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
AFS joins health leaders call for minimum unit pricing after record alcohol deaths in Northern Ireland
Feb 20, 2026: Health leaders have written to the First and Deputy First Ministers calling for urgent action after alcohol-specific deaths in Northern Ireland reached their highest level on record. The Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), an alliance of more than 60 organisations including medical Royal Colleges, treatment providers and health charities, has written to Ministers expressing “deep concern” at the latest statistics, calling for the urgent introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) in Northern Ireland.
AFS comment on the PHS 10 Year Health Strategy
Feb 12, 2026: Public Health Scotland has published its new 10-year health strategy for Scotland, Together We Can. Alcohol Focus Scotland welcomes the strategy, particularly its recognition of the scale of alcohol harm in Scotland and its strong focus on prevention and health equity.
FOI documents show how alcohol industry pressure forced marketing restrictions out of NHS health plan
Jan 29, 2026: Analysis of Freedom of Information (FOI) documents released today reveals how alcohol companies and industry-funded bodies mounted a coordinated lobbying campaign to force the removal of alcohol marketing restrictions from England’s 10 Year Health Plan – an NHS strategy intended to improve the nation’s health.
Welcome decrease in hospital admissions - but alcohol harm remains pervasive
Jan 27, 2026: Statistics published today (27/1/2026) by Public Health Scotland show that in 2024/25 there were 29,430 alcohol-related hospital admissions (stays) in Scotland. This represents a 9% decrease in hospital admissions compared to the previous year (32,352).
