As Liverpool launches its new Alcohol Strategy, Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, explores how the city can build on recent progress to reduce alcohol-related harm while supporting healthy, vibrant communities.
For many people in Liverpool, enjoying a sociable drink is a part of life. Our pubs, bars, restaurants and venues are an important part of what makes the city special. They contribute to our economy, support jobs and tourism, and provide spaces where people can come together, connect, celebrate and socialise.
But while alcohol can be part of positive social experiences, the harms associated with alcohol consumption can have a profound impact on individuals, families and communities.
Alcohol-related harm remains higher in Liverpool than in many other parts of the country. It contributes to poor physical and mental health, crime and antisocial behaviour, family breakdown and pressures on public services. These harms are not experienced equally, with people living in our most deprived communities often facing the greatest impact.
But there are also reasons to be hopeful.
Across Liverpool, we are already seeing evidence that change is possible. More young people are choosing not to drink regularly. Alcohol-related hospital admissions among under-18s have fallen significantly. Alcohol-specific deaths are declining. More people are accessing treatment and support, and more people are successfully staying in treatment and recovery.
These improvements show that alcohol harm is not inevitable.
But maintaining that progress requires us to continue working differently.
That is the ambition behind Liverpool’s Alcohol Strategy 2026-2032 and our shared vision for a Liverpool where people can enjoy the city’s social and cultural life while living in communities free from alcohol-related harm.
Starting with people’s experiences
The strategy has been shaped by more than 500 residents, community groups, professionals and organisations from across Liverpool.
Together, they helped us understand what is working well, where challenges remain and what people need from services in the future.
People told us they want support that is easy to find and easy to access. They want services that work together. They want help available before problems escalate. And they want Liverpool to continue being a welcoming, vibrant city where people can socialise safely.
Their views have shaped a strategy that recognises alcohol-related harm is not simply a healthcare issue. It affects health, wellbeing, families, housing, employment, education, community safety and wider opportunities throughout life.
Addressing alcohol-related harm therefore requires a whole-system response, with organisations and communities working together toward shared goals.
Building on what is already working
Liverpool is not starting from scratch.
Across the city, significant progress has already been made through prevention, treatment and recovery services, community partnerships and targeted support for vulnerable groups.
The promotion of the NHS Drink Free Days app has helped residents better understand and manage their drinking. Specialist alcohol interventions in hospitals have helped reduce repeat admissions and support safer and timelier discharge. Licensed venues have received drink-spiking prevention training and testing kits, while dedicated specialist services continue to support children and young people affected by alcohol.
Training has also been delivered to licensed premises on age verification, responsible retailing and alcohol legislation, helping businesses play their part in reducing harm and protecting young people.
The results are encouraging.
Among 14 to 17-year-olds, the proportion who never drink or drink less than once a month has increased from around 80% in 2023 to 92% in 2026.
Under-18 alcohol-specific admissions have improved significantly, with the gap between Liverpool and the England average narrowing from 23.1 to 4.3 admissions per 100,000 population, an 82% reduction.
At the same time, alcohol-specific admissions across all ages continue to decline and are now 15% lower than the peak recorded in 2019/20.
Backed by investment
The strategy is also being supported by an additional £70 million of ring-fenced Government funding over three years to strengthen Liverpool’s drug and alcohol prevention, treatment and recovery services.
A key aim of this investment is to address unmet need, expand service capacity and improve outcomes for residents affected by substance use.
Through this funding, Change Grow Live has expanded the River Drug and Alcohol Service workforce by 130 staff members, increasing specialist capacity across adult, family, young people’s and outreach services. The investment has also expanded access to clinical interventions, including naloxone and long-acting prescribing options.
The impact is already being seen.
In the last year, 838 more people accessed alcohol treatment services. This was driven by a 47% increase in people seeking support for alcohol-related issues and a 68% increase in people needing help with both alcohol and other drug use.
With more staff in place, key worker caseloads have reduced, allowing for more personalised support. As a result, treatment outcomes have improved, with 88% of people receiving support for alcohol and non-opiate drug use remaining in effective treatment, compared with 75% in the previous year.
The funding has also enabled innovative new approaches.
University Hospital Liverpool Group has established specialist community-based support to improve screening and interventions for liver, lung, heart and kidney health, while a multi-disciplinary pilot has already screened more than 700 people and connected them with appropriate healthcare services.
Meanwhile, the Whitechapel Centre has expanded support for people experiencing homelessness, helping around 220 people over the past year to sustain tenancies, access treatment and improve stability through a developing “team around the hostel” model.
River has reached a significant milestone in reducing Hepatitis C, with high numbers of people being tested and treated, helping prevent the virus from spreading.
Focusing on what comes next
While progress is encouraging, challenges remain.
The strategy sets out five priorities for the years ahead: preventing harm and intervening earlier; improving treatment and recovery support; keeping communities safe; protecting children, young people and families; and using local powers and wider policy approaches to reduce harm.
This includes improving alcohol literacy, so people better understand units, risk and harmful drinking, strengthening support for people with co-occurring alcohol and mental health needs, further developing whole-family approaches and exploring new ways to reduce alcohol-related harm in communities.
There will also be a continued focus on making effective use of local powers and partnerships with businesses to create safe and welcoming environments across the city.
Turning ambition into action
No single organisation can reduce alcohol harm alone.
The impact is felt across healthcare, education, housing, social care, community safety and local communities. That is why the strategy brings together partners from across the city around a shared vision and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for Liverpool residents.
A strategy only matters if it changes what happens next.
Liverpool has already shown that progress is possible.
Now we have an opportunity to build on that success, ensuring that everyone can benefit from a city that is vibrant and welcoming, while reducing the harms caused by alcohol.
