Zero Alcohol Policy in Liverpool Hospitals via Hospital Watch 2026

Key Points

• University Hospitals of Liverpool Group is introducing a Zero Alcohol Policy across all its hospital sites as part of Hospital Watch, a partnership with Liverpool City Council’s Public Health team, NHS partners, Trading Standards and local licensed retailers.
• The policy bans alcohol on hospital premises for patients, visitors, staff, volunteers and contractors, with limited clinical exceptions for specific circumstances including some end-of-life care.
• Hospital Watch has already shown measurable results: test-purchasing exercises near hospitals saw refusal rates for alcohol sales to people posing as patients rise from 33% to 80% after targeted engagement.
• Public support is high, with 92% of surveyed patients backing the Hospital Watch approach.
• Alcohol is the leading cause of death and illness among people aged 15 to 49 in Liverpool, contributing to around 4,971 alcohol-specific hospital admissions annually and an estimated £331.7 million in costs each year.
• Specialist support is available through the UHL Group’s Alcohol Care Team, including assessment, medically managed withdrawal and referral to community treatment, while staff receive Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) training.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) July 28, 2026 – University Hospitals of Liverpool Group is introducing a Zero Alcohol Policy across hospital sites as part of Hospital Watch, a pioneering partnership initiative developed by Liverpool City Council’s Public Health team, working alongside NHS partners, Trading Standards and local licensed retailers to reduce alcohol-related harm, improve patient safety and support recovery, according to a statement issued on July 28, 2026.

The programme was developed following concerns about the availability of alcohol near hospital sites and the risks this can pose to treatment and recovery, the trust said. Since then, Liverpool has led the way in developing a coordinated response to reduce patient access to alcohol during hospital stays, with measures including staff training, targeted communications campaigns and partnership working with local licensed premises to help identify and refuse alcohol sales to hospital patients, the statement added.

How does the zero alcohol policy work in practice?

The introduction of the Zero Alcohol Policy builds on this wider programme of work and reinforces that alcohol is not permitted on hospital premises, according to the University Hospitals of Liverpool Group. The policy applies to patients, visitors, staff, volunteers and contractors and aims to create a safer healthcare environment by protecting patients from harmful interactions between alcohol and medication, reducing complications during treatment and recovery, supporting shorter hospital stays and improved health outcomes, improving safety for patients, visitors and staff, and providing opportunities to identify people who may benefit from specialist support, the trust said.

While the policy adopts a Zero Alcohol approach on hospital sites, it also recognises alcohol dependence as a serious health condition requiring treatment, support and compassion, the statement noted. Limited clinical exceptions remain for specific circumstances, including some aspects of end-of-life care, it added.

What results has Hospital Watch already achieved?

The initiative is already demonstrating measurable results, according to the University Hospitals of Liverpool Group. Test-purchasing exercises conducted near hospital sites, involving volunteers posing as hospital patients attempting to buy alcohol from nearby retailers, found that refusal rates more than doubled from just 33% at baseline to 80% following targeted engagement and awareness raising, the trust said.

Public support for the initiative is also high, with 92% of surveyed patients backing the Hospital Watch approach, the statement added. Hospital Watch brings together healthcare services, Liverpool City Council, Trading Standards and local retailers in a shared commitment to reducing harm and improving health outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people in the community, it noted.

Which hospitals are covered by the policy?

University Hospitals of Liverpool Group brings together Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Liverpool Women’s Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, alongside a host of community services, according to the trust. The Zero Alcohol Policy applies across these sites, reinforcing existing prohibitions on alcohol consumption on hospital premises and standardising the approach across the group, the statement said.

What is the scale of alcohol-related harm in Liverpool?

Alcohol-related harm continues to have a significant impact across Liverpool, the trust highlighted. Alcohol is the leading cause of death and illness among people aged 15 to 49 in the city, contributes to around 4,971 alcohol-specific hospital admissions each year and costs an estimated £331.7 million annually, according to figures cited in the statement. Nationally, there were 8,274 alcohol-specific deaths in England in 2023 and 339,916 alcohol-specific hospital admissions during 2023/24, it added.

The new policy is designed to create a safer environment for patients, visitors and staff while ensuring those affected by alcohol dependence receive appropriate treatment and support, the trust said.

What support is available for patients affected by alcohol dependence?

Patients who require additional support can access specialist assessment, medically managed withdrawal support and referral to community treatment services through the UHL Group’s Alcohol Care Team, according to the statement. Staff across hospital sites are also receiving Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) training to enable supportive conversations about alcohol use and recovery, it added.

Dr Paul Richardson, Consultant Hepatologist and Clinical Lead for Alcohol Care Services at University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, said:

“Liverpool has a long history of tackling alcohol-related harm, and we know the devastating impact alcohol can have on individuals, families and communities.”

“Every year thousands of Liverpool residents require hospital treatment because of alcohol-related illness, while alcohol continues to contribute to avoidable deaths, crime and wider social harm across our city.”

“Alcohol-related harm remains one of the biggest preventable causes of ill health that we see in hospitals.”

“This policy is not about punishing people.” “It is about protecting patients, supporting recovery and creating the safest possible environment for everyone accessing our hospitals.” “Many patients we care for are living with alcohol dependence and complex health conditions.” “Alongside this zero-tolerance approach, we are strengthening access to specialist support through our Alcohol Care Team and community partners.”

Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, said:

“Alcohol-related harm continues to have a profound impact on health across Liverpool and remains one of the leading causes of preventable illness and premature death.”

“The figures are stark.”

“Thousands of Liverpool residents require hospital treatment every year because of alcohol-related conditions, placing significant pressure on our health and care services and affecting individuals, families and communities across the city.”

“Hospital Watch is an outstanding example of effective partnership working and prevention in action.”

“The initiative is already demonstrating the value of bringing together health services, local government, Trading Standards and local businesses to identify risks early, share intelligence and take practical steps to reduce alcohol-related harm.”

“By strengthening these partnerships and building on the success of Hospital Watch, we can help prevent avoidable hospital admissions, support vulnerable people to access the help they need sooner, and make a meaningful difference to the health and wellbeing of Liverpool residents.”

Background of the zero alcohol policy development in Liverpool hospitals

The Zero Alcohol Policy in Liverpool hospitals has developed through a multi-stage, partnership-based approach. University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and Liverpool City Council’s Public Health team, working with NHS partners, Trading Standards and local licensed retailers, created the Hospital Watch initiative in response to concerns about alcohol availability near hospital sites and the risks to treatment and recovery, according to the trust’s statement. The programme has included staff training, targeted communications campaigns and collaboration with local licensed premises to identify and refuse alcohol sales to hospital patients, it added.

Test-purchasing exercises near hospitals showed that refusal rates for alcohol sales to people posing as patients increased from 33% to 80% after targeted engagement, while 92% of surveyed patients supported the Hospital Watch approach, the trust reported. The new Zero Alcohol Policy formalises and extends this work by explicitly banning alcohol on hospital premises for patients, visitors, staff, volunteers and contractors, with limited clinical exceptions for specific circumstances including some end-of-life care, the statement said. Specialist support is provided through the UHL Group’s Alcohol Care Team, and staff are receiving IBA training to support conversations about alcohol use and recovery, it added.

Prediction: How the zero alcohol policy may affect patients, staff and visitors in Liverpool

The introduction of a Zero Alcohol Policy across University Hospitals of Liverpool Group sites is likely to affect several groups in different ways. For patients, the policy may reduce the risk of harmful interactions between alcohol and medication, lower complications during treatment and recovery, and support shorter hospital stays and improved health outcomes, as intended by the trust. For those living with alcohol dependence, the combination of a zero-tolerance approach on site and enhanced access to the Alcohol Care Team, including specialist assessment and medically managed withdrawal, may improve engagement with treatment and community services, according to Dr Paul Richardson.

For staff, clearer and consistent rules across all hospitals in the group may make it easier to manage incidents related to alcohol, enforce existing prohibitions, and hold supportive conversations using IBA training, the statement suggested. For visitors and the wider public, the policy reinforces the message that hospitals are clinical spaces where alcohol is not appropriate, aligning with broader public-health goals to reduce alcohol-related harm in Liverpool, as highlighted by Professor Matthew Ashton.

If the policy is consistently applied and supported by ongoing partnership work with Trading Standards and local retailers, it could contribute over time to a reduction in alcohol-specific hospital admissions and related pressures on health and care services in the city, the trust and council indicated.