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AFS Response to Programme for Government 2026

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

Responding to the Programme for Government, Carolyn Lochhead, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said:

“The Scottish Government is right to describe the impact of alcohol on Scotland as a public health emergency. But this Programme for Government doesn’t back up these words with action proportionate to the scale of damage to Scotland’s health, economy and wellbeing.

“Scotland has been a leader with population-wide prevention measures like minimum unit pricing (MUP) and the lack of ambition to build on this legacy is frustrating. To truly tackle Scotland’s catastrophic relationship with alcohol, we need to put prevention at the heart of the health agenda.

“The Scottish Government must introduce automatic uprating of MUP, so its impact is not eroded by inflation. Alongside this, they must reform the licensing system and take decisive action to restrict alcohol marketing.”