On 2nd March 2016, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), Alcohol Focus Scotland and Eurocare, held a joint event in the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh to explore and discuss alcohol policy in Scotland and Ireland. Governments in Scotland and Ireland are pushing forward policies that focus on increasing alcohol price and reducing availability and marketing, in the face of sustained opposition by global alcohol producers.

In the context of a refresh to the current Scottish Alcohol Strategy, ‘‘Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol’’, and Ireland introducing a new Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, which includes Minimum Unit Pricing and is wide ranging in its provisions related to marketing and availability, the event provided an opportunity to hear from experts who are centrally involved in influencing alcohol policies. As well as providing an update on Scottish, Irish and European alcohol challenges and priorities, the findings of the latest MESAS (Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy) report, which was launched on 1st March 2016, were presented.