated driver when drinking in public. People who said they weren’t fulfilled were more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drinking to the point of blacking out or acting foolishly or impulsively. Learn more...

Alcohol Use Disorder

Monday, March 2 2026

How Cutting Back or Cutting Out Alcohol Affects Your Health

Cutting back on drinking is associated with many health benefits, including improved sleep, increased energy, weight loss and improved cardiovascular health. Reducing drinking can also help improve your mood. Other benefits can include financial savings and an improved insight into your relationship with alcohol. Research demonstrates that people can still achieve health benefits by reducing their consumption, even if they don’t cut back completely. Learn more...

Health Effects

Saturday, February 28 2026

Alcohol Ads Linked to Increased Alcohol Craving and Consumption

Watching ads that promote alcohol has been linked to increased craving for alcohol and increased alcohol consumption for certain people. A study found that people who gravitated, either consciously or subconsciously, toward ads for alcohol instead of ads for other products experienced heightened craving for alcohol, and subsequently drank more than those who did not have a bias toward alcohol ads. Students who chose to watch alcohol ads, voluntarily or involuntarily, reported higher craving for alcohol. Read more...

Prevention Efforts

Thursday, February 26 2026

New Blood Test Score Detects Hidden Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have developed a new, easy-to-use blood test score that can help identify when fatty liver disease is being driven by excessive alcohol use, an important distinction that often goes unrecognized in routine care. The study results found that a new blood test score could help clinicians determine when liver injury is likely driven by alcohol rather than metabolic factors, providing clearer guidance on when additional alcohol testing may be needed. Read more...

 

Health Effects

Wednesday, February 25 2026

Heavy Alcohol Consumption Links to Higher Risk of Colorectal Cancer

A peer-reviewed study found that long-term heavy alcohol consumption is associated with a dramatically higher risk of colorectal cancer — particularly rectal cancer. Researchers followed more than 88,000 adults with no prior cancer history and found that people who drank heavily across adulthood had up to a 91 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer compared with lifelong light drinkers. Importantly, the study also suggests that quitting alcohol may reduce risk. Read more...

 

Health Effects

Tuesday, February 24 2026

When Influencers Raise a Glass, Young Viewers Want to Join Them

Young adults who viewed influencer posts with alcohol were significantly more likely to desire a drink than peers who watched similar posts – from the same influencers – with no alcohol involved. The study in JAMA Pediatrics, led by Jon-Patrick Allem, an associate professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health, is the first randomized trial to demonstrate that exposure to alcohol in social media drives the desire to drink. Learn more...

 

Prevention Efforts