Alcohol Focus Scotland

Text quote from Carolyn Lochhead, AFS CEO, reading: "We are glad to see recognition from Scottish Government that, with fifty people a week dying from alcohol, we need urgent change. The new strategic plan incorporates measures that Alcohol Focus Scotland has been calling for including enhanced liver screening and an alcohol-specific prevention plan, including next steps on alcohol marketing and labelling. “To tackle the near record deaths from alcohol, implementation of the strategic plan must now ensure that people affected by alcohol receive the priority, resources, and investment they need, not just on paper but in practice. We look forward to working with government to make that happen.”

AFS welcomes the publication of the new #ScottishGovernment Strategic Plan for Alcohol and Drugs for 2026-2035.

Read more 🔽

www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/news/news/af...

Too much alcohol takes memories ☹

This #MothersDay, why not make some memories and get mum tickets to a right good show?!

#ThinkOutsideTheBottle

Needing gift ideas for #MothersDay?

Alcohol harm is increasing among women. Instead of alcohol, why not treat a classy lady to a high tea?

#ThinkOutsideTheBottle

Associations between financial hardship and alcohol reduction attempts in the context of a cost-of-living crisis and alcohol tax reforms: a population study in Great Britain, 2023–25 Rising living costs and changes to alcohol taxation influence drinking behaviours. This study aimed to examine associations between financial hardship…

'Associations between financial hardship and alcohol reduction attempts in the context of a cost-of-living crisis and alcohol tax reforms' | @drsarahejackson.bsky.social @jholmessheff.bsky.social @victimofmaths.bsky.social et al @sciencedirect.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Realist review of managed alcohol programmes for people experiencing alcohol dependence and homelessness: what works, for whom, and in what circumstances? - Harm Reduction Journal Introduction People experiencing homelessness and alcohol dependence are vulnerable to a range of harms, and existing treatment options, which are often abstinence-based, are inadequate for this group...

'Realist review of managed alcohol programmes for people experiencing alcohol dependence and homelessness: what works, for whom, and in what circumstances?' | Harm Reduction Journal link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Alcohol doesn't just affect individual health - it affects public safety and communities.

The evidence on alcohol and football violence demands action. Stronger policies on alcohol at sporting events are essential to create safer environments.

SFA president demands football banning orders for yobs Mike Mulraney has spoken out after a spate of ugly incidents during last season

This is not a exclusively an #OldFirm problem.

There has been a lengthy catalogue of violent incidents across the divisions over the past few seasons, with the #SFA President last season calling for action to tackle a notable uptick in violence.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/footba...

Rangers v Celtic: 'Disgraceful scenes as toxicity spills over in Old Firm cup tie' As if the ugliness of the 120 minutes wasn't enough there was disgrace as Rangers and Celtic fans invaded the pitch at Ibrox, writes Tom English.

The disgraceful scenes of violence and disorder following yesterday's #ScottishCup match only underline what we've been saying for a long time

We do not need to pour fuel on the fire by adding yet more #alcohol to the situation

@mareetodd.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Unlike alcohol, which actually increases stress and anxiety with regular use, a bath will never stress you out 🛀

Give mum a gift for wellbeing this #MothersDay

#ThinkOutsideTheBottle

On #InternationalWomensDay, Gillian from Our Circle for Alcohol Free Mums discusses how the alcohol industry targets women and what mum's might really like for #MothersDay

Surely we can do better than a lazy bottle of booze to honour that special lady?

#ThinkOutsideTheBottle

Spring is on the horizon, but March can still be cold. 🥶

Alcohol actually cools us down rather than heats us up. Help mum see out the winter with an elegant (if thinner) scarf!

#ThinkOutsideTheBottle

The rise and rise of the inflated open letter Presented by Energy Community Secretariat By MARI ECCLES PRESENTED BY Tips, tales, traumas to influence@politico.eu | View in your browser Hello and welcome to EU Influence. I’m Mari Eccles, travel…

Ireland's decision to 'partner' with Diageo for its St Patrick's Day reception in Brussels is raising eyebrows not only in Ireland but also across Europe after government allowed the alcohol lobby to 'score a recent win' against health labels on alcohol products.
www.politico.eu/newsletter/p...

Our new #AFSManifesto calls for #NoMoreHalfMeasures

People in recovery want to see greater investment and access to alcohol treatment and support and for Government not to be swayed by the alcohol industry

Read our manifesto

https://twp.ai/9Pb7hc

Research from Canada has shown that adding mandatory health warning labels on alcohol products alongside #MUP could substantially reduce #Cancer cases & #HealthInequalities

All the more reason for the next @ScotParl to implement our #AFSManifesto asks

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Thinking about what to get for #MothersDay?

You can't go far wrong with flowers to brighten someone's mood!

Give a gift for wellbeing this Mother's Day.

#ThinkOutsideTheBottle

News | No more half measures: alcohol charity demands bold alcohol action in next Parliament Alcohol Focus Scotland has warned Scotland’s next MSPs that it’s time to get serious about tackling the cost of harm caused by alcohol

Read our manifesto 🔽

www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/news/news/no...

A cost effective way to reduce the estimated £700million annual #NHS alcohol tab would be for the next #ScottishParliament to enact policies in our #AFSManifesto, including:

▶️ Restricting #AlcoholMarketing
▶️ Mandatory health warnings on alcohol products
▶️ Automatic uprating of #MUP

Gillian of Our Circle, who support mums to become alcohol free, speaks about why she backs our #AFSManifesto

We're calling for #NoMoreHalfMeasures on reducing alcohol harm from the next @ScotParl

Read more 🔽

www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/news/news/no...

Scotland was once a world leader in tackling the harm caused by alcohol, but in recent years we have fallen woefully behind

AFS chief executive @carolynl.bsky.social explains why we need #NoMoreHalfMeasures in the next Parliament

Read our manifesto 🔽
alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/resources/No...

With fifty people dying from alcohol every week in Scotland, it's clear we need decisive action. Our #NoMoreHalfMeasures campaign sets out the steps needed to save lives: it's time to get serious about alcohol harm.

SHAAP fully supports the #AFSmanifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections.

The message is clear: #NoMoreHalfMeasures. It's time for Scotland to get serious about reducing alcohol harm through evidence-based policies that protect public health.

We've published our #AFSManifesto for the @parliament.scot elections 🗳️

Our message for the next #ScottishParliament is simple:

#NoMoreHalfMeasures: Time to get serious about alcohol harm

Read our manifesto 🔽
www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/resources/No...

Quarter of healthy years lost to breast cancer are due to lifestyle factors, research finds Largest study of its kind suggests high red meat consumption has biggest impact, followed by smoking

Globally, 28% of healthy years lost to breast cancer are due to just 6 lifestyle factors.

In the UK, 4 in 10 cancers are preventable with lifestyle changes.

The message is clear: prevention policies are crucial in reducing rates of ill-health and death.

www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

New measures unveiled to combat 'dangerously high' alcohol consumption Government unveils new alcohol strategy for the next five years

The Malta government launched the National Alcohol Policy 2026–2031 last week. The policy integrates WHO “Best Buys” such as:
* Restrictions on alcohol marketing
* Penalties for sales to minors
* Designation of alcohol-free zones in public spaces
See:
timesofmalta.com/article/new-...

How alcohol brands avoid advertising bans YouTube video by It's Complicated

How do alcohol brands use no- and low-alcohol options to dodge advertising restrictions?

@theguardian.com explains...

www.youtube.com/shorts/Nzg7r...

Here's @maggiechapman.bsky.social using our evidence in yesterday's debate to challenge how we think about substance misuse in prisons...

"If 63% of the prisoner population has alcohol use disorder, that is not a prison problem, that is a public health emergency playing out behind closed doors."

Well that's a wrap at the @scottishlabour.bsky.social Conference for us #TodayAtAFS

Gillian of Alcohol Free Mums shares her thoughts on the conversations we had with MSPs and candidates - and on the alcohol policy asks we were discussing

#TodayAtAFS, we're at the @scottishlabour.bsky.social Party Conference

Hoping for some positive chats with MSPs and prospective candidates for the #ScottishElections on our soon to be published Manifesto

Platforming the voices of #LivedExperience

How are bars and nightclubs in Scotland using extensions in late-night alcohol trading hours? Venue observation study - PubMed Extensions in late-night alcohol trading hours granted in two Scottish cities were not used consistently by venues due to lack of demand by customers. The late-night sale of alcohol to intoxicated customers was routine. Our findings challenge the assumption that later trading hours benefit the night …

New research on late night licensing extensions in Scotland has been published.

It found:

➡️ A lack of customer demand
➡️ Sale of alcohol to intoxicated customers was routine
➡️ Likely low benefit to night time economy but increased risk of alcohol harm

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41747465/

How alcohol brands sneakily bypass ad bans YouTube video by It's Complicated

How alcohol companies use zero-alcohol advertising to avoid regulation, and why this is harmful.

Another excellent @theguardian.com 'It's Complicated' short.

www.youtube.com/shorts/Nzg7r...