Between 1980 and 2013, deaths from liver disease in the UK increased by four times, mainly attributable to alcohol consumption. Although the latest data from Public Health England (PHE) show some reduction in the number of hospital admissions for alcohol-related liver disease in those younger than 18 years and in the number drinking, the high mortality in adults continues with 50% of English local authorities seeing a rise in hospital admissions for alcohol-related illness. Obesity-related liver disease and prevalence of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are both increasing, with ever increasing costs to the National Health Service (NHS). The ten major recommendations in the Lancet Commission report were selected as needing urgent implementation on the basis of strong evidence and are considered in terms of what has been achieved to date and where there is ongoing work.