Monitoring Alcohol

A new study from the University of Southern California (USC) has found that binge drinking liver disease risk is far greater than previously understood. Occasional heavy drinking triples the risk of advanced liver fibrosis in people already vulnerable to liver disease, raising serious questions about how doctors currently assess alcohol consumption. The research, published in

What Is an Alcohol-Induced Blackout? An alcohol-induced blackout is not simply “passing out.” During one, a person stays conscious and physically active, yet their brain can no longer form new memories. Someone mid-blackout may hold a conversation, walk, or make decisions, and remember none of it the next day. Alcohol, at high enough concentrations in

Parental drinking habits leave a longer shadow than most people realise. A landmark new study tracked thousands of Australian families across 23 years. It found that the way parents drink shapes their children’s alcohol use well into adulthood, but only at two very specific moments in life. Research published this month in Health Economics draws on 43,817 parent

For decades, a glass of red wine at dinner felt less like an indulgence and more like a prescription. Doctors smiled, nutritionists nodded, and dinner party guests poured freely, all in the name of heart health. But a growing body of scientific evidence now forces a long overdue reckoning with what we thought we knew

Sleep is one of the body’s most essential functions. For the millions of people living with sleep apnoea, getting a full night of restorative rest is already a challenge. What many people do not realise is that drinking alcohol can make that challenge significantly harder. Understanding the connection between alcohol and sleep apnoea is an

Alcohol addiction is far more than a behavioural problem. In fact, it fundamentally alters the brain at a molecular level. Recent research reveals how chronic alcohol gene expression changes rewire gene activity in critical brain regions. Consequently, these alcohol addiction brain changes offer crucial insights into why recovery is so difficult. The Science Behind Alcohol

During COVID-19 lockdowns, Australian governments made a catastrophic decision. They “eased” liquor licensing laws as supposed temporary economic relief. The alcohol industry seized the opportunity and never let go. Online alcohol sales exploded 400% between 2012 and 2022. The industry now turns over $2 billion annually. Every Australian carries a bottle shop in their pocket.

When asked about their drinking habits, most people who consume alcohol above recommended levels have a strikingly similar response: “I’m not like those people.” This psychological phenomenon, known as othering amongst drinkers, has emerged as a significant obstacle in addressing alcohol harm across the UK and beyond. Recent research examining 18 studies involving hundreds of

As World Cancer Day 2026 approaches on 4 February, emerging evidence reveals a concerning truth that many Australians remain unaware of: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to cancer risk. Whilst public health campaigns have long focused on the immediate dangers of excessive drinking-accidents, injuries, and impaired judgement-the long-term carcinogenic