Institute of Alcohol Studies

From national symbols to sport, alcohol brands embed themselves in culture.

Positioning drinking as identity. Pride. Belonging.

It’s powerful marketing – and it makes regulation harder.

🎥 Watch more: https://youtu.be/gEs1IW58bd0

Despite the protestations of social media companies and online platforms, these are some of the most protocol-driven systems that have ever existed, making it easy to introduce controls on digital alcohol marketing.

More in our latest podcast: https://www.ias.org.uk/podcast/hooked-by-design-how-social-media-fuels-alcohol-harm/ @nnniccc

Digital alcohol marketing disproportionately targets people who are likely to engage with alcohol adverts, amplifying the risk of harm.

Listen to our latest podcast for more from Professor Nicholas Carah (@nnniccc): https://www.ias.org.uk/podcast/hooked-by-design-how-social-media-fuels-alcohol-harm/

No and low alcohol drinks aren’t the population-level fix for alcohol harm that headlines suggest.

In our latest blog, Oscar Rousham shows that most buyers already drink at low risk – but for a smaller group of regular heavy drinkers, they could help.