News & Recent Developments

●  Social Norms Forum held in Brussels - 31/03/09

The National Social Norms Institute (USA) in conjunction with Anheuser-Busch, The Brewers of Europe and NOCTIS held a social norms forum on the 31st of March in Brussels. The forum included presentations by social norms researchers from the USA and Europe and also included opening remarks by the EU Director General for Health and Consumer Protection, Robert Madelin. Click here for more details.

●  UK healthcare officials stress the positive behaviour of the majority - 27/10/08

NHS Grampian have recently illustrated the importance of disseminating positive messages through media in their work on alcohol consumption in the Grampian region, which included data from the National Social Norms Student Project by Dr John McAlaney (University of Bradford) and William Jenkins (Youth Media). Click here to view one of the media stories.

●  Systematic review announced on the effectiveness of the social norms approach - 20/10/08

Teresa Moreira and David Foxcroft have published a protocol with the Cochrane Database with seeks to conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of reducing alcohol misuse in university and college students. See the 'Research' section for more information

●  Social norms presentations scheduled for 1st European Symposium on Substance Use and Abuse among University Students - 26/10/08

There will be several presentations on the use of the social norms approach at the above conference in Antwerp, November 2008. Speakers will include Jennifer Bauerle (NSNI, University of Virginia), Bridgette Berwick (University of Leeds), Teresa Moreira (Oxford Brookes) and John McAlaney (University of Bradford). Click here for more information on the conference.

● Social norms summer school held in Spain - 14/7/08

The Urrutia Elejalde Foundation and the University of the Basque Country has held a summer school on social norms. For more information please click here.

● Smoking social norms question raised in the Scottish Parliament - 1/5/08

The potential of the social norms approach in reducing smoking behaviour has been discussed in the Scottish Parliament. Click here to see a video of the discussion.

● Motion to welcome the announcement of the European Alcohol and Health Forum lodged in the Scottish Parliament - 22/3/08

A motion welcoming the European Alcohol and Health Forum has been lodged in the Scottish Parliament by Dr Bill Wilson (SNP) MSP. For the text of the motion please click here.

● Scottish MSP calls for the application of social norms research to smoking behaviour - 19/3/08

Dr Bill Wilson (SNP) MSP has called for an investigation of the use of the social norms approach in reducing rates of smoking in young adults. Click here to see the text of the press release.

● Scottish Parliament issue press release on the social norms approach - 21/11/07

Following the debate in Parliament on the 15/11/07 (see below) the Scottish Executive have issued a press release on the potential use of the social norms approach. Click here to see the text of the press release.

●  Scotch Whisky Association calls for more UK social norms research - 16/11/07

The SWA has endorsed the recent debate in the Scottish Parliament regarding investigating the use social norms interventions to reduce rates alcohol related harm. Click here to see the text of the press release.

●  Scottish MSPs debate motion for social norms research - 1/11/07

Ministers at the Scottish Executive, Scotland's devolved government, have lodged a motion calling for investigation of the potential of social norms interventions in Scottish populations.

The motion was debated on the 15/11/07 and received support in the chamber. Click here to see an edited video of the clip or here for a transcript.

●  UK media report on the social norms approach - 16/10/07

The Herald newspaper has published an article entitled 'Calling Time on Problem Thinking'. To see a copy of the text click here.