Introduction/short overview
Alcohol Awareness Week provided an opportunity for organisations to work together to raise awareness of alcohol-related harms, promote healthier choices and highlight the wide range of support available for individuals, families and communities.
Coordinated by the Outer Hebrides Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP), the week brought together partners from health, social care, third sector and community organisations to engage with the public and provide information on local and national support services.
Multi-agency partnership approach
Throughout Alcohol Awareness Week, a range of local partners worked together to raise awareness of alcohol-related harms and highlight the support available. Organisations including Action for Children, the NHS Western Isles Substance Use Team, Maternity Services, Advocacy Western Isles, Hebrides Alpha, CrossReach Dochas and The Shed engaged with the public and staff, shared information and promoted local support services. This collaborative approach helps strengthen connections between services and ensures individuals and families can access the support they need.
Key messages
Some of the key messages highlighted across the week included:
- Alcohol can impact physical and mental health.
- Small changes can have positive health benefits.
- Support is available for anyone concerned about their own drinking or someone else's.
- Families and loved ones can access support.
- Recovery is possible and support is available locally.
- Help can be accessed without judgement.
Making a difference
Alcohol Awareness Week provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnership working and engage directly with local communities. By bringing a range of services together in one accessible location, the initiative increased awareness of alcohol-related harms and the support available across the islands. Across the two engagement days, partners recorded 30 interactions with members of the public, providing information, answering questions and signposting individuals to relevant support services.
"Alcohol Awareness Week provided a valuable opportunity for partners to work collaboratively to raise awareness of alcohol-related harms and their impact on individuals, families and communities. By sharing information, partners encouraged positive conversations about alcohol, health and wellbeing while improving understanding of the risks associated with alcohol use. The week also highlighted the range of support services available both locally and nationally. "
James MacAskill, OHADP Development Officer
The Outer Hebrides Alcohol and Drug Partnership would like to thank all partners who contributed to the event. By continuing to work together, we can help reduce alcohol-related harm, support healthier communities and ensure that individuals and families know where to access help when they need it.
For further information, follow the link - A4-Alcohol-awareness-week-2026-compressed.pdf