Journal of Alcohol publishes research on alcohol use disorder, prevention, treatment outcomes, neurobiology, epidemiology, and policy evaluation.

We consider original research, clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta analyses, short communications, and case series with strong learning value.

Manuscripts should be concise and focused while providing enough detail for replication and clinical interpretation. Use supplementary files for extended data or protocols.

• Original research with full methods and outcomes
• Systematic reviews with protocol and search strategy
• Short reports with focused findings and limitations
• Case series with clear clinical learning points

Confirm that the manuscript fits the journal scope and that all authors agree on the submission and authorship order. Early preparation reduces delays after review.

• Verify the article type and reporting guideline
• Check ethics approvals, consent statements, and registrations
• Prepare data availability and funding statements
• Review reference accuracy and include DOIs when available

Authorship should reflect substantial contributions to conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation. Provide a clear contributions statement for transparency.

Corresponding authors should confirm that all co authors approve the final manuscript and any changes during revision.

• Title page with author details and affiliations
• Structured abstract with objectives, methods, results, and conclusion
• Keywords aligned to alcohol research and public health outcomes
• Main text with Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion
• Funding, conflict of interest, and author contributions
• References with complete citation details and DOI when available

Use clear headings and consistent terminology for interventions, outcomes, and diagnostic criteria. Define abbreviations at first use and maintain consistent units.

Organize the manuscript with concise subheadings that guide readers through study design, analysis, and outcomes. Clearly state the primary outcome and any secondary outcomes.

The title page should include full author names, affiliations, and corresponding author contact details. Disclose funding and conflicts on the title page when required by institutional policy.

Abstracts should be structured and avoid undefined abbreviations. Provide key numerical findings, effect sizes when appropriate, and clear conclusions tied to the data.

All studies involving human participants require ethics approval and informed consent. Report trial registration details for interventional studies.

• Ethics approval identifiers and oversight body
• Informed consent statements and privacy protections
• Clinical trial registration before enrollment
• Conflict of interest and funding disclosures

Research involving vulnerable populations should include additional protections and justification for inclusion.

Disclose prior dissemination such as conference abstracts or preprints and describe how the submission differs. Provide transparency for related manuscripts under consideration elsewhere.

State all funding sources, grant numbers, and sponsor roles. Disclose financial or non financial relationships that could influence interpretation.

If a sponsor had a role in study design or analysis, describe the role clearly in the manuscript.

• Human subjects approvals and consent statements
• Clinical trial registration identifiers if applicable
• Privacy safeguards and data access conditions
• Conflict of interest disclosures for all authors

Include a data availability statement describing where data can be accessed or why access is restricted.

• Public repositories such as Zenodo, Figshare, Dryad, or OSF
• Institutional repositories with persistent identifiers
• Controlled access repositories for sensitive clinical data

If code or analytical scripts were used, provide repository links and version details. Cite datasets in the reference list when possible.

When data cannot be shared, explain the restriction clearly and provide a process for qualified access when feasible. Data and code statements should be consistent with ethics approvals and consent terms.

• CONSORT for randomized trials
• PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta analyses
• STROBE for observational studies
• CARE for case reports

Provide a clear statistical methods section and report key assumptions. Describe any missing data handling and sensitivity analyses.

Describe study setting, recruitment, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and sample size rationale. Provide sufficient detail for replication of laboratory protocols or clinical assessments.

Report statistical tests, model assumptions, and software versions. Present confidence intervals, effect sizes, and adjustments for multiple comparisons when relevant.

• Define primary and secondary outcomes before analysis
• Report missing data handling and sensitivity analyses
• Describe blinding and randomization procedures
• Include subgroup analyses only with justification

Use a consistent citation style and verify reference accuracy. Include complete author lists where possible and provide DOIs to improve indexing and discoverability.

Cite datasets and software in the reference list with repository identifiers to support transparent reuse.

Submit figures in high resolution formats such as TIFF, JPEG, or PNG. Provide descriptive captions and reference every figure in the text.

Remove participant identifiers from images. Tables should be self explanatory with clear units and statistical reporting.

Supplementary files can include extended methods, additional analyses, questionnaires, or datasets that support transparency. Each file should have a descriptive title and be cited in the main text.

Provide a concise description of each supplementary file and ensure that sensitive data are properly anonymized or restricted.

Name files clearly using concise labels such as Main Manuscript, Figure 1, Table 2, or Supplementary Appendix. Consistent naming improves production efficiency and reduces errors.

Authors must obtain permission for any third party figures, tables, or instruments. Provide documentation with the submission and acknowledge sources in captions.

A clear cover letter helps editors assess scope and significance. Summarize the primary contribution, explain relevance to alcohol research, and identify any related submissions or prior dissemination.

Use clear, professional language and define abbreviations at first mention. Maintain consistent terminology for diagnostic criteria, interventions, and outcomes.

Use standard units of measurement and report time frames consistently across the manuscript, tables, and figures.

Avoid ambiguous terms and ensure that clinical definitions follow accepted standards in alcohol research and addiction medicine.

Manuscripts receive editorial screening followed by peer review. Provide a point by point response to reviewer comments.

Include a clean revised manuscript and a marked version showing changes when possible.

For interventional studies, include registry identifiers, trial design details, and primary outcome definitions. Report any protocol deviations and explain their impact.

Authors may request language editing assistance before submission. Clear language improves review efficiency and reduces revision cycles.

Authors should review proofs carefully to ensure that clinical terminology and statistical values are accurate before publication.

Accepted manuscripts move through copyediting, proof review, and production. Authors should verify accuracy of data, figures, and author details.

Metadata and abstracts are finalized for indexing. Prompt proof review accelerates publication timelines.

Authors should respond to proof queries promptly and confirm any corrections before publication. Substantial changes after acceptance may require editorial review.

If errors are identified after publication, contact the editorial office with a clear description. Corrections or updates are issued when needed to protect the scholarly record.

• Missing ethics approval details
• Inconsistent outcome definitions or measurement periods
• Insufficient details for replication
• Figures without clear captions or unit definitions
• Incomplete funding or conflict disclosures

Clear reporting and complete documentation reduce review delays and support stronger outcomes.

Before submission, verify that all files are complete, consistent, and aligned with the journal scope.

• Cover letter summarizing contribution and novelty
• All figures and tables cited in the text
• Supplementary files labeled and referenced
• Data availability and ethics statements included

A careful final review reduces administrative queries and speeds entry into peer review.