The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have published a new strategy aimed at reducing deaths and harms caused by misuse of alcohol and drugs, which includes plans to target the affordability, attractiveness and availability of alcohol, including next steps on alcohol marketing restrictions.
As part of the strategy, an alcohol harm prevention action plan will be published later in 2026, with engagement undertaken with stakeholders, including in clinical and public health sectors and in business and industry, on the impact and effect of potential actions.
The Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland’s Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan 2026 – 2035 stated that Scotland would build on the success of its world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol policy. It added that research commended by experts has estimated that MUP policy has saved hundreds of lives and is likely to have averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions.
The strategy said: “Alcohol consumption remains a significant cause of preventable ill health, including the long-term effects on people who drink at hazardous and harmful levels. Building on work to date, we will take forward whole population preventative action on alcohol harm, drawing on the WHO’s framework. This includes next steps on alcohol marketing restrictions, working as part of the four nations to consider calorie and health warnings on alcohol product labels, and increasing awareness of the links between alcohol consumption and cancer.”
The strategy also revealed plans explore ways to expand the use of community sentences for people whose offending is linked to alcohol and drug use. ScotGov claimed that evidence indicates that community sentences reduce reoffending more effectively than short custodial sentences and may offer greater opportunity for rehabilitation.
Backed by more than £160m in 2026-27, the plan builds on the Scottish Government’s five-year National Mission on Drugs which ends in April.
