The Council's main aims are to:

	Generate and disseminate research based evidence to inform and influence policy and practice.
	Develop the capacity of people and organisations to address alcohol issues.

The Council funds research and development projects as well as a limited number of studentships.

However the Council will not normally:

	Fund bio-medical research projects; or
	Contribute to the running costs of organisations.

In order to achieve these objectives the Council will foster alliances with other organisations that have similar aims and objectives.

Information about the establishment of the fund and about the way the Council operates is contained in the about the AERC section.

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latest additions to the Alcohol Insights section - click to read more

Not In Front Of The Children – Child Protection And Advertising Awareness of unit content of self poured drinks by UK adults: a useful intervention tool?

2008 Funding for Research and Development Projects

This year the Council has decided not to identify priorities as we have done in the last five years. Instead we would like Researchers & Developers to choose their own priority area and submit proposals that are likely to make a difference and are well evaluated.

The deadline for submissions is September 5th.

More information on the bidding process can be found here

Working with the children and families of problem alcohol users: a Toolkit

This Toolkit has been prepared by Lorna Templeton, Sarah Zohhadi and Professor Richard Velleman, who work for the Alcohol, Drugs and the Family Research Programme at the Bath Mental Health Research and Development Unit, a joint unit between the University of Bath and the Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust; and Dr Jane Powell from the University of the West of England in Bristol. It has been designed to provide guidance on developing and delivering services to children and families who are affected by substance misuse.

Visit the new Final Reports section to see the toolkit

Since this toolkit was produced with the aim that it will be used as a resource, we are keen to find out what people think of it, and in what ways it has been used (particularly if it has been used to change practice in any way). When you have examined and used the Toolkit we would be grateful if you could complete a brief Questionnaire - click here for Toolkit Questionnaire.

Lottery Fund

The Big Lottery Fund has two streams of funding that might involve alcohol interventions. The first is a healthy lifestyles initiative that could involve a consortium obtaining over £1 million to fund a range of alcohol projects. The second is a Research Fund that funds research studies up to £500,000. The Council has made available three small grants (Up to £5,000) to enable researchers or organisations to pursue these possibilities. Applicants would need to convince the Council that their initiative fulfils the Lottery Fund criteria.

Course in Epidemiology & Medical Statistics

The Council will fund two applicants to attend the 15 day "Intensive Course in Epidemiology & Medical Statistics" at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The course is relevant to clinicians and other graduates who work in medical research units, academic departments or health services. No previous formal training in epidemiology or statistics is required. Evidence of a current and continuing interest in alcohol will be required.

Those who attend this course will also be eligible to apply for the Advanced Course in Epidemiological Analysis in September.