Alcohol Harms Campaign Supporter Pack Resources

1 day ago
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It’s time to talk openly about addiction. This campaign aims to create a more supportive and understanding environment for people experiencing alcohol addiction by promoting open conversation, challenging and reducing stigma, and encouraging support.

Stigma around alcohol use can stop people from getting help, silence conversations, and leave individuals feeling ashamed or isolated. It’s time to talk openly about addiction and change the culture around how we see and respond to alcohol.

Why this matters

Alcohol addiction can affect anyone: patients, colleagues, friends, or loved ones. It isn’t always visible, and stigma often prevents people from seeking help until crisis point. By showing understanding, we can create an environment where people feel respected, listened to, and able to access support without fear of judgement.

In 2023, 10,473 deaths from alcohol-specific causes were registered in the UK - the highest number on record. Behind these statistics are real people and families whose lives have been shaped by alcohol and by stigma.

Stigma can prevent individuals from seeking help and accessing vital support services, leading to fear, shame, and isolation for those experiencing it.

What we’re doing

Our Alcohol Harms working group brings together NHS APA members to make a positive difference in how addiction to alcohol is understood and treated. Through this campaign, and our wider work, we are committed to:

Promoting open conversations about alcohol and addiction Sharing lived experience stories to challenge stigma
Providing tools and resources for NHS and healthcare staff
Encouraging staff to seek support without fear or shame

This supporter pack provides you with the tools and resources to effectively communicate with people experiencing alcohol addiction inside and outside of your organisation. By raising awareness, challenging harmful stereotypes, and promoting a culture of understanding and compassion, we can help break down the barriers to care and ensure that everyone who needs support has access to it.

Key statistics

The following statistics demonstrate the urgent need to address stigma around addiction to alcohol.

45% of UK adults aged 18-75 have either directly experienced addiction or know someone close to them who has. This translates to approximately 22 million UK adults. (Source: Forward Trust)
Among those affected, 53% feel unable to talk freely about it (Forward Trust, 2023). The main barriers are fear of negative judgement (46%) and shame (39%) (Forward Trust, 2023).
In 2023, there were 8,274 alcohol-specific deaths (deaths wholly attributed to alcohol) in England, marking a 63.8% increase from the 5,050 deaths recorded in 2006, and a 4.6% rise compared to 2022. This equates to a rate of 40.7 per 100,000 population in 2023. This was the highest alcohol-specific mortality rate since the start of the data series in 2006. (Source: Alcohol Profile: Short Statistical Commentary, December 2024)
The average age of death for alcohol-specific mortality in England in 2023 was 57.2 years. In comparison, the average age of death for all causes in England in 2023 was around 20 years higher, at 78.0 years. (Source: Alcohol Profile: Short Statistical Commentary, December 2024)
Alcohol consumption is a key contributor to liver disease. The mortality rate for chronic liver disease in England was 15.0 per 100,000 population in 2023. (Source: Alcohol Profile: Short Statistical Commentary, December 2024)

Resources

Below you will find assets and resources to promote the campaign within your trust or organisation. These resources have been designed to equip NHS and healthcare staff in particular with the practical skills needed to reduce stigma in clinical settings, particularly focusing on alcohol addiction.

Conversation starter guide

If you think a colleague, loved one, friend, or someone accessing your services might be experiencing addiction, starting the conversation can make a real difference. Breaking the stigma helps create a safe space where people feel empowered to seek help.

We’ve created a guide on conversation starters to help you feel comfortable in starting the conversation. To download the guide, visit: stigmakills.org.uk/alcohol-harms

Alcohol in the workplace

This year’s Alcohol Awareness Week may have come to a close, but the conversations it started, about alcohol, work, and the stigma surrounding addiction, are more relevant than ever. Our stigma campaign builds on this message, supporting people who help others affected by addiction, while recognising that they may also be facing their own challenges.

Visit Alcohol Change UK’s resource page to access free materials, guides, and stories to keep the conversation going.

Social media content

12 Days of Conversation Starters

In November 2025, we launched 12 days of conversation starters as part of the Alcohol Harms campaign. The conversation starters are designed to make talking about alcohol addiction, and the stigma surrounding it, easier across NHS and healthcare teams, but also in personal settings.

You can download the social media graphics below:

Please encourage the use of these conversation starters in your teams. Every story and every conversation matters. Together, we can make support visible, timely, and compassionate.

Together, we can create a culture within all communities, where stigma

no longer stands in the way of understanding, support, or quality of care

for anyone affected by alcohol addiction.

Learn more about the campaign: stigmakills.org.uk/alcohol-harms

If you would like to access a PDF version of the supporter pack, you can also download it below.