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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.

Alcohol Focus Scotland has joined forces with BMA Scotland, Children in Scotland, Scottish Families affected by Alcohol and Drugs (SFAD) and Scottish Health Action on Alcohol (SHAAP) in a mission to end the harmful impacts of alcohol marketing on children and young people in Scotland.

Alcohol marketing leads children and young people to start drinking earlier, to drink more, and to drink at problematic levels. We need to do more to prevent this.

Find out more and join our campaign »

Key work

Marketing screen

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.

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Price tag

Increasing the price of alcohol

Broadening support for optimising minimum unit pricing by introducing an automatic mechanism linking to affordability.

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Training icon

Training

Alcohol Focus Scotland offers a range of training courses to help people understand, manage and prevent the harm caused by alcohol.

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Latest news

AFS Response to Programme for Government

May 7, 2025: Last week Alcohol Focus Scotland and more than 70 partners published a call to the Scottish Government to take urgent action to tackle the highest deaths from alcohol in 15 years by prioritising increasing early detection and treatment of liver disease alongside other targeted measures and  preventative policies.

Time running out for Scottish Government to show leadership and tackle alcohol deaths

Apr 30, 2025: Near record alcohol deaths see experts from over 70 organisations demand the Scottish Government take urgent action Ahead of the publication of the 2025 Programme for Government a group of more than 70 organisations are demanding that the Scottish Government use the year before the election to prioritise increasing early detection and treatment of liver disease alongside other targeted measures, to address the highest number of unnecessary deaths from alcohol since 2008.

Cabinet Secretary for Health backs childhood free from alcohol marketing

Apr 29, 2025: Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, has added his support to the Alcohol Free Childhood campaign, aimed at ensuring children and young people grow up free from the harmful effects of alcohol marketing.

New petition calls on Government to act on alcohol and cancer risk

Apr 28, 2025: Alcohol Focus Scotland is supporting a nationwide petition organised by World Cancer Research Fund demanding the UK Government urgently introduce a National Alcohol Strategy for England, including improved alcohol labelling, minimum unit pricing, and marketing restrictions.

The figures

24%
of Scots drink at hazardous or harmful levels (more than 14 units a week)
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