Introduction: Late-night alcohol trading hours are generally associated with increased alcohol-related harm. Since 2018, two Scottish cities have allowed extensions in late-night alcohol trading hours with the aim of revitalising the night-time economy. This is the first study to directly observe whether and how bars and nightclubs use these extensions, and collect rich qualitative data about venue environment and staff behaviour. Methods: Trained, paired fieldworkers, behaving as customers, completed semi-structured observation schedules on mobile devices during repeated visits to 15 purposively sampled venues in 2023-24 (5 venues in Glasgow and 10 in Aberdeen: total of 313 h of observation). In-depth qualitative fieldnotes were completed within 48 h of visits. Results: Half of the venues closed early on at least one fieldworker visit without using all of their later trading hours. Venues using their extended hours were observed to be at low occupancy on at least one visit. Fieldworkers observed bar staff serving alcohol to intoxicated customers in every venue. In half of the venues, 'shot girls' were observed persistently approaching customers, including those who appeared intoxicated. Conclusions: Extensions in late-night alcohol trading hours granted in two Scottish cities were not used consistently by venues due to lack of demand by customers. The late-night sale of alcohol to intoxicated customers was routine. Our findings challenge the assumption that later trading hours benefit the night-time economy and highlight the likelihood of associated alcohol-related harms.

Background Although global drinking rates are declining, this trend is less evident among women, with LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people at elevated risk for hazardous drinking. In addition to minority stress (e.g., stigma, discrimination), drinking culture and social norms likely shape alcohol use within these groups, yet remain underexplored as potential intervention points. Objective This study was part of a larger multi-country project on alcohol use among LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary individuals. Because online resources have been found to appeal to stigmatized groups, we aimed to examine LGBTQ+ women’s and nonbinary people’s experiences with alcohol use in Aotearoa New Zealand, identify barriers and facilitators to reducing drinking, and explore their views on features of online interventions that may be acceptable and effective. Design &; Methods From July to October 2024, we conducted a web-based study using survey methods with LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary participants in Aotearoa New Zealand who drank alcohol at least once a week on average in the past six months. Results Participants (N = 108; ages 18–69, M = 34, SD = 13) primarily identified as cisgender women (88%), lesbian (60%), and New Zealand European (56.5%). Many had attempted to cut back on their alcohol use, motivated primarily by health, harm reduction, and cost. Support for reducing alcohol consumption included social support, social alternatives to bars and clubs, and No or Lo alcohol beverage options. Open text responses suggested that online interventions were seen as potentially valuable if they focused on health and wellness rather than pathology and abstinence. Conclusion Affirming health-focused online interventions tailored for LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people in New Zealand that center sober-curious empowerment, may help reduce harmful alcohol use.

INTRODUCTION:Between 2017 and 2019, different policy processes in two large Scottish cities led to local authorities granting licences for later on-premises alcohol trading hours. As a part of a wider mixed methods study, we examine news media reporting of these licencing changes to understand the content and progression of arguments at the time they were being discussed through to, and after, implementation. METHODS:Forty-four news articles were identified through online searches (published 01/01/2015-01/01/2023) supplemented with hand searches of local publications. A qualitative thematic analysis was then conducted using NVivo. RESULTS:Trade and local government actors were foregrounded in the media. Sectors within the alcohol retail trade responded differently, depending on their business interests. In Aberdeen, stakeholders stated that the changes were primarily intended to support businesses and in response to consumer trends. In Glasgow, stakeholders stated that the changes were needed to boost the economy and compete with other European cities. A diverse range of stakeholders framed their arguments in health terms, expressing concerns that increased hours would lead to increased consumption and harm. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:In media reports of extended late-night trading hours, stakeholders who were both for and against the changes put forward arguments about business and health impacts. There appeared to be little consensus about the value of extended trading hours amongst trade stakeholders who responded in line with their specific business interests, sometimes drawing on health arguments to do so. This counters the assumption of unity in trade views on liberalisation of opening hours.

Introduction Alcohol-related harms are prevalent late at night, especially on weekends, when high levels of intoxication contribute to increased rates of injury and violence. Reducing or increasing alcohol trading hours late at night in bars and clubs is generally associated with reduced and increased harms, respectively. This study evaluates the impact of later alcohol trading hours in the Scottish cities of Aberdeen and Glasgow on alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and crimes. Under local policy changes, 38 bars in Aberdeen had trading hours extended between 1 and 3 h up to 3am, and 10 nightclubs in Glasgow had a 1-h extension to 4am.Methods Following a natural experiment evaluation framework, we used a controlled interrupted time series design to compare outcomes before and after policy changes, from May 2015 to March 2020. The primary outcome was a count of total weekend night-time alcohol-related ambulance call-outs. Secondary outcomes included weekend night-time crimes.Results In Aberdeen, the policy led to a significant relative increase of 11.4% (effect size=4.643; 95% CI 0.292 to 8.994; p=0.036) in alcohol-related ambulance call-outs, and 8.5% (effect size=3.442; 95% CI 0.239 to 6.645; p=0.035) in reported crimes, at weekend night-times compared with Edinburgh (control). Findings were not significant and robust across analyses for Glasgow.Conclusion Later alcohol trading hours had a significant negative impact on alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and reported crimes in Aberdeen (where more premises had longer extensions) but not in Glasgow, suggesting the number, capacity and type of premises moderated outcomes. This is important for the design of future national and local licensing policies and regulations.

Peer support is increasingly advocated for promoting men’s mental health. That said, men’s peer connections are often socially intertwined with alcohol use, which can limit potential mental health gains. This article describes the gendered dimensions of alcohol use in men’s peer mutual help for mental health. Drawing on photovoice interviews with 52 Canadian-based men, we inductively derived two themes: alcohol as social glue, and alcohol as social gloom. Alcohol as social glue delineated men’s use of alcohol as a prop, primer or purge when connecting with other men. Herein, the level of alcohol use varied, but the rituals, and sometimes the disinhibitory effects of drinking were central to securing men’s social connectedness. Alcohol as social gloom featured men’s anti-archetype, alienation and aloneness narratives, the sum and parts of which contextualized and cautioned against alcohol use, especially in the context of peer mutual help for mental health. Highlighted were men’s critiques of masculine drinking cultures in privileging sobriety as requisite to peer mental health promotion. The article traces the role of alcohol use in men’s peer mutual help for mental health, underscoring prevailing traditional and emergent contemporary masculine norms and practices. To leverage men’s peer mutual help for mental health there is a need to thoughtfully consider the social and structural determinants, and gendered dimensions of alcohol consumption. Men’s health promotion in this milieu could be facilitated through harm reduction and substitution efforts, such as drinking less and consuming low-alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages, along with gender-responsive alcohol policies.

Introduction Reducing alcohol availability has been identified as a potential approach to reduce alcohol use and related harm. In order to regulate alcohol availability at a local level, it is important to involve communities in decision-making and ensure interventions are locally acceptable and appropriate. To do this, we need to improve our understanding of how residents conceptualise alcohol availability and its impact on behaviours. This paper uses data collected in Scotland, a country with particularly high levels of alcohol-related harm, to explore the perspectives of residents, on local alcohol availability and how it might affect drinking behaviours. Methods We conducted 11 online focus groups with 45 participants, living in nine strongly contrasting neighbourhoods in Scotland, characterised by varying levels of alcohol retail density change, urbanity and deprivation. We explored participants’ perceptions of their local alcohol environment and alcohol availability, and any perceived relationship between alcohol availability and alcohol-related behaviours. Results Participants challenged established notions that alcohol availability is characterised primarily by density of alcohol outlets. According to our participants, availability is about accessibility, ease of purchase and ubiquity of alcohol. Residents drew distinctions between areas of varying deprivation and conceptualised alcohol availability as complex, characterised by market segmentation, and related to price, advertising and the wider environment. Conclusions This is one of the few papers to explore residents' perspectives of local alcohol availability and its relationship with alcohol use. It highlights that residents view alcohol availability as encompassing more than just the physical presence of outlets, recognising also the variety of outlet types and the connections between availability, pricing, and advertising. Policies to reduce local availability should consider residents’ perspectives and account for contextual factors such as shifts in the retail landscape and the availability of alcohol-free recreational alternatives.

Introduction The night-time economy comprises various sectors, including hospitality, transportation and entertainment, which generate substantial revenues and contribute to employment opportunities. Furthermore, the night-time economy provides spaces for leisure activities, cultural expression and social interaction. On-trade alcohol premises (places where consumers can buy and consume alcohol such as bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants) are a significant component of this night-time economy, functioning as focal points for socialising, entertainment and cultural events. However, when on-trade alcohol premises stay open later at night, this can be associated with negative public health impacts including increased alcohol consumption, intoxication, assaults, injuries and burden on public services including ambulance call outs, hospitalisations and increased impacts on criminal justice services. The evidence on the societal impact of policies to ‘later’ trading hours for bars and clubs in the night-time economy is limited. This protocol details the design of an economic evaluation of policy to later trading hours for bars and clubs in the night-time economy alongside the ELEPHANT study (National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Research, ref:129885).Methods and analysis The research design is an economic evaluation alongside a natural experiment within the ELEPHANT study carried out in Glasgow and Aberdeen. The economic evaluation has been designed to identify, measure and value prospective resource impacts and outcomes to assess the costs and consequences of local policy changes regarding late night trading hours for bars and clubs. A number of economic evaluation frameworks will be employed. A cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is appropriate for assessing the effectiveness of complex interventions when the impacts of policy are measured in natural units. Therefore, a CEA will be conducted for the primary consequence, alcohol-related ambulance call-outs, using a health service sector perspective. Since this outcome is essentially a cost, the CEA will also be reported as a cost-analysis. A cost-consequence analysis will also be performed for the primary and secondary consequences including all ambulance call-outs and reported crimes to evaluate the full economic impacts of later trading hours for bars and clubs in the night-time economy. The analysis will be conducted from a wider societal perspective, including health sector, criminal justice system, business and third sector perspectives and will be in line with the recent National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance and recommendations.Ethics and dissemination The economic evaluation of the ELEPHANT study will be conducted using secondary data. Thus, no ethical approval is required for this economic evaluation. However, ethical approval for the ELEPHANT study has been granted from the University of Stirling’s General Research Ethics Committee, and prior consent has also been obtained from the participants, if involved. The results of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications in journals and national and international conferences.

BackgroundGlobally, women consume less alcohol than men, but alcohol consumption among women has declined less in recent years than among men. Drinking rates and alcohol-related harms vary substantially across population groups of women, and sexual minority women (eg, lesbian, bisexual, and queer) are at notably high risk. An emerging body of literature suggests that in addition to minority stress (eg, stigma, discrimination), drinking norms and drinking cultures likely influence sexual minority women’s drinking. Almost no research has explored these factors as possible targets of interventions. Sober curiosity is a rapidly growing wellness movement that may be particularly salient for sexual minority women. It encourages individuals to be “curious” about the reasons they choose to drink and alcohol’s effects on their life and health. ObjectiveThe aims of this research are to (1) explore the perspectives of the drinking social worlds of sexual minority women, their awareness of the sober curious movement, perceptions of their own and their peers’ drinking and desire to drink less, and perceived barriers and facilitations to changing their drinking behaviors and (2) identify key elements of an alcohol reduction intervention tailored for sexual minority women. MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on alcohol interventions with sexual minority women. The handful of studies we found paid scant attention to drinking cultures, normative beliefs, or other key elements of sober curiosity. To address the study aims, we are conducting 2 descriptive studies with adult (>18 years) sexual minority women using mixed methods. One includes focus group interviews (n=24-36) and a national survey (n=100-120) with sexual minority women in Scotland. The other includes in-depth interviews (n=18-20) with sexual minority women in the United States. Data from the 2 countries and 3 sources will be analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods to identify patterns and relationships across data to validate or corroborate findings. ResultsEach of the studies received ethics approval in August 2023 and is currently open for recruitment. We anticipate completing data collection in spring 2025. The results of qualitative analyses will be summarized as themes, and results of survey data analyses will be summarized in tables. Findings will be presented to 2 panels of international experts who will assist in identifying critical elements of an alcohol reduction intervention tailored to the unique needs of sexual minority women. ConclusionsWith the assistance of the expert panels, we will use Acceptability, Practicability, Effectiveness, Affordability, Side-Effects, and Equity criteria to inform the development of a tailored intervention building on tenants of sober curiosity to assist sexual minority women in reducing harmful drinking. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/63282

Background: Late-night opening of alcohol venues is associated with increased intoxication, social disorder and burden on public services. From 2017, two Scottish cities—Aberdeen and Glasgow—extended venue trading hours, to 3am and 4am, respectively. This study aimed to explore (i) public perceptions of harms and benefits of later trading hours, and (ii) how related public health evidence is assessed and used by the public. Methods: Eight groups of residents and venue-goers (n = 42) participated in two deliberative focus groups over a two-week period. Evidence on the pros and cons of later hours was presented and discussed. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Results: Participants associated later hours with increased alcohol consumption and increased harms such as violence, antisocial behavior, crime and public disturbance. Harms were discussed more frequently than benefits. Venue-goers highlighted cultural and social benefits and suggested staggered closing times might reduce harms. Following consideration of public health evidence, participants’ focus shifted from individual to societal impacts, such as increased burden on police, ambulance, and hospital services. Conclusion: Exposing lay participants to public health evidence fostered more reflection on societal impacts of later trading hours, potentially providing policy-makers with strategies to increase public support for alcohol policies.

Background and aims: Permitting alcohol outlets to trade later at night is associated with increased intoxication, violence and burden on public services. Between 2017 and 2019 two processes led to later trading hours in 10 nightclubs in Glasgow (1-hour pilot extension, to 4am) and 38 bars in Aberdeen (1-3 hours extension, to 3am). We explored stakeholder views on the impact of these later hours against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and UK cost of living crisis.   Methods: Semi-structured interviews conducted March 2022 to March 2023 with 39 stakeholders (10 public health/community/police; 14 frontline services; 9 licensing stakeholders (non-trade); and 6 venue owners/managers), analysed using framework analysis. Results: Participants across both cities reported mixed consumer demand for extended trading hours. Consequently, later hours were used irregularly and unpredictably by venues and economic benefits were at best smaller than anticipated. Low demand was attributed to the pandemic, cost of living crisis and changing drinking patterns. Frontline workers were more likely than those in other/more senior roles in policing, health and local government to report increased violence and disorder during the later hours. In Aberdeen, changes were perceived broadly negatively, due to greater demand from often vulnerable drinkers later at night, which outstripped the capacity of ambulance, policing, transport and voluntary services. In Glasgow, impact on services was more often described as mixed or neutral, although some transport and voluntary services were not available to cover the extra hour. Conclusions: Night-time economy stakeholders in Glasgow and Aberdeen perceived little or no economic benefits from the introduction of later trading hours, lower than anticipated consumer demand and increased demand for services, which often outstripped service capacity. Policymakers should treat with scepticism claims of benefits from later trading hours and consider other measures which address alcohol harms and pressure on services. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) [Public Health Research programme (129885)]. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: This study was approved by the University of Stirling Ethics Committee for NHS, Invasive or Clinical Research (NICR 0457). I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors

BackgroundHarmful alcohol use is more prevalent among sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) than their cisgender/heterosexual counterparts. The reasons for this are complex, incorporating alcohol's normalization and availability in social settings, its importance to identity construction, and drinking to cope with stigma and discrimination. However, commercial determinants have been underexplored, particularly how alcohol is marketed to SGM communities.MethodsScoping review methodology was employed. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CINAHL, ASSIA, PsycInfo, and PubMed. Grey literature was located through organizational websites. Following screening and data extraction, literature was synthesized thematically.ResultsFourteen articles were included. Findings exposed a complex web of alcohol marketing targeting SGMs on multiple fronts. Traditional advertising media was augmented by the opportunities digital marketing affords. Venue-based marketing on the commercial scene exploited the industry's domination of community spaces, and the dearth of alcohol-free alternatives. Further, appropriation of SGM iconography, and sponsorship of SGM events, positioned the industry as an ally, forging public-facing personae of solidarity and acceptance.ConclusionMultifaceted marketing of alcohol saturates SGM communities, entrenching understandings of its ubiquity and importance. Further work is needed to describe and quantify the impact of these strategies on alcohol use within SGM communities.

IntroductionReducing alcohol availability and restricting alcohol advertising are effective ways to reduce harm from alcohol. Implementation of public health policies involves collaboration between different stakeholders, and is influenced by public opinion. This paper explores public and professional stakeholders' perceptions of alcohol advertising and availability policies. It is the first to capture consensus and divergence in narratives of these stakeholders.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 stakeholders from third sector organisations, government, public health and alcohol licensing in Scotland. We conducted 11 online focus groups with 45 participants, living in neighbourhoods in Scotland characterised by varying levels of urbanity, deprivation and retail density change. We gave participants a list of policies and discussed their views on acceptability, feasibility and likely success.ResultsDespite general consensus that regulation of alcohol advertising is an important priority, public stakeholders were concerned about the feasibility of advertising interventions and potential unintended consequences. While professional stakeholders were in favour of regulating alcohol availability, public stakeholders had misgivings about feasibility and effectiveness. When prompted to discuss specific interventions, similar views about protecting children and achieving cultural change emerged.Discussion and ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of policy makers and other stakeholders to consider public stakeholders' opinions on alcohol policy and understanding that their views may be influenced by competing framings of alcohol problems. Attempts to increase support for alcohol control policies need to consider people's concerns about the effectiveness and potential unintended consequences of these policies, and the wider social context of alcohol consumption.

This document provides the statistical analysis plan (SAP) for the ELEPHANT study (Evaluating later or expanded premises hours for alcohol in the night-time economy), an interrupted time series study following a natural experiment design, for evaluating the impact of late-night trading hours of alcohol premises in the night-time economy. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement The ELEPHANT project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme (NIHR129885; https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR129885). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes N/A

IssuesAlcohol marketing on social media platforms is pervasive and effective, reaching wide audiences and allowing interaction with users. We know little about the gendered nature of digital alcohol marketing, including how women and men are portrayed, how different genders respond and implications for gender relations. This review aimed to identify how males, females and other genders are targeted and represented in digital alcohol marketing, and how they are encouraged to engage with digital alcohol marketing content.ApproachA narrative synthesis approach was employed. Academic literature and research reports were searched for studies on digital alcohol marketing published within the previous 10 years with a range of methods and designs. We reviewed the studies, extracted data relevant to gender and synthesised findings thematically.Key FindingsThe review included 17 articles and 7 reports with a range of designs and methods, including content analyses of digital material, interviews, focus groups and surveys. Our analysis identified three conceptual themes that captured many of the gendered results, namely: (i) leveraging a diversity of idealised femininities; (ii) amplifying hegemonic masculinity; and (iii) infiltrating everyday gendered life.Implications and ConclusionAlcohol marketing on social media is highly gendered and is designed to embed itself into everyday life in agile ways that reinforce traditional and evolving gendered stereotypes, activities, lifestyles and roles. Gendered engagement strategies are widely used to link alcohol to everyday gendered activities and identities to encourage alcohol purchase and consumption. This marketing normalises alcohol consumption and reproduces harmful gender norms and stereotypes.

INTRODUCTION:High alcohol availability is related to increased alcohol consumption and harms. Existing quantitative research provides potential explanations for this relationship but there is little understanding of how people experience local alcohol availability. This is the first review to synthesise qualitative research exploring the relationship between alcohol availability and other factors in local alcohol environments. METHODS:The scoping review includes qualitative studies exploring community-level alcohol availability and other factors, facilitating the purchase and consumption of alcohol. We included studies focusing on children and adolescents as well as adults. Study findings were brought together using thematic analysis and the socio-environmental context model, which explains how certain environments may facilitate drinking. RESULTS:The review includes 34 articles. The majority of studies were conducted since 2012. Most studies were conducted in the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa. The physical availability of alcohol and proximity to local amenities and temporal aspects, like late night opening hours, may be linked to social factors, such as normalisation of drinking and permissive drinking environments. The review highlights the importance of social and cultural factors in shaping interactions with local alcohol environments. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:This qualitative scoping review advances understanding of the pathways linking alcohol availability and alcohol harms by showing that availability, accessibility and visibility of alcohol may contribute towards permissive drinking environments. Further research is needed to better understand how people experience alcohol availability in their local environment and how this can inform alcohol control policies.

BackgroundReducing alcohol and tobacco availability is one potential way to reduce harm from these unhealthy commodities. This study explores key stakeholders' views in relation to policy priorities and considerations for both alcohol and tobacco availability.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 stakeholders from alcohol and/or tobacco third sector organizations, government, public health and licensing in Scotland. Interviews explored their views on alcohol/tobacco availability, including its place in the policy landscape and experiences in gaining support for policies. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsStakeholders believed that alcohol and tobacco availability have not received as much policy attention as pricing and marketing. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of public support and having sufficient evidence to inform policy. Key considerations for future policies include: drawing on lessons from tobacco control policies to address alcohol availability, considering different aspects of availability (especially online availability), ensuring policies reflect their local context, considering the impact of policies on children, and managing retailers' involvement in the policy process.ConclusionThis study highlights key considerations for policies to address alcohol and tobacco availability. There is a need for more research to consider retailers' views and provide greater detail on specific policy suggestions.

Background: Alcohol Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) was introduced in Scotland in May 2018. Existing evidence suggests MUP can reduce alcohol consumption in the general population, but there is little research about its impact on vulnerable groups. This qualitative study explored experiences of MUP among people with experience of homelessness.Methods: We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 46 people with current or recent experience of homelessness who were current drinkers when MUP was introduced. Participants (30 men and 16 women) were aged 21 to 73 years. Interviews focused on views and experiences of MUP. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.Results: People with experience of homelessness were aware of MUP but it was accorded low priority in their hierarchy of concerns. Reported impacts varied. Some participants reduced their drinking, or moved away from drinking strong white cider, in line with policy intentions. Others were unaffected because the cost of their preferred drink (usually wine, vodka or beer) did not change substantially. A minority reported increased in-volvement in begging. Wider personal, relational and social factors also played an important role in responses to MUP.Conclusion: This is the first qualitative study to provide a detailed exploration of the impact of MUP among people with experience of homelessness. Our findings suggest that MUP worked as intended for some people with experience of homelessness, while a minority reported negative consequences. Our findings are of international significance to policymakers, emphasising the need to consider the impact of population level health policies on marginalised groups and the wider contextual factors that affect responses to policies within these groups. It is important to invest further in secure housing and appropriate support services and to implement and evaluate harm reduction initiatives such as managed alcohol programmes.

BackgroundPeople who identify as LGBTQ+ are more likely to drink excessively compared to heterosexual and cisgender people. Perceived barriers to accessing alcohol services may further increase the potential for alcohol related harm for LGBTQ+ people. This qualitative study explores the experiences of LGBTQ+ people who have used alcohol services, including peer support groups, in Scotland and their suggestions for how alcohol services could be improved.MethodsParticipants were recruited using social media adverts, dating websites, organisations that work with LGBTQ+ clients and snowball sampling. Participants’ (n = 14) experiences of alcohol services and peer support groups were explored through semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using the Framework Approach and thematic analysis.ResultsMany participants thought their drinking was closely associated with their LGBTQ+ identity, as a response to shame, stigma, or family rejection. Some service users had positive experiences of alcohol services. However, participants were rarely asked about their sexuality / gender identity and some reported a lack of discussion about how identity might impact drinking. There were common views across the sample that barriers experienced by others in the LGBTQ+ community were amplified for trans people. Service users recommended that services need to signal LGBTQ+ inclusivity and provide a safe space to discuss multiple issues (e.g., alcohol use, mental health, gender identity). Participants highlighted the importance of alcohol-free spaces in the LGBTQ+ communities.ConclusionThe study has clear practice and policy implications. Alcohol services should provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ people and clearly indicate that. Service providers should be trained to discuss potential connections between LGBTQ+ identity and substance use. At a broader level, alcohol-free social spaces would help reduce alcohol-related harm in LGBTQ+ communities.

Background: Alcohol marketing helps shape how gender roles and relations are understood, and the gendered nature of drinking learned. In recent years, changes in how women are presented and addressed in marketing, including alcohol marketing, have been observed. This reflects the shifting social, political and regulatory context, in which increased attention has been given to gender inequality and the damaging impact of gender stereotypes. Research is yet to explore the gendered nature of alcohol marketing within this contemporary context. Methods: A quantitative content and qualitative thematic analysis of alcohol marketing posts ( N = 2600) by 20 alcohol brands on Facebook and Instagram pages over an 18 month period (1st January 2019-30th June 2020) was conducted. Marketing strategies were identified, and the way in which posts targeted, represented and engaged women analysed. Findings: New (e.g. 'influencer' collaborations) and established (e.g. competitions) strategies were being used to target both women and men. Drinking was presented as a feminine practice and as an important component of 'doing' a combination of traditional, post-feminist and feminist femininities. Women were assigned a range of gender roles that acknowledged their individual pleasures and achievements, and traditional gender roles and stereotypes were both reinforced and rejected to promote alcohol use. An important move away from sexualising and demeaning women to the appropriation of feminist and equality messages was observed, which may appeal to a wider range of women, including those embracing feminist identities. Conclusion: Alcohol brand marketing encourages alcohol use to women through both perpetuating and challenging gender stereotypes. Claims by brands of a commitment to equality are at odds with the harms related to alcohol consumption that contribute to the widening of health and social inequalities. It is important that future work on women's drinking and alcohol marketing is situated within the shifting social-political climate in which traditional, post-feminist and new fourth wave feminist rhetoric and femininities co-exist.

The transition to fatherhood may present a 'teachable moment' when men evaluate their health behaviors. This scoping review synthesizes evidence on men's experiences of alcohol consumption in the context of fatherhood, and on interventions to reduce drinking among new fathers. We searched four databases and reference lists to identify eligible studies. The review findings were discussed with key stakeholders. The review identified five articles published in peer-reviewed journals, and one protocol. Three qualitative studies explored fathers' experiences of alcohol consumption. They suggest that men may reduce their drinking to support their pregnant partner, and that some men believe fathers should be role models for their children. The two intervention studies suggest that text message interventions may be successful in engaging men. However, their effectiveness in addressing alcohol use in fathers is unclear. Only one study evaluated intervention effectiveness and this was a couple-based smoking intervention, that led to reduction in drinking.This review found that it is feasible to recruit fathers through gatekeepers and venues where fathers may go (e.g. antenatal clinics). This scoping review highlights the scarcity of research on fathers' experiences of alcohol use and on interventions to support new fathers to reduce alcohol consumption.