Alcohol Focus Scotland | News

Spotlight on Services: Addictions Counselling Inverness Recovery Services

David Barbour — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 16:27:00 +0000

Spotlight on Services: West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Service (WLDAS)

David Barbour — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Spotlight on Services: Murray’s Initiative – LGBTQ+ Wellbeing Service

David Barbour — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:50:00 +0000

In Focus: The AFS Monthly CEO Blog - October 2026

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:51:00 +0000

This is a story about numbers.

I’ve never been a fan. At school, I loved English, hated maths. I wanted stories, a narrative, a tale to follow. It wasn’t until later, when I had the chance to study statistics, that I realised numbers can also tell their own stories.

Urgent measures needed from Scottish Government to prevent further deaths from alcohol say leading organisations

David Barbour — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 09:49:00 +0000

Figures released today by the National Records of Scotland show that in 2025 1,152 people died from alcohol-specific causes marking 13th consecutive year deaths caused by alcohol have remained above 1000.

Alcohol advertising puts people at risk of relapse say members of recovery community - New Report

David Barbour — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:47:00 +0100

People with lived experience of alcohol harm have called for a new approach to alcohol advertising and marketing, saying that its ubiquity acts as a potential trigger that puts them at risk of relapse.

In Focus: The Monthly AFS CEO Blog - Why we need an Alcohol Action Day in Scotland

David Barbour — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:27:00 +0100

“Delighted”.

Health harming industries are undermining action on Scotland’s worsening health, warn experts

David Barbour — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:28:00 +0100

Tobacco, alcohol, and junk food giants are influencing public health policy
Scots are experiencing declining health which could be turned around
88% of all deaths in Scotland are caused by NCDs (Noncommunicable diseases) but 1 in 6 of these could be prevented through public health action
Polling shows public don’t trust industry involvement

Public health policies are under sustained influence by commercial actors linked to tobacco, alcohol, and junk food, according to a new report launched today by health charities, including British Heart Foundation Scotland, Obesity Action Scotland, ASH Scotland, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems and Alcohol Focus Scotland.

Unless Scottish Government takes action to reduce alcohol consumption and prevent population harm, it is undermining its own ambition on prevention.

David Barbour — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 14:32:00 +0100

Prevention was one of the much-hyped themes of this Programme for Government.

AFS Response to Programme for Government 2026

David Barbour — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:16:00 +0100

The Scottish Government has today (1st September 2026) published it’s Programme for Government 2026-2031.

Leading health organisations demand urgent action on alcohol deaths

David Barbour — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:02:00 +0100

More than 20 organisations from across Scotland’s health and social care sectors have joined together to urge the Scottish Government to secure the future minimum unit pricing (MUP) by introducing automatic uprating of the measure.

In Focus: The AFS Monthly CEO Blog - August 2026

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:22:00 +0100

‘No Scotland no party?’ How Scotland’s mythology is weaponised against us, and what we can do about it

In Focus: The AFS Monthly CEO Blog - July 2026

David Barbour — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:03:00 +0100

“I’ve had to stay at home today, I’ve a touch of the old toe rot”.

Alcohol Focus Scotland launches Alcohol Action Network

David Barbour — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:24:00 +0100

This Alcohol Awareness Week, we’re delighted to announce the launch of a new project aiming to further cement the voices of lived and living experience across the work we do to reduce the unacceptable levels of alcohol harm in Scotland.

Scottish alcohol sales decrease in 2025

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:02:00 +0100

A new update from Public Health Scotland has shown that in 2025 the volume of alcohol sold has continued to fall, representing a 15% decrease since 2017.

Cancer Prevention Action Week highlights need for clear health information on alcohol products

David Barbour — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:21:00 +0100

by Sophie Bridger, Policy Manager, Alcohol Focus Scotland

FM’s ‘disappointing’ reply to concerns around alcohol ads during World Cup

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:07:00 +0100

At Tuesday’s First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Labour MSP Carol Mochan, raised a question about children and young people being exposed to alcohol marketing during major sporting events, including the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.

In Focus: The AFS monthly CEO blog - June 2026

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 09:03:00 +0100

In the second of a new series of CEO blogs, Carolyn Lochhead, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, reflects on Scotland’s football fans abroad and our reputation as big drinkers.

One in five alcohol products keep consumers in the dark on health information, new study finds

David Barbour — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:16:00 +0100

One in five alcohol products sold in the UK fail to meet minimum voluntary labelling guidelines set by the alcohol industry regulator, the Portman Group, according to new analysis of over 530 alcohol product labels – the biggest study of its kind to date.

In Focus: The Monthly AFS CEO Blog - May 2026

David Barbour — Mon, 18 May 2026 10:23:00 +0100

In the first of a new series of monthly CEO blogs, Carolyn Lochhead, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, shares her thoughts post-election on Alcohol Focus Scotland’s hopes for the new Parliament.