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
Alcohol Focus Scotland announces Carolyn Lochhead as new Chief Executive
Jan 12, 2026: Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) is delighted to announce that Carolyn Lochhead has been appointed as our new chief executive. Carolyn joins Alcohol Focus Scotland from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, where she is Director of External Affairs, a post she has held since 2021. She brings with her a wealth of leadership experience across health, housing, policy, research and campaigning.
UK brings a Jan-do attitude to better health and wellbeing in 2026 as record 17.5 million plan an alcohol-free January
Dec 19, 2025: People across the UK are more motivated than ever to kick off the year on a healthier, happier note, as new research from Alcohol Change UK finds 17.51 million are planning a month off alcohol in January 2026.
Scottish Health Survey 2024 – Positive picture, but devil is in the detail
Oct 24, 2025: The Scottish Health Survey 2024 was published on the 21st October 2025. The publication provides information on the health of people in Scotland, including on our alcohol consumption.
AFS Response to PHS Decline in Treatment Report
Oct 23, 2025: Public Health Scotland (PHS) recently published their long-awaited report into a decline in referrals to specialist alcohol treatment services. The report was commissioned by the Scottish Government in 2023 following an answer to a Parliamentary Question which revealed that the number of referrals to specialist alcohol treatment fell from a peak of 32,556 in 2013/14 to 19,617 in 2021/22.
