Sheffield Addictions
Research Group

Public health and health economic research on alcohol, tobacco, gambling and addiction.

The Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) is based in the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research at the University of Sheffield. Our innovative research, spanning from modelling the effects of policy interventions to understanding complex human behaviour, has directly shaped legislation and public health strategies in the UK and internationally.

Research areas

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Alcohol

We are an international centre of excellence for public health research on alcohol. Since 2008 our alcohol research has played a key role in current policy and public debate.

Alcohol research >
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Tobacco

We are continually expanding our portfolio of tobacco research, with a commitment to conducting policy-relevant research that can inform evidence-based interventions.

Tobacco research >
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Gambling

We are actively engaged in emerging areas of gambling research, seeking to understand and address the complex issues surrounding addiction and public health.

Gambling research >

Featured projects

Evaluating and responding to the public health impact of no and low alcohol drinks


The 'No/Lo Project' investigates whether non-alcoholic or low-alcohol drinks can improve people's health. These drinks are beers, ciders, wines, spirits that are alcohol-free or contain a little alcohol.

Reforming alcohol taxes in a cost-of-living crisis


Evaluating the impact of reforms to the UK alcohol tax system, increases to alcohol tax rates, and the current cost-of-living crisis on alcohol consumption, associated harms and health inequalities.

Local Health and Global Profits


Working alongside local governments, local populations, public health practitioners and civil society groups, this project aims to understand the building blocks, including commercial factors, impacting on communities' health.

Supporting tobacco and vaping policymaking by including youth voices in local authority responses to new national legislation (STAR)


The STAR project aims to understand how local authorities can effectively incorporate youth voices in the development of policies related to the new national tobacco and vaping legislation.

Latest news

New on the blog

  • How the five dimensions of access can shape effective youth vaping policy

    ByCalum Lewis

    Calum Lewis examines how the 'five dimensions of access' framework can help evaluate the effectiveness of youth vaping policy. By systematically identifying the factors that facilitate e-cigarette use, his research highlights key leverage points for more targeted and effective national regulations.

Latest journal papers

Low and no alcohol availability and sales in small retailers in Great Britain: A geographic longitudinal analysis from 2018 to 2022

Valiente R, Tunstall H, Wilson LB, Gillespie D, Pearce J, Shortt NK (2026)
Addiction

How are bars and nightclubs in Scotland using extensions in late-night alcohol trading hours? Venue observation study

Emslie C, Maxwell K, O'Donnell R, Mitchell G, Cook M, Uny I, Nicholls J, Lewsey J, McIntosh E, Angus C, Mohan A, Fitzgerald N (2026)
International Journal of Drug Policy

Associations between financial hardship and alcohol reduction attempts in the context of a cost-of-living crisis and alcohol tax reforms: a population study in Great Britain 2023-25

Jackson S, Brown J, Holmes J, Angus C (2026) International Journal of Drug Policy

Research collaborations

NIHR School for Public Health Research logo
NIHR Policy Research Unit in Addictions logo
NIHR Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team logo
Population Health Improvement UK logo
White Rose Social Sciences DTP logo
Wellcome logo
SPECTRUM logo
UKPRP logo
SIPHER Consortium logo