{
  "abstract": "Alcohol is a major, neglected driver of preventable harm in the UK and internationally, and these harms fall disproportionately on disadvantaged communities.1 2 Yet, political action remains limited in most contexts.3 Scotland provides an important case study; with some of the highest alcohol-related mortality rates in Western Europe, alcohol-specific deaths reached their highest level since 2008 in 2023.2 Yet, the May 2026 parliamentary election debates suggest the disconnect between alcohol-related harm and policy attention is increasingly stark.4 Despite an international reputation for innovation, including minimum unit pricing (MUP), policy momentum has slowed. In short, Scotland illustrates a broader challenge: sustaining effective action on alcohol as a key commercial determinant of health when industry actors continually work to shape policy and public opinion.3 5",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Health Policey, Department of Social Work and Social Policy, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Katherine E Smith"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Lauren Carters-White"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Global Health Policy Unit, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK"
      ],
      "name": "May CI van Schalkwyk"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Global Health Policy Unit, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jeff Collin"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Public support, political silence: alcohol policy and the 2026 Scottish election",
  "uid": "d4b9300f-7ba5-54d5-8678-6054e25cda5d"
}