Speakers 2026

Minimum unit pricing (MUP) is often presented as a clear case of evidence-based policy, with conclusive findings from the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model and Canadian evaluation studies playing a central role in governments adopting the policy.  Evidence from evaluation studies has been more equivocal, although this may reflect more the diversity of outcomes studies and research methods deployed than genuine uncertainties on key questions.  However, the fortunes of MUP have often reflected political and social factors as much as scientific ones. The emergence of the Scottish National Party as a long-term government, the limitations of devolved power and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have all played significant roles in policy decisions. A new government at Westminster with a firm committed to moving from ‘sickness to prevention’ seemed to herald the opportunity for politics to again play a major role, with the possibility of MUP coming to England as well.  Yet, the absence of widely trailed alcohol policies from the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan suggests Labour will follow the path of successive UK Governments in pursuing an industry-friendly path on alcohol policy.  We should be careful though of overstating this position as recent years have seen significant actual or proposed shifts on alcohol tax structures, health warning labels, drink driving and other areas. Perhaps this reflects a changing landscape for alcohol policy where the crisis-led strategies of the 2000s give way to incremental change as our growing knowledge of alcohol epidemiology filters through to policy decisions and public understanding.

People who experience alcohol use disorder often have complex lives. Drug or psychological therapy in isolation does not always address the wider challenges they experience. This presentation will review psychosocial interventions for alcohol use disorder. Examples include integrated care to address our fragmented healthcare and social systems and using peers with lived experience of alcohol-related health harms to facilitate medical treatment.

Her lecture today will provide an overview of the UK landscape of clinical trials in ArLD, including understanding national activity as a whole, as well as exploration of individual studies, opportunities for development, and horizon scanning for future trials.

DHSC (Department of Health and Social Care) and partners from the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have developed the first ever  UK clinical guidelines on alcohol treatment, which were published in November 2025.  A group of expert alcohol treatment clinicians and professionals, and a group of people with lived experience advised on the content throughout their development and many people from the alcohol and drug treatment sector contributed to a public consultation. The guidelines are evidence – based and focus on how to work in practice. The aim of the guidelines is to promote and support good practice and to improve quality of service provision, resulting in better outcomes for people with alcohol problems. One year on we will present an overview of the guidelines along with information about their uptake and dissemination. The guidelines form the basis of a programme for quality improvement. We will discuss progress to date, challenges and planned next steps

DHSC (Department of Health and Social Care) and partners from the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have developed the first ever  UK clinical guidelines on alcohol treatment, which were published in November 2025.  A group of expert alcohol treatment clinicians and professionals, and a group of people with lived experience advised on the content throughout their development and many people from the alcohol and drug treatment sector contributed to a public consultation. The guidelines are evidence – based and focus on how to work in practice. The aim of the guidelines is to promote and support good practice and to improve quality of service provision, resulting in better outcomes for people with alcohol problems. One year on we will present an overview of the guidelines along with information about their uptake and dissemination. The guidelines form the basis of a programme for quality improvement. We will discuss progress to date, challenges and planned next steps

A high proportion of people with an alcohol use disorder experience cognitive impairment. Impairment includes problems with memory, attention and executive function; all of which can have a significant impact on quality of life and the ability to engage with health and social care, including treatment for alcohol use disorder. Alcohol-related cognitive impairment (ARCI), including mild to severe deficits, is poorly defined and under-identified resulting in missed opportunities to offer effective care.

This presentation will introduce our programme of research funded by the NIHR and hosted at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research at the University of Hull. The first phase of this research involved an expert clinical consensus project conducted in partnership with the  Medical Council on Alcohol, which was informed by a pilot prevalence study of  ARCI within a large regional acute hospital in England. Findings from these studies contributed to the development of the longitudinal screening, assessment and prevalence (SPARCI) study, which is currently underway.

Collectively, this programme of research, informed by individuals with lived experience and experts in the field, will inform adaptations to the care pathways for those identified with ARCI during acute hospital admissions and in specialist care provision.