Nick Barton, Chief Executive of Action on Addiction, shares the speech he gave to our visitors on the occasion of HRH The Duchess of Cambridge's visit to The Brink in Liverpool, Action on Addiction's recovery café

Here is (most of) the short speech I gave during HRH The Duchess of Cambridge’s much publicised visit to the Brink, the alcohol-free bar in Liverpool’s city centre run by Action on Addiction as a social enterprise.

“Your Royal Highness’ visit helps to draw attention to one of Action on Addiction’s most important objectives; that of seeing recovery from addiction move beyond the individual to families and whole communities.

If communities can be “infected” with addiction, why not the reverse; why not with the values and culture of recovery? Why can’t we create what some people have called a positive contagion effect?

But the Brink, as I am sure you will have discovered today, is not just for people in recovery from addiction. It is for everyone who wants to share in what it has to offer; a culture of wellbeing. It is amazing isn’t it, but it is possible to relax, socialise, celebrate and have fun without dowsing yourself in mood altering chemicals. Actually in today’s world, this here is the real counter-culture.

I think there is an important reminder in the name, the Brink, a reminder that some people sadly do not make it back from the brink to which their addiction took them. It as well to remember that addiction is potentially fatal, even during such a happy occasion as this.

Initiatives like the Brink don’t just happen. It requires inspired people of vision, commitment and purpose who are fuelled by boundless reserves of creative energy. In other words it takes people like Jacquie Johnston-Lynch, Head of our Liverpool based services whose brainchild this is.


Nick Barton
Chief Executive