Bulletin 111 – The Blue Light Approach: new updated guidance
More than a decade after the original Blue Light guidance was first published, we’re delighted to share an updated version for those working with people with entrenched alcohol dependency and complex needs.
This new guidance is a practical, system-focused guide for practitioners and managers across health, social care, housing, policing, probation and community safety, and is grounded in evidence and frontline experience. It supports shared ownership, joint planning and consistent approaches that reduce risk and improve outcomes, focusing on safety and dignity, and the belief that progress is always possible.
It is intended to support practitioners and leaders who want to work differently, who recognise the cost of repeated crisis responses, and who are committed to reducing harm, improving safety and strengthening system responses over time.
Publication of the UK clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment
The government has published the UK Clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment. This outlines appropriate interventions for people with harmful patterns of drinking and alcohol dependence, supporting and promoting good practice. This is one of the most important publications in the alcohol sector for many years. It covers good practice across issues such as detoxification, residential rehabilitation and community services. It also recognises the needs of specific groups within the community.
For the Blue Light Approach, a particularly important part of the guidelines can be found in section 9 on Alcohol assertive outreach and a multi-agency team around the person. This section sets out how alcohol assertive outreach can engage and support vulnerable people with alcohol dependence who experience multiple disadvantages. It includes coordinating care through multi-agency teams to address complex needs and reduce health inequalities. This is a central message of the Blue Light approach, and its contribution is recognised in the guidelines.
This theme is addressed in other parts of the guidelines as well. For example, in section 2 on Principles of care, it states that: “…alcohol treatment services need to target groups that experience multiple disadvantages using flexible engagement approaches and tailor interventions to meet their specific needs.”
The guidelines also support other related areas of work, in particular ensuring the accessibility of detoxification and residential rehabilitation, which can be valuable approaches with this group.
These guidelines now need to be central to the commissioning, planning and development of all alcohol interventions.
Dignity and choice
Ensuring better end-of-life care for alcohol-dependent people An Alcohol Change UK online learning event
Thursday 12 March 2026
10 am to 12:20 pm
All of us working to support people facing alcohol problems are focused on reducing harm and promoting recovery. It is an uncomfortable truth, however, that, in some cases, recovery is unlikely and a person’s health will continue to worsen.
It’s something we all need to be more prepared for, so that we can recognise when someone is dying, and respond appropriately; and so that more people can have a dignified death, in a location of their choosing, with the people they want around them.
Join us on 12 March to learn more about how we can all deal with death better.
We’ll be looking at how to raise end-of-life issues with people with severe alcohol dependency and their loved ones; how to make appropriate preparations for death; and how to manage alcohol use during the end-of-life period.
Speakers include: Gill Taylor on why poor end-of-life care hurts everyone Mary McKenna and Mark Holmes on how to care for people dying of alcohol-related liver disease Gemma Yarwood looking at what makes good end-of-life care for people who use substances Anthony Vaughan on delivering end-of-life support in homelessness settings
Launch of Men’s Health Strategy for England
In November, the Government published Men’s health: a strategic vision for England. This details the Government’s 10-year vision for men’s health and the actions it’s taking to improve the health and wellbeing of all men and boys in England.
Alcohol Change UK submitted written evidence to the strategy during the consultation period. Although the strategy is not directly related to the Blue Light Approach, it’s an important first step in identifying and promoting the types of early intervention and prevention needed to reduce alcohol harm. It also recognises the importance of improving the quality of alcohol treatment as set out in the new clinical guidelines.
Online training sessions by Alcohol Change UK
Safeguarding vulnerable dependent drinkers
5 February 2026, 1 pm to 3:30 pm
This CPD-accredited course introduces the effective use of key legal frameworks to protect vulnerable, dependent drinkers. It focuses on the Care Act 2014, the Mental Capacity Act, and the Mental Health Act, alongside other relevant powers, within a practical process framework that supports best practice and complements community-based work.
Alcohol, drugs and young people webinar
19 February 2026, 10 am to 12 pm
This webinar provides a foundational overview of key issues related to substance use among young people. It explores common signs and symptoms of use and examines the specific impacts certain substances can have on adolescents, including effects on brain development.
Our new multi-partner project on neurodiversity
We are still welcoming partners to our new multi-partner Blue Light development project on identifying and addressing neurodiversity in the context of complex dependent drinking.
This project follows the model of our award-winning Blue Light Approach, and our national work on safeguarding and cognitive impairment. Each participating area will contribute £5,950 (ex VAT) to support the work and, in return, receive a package of training, consultation, and practice development.
Each partner will receive: Membership of the national steering group, A local development workshop with professionals and people with lived experience to explore the local impact, A local online survey and summary report, Access to a series of national webinars, which are only open to project partners, Four half-day local training sessions and Presentations to relevant local partnerships.
This model is a cost-effective way of developing understanding and delivering training on an underexplored area. If you want us to join the project and/or want the detailed project specification sent directly, please email jane.gardiner@alcoholchange.org.uk.
Reminder – Improving housing for people with complex needs
Last month, Alcohol Change UK published new national guidance to help local areas improve housing and support for people with alcohol dependency and complex needs. Two new guidance documents are now available online. The Blue Light Approach: Improving accommodation options for people with alcohol dependency and complex needs. Part One: Main report and information guides. Part Two: The law, benefits, and national guidance. This companion guide is written for frontline practitioners. It explains how housing law and the welfare benefits system can support people who are alcohol dependent to access and keep accommodation.
Alcohol Death Reviews in Scotland 2025
Alcohol Focus Scotland has published a report providing an overview of alcohol death reviews across Scotland. It highlights that: Across the reviews, three fundamental aims of the alcohol death reviews consistently emerge: understanding patient journeys and service engagement, identifying risk factors, and generating learning to improve systems.
Key findings show a consistent profile of alcohol-related deaths, including who is dying and why: Most individuals were middle-aged, with men overrepresented, although women tended to die at younger ages. Alcoholic liver disease accounted for roughly two-thirds of deaths, reinforcing the prolonged and preventable trajectory of harm. Social isolation and deprivation were recurring features, with many individuals living alone and residing in the most deprived areas. Comorbidities were prevalent, with one review reporting an average of three chronic conditions per person. Mental health comorbidities, in particular, were nearly universal.
Institute of Alcohol Studies – Barriers to Recovery: Overcoming obstacles to alcohol recovery in the UK
This report uses data from interviews with professionals working in addiction and alcohol harm reduction to describe and discuss the key obstacles currently faced by people entering and sustaining recovery across the UK and make recommendations for change.
The barriers identified tend to be structural rather than the more personal barriers that we focus on in the Blue Light Approach; nonetheless, this is a valuable review.
Key barriers identified include: Environmental exposure to alcohol due to widespread marketing, 24/7 availability, and the normalisation of drinking. Stigma and legal gaps, notably the lack of protection under the Equality Act 2010, which fuels discrimination and marginalisation. Underfunded services, which limit access to quality treatment, reduce community support, and exacerbate gaps in mental health and addiction care. Structural inequalities, including inadequate housing and limited employment opportunities, make sustained recovery more challenging. The alcohol industry’s influence distorts public health messaging and undermines meaningful policy reform. Political inertia, with short-term policymaking stalling progress on long-term solutions.
Alcohol Change UK training
We can deliver our award-winning Blue Light course, our safeguarding vulnerable dependent drinkers course and our cognitive impairment online along with a host of other courses either in-person or online, depending on your needs. If you think that would be of use to your workforce or local area, do contact us.