Welcome
Alcohol Focus Scotland is the national charity working to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm. More about us
Our vision
A future free from the widespread health and social harm caused by alcohol.
Our mission
To deliver effective and cost-effective action to reduce alcohol consumption and harm in Scotland and beyond.
Our values
Independent, equitable and fair, evidence-based, person-centred, respectful and collaborative.
Key work
Restricting alcohol marketing
Promoting regulation that reduces the level of exposure – particularly of children and young people and people struggling with alcohol-related issues – to alcohol marketing.
Increasing the price of alcohol
Broadening support for optimising minimum unit pricing by introducing an automatic mechanism linking to affordability.
Mandatory health warning labels
For consumers to make an informed choice, alcohol labels need to provide clear product and health information.
Latest news
AFS backs Lancet Commission call to raise alcohol prices to cut liver disease
Apr 30, 2026: A new Lancet Commission on liver health in Europe highlights a growing and largely preventable burden of liver disease, with around 284,000 deaths each year linked to conditions such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Alcohol is identified as a major contributing factor alongside obesity, poor diet and viral hepatitis, with experts warning that without action the scale of harm will continue to rise.
Alcohol and Party Manifestos
Apr 23, 2026: On 7th May people across the country will head to the polls to elect the next Scottish Parliament. All the main parties have now published their manifestos setting out their policies and priorities for the next parliamentary term. Alcohol Focus Scotland has worked hard behind the scenes to engage with parties and input into the development their policies on alcohol – and we recently published our own manifesto setting out the policies we believe the next Government should adopt to tackle Scotland’s ongoing alcohol health emergency.
Leading health advocates express concerns about commonwealth games partnerships with health harming products
Apr 16, 2026: Leading health organisations, including Alcohol Focus Scotland, are expressing serious concerns following Jubel X and Coca Cola having been announced as official partners for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Blog: New Strategy, New Parliament, New Hope
Mar 13, 2026: Carolyn Lochhead, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland analyses Scotland’s new Alcohol and Drug Strategic Plan
