Alcohol Health Alliance Advocacy Project

Background Alcohol causes significant harm: more than 70 people die every day across the UK due to alcohol. Alcohol is the leading risk factor for early death, ill-health and disability for 15-49-year-olds. Every day, 33 people are diagnosed with alcohol-related cancer.

Alcohol also contributes to health inequalities, with people from deprived groups more likely to feel the adverse consequences. Reducing alcohol harm has never been more urgent, as deaths from alcohol rose to record levels in 2020. Aims This proposal seeks continued support for the Alcohol Health Alliance Advocacy Project.

This work will be match-funded by the Institute of Alcohol Studies. The project involves advocacy to reduce and prevent alcohol harm.

We are calling on the UK Government to introduce a comprehensive evidence-based alcohol strategy, which includes policies to reduce the affordability and restrict the promotion of alcohol.

To secure new policies, we need the Government to recognise that effective alcohol policies are needed, workable and wanted.

To achieve this, we will need increased awareness of alcohol harm and policy solutions amongst individuals (Parliamentarians and general population) and for them to increase pressure on Government to act.

Intermediate outcomes we aim to bring about through advocacy activities therefore include: - Alcohol harm is raised in the media; - Constituents take AHA-led campaigner actions to talk to their MPs about alcohol harm; - Parliamentarians speak about alcohol harm in Parliament and take actions to make a difference.

Methods The AHA’s strength lies in its members’ collective expertise and commitment.

We bring together more than 60 organisations of different sizes, with different interests and different types of expert knowledge. We create a shared voice and ensure resources are pooled and activities coordinated. To achieve policy change, we show that policy action is needed, workable and wanted.

Leveraging the unique strength of the AHA – our large and diverse membership – we: - Collect and generate data on alcohol harm and policy solutions and present these in engaging forms for different audiences; - Influence policy development by engaging with decision makers, responding to consultations and influencing legislative processes; - Work with Parliamentarians to raise alcohol harm and policy solutions in Parliament; - Strengthen and engage our campaigners’ network to contact their local MPs on alcohol issues; - Secure local and national media coverage and develop online content to increase awareness among the general public.