Jamie Brown

Associations between financial hardship and alcohol reduction attempts in the context of a cost-of-living crisis and alcohol tax reforms: a population study in Great Britain, 2023–25 Rising living costs and changes to alcohol taxation influence drinking behaviours. This study aimed to examine associations between financial hardship…

The latest paper to be published from our project 'Reforming alcohol taxes in a cost-of-living crisis' was led by @drsarahejackson.bsky.social with @jamiebrown.bsky.social @jholmessheff.bsky.social & @victimofmaths.bsky.social. Find out more about the project here: bit.ly/3OGifN3 #PublicHealth

Promotional graphic for the “Building Capability in Behavioural Research Conference 2026.” The top half has a teal background with white text reading: “Building Capability in Behavioural Research Conference 2026,” “June 30 2026,” and “Teaching and Learning Building, University of Birmingham (Excellent transport links).” A circular badge on the right states “Abstract deadline 26 February,” and another circle reads: “Be part of the UK behavioural research community – where government, academia, business, public and voluntary sectors unite.” The lower half shows a photo of diverse professionals seated in a conference audience, smiling and applauding. At the bottom are the logos for Behavioural Research UK and Centre—UB (Understanding Human Behaviour).

Last Call for Abstracts!

Today is your final chance to submit your abstract for consideration at the Building Capability in Behavioural Research Conference.

⏰ Submissions close at the end of today — get yours in before the deadline!

uobevents.eventsair.com/bcbr2026/

In her latest, Georgia Michelman talked to scientists and tobacco harm reduction advocates about the two sides of #vaping, and whether anti-vaping campaigns have gone too far, failing current smokers. Read more on Scienceline at buff.ly/2XkqiE5

A flat white by any other name … Why we need an ontology of milk-containing coffee drinks and other things ...

robertwest100.substack.com/p/a-flat-whi...

😀 @robertjwest.bsky.social

In our new paper in The Lancet Public Health, we find that nicotine pouch use is rising in Britain, driven largely by increases among young adults, particularly young men.

🔗 Press release:
ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/de...

📄 Paper:
thelancet.com/journals/lan...

YouTube video by Policy Research Unit (PRU) in Addictions Introducing the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Addictions: Research That Shapes Policy

Our new video introduces the Policy Research Unit in Addictions, showing how our research helps inform policy and tackle the challenges of addiction and addictive products.

Watch it on Youtube and subscribe for more on our latest research youtu.be/Qwp4VrnFfnk

📢 Over 1,200 public health professionals have written to health spokespeople from all parties, urging swift passage of the Tobacco & Vapes Bill - a historic chance to protect future generations. 🚭✨

✉️ Read the letter: shorturl.at/4Miyl

Why we need a new ambitious smokefree goal - ASH Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco.

🎯Why do we need a new, ambitious smokefree goal? Our new blog by @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social & @jamiebrown.bsky.social sets out the rationale for a target of 6.7% by 2030.
🚭A vital step towards a healthier, tobacco-free future for everyone.
ash.org.uk/media-centre...

Associations between non-daily smoking and motivation to stop smoking: A population study in England 2021–2024 buff.ly/GigcYWP @drsarahejackson.bsky.social @jamiebrown.bsky.social @lionshahab.bsky.social @sharoncox.bsky.social

Part 1 - Quit attempts and self-reported quit rates by demographic variables - NHS England Digital We’re the national information and technology partner to the health and social care system using digital technology to transform the NHS and social care

🧵
This year marks 25 years since stop smoking services were launched in England. Today’s new data gives us a timely look at what these services are doing- and why they still matter.👇 digital.nhs.uk/data-and-inf...

To reduce smoking harms, there is an urgent need to correct misperceptions about the risks of vaping

New commentary with @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social, @jamiebrown.bsky.social, and @katieeast.bsky.social

To reduce smoking harms, there is an urgent need to correct misperceptions about the risks of vaping.

www.bmj.com/content/388/...

Each year, millions of lives are impacted or cut short from the effects of 3 risk factors: tobacco, alcohol and overweight/obesity.

We need comprehensive joined-up solutions that address the drivers, rather than blaming individuals.
👇

🎊Today England's Smokefree laws are 18 years old 🎊

This landmark legislation has led to significant health benefits by reducing exposure to second-hand smoke. 🚭

But more needs to be done to protect everyone from tobacco smoke exposure. (1/3)

Screenshot of the first page of a NIHR synopsis report titled "Evaluating the effectiveness of the Drink Less smartphone app for reducing alcohol consumption compared with usual digital care: a comprehensive synopsis from a 6-month follow-up RCT"

Image showing project flowchart of seven components. RA=research article.

🚨📄 The final synopsis from our evaluation of the effectiveness of the Drink Less app has now been published on the NIHR Journals Library website, available here: www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/phr/LNNB8060 - this draws together all seven of the published scientific papers relating to the award...

Level of support for proposed vaping policies: an online survey of UK vapers, 2024 The UK government has proposed a range of policies to reduce youth vaping. This study aimed to understand levels of support for the various policies a…

Our new paper examines level of support for proposed vaping policies via an online survey of UK vapers age 16+.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @jamiebrown.bsky.social @lionshahab.bsky.social @ucl-targ.bsky.social @sharoncox.bsky.social

How much does the absence of the ‘hidden population’ from United Kingdom household surveys underestimate smoking prevalence? buff.ly/cCYCYMC Emma Beard @lionshahab.bsky.social @jamiebrown.bsky.social @sharoncox.bsky.social

Important analysis, led by Dr Emma Beard, showing that absolute smoking rates in the UK are likely underestimated by more than 1% as surveys do not capture disadvantaged, hidden populations. doi.org/10.1111/add.... @jamiebrown.bsky.social @sharoncox.bsky.social

Trends in alcohol-specific deaths in England, 2001–22: an observational study Alcohol-specific deaths in England remain high and increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Policies should aim to reduce rates of alcohol consumption at the population level. Substantial investment is ...

We've got a new paper out today in @thelancetph.bsky.social, led by @melissaoldham.bsky.social, looking at the sharp increase in alcohol-specific deaths in England since the start of the pandemic and digging into which groups in the population have been worst affected
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We have a new paper out today in Lancet Public Health looking at increases in alcohol-specific deaths in England.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Smoking costs lives and billions.

🚭 74,000 people die each year

💷 £43.7 billion lost to public finances

Let’s shift the cost to where it belongs: Big Tobacco.

A Roadmap to a Smokefree Country: No one starts, everyone stops, no profit in tobacco - ASH A Roadmap to a Smokefree Country – published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health in April 2025 – sets out the urgent actions needed to end smoking in a generation, cut health in...

Tobacco companies rake in millions from addiction, illness, and loss. MPs say it’s time they paid for the damage.

📖Read the latest report from the APPG on Smoking and Health, which calls for a polluter pays levy to fund a smokefree country.
ash.org.uk/resources/vi...

The day continues with great contributions. Now with Susan Michie and her work. #BCConf2025

At the BCC 2025 conference. Keynote by Robert West. Topic is:Health and Sustainability. How to use behavioral science for communication is Robert s topic. #BCConf2025

Current and future trends in the consumption, sale and purchasing of alcohol‐free and low‐alcohol products in Great Britain, 2014 to 2023 Background and Aims The UK Government has committed to reducing alcohol consumption by 2025 through increasing the availability of alcohol-free and low-alcohol (no/lo) drinks. This study estimated c...

New paper out today showing the rise in alcohol-free and low-alcohol products and forecasting future trends! Includes interesting graphs 👀
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

@jamiebrown.bsky.social @jholmessheff.bsky.social

Trends in smoking prevalence and socio‐economic inequalities across regions in England: A population study, 2006 to 2024 Background and Aim In addition to national policies and interventions, certain regions in England (particularly in the North) coordinate regional tobacco control programmes. This study aimed to (i) ...

New paper finds smoking rates in the north of England fell faster than the national average between 2006-2024, narrowing geographic inequalities in smoking prevalence.

Regional tobacco control programmes appeared to contribute to this progress.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

We've been busy getting this new project up and running! Looking forward to working with Lucy Burke & Samantha Wilkinson on the ethnographic components, & @melissaoldham.bsky.social, Inge Kersbergen, @jholmessheff.bsky.social, & @jamiebrown.bsky.social on the integration of qual & quant findings

New OA paper from us! 👇🏼

While single and multiple non-combustible nicotine product use has risen, the majority of use is still among people who currently smoke or have in the past

@ucl-targ.bsky.social @drsarahejackson.bsky.social @jamiebrown.bsky.social @lionshahab.bsky.social

New paper shows smoking, and to a lesser extent non-combustible nicotine use, is associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption and risky drinking

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The impacts of e‐cigarette flavours: An overview of systematic reviews Background and Aims E-cigarette flavours have the potential to impact the appeal, harms and use of e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco. Systematic reviews have synthesised evidence on their impacts...

New paper by J Livingstone-Banks‬⁩ et al finds non-tobacco flavourings for e-cigs may increase appeal and harms; this increase may vary by flavour and apply across different population groups. Impacts of e-cig flavours on e-cig and cig use are inconclusive.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Research Associate at King's College London Apply now for the Research Associate role on jobs.ac.uk - the leading job board for higher education jobs. View details.

***Job Opportunity*** Join King's College London's work on the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Addictions, focusing on tobacco/nicotine. You'll have the chance to work on research directly impacting government policy (and collaborate with our team at Sheffield). www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLR998/r...