Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) is a partnership of the Medical Royal Colleges and the Faculty of Public Health in Scotland and is based at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).
Using the best available evidence, SHAAP provides the authoritative clinical voice on how policy makers and clinicians can reduce alcohol-related harms in Scotland.
How we started
SHAAP was set up in 2006 by the Medical Royal Colleges in Scotland and is based within the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE). Clinicians had become increasingly concerned at the escalation in alcohol-related health damage in Scotland – both in its acute effects seen in admissions to accident and emergency departments and in chronic conditions such as liver disease and brain damage.
Following a scoping exercise, which included interviews with a wide range of stakeholders, the need was identified to establish a group which would represent health professionals in Scotland, providing consistent, expert advice and advocating for effective solutions to reduce alcohol-related harms.
SHAAP’s work is guided by a Steering Group with representation from the Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland, and invited experts. The Steering Group meets at least four times a year in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Our funding
SHAAP is currently in receipt of grant funding from the Scottish Government. This is held by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and covers core costs, including the salaries of three members of staff. SHAAP provides six-monthly progress reports to the Scottish Government and is responsible to RCPE for policy development and strategy implementation.
Our aims
SHAAP aims to provide an authoritative medical voice on the impact of alcohol on the health of the people of Scotland and to campaign for action to reduce this harm.
- To support the development and implementation of a new integrated alcohol and drug treatment strategy.
- To advocate for evidence-based and public health-focussed policies on alcohol.
- To gather and disseminate evidence about alcohol-related harms and effective interventions.