30/09/2026
Scottish Families fully supports this call from people in recovery, as it echoes the experiences of families affected by alcohol. The families we support tell us that our ‘Alcohol Everywhere’ culture harms whole families and whole communities – children, young people and adults. Alcohol is in your face, no matter where you look, and there is no part of daily life in Scotland which is alcohol-free.
People in recovery, their loved ones and the families still supporting someone with an alcohol problem, do not have the power of influence of the alcohol industry; they do not have an army of lobbyists or a multi-million-pound PR machine to amplify their voices. They do not have the time, energy or resources to compete with the industry. For too long, families' voices have been drowned out by those with money, power and influence.
Since the Scottish Government publicly committed to tackling alcohol marketing in 2018, over 8,000 more people in Scotland have died directly from alcohol. They include family members, friends, colleagues, and loved ones. How many more people will die, how many more lives will be shattered, how many more families will be destroyed before their voices are heard and prioritised?
People with lived experience of alcohol harm have called for a new approach to alcohol advertising and marketing, saying that its ubiquity acts as a potential trigger that puts them at risk of relapse. In a new report published by Alcohol Focus Scotland at the end of Recovery Month 2026, outdoor alc...
