OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2023-12-31-accounts

drinkaware Annual Trustees, Report 2023

drinkaware.co.uk Drinkaware

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Contents

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Contents

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023
Contents
Foreword from the Chair of Trustees 4
Chief Executive’s Report 6
Reference and administrative details 8
Drinkaware organisational strategy2023-2025 9
Drinkaware in numbers 18
Drinkingtrends in 2023 20
Progress against strategic objectives 24
Financial review 48
Structure, governance and management 52
Risk management 54
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements 55
Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of The Drinkaware Trust 56
Consolidated financial statements 60
Consolidated statement of financial activities 61
Consolidated and companybalance sheets 62
Consolidated statement of cash flows 63
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 64
Our funders 80
References 81

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

3

Foreword from the Chair of Trustees Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Foreword from the Chair of Trustees

2023 was an important - and successful - year for Drinkaware. It marked the first full year of implementing our new organisational strategy, with colleagues and partners coming together like never before with a shared goal of achieving the change needed to reduce alcoholrelated harm.

Working with our partners

Together with our network of academics, industry experts, governments, and other key stakeholders, we are capitalising on conversations around alcohol and making it possible to share our advice, tools, and evidence with many more people.

We had support from over 300 industry organisations, including funders and Drinkaware logo licence holders - a 35% increase. Our conference in March brought together nearly 70 funders, partners, alcohol and alcoholfree producers, and political representatives to discuss how we can best work in partnership to reduce alcohol harm.

We held roundtable events with different areas of the alcohol industry, to understand key issues and identify areas we can work together, and held a series of one-on-one meetings with partners to define joint plans for the year ahead.

Lucy Armstrong Chair, Board of Trustees

300

We had support from over 300 industry organisations – a 35% increase

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

4

Foreword from the Chair of Trustees Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

First year of our new strategy

Our organisational culture has benefitted greatly from the rollout of our new strategy, helping to make Drinkaware a great place to work, and a great partner to work with.

We recognise the need for, and importance of, working in partnership with all our stakeholders and will continue to find new and innovative ways to do this.

In tandem with these changes, we have strengthened our governance by developing a new Independent Advisory Panel. The panel will have a wider expertise than the former Medical Advisory Panel, including in behavioural sciences who will sit alongside medical experts. They will look at ways we can use our influence, and work with others, to reduce the stigma around drinking. We want to make it easier for people to confidently - and openly - discuss their drinking habits and seek help when necessary.

Changes in governance

I would like to offer particular thanks to Dr Fiona Sim OBE, who stepped down from her role as Drinkaware’s Chief Medical Advisor, and Chair of the Medical Advisory Panel, in November 2023. She has always been extremely supportive and diligent in ensuring our work is aligned with the best available medical and public health evidence.

I am delighted by the appointment of Dr Paul Hughes as Fiona’s successor, taking on the role as chair of the new panel. Dr Hughes brings more than 30 years of experience, including his current role as National Medical Director for the UK’s largest primary care provider of NHS General Practice services, Operose Health, and five years as Executive Medical Director at the national drug, alcohol, and mental health charity We Are With You. His passion and expertise will ensure we continue to provide the best available alcohol advice and information to people.

Thank you

More broadly, I would like to thank everyone who has worked with and supported Drinkaware during 2023 (if you are reading this, the likelihood is that you have contributed too, so thank you!). A final acknowledgment must go to our Trustees, who play a vital role in guiding our organisation. Thank you to Charles Allen, who retired in July, and welcome to our new trustee Bruce Ray, who was appointed in early 2024.

Of course, any annual report is only a snapshot in time. Our achievements have only been possible because of the joint efforts of all our partners; we look forward to continuing this work into the future, to change our society for the better and reduce alcohol harm.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

5

Chief Executive’s Report

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Chief Executive’s Report

2023 was a foundational year for Drinkaware. We delved deeper into who we are and how we can contribute to reducing alcohol harm in the UK.

8 million

Our research shows that eight million people are drinking above the Chief Medical Officers’ lowrisk drinking guidelines of 14 units per week

Our strategic direction ~~6~~

Our relationship with alcohol has shifted over the past 20 years.

We refined our focus to strategically position us as a catalyst for real, lasting change to society and the UK’s drinking culture.

Many things have improved, particularly the number of young people choosing to drink less, the significant increase in the uptake of low alcohol and alcohol-free products, and a reduction in binge drinking. However, some trends are moving in the wrong direction, including the recent rise in alcohol-specific deaths.

Our reach

In 2023, our work helped us to significantly expand our reach, sparking more conversations with people about their drinking habits. Our brand is now recognised by even more people: we secured a record amount of media coverage, featuring on national TV including ITV’s Lorraine and Sky News; and our website had 5.5 million visitors - a 10% increase.

We delivered our first campaign focusing on alcohol-free drinks, which resulted in more than eight million engagements with the campaign’s content, and more than 550,000 people completed our Drinking Check – a 32% increase.

Karen Tyrell Chief Executive Officer

550,000

More than 550,000 people completed our Drinking Check in 2023 – a 32% increase

Drinkaware

6

drinkaware.co.uk

Chief Executive’s Report

The Drinking Check helps us initiate conversations with people concerned about their drinking and provide information on whether the amount they drink could be putting their health at risk. The advice and support provided is designed to empower people to discuss their drinking more openly with friends and loved ones, and seek help and support if they need it.

Our vision

We believe that everyone has a shared responsibility for the culture of the society we want to live in.

Our work is helping to shift the conversation around alcohol, making it more normal to talk about your drinking habits and reducing the stigma.

A cultural shift is needed where addressing alcohol-related issues is met with empathy and understanding rather than judgment. As a society, community, and as families, we need to be able to talk more confidently, openly, and honestly about alcohol and the part it plays in our lives. We must collectively challenge societal norms and cultivate an environment that promotes understanding and compassion for those struggling with alcohol issues.

We want to create a future where people who choose to drink can 5.5m make informed choices about Our website had over their drinking and do it in a low-risk way.

Our website had over 5.5 million visitors in 2023

Working together will allow us to make tangible change to the UK’s drinking culture so more people can lead healthy, happy lives.

While we remain focused on informing and supporting those who choose to drink, and to do so in a low-risk way, we want to reach all adults affected by alcohol harm. We want an increased focus on reaching people sooner and providing support well before they reach crisis point.

Thank you

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who works for Drinkaware. Our amazing team worked incredibly hard during 2023 to really pinpoint the difference we can make so we can focus our efforts in the right places and give us the best foundations possible to help reduce alcohol harm in the UK.

In 2024, we will work in partnership with a wider range of organisations and businesses to test and learn the most effective ways to work with others.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

7

Reference and administrative details Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Reference and administrative details

Directors and Trustees

The Directors of the charitable company (the charity) are its Trustees for the purposes of charity law. The Trustees and Officers during the year and since the year-end were as follows:

Chair: Lucy Armstrong

Trustees:

Dr Colin Hunter OBE Paul Wells David Hutchinson Remalie Comport Simon Stephens Charles Allen (retired 20 July 2023) Bruce Ray (appointed 18 January 2024)

Chief Medical Advisor:

Dr Fiona Sim OBE (resigned November 2023)

Chair of Independent Advisory Panel: Dr Paul Hughes (appointed 15 January 2024)

Chief Executive Officer: Karen Tyrell

Company Secretary: Katrina Leighton-Hearn

Registered office:

1st Floor Michael House 35 Chiswell Street London EC1Y 4SE

Company number: 04547974

Charity number: 1094586

Auditors:

Moore Kingston Smith LLP 9 Appold Street London EC2A 2AP

Bankers:

CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hall West Malling Kent ME19 4TA

Solicitors:

Lewis Silkin LLP 5 Chancery Lane Clifford’s Inn London EC4A 1BL

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

8

Drinkaware organisational strategy 2023-2025

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023 Drinkaware organisational strategy 2023-2025

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

9

Drinkaware organisational strategy 2023-2025

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware was set up in 2006, through discussions between the alcohol industry and government. At the time, alcohol was a major public issue with concerns about binge drinking and alcohol-fuelled social disorder regularly in the news.

But as we know, the world has changed a lot since then. The way people purchase and consume alcohol has changed, with more people drinking at home and more alcohol bought online.

Drinkaware was established to convene all key players across industry, retailers, government, researchers, academics and charities, we use our collective expertise to promote informed decisions about alcohol and

how to reduce the harm it can cause. Our work is as relevant today as it was in 2006.

By continuing to be independent, working with our partners, providing advice and guidance based on the evidence, and commissioning research into under-explored areas we are helping to reduce alcohol harm in the UK.

Our vision

Working together to reduce alcohol harm across the UK.

Our mission

Using our expertise to give government, industry, communities, and individuals the knowledge and support to make informed decisions about alcohol and how to reduce the harm it can cause.

We deliver our work through:

Public-facing campaigns and digital services, information, and guidance

Evidence-led advice to governments and industry

Independent research, consumer insight, and evaluation

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

10

Drinkaware vision

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware vision

Working together to reduce alcohol harm across the UK

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

11

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our goals

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our goals

Working together to reduce alcohol harm We’ll partner with industry, governments, and others to move towards systemic and sustainable change at scale, to improve society’s relationship with alcohol Tm Voice We’ll become a leading voice in conversations around alcohol and use our voice to stand up for people who experience alcohol harm cc22 Information and support We’ll ensure the public can make conscious, informed choices about alcohol and can find help if they need it

Research and expertise We’ll become the trusted experts in our field, generating and sharing knowledge and insight Gap: Infrastructure We’ll be a great place to work, with simple, effective systems and a sustainable income 3

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

12

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our values

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our values

Solid reasoning Seeking and using both hard evidence and expert insight to shape our work and inform our voice Clarity with empathy To reduce alcohol harm and strengthen informed choice we make every effort to communicate clearly and constructively, we express our thoughts with care to make a positive difference a= Principled partnership Working with others to maximise impact, whilst exercising our independence, to deliver on our purpose

Understanding and connecting In every aspect of our work, we support people by listening well and focusing on what matters most to them, we embrace each individual’s unique situation, perspectives, and skills

Determination and curiosity Determined to meet challenges together, we adapt to discover fresh and more effective ways to work by being open to learning and flexible in our response

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

13

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our plan

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our plan

To keep health risks from alcohol low, the UK Chief Medical Officers’ (CMOs) low-risk drinking guidelines say you should drink no more than 14 units a week, make sure you have several drinkfree days, and never binge drink. The risk of developing a range of health problems increases the more you drink on a regular basis.

However, our research shows that eight million people are drinking above the CMOs’ drinking guidelines. This means they are at increased risk of harm from cancer, liver and heart diseases, and mental health issues from their drinking.

Our Drinking Check helps people identify if the amount they drink could be putting their health at risk. It uses a scoring

system that was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is used by medical professionals to check for alcohol harm including dependence. By giving people information about their drinking, and tailored information following their score, our Drinking Check can help people take steps to reduce their drinking.

Tackling alcohol harm is a shared ambition – one which straddles industry, local communities, families, and governments. As an independent charity, part of our role is to be a convener, bringing together experts, and sharing our advice and guidance to help reduce alcohol harm.

In 2023 we published our theory of change - a map describing our pathway to create change. It was developed with the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) with contributions from representatives in academia, charities, civil society groups and service users, government, public health, and industry, as well as Drinkaware Trustees and staff.

It shows how we can harness the trust people have in our evidence-led advice and guidance, and will help us understand where we are making progress and generating positive change in social norms. Download our full strategy ~~Oo~~ document.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

14

The impact Drinkaware wants to achieve

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

~~The impact Drinkaware wants to achieve~~

More people drink within the Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines, more often and for more of the time.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

15

Plans for future periods

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Plans for future periods

In 2024 our focus will be on our Drinking Check tool, initially through campaigns and later through partnerships. We will be developing impact at scale and continue to deliver against our strategy.

Goal 1: Working together to reduce alcohol harm

We will continue to foster strong senior alliances with the alcohol industry and seek partnerships for both influence and impact. We will continue to invest in stakeholder engagement activity, developing a stakeholder influencing strategy, and building a strong network of advocates across our main stakeholder groups.

Goal 2: Voice

We will continue to create a trusted, visible, understood brand, so the public recognise and trust our advice. We will build on our media profile establishing ourselves as an authoritative voice, through evidence and insight. We will create campaigns and content designed to normalise low risk drinking.

Drinkaware

16

drinkaware.co.uk

Plans for future periods

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Goal 3: Information and support

We will increase our digital reach to inform the UK public about low risk drinking, and aim to deliver a community-based Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) programme at scale. We will run campaigns to make it easier to find and complete our Drinking Check and build partnerships to enable us to reach more drinkers. We will continue to develop our content and tools, so they are designed to normalise conversations about alcohol.

Goal 4: Research and expertise

We will build networks across our key stakeholder groups and with academia, cementing our position as trusted experts. Our research programme will seek to deepen our understanding of the UK’s drinking habits and share the lessons from our impact evaluations more widely.

Goal 5: Infrastructure

We will work to ensure Drinkaware is financially sustainable. We want to deliver best practice in how we treat our staff, through a learning and development approach to deliver a high-performance culture.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

17

Drinkaware in numbers

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware in numbers

Our alcohol-free campaign content was seen over 242 million times across our digital channels

We were mentioned 3,100 times across print, online, and broadcast media (160% increase)

Over 550,000 completions of our Drinking Check tool (32% increase)

10,473 people took part in our UK-wide 2023 Drinkaware Monitor survey

5.5 million unique visitors to our website. (10% increase)

Our organic social media content was seen over 750,000 times, with 22,000 people engaging with the content (92% increase)

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

18

Drinkaware in numbers

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
E-Learning
----- End of picture text -----

Over 60,000 people accessed our alcohol education training resources, the majority through their own organisation’s online hub or Drinkaware digital platform

Support from over 300 industry organisations, including funders and Drinkaware Trademark Licence holders (35% increase)

We delivered information and tools on how to moderate your drinking to 55 universities with 27,500 students receiving an educational pack

More organisations are using resources accessed via our Drinkaware Shop than ever before, with a 100% increase in activity

159 NHS organisations downloaded or purchased resources from our Drinkaware Shop

Our MyDrinkaware We held eight app was roundtables and downloaded webinars in partnership 110,000 times with our funders

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

19

Drinking trends in 2023

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Research and expertise

Drinking trends in 2023

These changes have affected people’s drinking habits

Trend 1: The impact of the cost-of-living crisis is still being felt

The effect of the cost-of-living crisis that gripped the UK in 2021 and 2022 was still being felt in 2023. Despite a gradual decline in inflation throughout 2023,[1] almost nine in 10 UK adults (89%) still felt the cost-of-living crisis was an important issue facing the country, with almost half (47%) reporting in November 2023 that their cost-of-living had increased compared with the previous month.[2] This was reflected in our 2023 Monitor, with one in five (19.4%) UK adults struggling to afford essential costs, and two in five (38.6%) managing but reducing nonessential expenses.[3] These figures demonstrate the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis on UK households. Notably, despite a general decrease in inflation, alcohol prices increased by 9.6% in December 2023, exceeding the increase in food and non-alcoholic drink prices (8%) for the same period.[4]

Due to the increased costof-living, and perhaps as a result of the price increases in alcohol, our 2023 Monitor revealed that more than a quarter of drinkers reduced both the amount they spent on alcohol (27.8%), and how much they drank (25.5%).[5]

These findings suggest that although the rising cost-of-living is causing alcohol prices to rise, many drinkers are spending less on alcohol. Instead, they are choosing to drink less and prioritise essential expenses, such as food and rent, which saw inflationary increases of 8% and 6.2%, respectively, in 2023.[6][7] Notably, those experiencing financial strain are most impacted, being more than twice as likely to either reduce (39% vs 15%) or increase (10% vs 3%) their drinking compared

to people who are financially comfortable. This suggests that some drinkers who are struggling financially may be turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism amid economic pressures. Our data shows that these people are more inclined to drink for coping reasons, compared to those who are financially comfortable.[8]

Trend 2: Positive trends are seen for many drinking behaviours

Over a longer period, there is evidence of changes to some drinking behaviours - many that are positive. More UK adults are choosing not to drink in 2023 (13.8%), compared to 2018 (11.7%),[9][10] whilst those who do drink appear to be drinking less frequently, with the proportion of UK adults drinking at least once a week reducing from 52% in 2018 to 48% in 2023.[11][12] This change is seen among both men and women, however those aged 55 and over show little change since 2018.[13]

Encouragingly, the proportion of people who told us in our 2023 Monitor survey that they drink within the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines of 14 units per week increased from 77% in 2018 to 80% in 2023.[14][15]

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

20

Drinking trends in 2023

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

This suggests that people who drink alcohol are not only drinking less often, but they are also drinking less. In addition, there has been a decline in the proportion of people who binge drink alcohol monthly or more often from 30% in 2018 to 27% in 2023.[16][17] This has been largely driven by a decrease among men who drink, with levels of binge drinking remaining broadly consistent among women who drink (23% in 2018 vs 22% in 2023).[18][19] Binge drinking among women in the UK was highlighted in a 2023 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It found UK women exhibited the highest level of binge drinking across all 38 OECD member nations.[20]

In addition, results from the 2023 Monitor reveal a reduction in the proportion of “risky” drinkers, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) screening test for harmful alcohol consumption, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption (AUDIT-C). Our 2023 Monitor showed a fall from 41% in 2018 to 38% in 2023 - the lowest level it has been since our surveys began in 2014.[21][22] Meanwhile, use of the full AUDIT questionnaire - a more in-depth way of measuring a person’s risk from drinking alcohol - reveals an encouraging trend among young adults, with the proportion of those aged 18 to 34 being classified as “high-risk” drinkers falling to 7% from 11% the previous year.[23][24]

Trend 3: However, there has been little overall change in the proportion of high-risk drinkers

Despite positive trends, the proportion of UK adults drinking at high-risk and possibly dependent levels are relatively unchanged, according to both the AUDIT-C (15% in 2018 vs 14% in 2023),[25][26] and the full AUDIT which has remained constant since 2021 (3% in 2021 and 2023).[27][28]

This suggests that more needs to be done to reach and support those drinking at the riskiest levels to help them moderate how much they drink and subsequently reduce their risk of alcohol-related harm.

Trend 4: Levels of alcohol harm are at an all-time high

Deaths from alcohol are at unprecedented levels in the UK.

In 2022, there were 10,048 alcohol-specific deaths (16.6 per 100,000 people) in the UK - the highest number on record. The number recorded in 2022 was 4.2% higher than in 2021 (9,641 deaths; 14.9 per 100,000 people) and 32.8% higher than in 2019 (7,565 deaths; 11.8 per 100,000 people), the last pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic year.[29] These figures highlight the pressing need to tackle risky drinking behaviours and habits across the UK if alcohol harm is to be reduced, and these worrying trends are to be reversed.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

21

Drinking trends in 2023

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Trend 5: Evidence of the alcohol harm paradox continues

UK adults living in the 30% most deprived areas are more likely to be classified as possibly dependent drinkers by the full AUDIT, compared to those living in the 30% least deprived areas (3.2% vs. 2.1%), despite being equally likely to consume at possibly dependent levels (AUDIT-C: 2.1% vs 2%).[30] The same pattern was observed in 2022, as adults in the most deprived areas were more likely to be classified as possibly dependent drinkers by the full AUDIT (4.9% vs. 3.8%), despite not being more likely to consume at these levels (AUDIT-C: 2.5% vs. 2%)[31] – suggesting that these adults have a higher likelihood of experiencing the adverse effects of drinking, and that this trend is continuing.

This is evidence of the alcohol harm paradox, whereby those who are socially disadvantaged are more likely to experience alcoholrelated harm, despite showing similar drinking habits to those of higher socioeconomic status.[32][33]

We see evidence of this when examining the individual drinking consequences and symptoms of alcohol dependency measured by the full AUDIT. For example, as observed in 2022, drinkers in the most deprived areas are more likely than all drinkers to have regularly (daily or almost daily) failed to do what was normally expected of them due to their drinking (2023: 0.5% vs. 0.3%, 2022: 1.6% vs. 1%), and to have felt guilt or remorse after drinking (2023: 1.1% vs. 0.6%, 2022: 2.6% vs. 1.3%), while the same cannot be said for those living in the least deprived areas.

Trend 6: Risky drinkers may benefit from the normalisation of having more open and honest conversations about their drinking

The persistence of high-risk drinking over the last few years among UK adults suggests these behaviours and habits are entrenched among a considerable minority of drinkers. Stigma surrounding such drinking behaviours may often put people off from seeking support.[34][35][36][37] Our 2023 Monitor found that 20.3% of UK adults who are concerned about someone else’s drinking have not taken any action,[38] highlighting the need to destigmatise difficult conversations about alcohol and shape a future where people feel confident discussing alcohol-related concerns. Encouragingly, our findings show that having these types of conversations can prompt positive action, with 35% of drinkers responding to concerns raised about their drinking.[39]

However, only around half of UK drinkers feel comfortable discussing how much they drink with their partner, spouse, or family, demonstrating the emotional challenges involved.[40]

Similarly, having conversations about alcohol may not be possible for all high-risk drinkers, especially those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are more likely to face stigma, and even social exclusion, because of alcohol misuse, and so may be more reluctant to share their issues with those around them.[41][42][43][44][45] In these instances, high-risk drinkers may benefit from being able to anonymously check their drinking online, before being signposted to relevant support and information to help them reduce their drinking. People can do this via our Drinking Check on our website. Our research indicates that a significant proportion of the UK population (66.7%) has never completed an alcohol assessment,[46] suggesting a basic understanding of drinking risk levels may be lacking. Normalising the use of such tools may empower high-risk drinkers to confront the risks associated with their drinking and seek support to moderate or stop drinking completely.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

22

----- Start of picture text -----
Drinking trends in 2023 Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023
----- End of picture text -----

Trend 7: The popularity of alcohol-free and lowalcohol drinks continues to rise

With Mintel, a global market intelligence agency, predicting that the alcohol-free and lowalcohol drinks market would rise by 11.2% in 2023,[47] and Tesco reporting a soar in sales since the start of 2023,[48] the popularity of these alternative drinks continues to grow. This trend is particularly notable for alcoholfree drinks which are now more popular than low-alcohol drinks - demand that International Wine & Spirit Research (IWSR), a leading source of data on the alcohol drinks market, forecasts will lead to an increase of 10% between 2022 and 2026.[49]

However, the use of these drinks to moderate your drinking has a cost to the consumer, whereas taking drink-free days during the week (67.5% of adults currently do this),[52] or avoiding alcohol on a “school/work night” (55% of adults currently do this)[53] does not, perhaps limiting the use of alcohol-free and lowalcohol drinks as a moderation technique, especially during a time of financial hardship. It may be expected, therefore, that these drinks would be particularly unpopular among those who are most severely affected by the cost-of-living crisis, however our 2023 Monitor revealed that both those who cannot afford their essential costs, and those who are very financially stable, are less likely to use alcohol-free and lowalcohol drinks to moderate their drinking. Further research is required to understand how the use of these drinks changed throughout the cost-of-living crisis, and whether their use varied between those with different financial situations.

~~-~~

Drinking alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks as a way of moderating your drinking was more prevalent in 2023 than in 2018, with 25.5% of UK drinkers in 2023 currently using alcohol-free drinks (compared to 18.2% in 2018), and 28.4% saying that they currently drink lower strength alcoholic drinks (compared to 25.5% in 2018).[50][51]

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

23

Progress against strategic objectives Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Progress against strategic objectives

We believe we have a shared responsibility for the culture of the society we want to live in. The world around us matters. As such, real partnership is vital to move towards systemic and sustainable change at scale, to improve society’s relationship with alcohol.

Drinkaware was established to convene all key players across industry, retailers, government, health, researchers, academics and charities to use our collective expertise to promote informed decisions about alcohol and how to reduce the harm it can cause.

Working together will allow us to make tangible change to the UK’s drinking culture so more people can lead healthy, happy lives.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

24

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Goal 1:

Goal 1:

Working together to reduce alcohol harm

We know we cannot achieve our vision alone. That is why we are working in partnership across all four nations to achieve the change we want to see.

We will continue to be independent to enable us to give advice, information, and guidance based on evidence.

Steps taken to achieve goal 1 included:

----- Start of picture text -----
Partner with our
funders to reduce
alcohol harm
----- End of picture text -----

Partner with nonSet up regular funding organisations meetings with key to reduce alcohol harm government officials

Key results:

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

25

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our partners

Working together to reduce alcohol harm

Our partners

Partnerships are very important to us, and our work, if we want to achieve our vision of making real, lasting change to society and the UK’s drinking culture. Throughout 2023 we worked with several of our funders and partners to help educate people on the harmful effects of alcohol.

Coca Cola Europacific Partners (Coca Cola EP)

Coca Cola EP, a Drinkaware funder, has always been mindful that its products are regularly used as mixers with alcohol. In 2023 Coca Cola EP launched a new ready-to-drink product with two of our other funders, Coca-Cola Company and Brown-Forman, which produces, markets, and distributes spirits and wines. The collaboration resulted in a new Jack Daniel’s and Coca Cola premixed canned drink.

Coca Cola EP recognised that moving into the alcohol market brought new responsibilities and in response developed a policy on alcohol responsibility.

Drinkaware worked with Coca Cola EP during 2023 to ensure our logo was prominent on the new drink’s packaging and on its website. We also supported its staff by providing alcohol awareness training. The project was delivered in three stages: interactive alcohol awareness sessions; a stand at their Annual Field Sales Conference in September 2023, where 900 sales representatives attended; and finally we provided its Wakefield bottling plant with physical and digital assets to support their alcohol education and awareness work. This included 450 alcohol unit measuring cups, 450 alcohol unit and calorie calculators, and educational posters for staff communal areas.

Drinkaware

26

drinkaware.co.uk

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our partners

Aldi Alcohol Awareness Week activity

As part of the awareness week, supermarket chain Aldi, a Drinkaware funder, asked us to support its employee wellbeing programme to help educate their staff about the health impacts of alcohol.

They wanted to use creative ways of educating people on the facts of alcohol and, importantly, provide tips and ideas on how people can moderate their drinking.

Drinkaware created and managed three interactive awareness stands that were placed within staff communal areas. Over two days, 200 employees visited the stands and participated in the activities to learn more about alcohol and the impact it can have on their health and relationships.

We know that the highest percentage of high-risk drinkers drink at home, so we created a mock home environment with an armchair, side table and television. We placed decanters of coloured water representing spirits and wine. People were asked to choose the drink they would usually drink at home and pour it into one of the glasses provided and settle into their comfortable mock armchair. A Drinkaware representative then decanted their drink into one of our alcohol unit measuring cups. The employee was able to see the exact amount of units they poured, often more than they had anticipated. The simple, tangible activity helped employees understand that simply measuring their units can help moderate their drinking. Each participant kept their measuring cup to take home.

Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS)

We partnered with Students Organising for Sustainability - a student-led education charity focusing on sustainability - to provide 27,500 students across 55 universities with information and tools to help moderate their drinking.

Each university received a support pack which included alcohol unit measuring cups, alcohol unit and calorie calculators, and alcohol and mental health posters.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

27

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our partners

Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS)

Over 30,000 people across 76 sites and six companies registered for access to the Drinkaware at Work e-Learning programme, hosted in the Considerate Constructors Scheme Best Practice Hub.

People also had access to the Drinkaware online hub which contained advice and information on ways to reduce the amount you drink. We also sent 15,000 people items including our alcohol unit and calorie calculator, alcohol unit measuring cup, an information booklet, and posters.

Low and alcohol-free drinks training guide for pubs and bars

We wanted to work closer with our on-trade partners, as we had a shared goal of educating pub and bar managers about the benefits of stocking low and alcohol-free drinks and how to do it successfully. Despite the growth of low and alcohol-free drinks, many people running these venues struggle to know how to sell the drinks.

We spoke to people working in pubs and bars who were doing a great job at stocking these types of drinks, and created educational material and videos focussed on how they did it. The range of free videos cover different topics and answer practical questions via a ‘how to’ guide.

The videos were created in late 2023 in partnership with Club Soda and with support and help from Punch and Star Pubs – two of our funders. The guide was made available from February 2024. Download the guide.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

28

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our partners

Huddersfield Town Foundation and Heineken

We worked with Huddersfield Town Foundation and Heineken in 2023 to deliver an alcohol education walking football health programme. Walking football is played at walking pace, with players not allowed to run.

The project participants are given a range of information, resources, tools, and optional training around alcohol. Areas include promoting healthy lifestyle choices, such as tips on ways to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, and awareness around the impact of alcohol on your health.

The project is ongoing and due to end mid-2024 but early results suggest a positive change in the 119 participants’ health and a reduction in the amount of alcohol they drink. While these initial observations are encouraging, more in-depth research will be needed at the end of the project.

Understand more about your drinking

Take the Drinking Check and get all the tips and advice to help you make a change

Take the Drinking Check

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

29

Our work with Government Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Working together to reduce alcohol harm Our work with Government

In 2023, we held a number of funder and partnership events including our conference in March. The event brought together nearly 70 funders, partners, alcohol and alcohol-free producers, and political representatives to discuss how we can best work in partnership to reduce alcohol harm. Read more about our funder events on page 46.

Throughout 2023, we shared briefings with politicians and officials updating them on our new research and changes to our tools, such as our annual Monitor survey and the Drinking Check.

Throughout the year, we refreshed and reinvigorated our relationships with senior politicians and officials across the Westminster and Scottish Governments. The then Shadow Public Health Minister, Andrew Gwynne MP, spoke at our annual conference in March and representatives from the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) regularly attended our board meetings as observers.

We responded to two consultations. The first on the UK Government’s consultation on labelling guidance for low and alcohol-free drinks. We believe that low and alcohol-free drinks have the potential to help people moderate their drinking, however public understanding of these drinks is low and the way they are described is inconsistent.[54][55][56][57]

UK government ministers and officials welcomed Drinkaware’s progress to date in increasing the number of people completing our Drinking Check, an alcohol self-assessment tool, and Elena Whitham MSP - the then Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy of Scotland - praised the tool in a parliamentary debate.

Image: Andrew Gwynne MP, then Shadow Health Minister, Drinkaware Conference 2023

The second consultation was the Scottish government’s wide-ranging review on the advertising and promotion of alcoholic drinks. In our response, we said reducing exposure to alcohol marketing among children and young people is important as research has shown that drinking alcohol in adolescence is associated with a range of negative consequences, which may persist into adulthood.[58][59][60][61][62]

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

30

Goal 2: Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023 Goal 2: Voice To be a leading voice, we don’t need to be loud but we are happy to speak up when there is evidence to support our position and when people seek our opinion. We believe that bringing about change of any kind - from empowering and supporting people to make more informed choices to challenging and breaking societal stigmas - starts through conversation: by opening up, talking, and finding common ground. From being there to support someone when they need it, to equipping people with the knowledge to make more informed choices. It all starts with a conversation. ~~—~~ Steps taken to achieve goal 2 included: Increase positive or Increase Increase neutral media coverage brand awareness website visitors that mentions Drinkaware Key results: • Brand awareness peaked at 54% in November 2023 and brand trust at 61% in June and July • Our website had more than 5.5 million unique visitors in 2023 - a 10% increase • 3,100 mentions in the media - a 160% increase es

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

31

Our campaigns

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Voice

Our campaigns

In 2023, we delivered several national campaigns encouraging people to check out our advice and support, tools, and information to help moderate their drinking and reduce alcohol-related harm.

Alcohol-free drinks

We delivered our first digital campaign focusing on alcohol-free drinks which ran throughout 2023.

The campaign aimed to raise awareness of the drinks as an alternative to drinking alcohol and to encourage people to use them as a substitute.

We targeted people who regularly drink above the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines of 14 units per week and people who live in the 20% most deprived areas of the UK.

We also targeted drinkers from the LGBTQ+ community, who are more likely to drink alcohol and more likely to drink excessively than the population as a whole.[63]

In response to research and testing, adverts were created for social media. Messages focussed on the immediate benefits of alcohol-free drinks, including ‘Skip the hangover by switching to alcohol-free’ and ‘Enjoy lunch without the slump by switching to alcohol-free’.

Overall, our campaign content was seen over 242 million times across our digital channels and received 8.3 million engagements with people liking, commenting, or sharing the content.

We want our campaigns to give people the confidence to discuss their drinking openly with friends and loved ones and to seek help and support if they need it.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

32

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our brand

Drinking Check

In 2023, we set an ambitious target of two million completions of our Drinking Check by the end of 2025. The digital alcohol selfassessment tool helps people identify if the amount they drink could be putting their health at serious risk. It is a robust and more holistic way of assessing someone’s drinking as it looks at other factors and not consumption alone.

Our target for 2023 was 500,000 completions of the tool. Between October and December, we ran the first phase of our Drinking Check marketing campaign using social media and other digital channels. The campaign secured widespread media coverage which directed people to complete the tool on our website. By the end of 2023, we had exceeded our target with just over 550,000 completions. More information on the tool can be found on page 38.

As part of the campaign, we partnered with drinks company Diageo who had a stand at the Waitrose Food and Drink Festival. Attendees were offered samples from its low and alcohol-free drinks range and were encouraged to scan a QR code to complete our Drinking Check. A link to the tool also featured in the digital show guide. More than 8,000 people attended the event across the weekend. It was a good time to partner with Diageo and Waitrose, as they had recently collaborated on making alcohol-free drinks more visible in Waitrose stores and expanded their range.

Voice

Our brand

It is important the public know who we are and what we do so we can support many more people to have conversations about their drinking, and that people who choose to drink can make informed choices and do it in a low-risk way.

In April, we started tracking people’s awareness of our brand along with trust of our brand and awareness of our campaigns. In April, our prompted brand awareness was 50%. This peaked in November (54%), the month following the first phase of our Drinking Check campaign, but fell slightly in December (52%).

Trust in our brand remained consistent between April and December 2023 with 59% brand trust in April and 60% in December, with a slight peak in June and July (61%).

When asked about our campaigns, 47% of people had seen or heard information about Drinkaware and 46% had seen or heard about our Drinking Check. Our bedrinkaware.co.uk logo was recognised by 58% of people surveyed.[64]

The awareness of our brand is nearly three times higher compared to other alcohol education charities in the UK.

47%

of people had seen or heard information about Drinkaware

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

33

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our channels

Voice

Our channels

The communication channels we use to reach and support people are hugely important to our work, enabling us to start conversations with large numbers of people in a cost-effective and targeted way.

68,000

We had over 68,000 followers across our social media channel

Drinkaware’s website and social media

We shared advice and information on our website and social media channels including videos on how to talk to loved ones about their drinking. We also shared blogs including why we need to improve conversations about alcohol at work.

Our website had more than 5.5 million unique visitors in 2023 - a 10% increase. By the end of 2023, we had over 68,000 followers across our social media channels and our organic social media content was seen over 750,000 times, with 22,000 people engaging

with that content by either liking, commenting, or sharing - a 92% increase. In addition, our MyDrinkaware app and Drinking Check campaign content was seen over 11 million times across our social media channels.

To understand more about underserved communities, and improve our knowledge, we invited people to write blogs for our website. One blog was from Rhondell Stabana, cofounder of Yada Collective and Sober Black Britain. She shared her thoughts on the lack of representation and research into the drinking culture of ethnic minority communities. We will use the new insight to tailor our content effectively to reach those who are disproportionately affected by alcohol harm.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

34

Our channels

----- Start of picture text -----
Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023 (y 42:37 prinkaware a \
----- End of picture text -----

Drinkaware in the media

Drinkaware was mentioned 3,100 times across print, online, and broadcast media, including 243 mentions of our Chief Executive Officer, Karen Tyrell.

Our research received a lot of coverage throughout 2023. Our 2023 Monitor survey and research into young adults drinking behaviours were mentioned over 1,400 times across print, online, and broadcast.

During Alcohol Awareness Week 2023, we used data from our 2022 Monitor survey that revealed 80% of adults in the UK do not know the low-risk drinking guidelines.[65] As part of the awareness week, we made our social media profile photos orange in a nod to the campaign’s motto ‘make it orange’ and created voxpop videos asking people questions such as ‘What are the recommended drinking guidelines?’. The videos were shared on our social media channels and encouraged people to complete our Drinking Check. We also had a guest blog from author and broadcaster Adrian Chiles about the benefits of alcohol moderation.

Our Monitor research was used in a prime-time segment on ITV’s Lorraine with the piece also featuring on Lorraine’s TikTok channel. We repurposed this content for our own channels and to date it has received just over 25,000 views. Karen also

featured on BBC Radio Scotland and London Live.

positive national media coverage on both BBC’s One Show and The Times. The One Show used our statistic that one in five people aged 25 and under don’t drink alcohol and featured comedian Jo Brand and her daughter Maisie. Read more about this research on page 42.

Alongside the broadcast coverage we received for Alcohol Awareness Week, we secured 15 press articles including the Daily Mirror and the homepage of the Yorkshire Times. Every piece of coverage positioned Drinkaware as a knowledgeable organisation at the forefront of changing society’s attitude to alcohol in the UK.

Our chief executive also featured on numerous radio stations, and appeared on Sky News, discussing some of the findings from our 2023 Monitor. Much of the coverage directed people to our Drinking Check.

Our research into whether young adults are a generation of non-drinkers also received

Watch the Sky News interview with our Chief Executive Karen Tyrell here

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

35

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Goal 3:

Goal 3:

Information and support

We are committed to providing clear, evidence-based information about alcohol and providing tools to help people moderate their drinking - directing people to where they can find support if they need it.

Steps taken to achieve goal 3 included:

Increase the number of people who complete our Drinking Check

Work with a range of partners to refer more people to our support tools, advice, and information

Partner with a major supermarket to deliver a series of events that educate people on how to moderate their drinking

Key results:

Drinkaware

36

drinkaware.co.uk

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our tools

Information and support

Our tools

Tools to help people reduce their drinking, known as Identification and Brief Advice (IBA), are critical to support the goals of our strategy, specifically goal 3.

IBAs are an established and well recognised behaviour change intervention and can be delivered in a number of ways - verbally, face to face or online, for example in a GP’s surgery or online appointment, or a selfcompleted digital format, like our Drinking Check.

Our research shows that eight million people are drinking above the Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines of 14 units per week which means they are at increased risk of harm from cancer, liver and heart diseases, and mental health issues from their drinking.

Around three in five of those drinkers have never completed an assessment like the Drinking Check either online or with a GP. We can help every one of them understand the potential consequences of their drinking, identify next steps, and provide tips on having an open, honest conversation about alcohol, making it normal to do so.

8 million

Our research shows that eight million people are drinking above the Chief Medical Officers’ lowrisk drinking guidelines of 14 units per week

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

37

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our tools

MyDrinkaware app

The free app allows people to keep track of how much they are drinking, drink-free days, the quality of their sleep, and how many calories they are consuming from alcohol. People can also complete the Drinking Check. In 2023, the app was downloaded 110,000 times.

Unit and Calorie Calculator

The tool calculates the total number of calories and units in an alcoholic drink consumed either daily or across a week. The tool can be completed on our website.

Drinking Check

In 2023, we refreshed our Drinking Check (formerly called the Self-Assessment tool) which helps people identify if the amount they drink could be putting their health at risk.

Our tool uses a scoring system that was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) called ‘AUDIT’. It is used internationally by medical professionals to check for alcohol harm including dependence. By giving people information about their drinking, and tailored information following their score, they can begin to take steps to reduce their drinking.

The updated tool, which can be completed on our website or via our MyDrinkaware app, now provides people with more

information on their drinking habits and the risks involved, along with improvements on how people can seek further support if they need it.

We had just over 550,000 completions of the tool in 2023 – a 32% increase. 17.3% of completions were by people who scored ‘low-risk’; 29.3% were ‘increasing risk’; 16.4% ‘high-risk’; and 37% ‘possible dependent’ - similar to 2022. ‘Possible dependent’ people used the website the most to complete the tool and ‘increasing risk’ used our app the most.

54% of completions were by men and 46% by women - similar to 2022. Men used the website the most to complete the tool and women used the app the most.

Chatbot

Our virtual assistant, which uses AI technology, provides people with personalised information and advice. It is designed to identify and direct high risk and possible dependent drinkers, and those in crisis, into appropriate alcohol support services and is available 24 hours a day. The Chatbot supports people with critical issues like alcohol poisoning and directs them to the NHS. It also deals with a range of customer enquiries on topics from drink spiking to how to report a drink driver, routing enquiries to the relevant information. The Chatbot had just over 63,000 unique users and more than 260,000 messages in 2023.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

38

Drinkaware Drinking Check Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware Drinking Check

Understand more about your drinking. Try our free online drinking check.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

39

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Goal 4:

Goal 4:

Research and expertise

Our evidence-led approach ensures that our campaigns, tools, and support can make a real difference to people. We evaluate our work to learn for the future and increase our reach and impact.

Steps taken to achieve goal 4 included:

Learn more about underserved communities among UK drinkers and share those new insights with the media and key partners

Host roundtable events with key partners to share new insight and develop a plan for how we can better work together

Key results:

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

40

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our research

Research and expertise

Our research

In 2023, we continued to commission research into underexplored areas where we can fill gaps in the evidence-base, increase our knowledge, and share that knowledge more widely.

Drinkaware Monitor

Our annual ‘state of the nation’ survey, conducted for us by YouGov, provides an insight into the drinking habits of the UK. The 2023 Monitor, which surveyed 10,473 people from across the UK, looked at how we talk about alcohol and have honest conversations.

We spoke to the public about having conversations about alcohol. Watch the video here

10,473

The 2023 Monitor, surveyed 10,473 people from across the UK

More than half (56%) of UK drinkers feel their country has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, rising to 66% in Scotland, 63% in Northern Ireland, 56% in England but falls to 38% in Wales

But only one in 10 drinkers (10%) feel they personally have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol

People struggling the most financially were most likely to have changed their drinking habits over the last 12 months. One in 10 drinkers struggling financially report drinking more alcohol in the last year while four in 10 have been drinking less

10% of drinkers from an ethnic minority background are ‘high-risk’ or ‘possibly dependent’, compared to 6% of white drinkers

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

41

Our research

----- Start of picture text -----
Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023
----- End of picture text -----

The Monitor is the only UK-wide nationally representative survey that dives into people’s drinking habits and behaviour. The survey highlighted concerns about how alcohol is seen in society.

Four in five UK drinkers (80%) say they drink within the UK Chief Medical Officers’ lowrisk drinking guidelines - up from 77% in 2020

UK adults appear to be drinking less frequently, with those drinking alcohol less often than weekly rising to 39% compared to 33% in 2019

Those drinking at home alone at least once a week is down from 24% in 2021 to 18% in 2023

Only 29% of adults would feel very comfortable having a conversation with family and 24% with friends about their drinking, compared to 45% with a partner

Download the report

Patterns in drinking across the four UK nations

In 2023, we published a report which looked at different drinking trends across all four UK nations. We used data from our annual Monitor surveys between 2017 and 2022.

Northern Ireland has the highest proportion of ‘highrisk’ or ‘possible dependent’ drinkers. However, the proportion did not significantly change for any nation between 2017 and 2022

England has the highest proportion of drinkers consuming more than 14 units per week. Only Northern Ireland saw a significant decrease between 2018 and 2022

England has the highest proportion of adults who drink on four or more days each week but was the only nation which saw a significant decrease between 2018 and 2022

Northern Ireland has the highest proportion of drinkers who binge drink daily or almost daily

We will use and share this new insight with partners and key stakeholders to look at new ways we can support people to reduce their drinking.

Download the report

Sober myth report

In recent years, there have been numerous reports about young adults aged 18 to 24 being a generation of non-drinkers.[66][67][68]

To understand more, we looked at data from our Drinkaware Monitors between 2017 and 2023 to explore the drinking behaviours of young adults and determine whether they really are a generation of non-drinkers.

The report, ‘The Sober Myth: Are Young Adults Really a Generation of Non-Drinkers’, reviewed data from more than 5,200 people aged 18 to 24 from across the UK.

While more young adults are not drinking alcohol, rising from 14% in 2017 to 21% in 2023, four in five (79%) still drink alcohol

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

42

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our research

Young adults who drink alcohol are more likely to binge drink (74% vs 63%), and twice as likely to drink at ‘high-risk’ or ‘possible dependent’ levels compared to the rest of the population (11% vs 6%)

The survey also found that compared to drinkers aged 25 and over:

Young adult drinkers are more likely to screen positive for anxiety or depression (43% vs 26%)

Young adult drinkers are more likely to experience memory loss (40% vs 19%), morning cravings (14% vs 4%), and failure to meet their usual responsibilities (24% vs 12%)

Young adults drink less often compared to drinkers 25 and over (46% vs 56%)

It is encouraging to see more young adults choosing not to drink, and those that do are drinking less often, and we welcome these positive trends. However, we must be careful that they don’t mask some of the more concerning drinking behaviours that still exist.

People’s awareness and perceptions of low and alcohol-free drinks

Ahead of our 2023 alcoholfree drinks campaign, we commissioned YouGov to carry out research into UK drinkers’ awareness and perceptions towards these types of drinks. The research found a clear opportunity to support people to reduce the amount they drink by promoting low and alcohol-free drinks as an alternative. When asked about their approach to cutting down their drinking at a social occasion, we found:

36% of respondents would drink a combination of alcoholic and soft drinks if reducing consumption at a social occasion

35% would not drink any alcoholic drinks

13% would drink a combination of low and alcohol-free and alcoholic drinks

8% would drink a combination of low and alcohol-free and soft drinks

8% would only drink low and alcohol-free drinks

Other findings included:

37% of people said improved taste would encourage them to drink a combination of low and alcohol-free and alcoholic drinks on the same occasion

Avoiding hangovers was the main benefit for people who had consumed these drinks

23% had been discouraged from drinking a low or alcohol-free drink and over a third (35%) saw someone be discouraged from drinking them

Improving the taste and promoting the benefits of drinking these options as a moderation technique is needed. We will continue to share our research and knowledge with the alcohol industry, government, researchers, academics, charities, and others to ensure this becomes a reality.

Download the report

Young adults are still more likely to binge drink than other age groups and suffer from memory loss and depression, linked to their drinking. We must ensure that young people’s drinking habits are not ignored, and they are properly addressed. We will use and share this new insight with partners and key stakeholders to support young adults in the future.

----- Start of picture text -----
drinkaware.co.uk
----- End of picture text -----

Download the report

Drinkaware

43

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Goal 5:

Goal 5:

Infrastructure

We want Drinkaware to be a great place to work so we can recruit and retain the best staff who are committed to working together to reduce alcohol harm in the UK.

Our evidence-led approach and impact would not be possible without the vital funds and support given by our partners. We will ensure we have sufficient income to deliver on our strategy.

Steps taken to achieve goal 5 included:

----- Start of picture text -----
Secure new
Improved All new posts Improve staff funders and
staff benefits identified satisfaction importantly retain
policy are filled ratings existing funders
----- End of picture text -----

Key results:

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

44

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our people

Infrastructure

Our people

A capable, motivated, and valued team is hugely important to everyone at Drinkaware. In 2023, we carried out a review of our employee benefits. The review was part of a broader programme aimed at making Drinkaware a great place to work, boosting our appeal as an employer, and ensuring we pay and reward people fairly.

The review used information from recent staff surveys, feedback from away days, and research into what other organisations do. We balanced this with what we can responsibly and sustainably afford to offer. Our aim was to create the best possible working environment at Drinkaware.

We increased our annual leave entitlement by two days and people can now buy or sell up to five annual leave days per year. In addition, we now offer health insurance for staff.

We recognise the importance of looking after our staff’s wellbeing, as well as their ongoing learning. This is why we increased our learning and wellbeing grant from £300 per year to £500.

Training during 2023 included a women’s confidence course run by UPFRONT. Eight women from Drinkaware took part in the six-week online course which helps those enrolled build their confidence and take what they learn back to the workplace to share with other interested women.

The changes we have made to our ways of working are already paying dividends with an overall staff engagement of 76% - a 13% increase. Staff feel they have improved communication and feedback on their performance from their manager and feel more valued and satisfied with the benefits they receive at work.

The Drinkaware staff awards were launched in 2022 to recognise the achievements of both individuals and teams. They are divided into three categories: project of the year; outstanding individual of the year; and best idea of 2023.

The awards were held again in December 2023 and the winner from each category received a voucher which was presented at the December away day.

We undertook a recruitment exercise in 2023 to ensure we had the right people in place to deliver our new strategy. New posts were created which included a variety of senior management roles with specialist skills in areas such as research and impact, stakeholder management, media, and brand.

We launched a senior leadership development programme in 2023 to improve ways of working among directors and heads of departments. The programme will help leaders improve their skills and experience with the aim of developing better crossorganisational working. As part of our vision to bring people together, and host more meetings with key partners and stakeholders, we also recently moved to new offices.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

45

Our funders

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Infrastructure

Our funders

We believe working in partnership is the most effective way to reduce alcohol harm at scale. We are proud to work with a wide range of partners, from industry to public health, and non-governmental organisations.

Our valued funders play a critical role in helping us reduce alcohol harm in the UK. Drinkaware is an independent charity, funded by voluntary donations from a wide range of sectors, including the alcohol and hospitality industry, as well as supermarkets and retailers.

Our funding approach has stood the test of time. It was created when Drinkaware was founded, in association with government and alcohol industry representatives, and is based on a universal funding model. Each funder donates a percentage of its profits depending on the turnover it makes from alcohol sales. The model is communicated to all our funders, so it is clear, consistent and transparent.

Drinkaware had 109 funders in 2023 including alcohol producers, wholesalers, retailers, venues, restaurant groups, and sports associations. Our funders include 50% producers, 22% wholesalers, 12% off-trade, and 16% on-trade.

The full list of our funders is on page 80

Keeping our funders regularly updated on our work and progress is a crucial part of working in partnership to reduce alcohol harm. Many of our funders attended our annual conference in March where we officially launched our new organisational strategy.

We held eight funder and partner events in 2023, with more than 120 people attending.

These included:

Funders received regular e-newsletters throughout the year, featuring updates on our various activities. Alongside a range of other stakeholders and partners, several funders contributed to our theory of change and helped us identify areas we can work together.

Drinkaware

46

drinkaware.co.uk

Our income

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Infrastructure

Our income

Drinkaware training

In 2023, we started the transition from delivering face-to-face direct employee training to supporting both our funder and non-funder partners with alcohol-related wellbeing advice and guidance via a digital training pack.

The training was delivered in a variety of ways including bespoke educational packs, e-learning, and workshops - all offering advice and support on how to moderate your drinking and reduce long and shortterm health risks. Employers not only wanted to support the wellbeing of their employees but also develop a professional culture which ultimately increased productivity.

We worked with some wellknown organisations and brands, both Drinkaware funders and non-funder partners, including Coca Cola, Lidl, Scottish Professional Football League Trust, Leicester City Council, and National Farmers Union. In total, over 60,000 people accessed our alcohol education training either through their own online hubs or our digital platform, faceto-face, or alcohol awareness education packs.

Drinkaware shop

Drinkaware trademark logo licence

The Drinkaware Shop, relaunched in 2022 and operated by the trading subsidiary of Drinkaware, provides independent, evidence-based resources, training and products that support people to change their relationship with alcohol and improve their health.

The bedrinkaware.co.uk logo is used to signpost the public to our website where they can find information and advice about alcohol, learn about its impact on their health and wellbeing, and feel empowered and supported to make informed choices.

Businesses with a revenue of below £2.5 million per year can now renew their licence each year via the Drinkaware Shop, making it a much easier process. These changes have helped to retain even more supporters and nearly double the overall number of logo licence holders.

More organisations are using resources accessed via the Drinkaware Shop than ever before, with a 100% increase in activity in 2023 compared to 2022. This included downloads of our free alcohol education resources such as posters and factsheets, as well as buying products such as our alcohol unit measuring cup. More than 85,000 items were distributed which included over 80,000 alcohol unit measuring cups and alcohol unit and calorie calculators. 159 NHS organisations downloaded or purchased resources from the shop.

As a result of increasing the turnover threshold and reducing the price of the logo in 2022 to a nominal fee, we increased the number of logo licence holders in 2023 from 99 to 196 - a 98% increase.

Read more about our income on page 49

60,000

----- Start of picture text -----
E-Learning courses
2: o>
----- End of picture text -----

Over 60,000 people accessed our alcohol education training

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

47

Financial review

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023 Financial review

The statement of Drinkaware’s financial activities for the year is set out on page 61 of the Annual Report. The net surplus for the group for the year was £682,020 (2022: £522,108).

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

48

Financial review

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Funding

In 2023, Drinkaware’s total group income was £6,425,068 (2022: £6,290,845), received in voluntary donations, grants, sales of Drinkaware products, and investment income. Drinkaware’s total income includes £5,992,227 in voluntary donations from alcohol producers (with operations in the UK), retailers, and hospitality businesses (2022: £5,827,423). In 2023, we moved to a rolling commitment from our voluntary donors to mitigate the risk of a significant drop in income due to all recommitment processes falling at the same time.

In addition, £432,841 (2022: £463,422) has been raised from grants, logo licence sales, alcohol awareness publications, and products and bank interest.

Income from expected donations is a high-risk area and one that is under constant scrutiny internally and by the Trustees. We are conscious of the impact of the economic climate on our funders’ ability to donate to us and we continue to review our reserves’ level to ensure we are able to respond and react to any future losses that might occur.

Fundraising

During 2023, Drinkaware did not undertake any public fundraising activities, either directly or through other parties, and has no plans to do so in the immediate future. Consequently, Drinkaware is not subject to any undertaking to be bound by any voluntary scheme for regulating fundraising, although the charity is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. The charity did not receive any complaints in relation to fundraising.

Expenditure

Total group expenditure was £5,743,048 (2022: £5,768,737). Of this, 91% was spent on charitable activities (2022: 92%). Expenditure on raising funds for th ~~e~~ year was 7% of total expenditure (2022: 6%). This expenditure relates to the costs of account management.

Staff costs represented 37% of total expenditure in 2023 compared to 27% in 2022, arising from a combination of increased headcount and a pay benchmarking exercise undertaken in 2023 (see ‘Pay policy’ on page 53). The increased headcount was the outcome of a capacity building project designed to review the organisation’s structure to ensure that we had the right level of staff to support and deliver our new strategy. New posts were created which included a variety of senior management roles with specialist skills in areas such as research and impact, stakeholder management, media, and brand. As key roles were gradually filled throughout

2023, we finished the year with a total of 41 employees, compared to 28 at the end of 2022.

Whilst there were some delays to our planned activities in 2023, we have still made good progress. In particular on improving and promoting our digital services, information, and guidance through our Drinking Check (alcohol self-assessment tool). Work on this will continue in 2024.

Net assets

The total net assets of the Group were £4,793,985 on 31 December 2023 (2022: £4,111,965). Refer to the ‘designated reserves’ section on page 50 to learn how we will be using those funds in the coming year.

Commercial trading operations

Drinkaware’s trading subsidiary had a good year with strong sales of its educational and support materials, and income from logo licence fees. The commercial operations generated a profit of £96,364 (2022: £546,513). This profit will be Gift Aided to the charity in 2024.

In 2022, following the impact of the pandemic on some of the activities of the trading subsidiary, the charity agreed to write off management charges of £431,833. Excluding the latter, the net profit in the trading subsidiary was £114,680 and the results of the trading subsidiary are shown in note 3 of the financial statements on page 67.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

49

Financial review

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Investment powers and policy

In considering the charity’s investment policy, the Trustees continue to take the view that the preservation of capital is of primary importance. Future cash flow requirements should be regularly reviewed, and any excess cash balances should be invested in fixed term deposits or notice accounts with a view to maximising interest income.

The invested funds held on deposit by the Trust achieved an average rate of 1.3% (2022: 0.4%) for the year. We will be looking into better interest-bearing accounts in 2024.

Reserves policy and performance

It is the intention of the Trustees to maintain sufficient reserves to ensure the ongoing viability of the charity, notwithstanding a significant shortfall in funding or other unexpected events. In addition, the nature of Drinkaware’s campaigns mean that expenditure peaks significantly at certain times of the year, reflecting the timing of media buys in particular. An appropriate level of reserves is required to ensure adequate cash flow to support campaign activities.

Our reserves policy, which was unchanged for a few years, stipulated that general reserves should represent at least four months of operating expenditure. In late 2023 and early 2024, the Board of Trustees reviewed Drinkaware’s reserves policy to ensure that it is still appropriate and in line

with the Charity Commission guidance, Charity reserves: building resilience (CC19). It was agreed that general reserves (unrestricted funds excluding designated funds and fixed assets) should now be a minimum of six months’ operating expenditure, following the latest review of our principal risks and the likely impact on the charity should they materialise.

General reserves held on 31 December 2023 were £3,182,792 (2022: £1,926,693), as per note 19 of the financial statements. The minimum required amount to cover expenditure for six months is £2.9m (based on budgeted costs for the next financial year) and the total general reserves balance is above that amount. Our general reserves are in line with our reserves policy, with scope for further investment in technology and operations to support our strategy.

Designated reserves

Designated reserves are established at the discretion of the Trustees for specific purposes which are in the best interest of the charity, or to reflect the investment of reserves in capital assets rather than operating costs.

There is £561,821 in a future depreciation fund. The purpose of this reserve is to emphasise to the reader of the accounts that funds used to acquire assets are not available to fund other operations in future years, while providing a fund into which these assets’ depreciation can be charged.

The Trustees have also decided to ring-fence some of the group’s reserves into the following designated funds, to ensure that accelerated activity to support the strategy can be carried out:

y Strategy delivery fund: £750,000 was set aside at the end of 2022. During the year, further funds of £201,372 were designated and the fund is being increased to £951,372 and carried forward to 2024 to fund various activities and plans which will support the delivery of our strategy. These activities include the promotion of our new Drinking Check, improvement of our IT infrastructure, and the move to our new office in Chiswell Street

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

50

Financial review

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Going concern

The Trustees have reviewed the latest budget and business plan, the level of free reserves, the latest management accounts, and most recent cash flow projections.

The Trustees have also considered the potential impact of a reduction in future income and the consequential effect on expenditure, after allowing time for Drinkaware to implement necessary actions to maintain a sustainable financial position. As a result, the Trustees believe that Drinkaware is well-placed to manage operational and financial risks successfully.

The Trustees are confident that Drinkaware has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the Trustees are of the view that Drinkaware can continue to adopt the ‘going concern’ basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

51

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Structure, governance and management

Annual Trustee’s Report 2023

Structure, governance and management

Governing document

The Drinkaware Trust is a company limited by guarantee and governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission and its Trustees are also members of the company. Trustees are appointed through an open recruitment process based solely on their ability to meet the needs of the Trust. The Board may appoint no more than two Trustees who are either currently employed in the alcohol industry or have a policy role with respect to alcohol. A register of Trustees’ interests is maintained and accessible on the Drinkaware website.

Trustee recruitment

Under its Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Board may comprise of at least three and no more than 12 Trustees. Trustees are appointed by the Board and serve for an initial term of not more than four years. A Trustee may be re-appointed and may hold office for a maximum of nine years in total.

Trustee induction and Board appraisal

The charity has a formal procedure for inducting Trustees and provides key reference documents to ensure that newly appointed Trustees are fully aware of Drinkaware’s history, current strategy and activities, and their responsibilities. New Trustees also receive induction material on the role of a Trustee and are signposted to the Charity Commission website for wider reading.

Training is provided at the request of the Trustees. The Board has a formal annual appraisal of Trustees (including the Chair) in line with best practice in the charity sector.

Organisation

The Board of Trustees direct the work of the charity. It typically meets around six times per year, although additional meetings can be held as and when required.

In 2023, the Finance & Human Resources committee was disbanded, with governance matters now being dealt with by the Risk & Audit Committee, and financial and operational matters being handled by the Board. The Risk & Audit Committee meets up to four times per year and committee members provide expertise and advice to the executive team as required.

In addition, the Board has been advised by an independent Medical Advisory Panel (MAP) which included clinicians, academics, and public health experts. The panel’s role was to ensure that the information and advice Drinkaware provided is based on available evidence. The panel’s term of office ended in 2023 and is being replaced by an Independent Advisory Panel (IAP) in 2024. The IAP will assist the charity by providing expert advice that will help raise awareness of the long and short-term risks associated with drinking alcohol. It will have a wider expertise in behavioural sciences to sit alongside medical experts. The IAP will meet twice a year and attend Board meetings on an observer basis.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

52

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Structure, governance and management

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is appointed by the Board of Trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity. The CEO works with the Senior Leadership Team, which comprises of directors for each key department, and collectively, they have delegated authority for operational matters. These include finance, employment, campaigns, and communications, in line with the policies that have been approved by the Board of Trustees. The CEO is appraised annually by the Chair and the Board of Trustees.

Related parties and co-operation with other organisations

Pay policy

Pay for all staff is independently benchmarked bi-annually against external comparators. Proposed pay increases or bonuses for exceptional performance are agreed by the Trustees or the CEO as appropriate, and are not guaranteed.

In 2023, we undertook a pay and reward review whereby all staff pay was benchmarked against market rates at the time. The review ensured that Drinkaware pays a fair and equitable salary for the diversity of its job roles. Remuneration for senior staff is reviewed annually by the Risk & Audit Committee, which is also responsible for recommending the remuneration of the CEO to the Board for approval.

Public benefit

The Trustees believe that activities undertaken in 2023 by the charity further its purpose for public benefit and believe that the annual report provides evidence of this with its case studies, research, and progress against strategic objectives. Therefore, the Trustees believe that they have complied with their duty to have due regard for public benefit in undertaking activities.

No Trustees receive remuneration or other benefits from their work with the Trust. Any connection between Trustees or senior managers with any donor, supplier, or partner of the Trust must be disclosed to the full Board of Trustees and included in the Register of Interests. Declarations of interest are invited at each Board and Committee meeting.

----- Start of picture text -----
drinkaware.co.uk 53 ‘
----- End of picture text -----

Drinkaware

Risk management

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Annual Trustee’s Report 2023

Risk management

The Board of Trustees has created a risk management strategy that involves an annual review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces, and of the policies, systems, and procedures in place to mitigate those risks.

A Risk Register, designed to include all the principal risks to which the charity is exposed, is maintained and regularly reviewed by the Risk & Audit Committee.

The Trustees consider the following to be the key risks and mitigations currently facing the charity:

– moving our focus from individual behaviour change to societal change. There is a risk that the new strategy is not impactful or doesn’t result in a measurable reduction in alcohol-related harm, which in turn will have a detrimental impact on our stakeholders and staff, and potentially our income. To mitigate this, the Trustees commissioned a theory of change. In addition, a set of objectives and key results have been created and are regularly monitored, with an attribution model developed in late 2023 to provide further evidence of impact

put in place during 2023, including penetration testing and improved password protection. This area is kept under review

y The Board is concerned that the governance and leadership structures are resilient enough to ensure that Drinkaware’s work to reduce alcohol harm will continue despite departures and absences amongst Trustees and Senior Management. To mitigate this, the management level under the Senior Leadership Team has been strengthened so that each area of activity has a Head. These new roles will take on responsibility for day-today management of teams, allowing more time for the Senior Leadership Team to focus on strategic work. The Heads can also deputise for the Director if required. Following several Trustee retirements, the Board has been strengthened by a further Trustee appointment in January 2024. A full list of Trustees can be found on page 8. As explained previously, the Medical Advisory Panel’s term of office ended in 2023, and it was replaced by an Independent Advisory Panel with slightly different terms of reference. The Board is aware of the potential for the loss of organisational memory when there is change both among the Board and Senior Management

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

54

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and UK accounting standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company, and of the incoming resources and the application of resources of the charitable company for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

y State whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with relevant legislation. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Information to Auditors

The Trustees confirm that they have taken appropriate steps to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditors are aware of that information. As far as the Trustees are aware, there is no relevant audit information that has not been disclosed to the auditors.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Section 381 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

By order of the Board of Trustees:

Lucy Armstrong Chair, Board of Trustees

19 July 2024

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

55

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of The Drinkaware Trust

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of The Drinkaware Trust

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Drinkaware Trust (the ’company’) for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the Group Statement of Financial Activities, the Group and Parent Charitable Company Balance Sheets, the Group Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs(UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Drinkaware

56

drinkaware.co.uk

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of The Drinkaware Trust

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ annual report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 55, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the group and parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the group or parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

57

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of The Drinkaware Trust

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under the Companies Act 2006 and section 151 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with those Acts.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK) we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control

appropriateness of the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the group and parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the group or parent charitable

company to cease to continue as a going concern

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of noncompliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

58

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of The Drinkaware Trust

fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

The objectives of our audit in respect of fraud are: to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to those assessed risks; and to respond appropriately to instances of fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both management and those charged with governance of the charitable company.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and, in respect of the consolidated financial statements, to the charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 8 of the Charities Act 2011. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members and Trustees those matters which we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to any party other than the charitable company, the charitable company’s members, as a body, and the charity’s Trustees, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinion we have formed.

Our approach was as follows:

y We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the charitable company and considered that the most significant are the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, the Charity SORP, and UK financial reporting standards as issued by the Financial Reporting Council and UK taxation legislation

y We obtained an understanding of how the charitable company complies with these requirements by discussions with management and those charged with governance

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.

Luke Holt (Senior Statutory Auditor)

For and on behalf of Moore Kingston Smith LLP, Statutory Auditor

9 Appold Street London EC2A 2AP

23 July 2024

Moore Kingston Smith LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of Section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

59

Consolidated financial statements Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Consolidated financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023 The Drinkaware Trust (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

Drinkaware

60

drinkaware.co.uk

Consolidated statement of financial activities

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated statement of financial activities

(incorporating the income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 December 2023)

Notes
Unrestricted
funds 2023
£		 Restricted
funds 2023
£		 Total funds
2023
£		 Total funds
2022
£
Income from:
Donations 5,992,227 - 5,992,227 5,827,423
Charitable activities - - - -
Commercial tradingoperations 370,369 - 370,369 409,501
Investment income 37,618 - 37,618 10,713
Other income 24,854 - 24,854 43,208
Total 6,425,068 - 6,425,068 6,290,845
Expenditure on:
Raisingfunds
6		 393,665 - 393,665 333,759
Commercial tradingoperations
6		 114,138 - 114,138 121,262
Charitable activities
6		 5,235,245 - 5,235,245 5,313,716
Total 5,743,048 - 5,743,048 5,768,737
Net income 682,020 - 682,020 522,108
Transfers between funds - - - -
Net movement in funds 682,020 - 682,020 522,108
Reconciliation of funds:
19
Total funds brought forward 4,111,965 - 4,111,965 3,589,857
Total funds carried forward 4,793,985 - 4,793,985 4,111,965

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 64 to 79 form part of these financial statements.

Drinkaware

61

drinkaware.co.uk

Consolidated and company balance sheets Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated and company balance sheets

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Notes Group Group Charity Charity
2023
£		 2022
£		 2023
£		 2022
£
Fixed assets
Intangible assets
11		 557,993 818,476 557,993 818,476
Tangible assets
12		 3,828 26,796 3,828 26,796
Investment in TradingSub
3		 - - 1 1
561,821 845,272 561,822 845,273
Current assets
Stocks
13		 9,973 33,594 1,490 1,490
Debtors
14		 1,635,485 891,331 1,715,477 990,634
Cash at bank & in hand 3,380,648 2,747,922 3,118,952 2,603,607
5,026,106 3,672,847 4,835,919 3,595,731
Creditors: amounts fallingdue within oneyear
15		 (793,942) (406,154) (805,927) (379,668)
Net current assets 4,232,164 3,266,693 4,029,992 3,216,063
Net assets 4,793,985 4,111,965 4,591,814 4,061,336
Funds
Unrestricted funds
19		 3,182,792 1,926,693 2,980,621 1,876,063
Designated funds
19		 1,611,193 2,185,272 1,611,193 2,185,273
Restricted funds
18		 - - - -
Total funds 4,793,985 4,111,965 4,591,814 4,061,336

As permitted by S408 of the Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own income and expenditure statement and related notes. The company’s surplus for the year was £530,478 (2022: £471,481).

These accounts are prepared in accordance with the special provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 19 July 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

Lucy Armstrong Chair

Registered Company no. 4547974

The notes on pages 64 to 79 form part of these financial statements.

Drinkaware

62

drinkaware.co.uk

Consolidated statement of cash flows Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 December 2023

For the year ended 31 December 2023
2023
£		 2022
£
Cashgenerated from operatingactivities
Net cashprovided byoperatingactivities 747,101 480,843
Cash flows from investingactivities:
Interest income 37,618 10,713
Purchase ofproperty, plant and equipment - (460,898)
Purchase of intangible assets (151,993) -
Net cash used in investingactivities (114,375) (450,185)
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period 632,726 30,658
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginningof the reporting period 2,747,922 2,717,264
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 3,380,648 2,747,922
Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from
operatingactivities
Net income/(expenditure) (asper the Statement of Financial Activities) 682,020 522,108
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges 22,968 60,809
Amortisation charges 412,476 487,892
Bad debtprovision movements (33,722) (138,468)
Investment income (37,618) (10,713)
Decrease in stocks 23,621 10,300
Increase in debtors (710,432) (44,229)
Decrease/(increase)in creditors 387,788 (406,856)
Net cashprovided byoperatingactivities 747,101 480,843
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Cash in hand 3,380,648 2,747,922
Total cash and cash equivalents 3,380,648 2,747,922

Analysis of changes in net debt

Analysis of changes in net debt
As at
1 January2023		 Cash flows As at
31 December 2023
Cash at bank 2,747,922 632,726 3,380,648
Total 2,747,922 632,726 3,380,648

Drinkaware

63

drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Consolidated Financial Statements

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2023

1. Accounting policies

The Drinkaware Trust is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 4547974). Its registered office is 1st Floor, Michael House, 35 Chiswell St, London, EC1Y 4SE.

a) Accounting Convention

Basis of preparation

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) including Update Bulletin 2, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice. The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost concept except for investments which are held at fair value.

Going concern

The trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have considered possible events or conditions that might cast significant doubt on the ability of the charitable company and the group to continue as a going concern. This assessment has included the potential for loss of income as a consequence of high inflation and rising prices, both from an organisation viewpoint and from our funders. The trustees have made this particular assessment for a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 and in particular have considered the charitable entity’s forecasts and projections, taking into account the pressures on donation and investment income and those of its trading subsidiary.

Having reviewed the forecasts and projections prepared by management, the Trustees are confident that the charitable group will continue to meet its obligations as they fall due and as a result of this, the going concern basis of accounting continues to be appropriate.

Drinkaware

64

drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Consolidation

These financial statements consolidate the results of the charity and its wholly owned subsidiary Drinkaware Trading Limited on a line-by-line basis. A separate Statement of Financial Activities, or income and expenditure account, is not presented for the charity itself following the exemptions afforded by section 408 of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

b) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets acquired with a fair value over £2,500 are capitalised and depreciated on a straight-line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows:

c) Intangible fixed assets

Intangible fixed assets acquired with a fair value over £2,500 are capitalised and amortised on a straight-line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows:

d) Income

Income is recognised as soon as Drinkaware has entitlement to the income and there is a probability of receipt, and the amount is measured with sufficient reliability.

Income attributable to the financial period is recognised as follows:

e) Deferred income

Where income for expenditure in a future accounting period is received in advance, it is recognised as deferred income. The amounts shown in the balance sheet in respect of deferred income represent the amounts deferred to future accounting periods.

f) Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all the costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with use of the resources.

Drinkaware

65

drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Cost of raising funds include an allocation of staff and overhead costs apportioned to this activity. Support costs are apportioned as a percentage of management time spent on these activities.

Direct costs, including directly attributable salaries, are allocated on an actual basis to the key strategic areas of activity. Overheads and other salaries are allocated between expense headings on the basis of time spent.

Governance costs include the cost of governance arrangements which relate to the general running of the charity. These activities provide the governance infrastructure which allows the charity to operate and to generate the information required for public accountability. They include the strategic planning processes that contribute to the future development of the charity.

Direct staff costs are posted to the activity to which they relate, overhead staff costs are allocated on the basis of management time spent on these activities.

g) Irrecoverable VAT

Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it is incurred.

h) Operating leases

Rentals arising under operating leases are charged to the SOFA over the period in which the costs are incurred.

i) Fund accounting

Funds held by the charity are:

j) Stock

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Net realisable value is assessed not only in relation to ‘selling’ price but also with reference to the value in distribution to the beneficiaries in order to further the objectives of the charity. Stock is expensed in the reporting period in which it is distributed.

Stock comprises informational booklets and materials which aid people in managing their alcohol intake.

k) Debtors and creditors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due.

Creditors and liabilities are recognised when an obligation arises to transfer economic benefits to a third party as a result of past transactions or events. The amount due to settle the obligation can also be measured reliably.

Drinkaware

66

drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

l) Pensions

Drinkaware operates a defined contribution pensions policy in compliance with the stakeholder pensions requirements. Drinkaware matches the percentage that the employee contributed up to a maximum of 5%. Contributions payable are charged as an expense to the SOFA in respect of the accounting period.

No further liabilities accrue to the Trust other than these contributions.

m) Financial instruments

Cash and cash equivalents include cash at banks and in hand and short-term deposits with a maturity date of three months or less.

Drinkaware only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments.

The charity only holds basic financial instruments as defined by FRS 102. Financial instruments receivable or payable within one year of the reporting date are carried at their transaction value and subsequently at their settlement value.

n) Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

In preparing financial statements it is necessary to make certain judgements, estimates, and assumptions that affect the amounts recognised in the financial statements. The following judgements and estimates, are considered by the Trustees to have the most significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements:

2. Grants & donations – charity

2. Grants & donations – charity
2023
£		 2022
£
Unrestricted:
Donations 5,992,227 5,827,423
Total income 5,992,227 5,827,423

Note: All donations were unrestricted in the current year and in the prior year.

Drinkaware

67

drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

3. Commercial trading operations and investment in trading subsidiary

The wholly owned trading subsidiary, Drinkaware Trading Limited, registered office 1st floor, Michael House, 35 Chiswell St, London, EC1Y 5SE, Company Number: 11735195, which is incorporated in the UK, Gift Aids any taxable profits to the charity. Drinkaware Trading Limited operated the commercial activities previously carried out by The Drinkaware Trust up to 30 June 2019. The charity owns the entire issued share capital of 1 share of £1. A summary of the trading results is shown below.

Shares held in subsidiary

Shares held in subsidiary
2023
£		 2022
£
1 ordinaryshare of £1 1 1
2023
£		 2022
£
Summary profit & loss account
Turnover 370,369 841,334
Costs of sales and administrative expenses (64,698) (42,178)
Grossprofit 305,671 799,156
Distribution costs (11,136) (8,600)
Admin costs (198,171) (242,201)
Netprofit 96,364 548,355
Interestpayable and similar charges - (1,842)
Profit on ordinaryactivities before Gift Aid 96,364 546,513
Gift aid (50,628) -
Net movement in funds 45,736 546,513
Retainedprofit/(loss)brought forward 50,629 (495,884)
Retainedprofit/(loss)carried forward 96,365 50,629
2023
£		 2022
£
Summarybalance sheet
Current assets 369,417 361,284
Current liabilities (273,052) (310,655)
Capital and reserves 96,365 50,629

4. Investment income

4. Investment income
2023
£		 2022
£
Unrestricted bank interest receivable 37,618 10,713

5. Other income

5. Other income
2023
£		 2022
£
Unrestrictedgrants 24,854 43,208

Drinkaware

68

drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

6. Expenditure

6. Expenditure
Staff
costs
£		 Support costs
(note 7)
£		 Other direct
costs
£		 Total
2023
£
Raisingfunds
Cost of raisingdonations 235,162 158,503 - 393,665
Commercial tradingoperations - 114,138 - 114,138
Charitable activities
Consumer information 1,902,671 1,436,364 1,896,210 5,235,245
Total resources expended 2,137,833 1,709,005 1,896,210 5,743,048
Cost of raisingdonations
Commercial tradingoperations
Charitable activities
Consumer information
Total resources expended		 235,162
158,503
-
393,665
-
114,138
-
114,138
1,902,671
1,436,364
1,896,210
5,235,245
2,137,833
1,709,005
1,896,210
5,743,048		 235,162
158,503
-
393,665
-
114,138
-
114,138
1,902,671
1,436,364
1,896,210
5,235,245
2,137,833
1,709,005
1,896,210
5,743,048		 235,162
158,503
-
393,665
-
114,138
-
114,138
1,902,671
1,436,364
1,896,210
5,235,245
2,137,833
1,709,005
1,896,210
5,743,048		 235,162
158,503
-
393,665
-
114,138
-
114,138
1,902,671
1,436,364
1,896,210
5,235,245
2,137,833
1,709,005
1,896,210
5,743,048		 235,162
158,503
-
393,665
-
114,138
-
114,138
1,902,671
1,436,364
1,896,210
5,235,245
2,137,833
1,709,005
1,896,210
5,743,048		 235,162
158,503
-
393,665
-
114,138
-
114,138
1,902,671
1,436,364
1,896,210
5,235,245
2,137,833
1,709,005
1,896,210
5,743,048		 235,162
158,503
-
393,665
-
114,138
-
114,138
1,902,671
1,436,364
1,896,210
5,235,245
2,137,833
1,709,005
1,896,210
5,743,048
Staff
costs
£		 Support costs
(note 7)
£		 Other direct
costs
£		 Total
2022
£
Raisingfunds
Cost of raisingdonations 174,103 159,656 - 333,759
Commercial tradingoperations - 121,262 - 121,262
Charitable activities
Consumer information 1,408,652 1,426,973 2,478,091 5,313,716
Total resources expended 1,582,755 1,707,891 2,478,091 5,768,737
7. Allocation of support costs and overheads
Raising
funds
£		 Consumer
information
£		 Commercial
trading
operations
£		 Total
2023
£
Unrestricted funds:
Premises 10,973 88,778 - 99,751
Depreciation 47,899 387,545 - 435,444
Communications and IT 28,169 227,916 - 256,085
Postage andprinting 489 3,957 - 4,446
Travel costs 4,852 39,255 - 44,107
Employee related costs 66,121 534,977 - 601,098
Governance costs (note 8) - 153,936 - 153,936
Commercial tradingoperations - - 114,138 114,138
Total support costs 158,503 1,436,364 114,138 1,709,005

Drinkaware

69

drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Raising
funds
£		 Consumer
information
£		 Commercial
trading
operations
£		 Total
2022
£
Unrestricted funds:
Premises 15,358 124,259 - 139,617
Depreciation 60,357 488,344 - 548,701
Communications and IT 20,907 169,156 - 190,063
Postage andprinting 1,036 8,383 - 9,419
Travel costs 2,415 19,540 - 21,955
Employee related costs 59,583 482,079 - 541,662
Governance costs (note 8) - 135,212 - 135,212
Commercial tradingoperations - - 121,262 121,262
Total support costs 159,656 1,426,973 121,262 1,707,891

8. Analysis of governance costs

8. Analysis of governance costs
2023
£		 2022
£
Auditors’ remuneration 25,525 27,477
Auditors’ remuneration –prioryear (940) -
Auditors’ remuneration – non audit services - 1,120
Legal andprofessional fees 129,351 106,615
Totalgovernance costs 153,936 135,212

9. Staff costs and Trustee remuneration

9. Staff costs and Trustee remuneration
Group and Charity
2023
£		 2022
£
Wages and salaries 1,839,504 1,352,214
Pension contributions 95,387 77,806
Social securitycosts 202,942 152,735
2,137,833 1,582,755

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

70

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

The average number of employees during the year was:

The average number of employees during the year was:
2023 2022
Charity 31 26
31 26

The number of employees with annual remuneration in excess of £60,000 was as follows:

2023 2022
£60,000 to £69,999 4 2
£70,000 to £79,999 1 2
£80,000 to £89,999 2 1
£90,000 to £99,999 1 -
£120,000 to £120,999 1 -

The pension contribution attributable to higher paid employees is £42,521 (2022: £21,353). Drinkaware operates a salary sacrifice pension scheme.

Trustee and key personnel remuneration

The Trustees neither received nor waived any emoluments during the year (2022: £nil).

Expenses of £5,131 (2022: £1,868) were reimbursed to four (2022: three) Trustees during the year.

The key management personnel of the charity are considered to be the Trustees, the Chief Executive, the Company Secretary and the Chief Medical Advisor. The key management personnel of the charity received £253,435 (2022: £118,577) in salaries and fees. The employer contributions into the charity’s pension scheme with respect to key management personnel amounted to £12,536 (2022: £1,045). For the majority of 2022, the Company Secretary and Chief Executive Officer were outsourced and hence not on the payroll.

10. Taxation

The charity benefits from exemptions on income and gains falling within Sections 466-493 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 to the extent they are derived from charitable activities. Its wholly owned trading subsidiary, Drinkaware Trading Limited, passes profits on which tax would be payable to the charity under Gift Aid.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

71

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

11. Intangible fixed assets - group and charity
Website and
mobile application
and software
£		 Asset in course of
construction
£		 Total
£
Cost
At 1 January2023 1,619,775 - 1,619,775
Additions - 151,993 151,993
Disposals - - -
At 31 December 2023 1,619,775 151,993 1,771,768
Amortisation
At 1 January2023 801,299 - 801,299
Charge foryear 412,476 - 412,476
Disposals - - -
At 31 December 2023 1,213,775 - 1,213,775
Net book value
At 31 December 2023 406,000 151,993 557,993
At 1 January2023 818,476 - 818,476

12. Tangible fixed assets - group and charity
Fixtures, furniture
and equipment
£		 Leasehold
improvements
£		 Total
£
Cost
At 1 January2023 85,411 48,045 133,456
Additions - - -
Disposals - - -
At 31 December 2023 85,411 48,045 133,456
Depreciation
At 1 January2023 80,009 26,651 106,660
Charge foryear 5,202 17,766 22,968
Disposals - - -
At 31 December 2023 85,211 44,417 129,628
Net book value
At 31 December 2023 200 3,628 3,828
At 1 January2023 5,402 21,394 26,796

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

72

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

13. Stock

13. Stock
Group Charity
2023
£		 2022
£		 2023
£		 2022
£
Informational booklets and materials 9,973 33,594 1,490 1,490

14. Debtors

14. Debtors
Group Charity
2023
£		 2022
£		 2023
£		 2022
£
Trade debtors 1,395,850 850,888 1,344,224 779,563
Provision for bad and doubtful debts (78,947) (112,669) (62,882) (107,150)
Other debtors 51,940 31,603 31,604 31,603
Amounts owned by groupundertakings - - 137,796 167,500
Prepayments and accrued income 266,642 121,509 264,735 119,118
1,635,485 891,331 1,715,477 990,634

15. Creditors - amounts falling due within one year

Group Group Charity Charity
2023
£		 2022
£		 2023
£		 2022
£
Trade creditors 405,850 150,357 401,667 99,177
Other creditors 30,000 123,235 30,000 121,302
Pension liability 21,642 17,092 21,642 17,092
Taxes and social securitycosts 94,043 66,330 78,679 43,470
Accruals and deferred income(see note 16) 242,407 49,140 232,506 33,837
Amounts due to subsidiary - - 41,433 64,790
793,942 406,154 805,927 379,668

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

73

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

16. Deferred income

16. Deferred income
Group Charity
2023
£		 2022
£		 2023
£		 2022
£
Balance at beginningofyear 10,288 31,356 - -
Deferred duringtheyear 81,568 10,288 75,713 -
Released duringtheyear (10,288) (31,356) - -
Balance at end ofyear 81,568 10,288 75,713 -

17. Operating leases

At 31 December 2023 the group had commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

Group Group Charity Charity
2023
£		 2022
£		 2023
£		 2022
£
Land & buildings
Within oneyear 135,774 62,208 135,774 62,208
In two to fiveyears 343,168 8,517 343,168 8,517
After fiveyears - - - -
478,942 70,725 478,942 70,725

In February 2024, Drinkaware entered a five-year lease for a new office at 1st floor, Michael House, 35 Chiswell St, London EC1Y 4SE. There is a break clause after three years. The new lease also has a rent free period of four months.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

74

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

18. Restricted funds - group and charity

Year ended 31 December 2023

Balance at
1 January
2023
£		 Incoming
resources
£		 Resources
expended
£		 Transfers
£		 Balance at
31 December
2023
£
Restricted funds - - - - -
Total funds - - - - -

Year ended 31 December 2022

Balance at
1 January
2022
£		 Incoming
resources
£		 Resources
expended
£		 Transfers
£		 Balance at
31 December
2022
£
Restricted funds 105,000 - (105,000) - -
Total funds 105,000 - (105,000) - -

Restricted funds related to monies received from Drinkaware partners to be applied to specified goods and services. These included delivery of bespoke campaign support and materials and tailored Drinkaware programmes.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

75

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

19. Unrestricted funds

Consolidated - year ended 31 December 2023

Balance at
1 January
2023
£		 Incoming
resources
£		 Resources
expended
£		 Transfers
£		 Balance at
31 December
2023
£
General reserves 1,926,693 6,425,068 (4,815,604) (353,365) 3,182,792
Designated fund –
future depreciation		 845,272 - (435,444) 151,993 561,821
Designated fund –
strategydelivery		 750,000 - - 201,372 951,372
Designated fund –
campaign fund		 400,000 - (333,000) - 67,000
Designated fund –
research fund		 190,000 - (159,000) - 31,000
4,111,965 6,425,068 (5,743,048) - 4,793,985

Consolidated - year ended 31 December 2022

Balance at
1 January
2022
£		 Incoming
resources
£		 Resources
expended
£		 Transfers
£		 Balance at
31 December
2022
£
General reserves 1,961,782 6,290,845 (5,663,737) (662,197) 1,926,693
Designated fund –
future depreciation		 933,075 - - (87,803) 845,272
Designated fund –
strategydelivery		 - - - 750,000 750,000
Designated fund –
campaign fund		 400,000 - - - 400,000
Designated fund –
research fund		 190,000 - - - 190,000
3,484,857 6,290,845 (5,663,737) - 4,111,965

Drinkaware

76

drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Charity - year ended 31 December 2023

Balance at
1 January
2023
£		 Incoming
resources
£		 Resources
expended
£		 Transfers
£		 Balance at
31 December
2023
£
General reserves 1,876,064 6,265,193 (4,807,271) (353,365) 2,980,621
Designated fund –
future depreciation		 845,272 - (435,444) 151,993 561,821
Designated fund –
strategydelivery		 750,000 - - 201,372 951,372
Designated fund –
campaign fund		 400,000 - (333,000) - 67,000
Designated fund –
research fund		 190,000 - (159,000) - 31,000
4,061,336 6,265,193 (5,734,715) - 4,591,814

Charity - year ended 31 December 2022

Balance at
1 January
2022
£		 Incoming
resources
£		 Resources
expended
£		 Transfers
£		 Balance at
31 December
2022
£
General reserves 1,961,780 6,055,820 (5,479,339) (662,197) 1,876,064
Designated fund –
future depreciation		 933,075 - - (87,803) 845,272
Designated fund –
strategydelivery		 - - - 750,000 750,000
Designated fund –
campaign fund		 400,000 - - - 400,000
Designated fund –
research fund		 190,000 - - - 190,000
3,484,855 6,055,820 (5,479,339) - 4,061,336

The purpose of the designated funds can be found on page 50.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

77

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

20. Analysis of net assets between funds

Year ended 31 December 2023

Year ended 31 December 2023
Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
£
Group
Fund balances at 31 December 2023 are represented by:
Fixed assets 561,821 - 561,821
Net current assets 4,232,164 - 4,232,164
Total net assets 4,793,985 - 4,793,985
Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
£
Charity
Fund balances at 31 December 2023 are represented by:
Fixed assets 561,821 - 561,821
Investment 1 - 1
Net current assets 4,029,992 - 4,029,992
Total net assets 4,591,814 - 4,591,814

Year ended 31 December 2022

Year ended 31 December 2022
Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
£
Group
Fund balances at 31 December 2022 are represented by:
Fixed assets 845,272 - 845,272
Net current assets 3,266,693 - 3,266,693
Total net assets 4,111,965 - 4,111,965
Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
£
Charity
Fund balances at 31 December 2022 are represented by:
Fixed assets 845,272 - 845,272
Investment 1 - 1
Net current assets 3,216,063 - 3,216,063
Total net assets 4,061,336 - 4,061,336

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

78

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

21. Related party transactions

During the year Drinkaware Trust charged a management fee of £156,000 (2022: £156,000) to Drinkaware Trading Limited, its fully owned subsidiary, for administration and support costs.

At the balance sheet date Drinkaware Trust was owed £243,604 (2022: £167,500) by Drinkaware Trading Limited, of which £105,808 was provided for. The amount due also includes a loan of £50,000 from Drinkaware Trust to Drinkaware Trading at a rate of 3% above the Bank of England Base rate which accrues daily.

At the balance sheet date, Drinkaware Trust owed £41,433 (2022: £64,790) to Drinkaware Trading Limited for trading sales receipts that were paid into the Trust.

During the year Wells & Co Limited, a related party to Drinkaware Trust by virtue of Trustee Paul Wells also being a director of the company, purchased logo licences totalling £2,000 (2022: £1,500) and donated £1,745 (2022: £5,648) to the Trust.

22. Capital commitments

There were no capital commitments by the charity or group, contracted or authorised at 31 December 2023 or 31 December 2022.

23. Legal status of the charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity.

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

79

Our funders

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Our funders

December 2023

1.
Accolade Wines Limited
2.
Admiral Taverns Ltd
3.
Adnams
4.
Aldi UK
5.
Asahi UK
6.
ASDA Stores Ltd
7.
Aston Manor
8.
Bacardi
9.
Bancroft Wines
10.
Beam Suntory
11.
Benchmark Drinks
12.
Blue Tree Limited
13.
Budweiser
14.
Broadland Drinks
15.
Brothers Drinks Co Ltd
16.
Brown-Forman Brands
17.
C&C Group
18.
Campari UK
19.
Carlsberg Marston’s
Brewing Company Limited
20.
Casella Family Brands
(Europe) Ltd
21.
Castel-Frères
22.
Cider of Sweden
(Kopparberg)
23.
Concha y Toro UK Ltd
24.
Continental Wine & Food
25.
Corinthian Brands Limited
26.
Cotswold Distillery
27.
DGB Europe Limited
28.
Diageo Great Britain Ltd
29.
Disaronno International
UK Limited
30.
Distell International
31.
E & J Gallo Winery Europe
32.
Edrington
33.
Enotria & Coe Ltd
34.
Everards Brewery Ltd
35.
Freedom Brewery Ltd
36.
Funkin Cocktails Ltd
37.
Getir UK Limited
38.
Glen Turner Company Ltd
39.
Global Brands		 40.
Goedhuis & Co
41.
Gordon & Macphail
42.
Guy Anderson Wines
43.
H Weston and Sons Ltd
44.
Hallgarten & Novum Wines
45.
Harvey & Sons (Lewes) Ltd
46.
Hatch Mansfield Limited
47.
Heineken
48.
Hippodrome Casino Ltd
49.
Hi-Spirits (Sazerac)
50.
Hook Norton Brewery
51.
Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd
52.
Ideal Wine
53.
In Good Company
Brewing Ltd
54.
InchDairnie Distillery Ltd
55.
International Beverage
56.
J Chandler & Co
(Buckfast) Ltd
57.
JD Wetherspoons
58.
John E Fells & Sons Ltd
59.
JW Lees
60.
Kingsland Wines
61.
Laithwaite’s Wine
(Direct Wines)
62.
Laurent Perrier
63.
Lidl
64.
Loch Lomond
65.
Louis Latour Agencies
66.
Maisons Marques et
Domaines
67.
Majestic Wine Warehouse
68.
Mark Anthony International
69.
Marks & Spencer plc
70.
Marston’s PLC
71.
Masons of Yorkshire Ltd
72.
Mast-Jaegermeister UK
Ltd
73.
Mitchells and Butlers plc
74.
Moet Hennessy UK Ltd
75.
Molson Coors
76.
Morrison Scotch Whisky
Distillers

  1. North South Wines Ltd 78. Off-Piste Wines Ltd 79. Origin Wine Ltd 80. Parkdean Resorts UK Ltd 81. Pernod Ricard 82. Pinter 83. Pol Roger 84. Punch Pubs 85. Quintessential Brands UK (G&J Greenalls)

  2. R&B Distillers Limited 87. Racecourse Association Ltd

  3. Remy Cointreau UK Ltd 89. Robinsons Brewery 90. Sainsburys 91. SHS Group Drinks Division 92. Southwestern Distillery Ltd

  4. Spar (UK) Ltd 94. St Austell 95. Tesco 96. Terroirs et Vignerons de Champagne

  5. TGI Friday’s 98. The Coca-Cola Company 99. The Co-operative Group 100. The Drinks Company 101. The Restaurant Group 102. The Wine Society 103. Treasury Wine Estates (Fosters EMEA)

  6. Vranken Pommery 105. Wells & Co 106. Whisky Exchange / Speciality Drinks Ltd

  7. Whyte and Mackay ltd 108. William Grant & Sons 109. WM Morrison 110. Woodforde’s Brewery Ltd

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

80

References

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

References

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

81

Our funders

Drinkaware Annual Trustees’ Report 2023

Drinkaware

drinkaware.co.uk

82

Drinkaware drinkaware.co.uk

1st Floor Michael House 35 Chiswell Street London EC1Y 4SE

t. 020 7766 9900 e. contact@drinkaware.co.uk Charity number: 1094586 Publication date: 23 July 2024

drinkaware.co.uk