Organisations within the drug and alcohol treatment sector welcome measures on housing, employment and alcohol duty, while calling for greater investment in prevention, treatment and community support.
The 2026 Autumn Budget focused on easing cost-of-living pressures, supporting businesses and increasing investment in housing.
Measures with particular relevance to the drug and alcohol sector included a further £432m over two years to help people sleeping rough in England move off the streets, an additional £1.5bn for social and affordable housing, changes intended to make it easier for people in supported or temporary accommodation to move into work, and a continued emphasis on employment support and welfare reform.
Alcohol duty will rise in line with inflation from February 2027, alongside £10m a year in additional relief for smaller producers and incentives to produce lower-strength drinks. The Budget also announced an increase in duty on higher-stake machine games, potentially relevant to organisations working around gambling-related harm.
Sector organisations have responded by welcoming elements of the package while calling for greater investment in prevention, treatment and community support.
Nic Adamson, Deputy Chief Executive, Change Grow Live: ‘The Government’s increased focus on prevention and early intervention is welcome. However, that ambition must be matched by investment in the services that make prevention possible.’
Julie Bass, Chief Executive, Turning Point: ‘We welcome the government’s measures to help ease cost-of-living pressures, increase social housing, and devolve greater power and resources to local communities.’
Dr Richard Piper, CEO, Alcohol Change UK: ‘With action on alcohol duty falling short of what is needed, we now need the Government to urgently step up in other areas of alcohol harm.’
Asi Panditharatna MBE, Executive Director for Employment and Housing Services, The Forward Trust: ‘Addiction, homelessness, unemployment, poor health, offending and family difficulties are interconnected, not isolated problems.’
To share your comments or response to the Budget, contact Claire at claire@cjwellings.com.