Dr. Andrea Mohan1, Shona Shinwell2 and Dr. Paul Toner1 1Substance Use Research Group, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Dundee 2School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow 1.0 Executive summary 1.1 Background Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABIs) are short, structured conversations delivered by health and social care professionals, which aim to motivate […]
Report
Towards Culturally Safe Systems: A Thematic Synthesis of five reports for Recovery and Inclusion in Scotland (2008–2025)
By Dr. David Patton Associate Professor in Criminology, University of Derby This synthesis draws together five complementary sources that, taken as a whole, offer a longitudinal and cross‑sector view of how ethnically and culturally diverse communities in Scotland experience services related to inclusion, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and recovery, and what it would […]
Cultivating Cultural Recovery Pathways for Black and Asian Communities in Scotland
On 13 November 2025, the event Cultivating Cultural Recovery Pathways for Black and Asian Communities in Scotland brought together over 63 key stakeholders at the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh. Participants included policymakers, public health professionals, recovery practitioners, grassroots leaders, and individuals with lived experience. The aim was to explore culturally responsive approaches to addiction […]
Spin the bottle: How the UK alcohol industry twists the facts on harm and responsibility.
The report – Spin the bottle: How the UK alcohol industry twists the facts on harm and responsibility – analysed over 140 public communications from six leading alcohol companies and industry-funded groups. It uncovers a coordinated strategy of cherry-picking evidence, exaggerating economic importance, and promoting voluntary measures while lobbying against effective regulation.
Exploring the delivery of alcohol-related health advice in dental practice settings: A scoping review
Dental Professionals (DPs) are ideally placed to support public health efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm by routinely screening patients and offering alcohol-related health advice, a scoping review commissioned by Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) has found. However, the review found that while DPs are encouraged to screen patient’s alcohol consumption and provide advice […]
Supporter views on alcohol sponsorship in Scottish football
These focus groups were commissioned by SHAAP and carried out by Red Circle to assess the views of football supporters in relation to alcohol sponsorship. Across the four focus groups we were able to obtain representation from all levels within Scottish football including supporters of Premiership, Championship, League One, League Two and Non-League clubs. The […]
Review of Alcohol Services in Scotland’s acute hospitals
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) commissioned Figure 8 Consultancy (Dundee) in May 2022 to conduct a comprehensive review of alcohol services in acute hospitals in Scotland, with particular focus on people with Alcohol-related Liver Disease [ArLD], to identify areas that SHAAP and others may be able to support improvement. The objective of the […]
A Qualitative Study of the Views of Alcohol Frequent Attenders at Royal Alexandra Hospital, Renfrewshire
New research with people who are repeatedly hospitalised due to alcohol (Alcohol Frequent Attenders – AFAs) highlights the need for improved services. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of the West of Scotland alongside medical colleagues at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Renfrewshire and was commissioned by SHAAP.
Getting in the spirit? Alcohol and the Scottish economy
While Scotland has a well-established reputation as a producer of whisky, a report today reveals that as a nation we are much more likely to drink wine, beer and vodka. The research from the Social Market Foundation think tank report shows that the alcohol industry costs the economy – in terms of impact on public […]
Scottish Supporters Survey Results
The survey was conducted online and promoted through the Scottish Football Supporters Association and a variety of social media channels. Responses were received between November and December 2022, with all responses individually data checked and validated. The total response was 287 individuals.
SWF Player survey
The online survey was conducted by Red Circle and players’ responses remained anonymous.
Alcohol sponsorship of football: Examining the nature of sponsorship relations for professional football teams across countries with varied restrictions on alcohol marketing
The report examines the extent of alcohol sport sponsorship in the top tier of professional football across 10 European nations and explores to what extent different approaches to restricting alcohol sports sponsorship impacts the sponsorship arrangements of football clubs in these countries. Key findings from the report include: Watch the video of the SHAAP/ University […]