Scotch Whisky Association takes action on alcohol misuse

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 17 December, 2018

Thirteen projects set up to tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland have been granted awards by the Scotch Whisky Action Fund.

This is the fifth round of awards allocated from the fund, which the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) set up in December 2013.

The fund is managed by independent charity, Foundation Scotland, who has made grants this year totalling £175,000.

This year, Karen Betts, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, said “the awards reflect a greater emphasis on educating young people and other at risk groups about the risks of alcohol misuse”.

This includes both nationwide projects like the Alcohol Education Trust and also local initiatives like Fast Forward: Wasted, based in Edinburgh.

“Since the Scotch Whisky Action Fund was established in 2013, the industry has supported a diverse range of community-led programmes across the country to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse,” Betts added.

More than 50 awards supporting young people under the age of 18, families, or communities have been received grants over the past five years.

The recipients of this year’s awards were selected by an independent awards panel, chaired by Dame Joan Stringer.

Printer friendly version