George Freeman MP leads a debate on the children of alcoholics
George Freeman MP led a powerful Westminster Hall debate on behalf of all children growing up with an alcohol dependent parent. Mr Freeman described the ‘terrible trauma of silent suffering’ that knows no class or geographical boundaries and paid tribute to Nacoa, who provide support for children and adults affected by parental drinking. Dr Zubir Ahmed MP agreed to meet with Mr Freeman and discuss the APPG on Children of Alcoholics’ manifesto of reforms.
A message from the Princess of Wales for Addiction Awareness Week
Addiction affects millions of people across the UK, but stigma and silence stop too many from asking for help. Addiction Awareness Week in November was all about talking openly about addiction, to replace stigma with understanding, judgement with empathy and silence with support.
HRH the Princess of Wales, patron of the Forward Trust, wrote a message of support for their ‘Taking action on addiction’ campaign:
‘Addiction is not a choice, or a personal failing, but a complex mental health condition that should be met with empathy and support. But still, even now in 2025, people’s experience of addiction is shaped by fear, shame and judgement. This needs to change.’
‘Recovery is hard, but with the right treatment it is possible. And this begins with a conversation, a listening ear and showing we care… By talking about it in the open, together we can bring addiction and the harm it causes out of the shadows. We can reframe this issue with kindness and understanding, and we can help individuals and families coping with addiction know they are not alone.’
Obstacles to alcohol recovery in the UK
Dependent drinkers face multiple, persistent barriers to entering recovery, as the latest data suggests with only 22% of those in need of specialist alcohol support currently accessing it.
This new report from the Institute of Alcohol Studies uses data from interviews with professionals working in addiction and alcohol harm reduction to describe and discuss the key obstacles currently faced by people entering and sustaining recovery across the UK and make recommendations for change.
Key barriers include:
- Environmental exposure to alcohol due to widespread marketing, 24/7 availability, and the normalisation of drinking.
- Stigma and legal gaps, notably the lack of protection under the Equality Act 2010, which fuels discrimination and marginalisation.
- Underfunded services, which limit access to quality treatment, reduce community support, and exacerbate gaps in mental health and addiction care.
Key recommendations include:
- Restrict the marketing and availability of alcohol in public spaces.
- Update the Equality Act 2010 to protect individuals with alcohol dependence.
- Increase investment in NHS and community services, housing, and reintegration initiatives.
Youth drinking in Ireland – what’s the real picture?
Alcohol Action Ireland has recently published a new report revealing a 10% rise in alcohol consumption over the past 10 years amongst 15–24-year-olds. Although drinking in this age group declined from the mid-2000s to the mid-2010’s, that downward trend has been reversing sine 2015. In fact, the decline since the highs of the 2000s was driven by younger adolescents, particularly those under 17, who should not be drinking anyway.
The report examines national and international data and asks if the saturation of digital marketing is driving the rise, particularly given the low level of statutory controls in this area.
Clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment now published
The Department for Health and Social Care have now published UK clinical guidelines for the treatment of dependence on alcohol
These have been developed in collaboration with UK senior clinical experts and the devolved governments. A group of people with lived experience of alcohol problems also advised on their content.
The guidelines recommend interventions for people with harmful patterns of drinking and alcohol dependence, outlining good practice to improve outcomes for people in need.
They are for clinicians and professionals who deliver alcohol interventions in specialist alcohol and drug treatment services and in hospitals and other health and care settings, as well as other professionals, such as homelessness workers, who support people with alcohol problems in the course of their work.
Call for abstracts for Alcohol Occasionals 2026
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and the Scottish Alcohol Research Network (SARN) invite researchers to submit their research proposals for the 2026 SHAAP/SARN Alcohol Occasionals webinar series.
They are interested in hearing from researchers from any discipline who wish to share their research relating to alcohol, and welcome presentations from new and early career researchers and/or international researchers. Seminars take place online and offer researchers a great opportunity to showcase their work to a wide audience. As the next Scottish Parliament election will take place in May 2026, the theme for next year’s Alcohol Occasionals will be ‘Future directions for alcohol research, policy, and practice – priorities for a new Scottish Government.’ Abstracts submitted should therefore reflect on how research relates to this theme.
The deadline for proposal submissions is Friday 30 January 2026. For more information, visit the SHAAP website.
Cultivating cultural recovery pathways for Black and Asian communities in Scotland
Last month, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (SFAD) and the Scottish Recovery Consortium (SRC) hosted an event at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh titled: ‘Cultivating cultural recovery pathways for Black and Asian communities in Scotland.’ Black and Asian communities often face unique barriers in accessing recovery support. This event brought together individuals with lived experience of substance use, family and community members of those with lived or living experience, health professionals working in alcohol and drug services, and members of third sector organisations working with communities across Scotland.
Attendees heard stories of lived experience, participated in discussion about services, and learned about cultural competency. The event provided an opportunity to develop an understanding of what is needed to create inclusive alcohol and drug recovery pathways for individuals and their families and address the current barriers and unmet needs of Black and Asian recovery communities in Scotland. SHAAP would like to thank all co-organisers, speakers, facilitators, and attendees for making the event such a success
Events
Alcohol use and homelessness: bridging gaps in treatment and policy
UCL Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group
16 December 2025 (hybrid)
Liver awareness and scanning day in Parliament
British Liver Trust
20 January 2026
Dignity and choice: ensuring better end-of-life care for alcohol-dependent people
Alcohol Change UK
12 March 2026 (online)
