The new Clinical Guidelines for Alcohol Treatment, published by DHSC in 2025, represent a comprehensive national update to alcohol treatment guidance since the earlier ‘Orange Book’ era, over a decade ago. The chapter on children and young people marks an important step forward for adolescent health. During my time working in DHSC, I was part of the secretariat team that supported the development of this chapter, bringing together the evidence on alcohol use in adolescence, prevention, screening, assessment, consent, safeguarding and specialist interventions.
One of the central messages of the guidelines is that young people require developmentally specific responses. The guidelines are clear that early identification is essential, particularly in universal settings such as schools, primary care and youth services. This aligns with the evidence base showing that supportive conversations, brief interventions and relationship-based practice can help reduce harm and prevent escalation.
Services are encouraged to take a holistic approach, considering physical and mental health, family context, safeguarding concerns, and the young person’s own goals. The guidelines emphasise the importance of involving parents or carers where appropriate, while also recognising young people’s evolving capacity and rights. The sections on consent and information-sharing are critical, reaffirming Gillick competence and reminding professionals that confidentiality is a cornerstone of effective engagement.
For young people with higher levels of risk or dependence, the guidelines outline how specialist interventions should be delivered. This includes structured psychosocial support, coordination across agencies, and clear pathways between services. The document stresses that treatment for adolescents should not simply replicate adult models; instead, it should be strengths-based, trauma-informed and developmentally tailored.
National data underline why this guidance matters. The 2023 Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England survey shows that although most 11–15-year-olds do not drink regularly, 37% have ever had an alcoholic drink and 5% report drinking at least once a week, with rates rising sharply by age. The 2024–25 Children’s Substance Misuse Treatment Statistics report 16,212 under-18s in specialist treatment, with around 38% presenting with alcohol problems.
For organisations working with young people, these recommendations offer a useful framework. At AYPH, we know how vital it is that young people feel listened to and supported by services that understand what adolescence looks and feels like. The guidelines reaffirm this, placing young people’s voices, rights and safety at the centre of care. As services across the UK look to implement the new recommendations, we hope this chapter will help strengthen practice, reduce harm and ensure that young people can access equitable, high-quality support.
Author: Kirsty Blenkins
Image licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
January 2026