Policymakers and drinkers are speaking different languages when it comes to alcohol consumption, according to new research.

A new study by a team psychologists, linguists and policy experts from University of Staffordshire, University of Liverpool, Oxford Brookes University and London South Bank University reveals stark differences in the way that policymakers and the public talk about alcohol consumption – and argues for a new approach to alcohol interventions and health campaigns.

Using linguistics software, the team analysed the language used in England’s three most recent alcohol policies, compared to how young adults talk about drinking.

A newly published peer-reviewed study has raised concerns about the evidence base behind the European Union’s long-running efforts to reduce bureaucracy for businesses, suggesting that key measurement tools are methodologically flawed and have faced little scrutiny over the years.

The study, led by Academy Research Fellow Matti Ylönen of the University of Helsinki, traces the EU’s deregulation agenda back to the 1990s, focusing on its reliance on the Standard Cost Model (SCM)—a methodology used to estimate administrative burdens on firms. Initially built on a limited number of industry interviews, the model's guidelines were further loosened in the 2010s, reducing both its transparency and reliability.