Robyn Burton is Co-Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Alcohol Policy and Public Health Research and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling. Her research focuses on alcohol policy, with particular interests in unrecorded alcohol and global health.
Before joining academia, Robyn spent most of her career in UK government at Public Health England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, where she led major analytical work on alcohol policy. She also serves as a member of the UK Government’s Alcohol Advisory Group and has worked as a Senior Public Health Consultant for the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
Article
Garnett C, Oldham M, Loebenberg G, Dinu L, Beard E, Angus C, Burton R, Field M, Greaves F, Hickman M, Kaner E, Michie S, Munafò M, Pizzo E & Brown J (2025) Evaluating the effectiveness of the Drink Less smartphone app for reducing alcohol consumption compared with usual digital care: a comprehensive synopsis from a 6-month follow-up RCT. Public Health Research, 13 (5). https://doi.org/10.3310/lnnb8060
Article
Burton R & Sheron N (2025) Commentary on Kersbergen et al.: Same Price, same choices? Proportional pricing and the heaviest drinkers. Addiction, 120 (5), pp. 871-872. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70046
Article
Arab JP, Díaz LA, Rehm J, Im G, Arrese M, Kamath PS, Lucey MR, Mellinger J, Thiele M, Thursz M, Bataller R, Burton R, Chokshi S, Francque SM & Krag A (2025) Metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related liver disease (MetALD): Position statement by an expert panel on alcohol-related liver disease. Journal of Hepatology, 82 (4), pp. 744-756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2024.11.028
Article
Prevention of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease
Burton R, Leggio L, Louvet A, Sheron N & Singal AK (2025) Prevention of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000003427
Article
Angus C, Oldham M, Burton R, Dina L, Field M, Hickman M, Kaner E, Loebenberg G, Munafò M, Pizzo E, Brown J & Garnett C (2025) Modeling the Potential Health, Health Economic, and Health Inequality Impact of a Large-Scale Rollout of the Drink Less App in England. Value in Health, 28 (2), pp. 215-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2024.11.007
Policy Document
Nicholls J, Fitzgerald N, Maclean J, Valiente R, Cook M, Shortt N, Burton R, Burton R, Wilson L, Morris D, Clemens T, Angus C, Pearce J, Angus K & Holmes J (2025) Independent Review of the Liquor Licensing System in Northern Ireland including the Surrender Principle. Northern Ireland Executive (Department for Communities). Belfast: Northern Ireland Executive.
Article
Burton R, Henn C, Fitzgerald N & Sheron N (2024) The early impact of the UK's new alcohol taxation system on product strength and price: an exploratory comparative descriptive study. Public Health, 232, pp. 61-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2024.04.005
Article
Oldham M, Dina L, Loebenberg G, Perski O, Brown J, Angus C, Beard E, Burton R, Field M, Greaves F, Hickman M, Kaner E, Michie S, Munafò MR & Pizzo E (2024) Evaluating the Acceptability of the Drink Less App and the National Health Service Alcohol Advice Web Page: Qualitative Interview Process Evaluation. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, p. e42319. https://doi.org/10.2196/42319
Article
Do engagement and behavioural mechanisms underpin the effectiveness of the Drink Less app?
Garnett C, Dinu L, Oldham M, Perski O, Loebenberg G, Beard E, Angus C, Burton R, Field M, Greaves F, Hickman M, Kaner E, Michie S, Munafò M, Pizzo E & Brown J (2024) Do engagement and behavioural mechanisms underpin the effectiveness of the Drink Less app?. npj Digital Medicine, 7 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01169-7
Article
Sharpe C, Bhuptani S, Jecks M, Sheron N, Henn C & Burton R (2024) Availability of Alcohol on an Online Third-Party Delivery Platform Across London Boroughs, England: Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study. JMIR Formative Research, 8, Art. No.: e54587. https://doi.org/10.2196/54587
Article
Oldham M, Beard E, Loebenberg G, Dinu L, Angus C, Burton R, Field M, Greaves F, Hickman M, Kaner E, Michie S, Munafò M, Pizzo E, Brown J & Garnett C (2024) Effectiveness of a smartphone app Drink Less versus usual digital care for reducing alcohol consumption among increasing and higher risk adult drinkers in the UK: a two-arm parallel group, double-blind, randomised controlled trial. eClinicalMedicine, 70, p. 102534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102534
Article
Burton R, Fryers PT, Sharpe C, Clarke Z, Henn C, Hydes T, Marsden J, Pearce-Smith N & Sheron N (2024) The independent and joint risks of alcohol consumption, smoking, and excess weight on morbidity and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis exploring synergistic associations. Public Health, 226, pp. 39-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.10.035
Article
Burton R, Sharpe C, Bhuptani S, Jecks M, Henn C, Pearce-Smith N, Knight S, Regan M & Sheron N (2023) The relationship between the price and demand of alcohol, tobacco, unhealthy food, sugar-sweetened beverages, and gambling: an umbrella review of systematic reviews. BMC Public Health, 24 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18599-3
Book Chapter
The Principles of Policies to Reduce the Burden of Liver Disease
Burton R, Henn C & Sheron N (2023) The Principles of Policies to Reduce the Burden of Liver Disease. In: Mueller S & Heilig M (eds.) Alcohol and Alcohol-related Diseases. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32483-3
Article
(Mis)understanding alcohol use disorder: Making the case for a public health first approach
Morris J, Boness CL & Burton R (2023) (Mis)understanding alcohol use disorder: Making the case for a public health first approach. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 253, p. 111019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.111019
Article
Burton R, Sharpe C, Sheron N, Henn C, Knight S, Wright VM & Cook M (2023) The prevalence and clustering of alcohol consumption, gambling, smoking, and excess weight in an English adult population. Preventive Medicine, 175, p. 107683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107683
Research Report
Potential health impacts of changing the alcohol-free descriptor: evidence review
Bhuptani S, Wolff A, Parker E, Cook M, De Bruin C, Henn C, Sheron N & Burton R (2023) Potential health impacts of changing the alcohol-free descriptor: evidence review. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/updating-labelling-guidance-for-no-and-low-alcohol-alternatives/potential-health-impacts-of-changing-the-alcohol-free-descriptor-evidence-review
Article
Edmunds CER, Gold N, Burton R, Smolar M, Walmsley M, Henn C, Egan M, Tran A, Harper H, Dale MK, Brown H, Londakova K, Sheron N & Greaves F (2023) The effectiveness of alcohol label information for increasing knowledge and awareness: a rapid evidence review. BMC Public Health, 23, Art. No.: 1458. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16327-x
Article
Dhanda A, Bodger K, Hood S, Henn C, Allison M, Amasiatu C, Burton R, Cramp M, Forrest E, Khetani M, MacGilchrist A, Masson S, Parker R, Sheron N & Simpson K (2023) The Liverpool alcohol-related liver disease algorithm identifies twice as many emergency admissions compared to standard methods when applied to Hospital Episode Statistics for England. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 57 (4), pp. 368-377. https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17307
Article
Lower Strength Alcohol Products—A Realist Review-Based Road Map for European Policy Making
Anderson P, Kokole D, Jané Llopis E, Burton R & Lachenmeier DW (2022) Lower Strength Alcohol Products—A Realist Review-Based Road Map for European Policy Making. Nutrients, 14 (18), Art. No.: 3779. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14183779
Article
Regan M, Smolar M, Burton R, Clarke Z, Sharpe C, Henn C & Marsden J (2022) Policies and interventions to reduce harmful gambling: an international Delphi consensus and implementation rating study. The Lancet Public Health, 7 (8), pp. e705-e717. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667%2822%2900137-2
Commentary
Complex relationship between health and moderate alcohol use
Burton R & Sheron N (2022) Complex relationship between health and moderate alcohol use. The Lancet, 400 (10347), pp. 141-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736%2822%2901288-0
Article
Karlsen TH, Sheron N, Zelber-Sagi S, Carrieri P, Dusheiko G, Bugianesi E, Pryke R, Hutchinson SJ, Sangro B, Martin NK, Cecchini M, Dirac MA, Belloni A, Serra-Burriel M & Burton R (2021) The EASL–Lancet Liver Commission: protecting the next generation of Europeans against liver disease complications and premature mortality. The Lancet, 399 (10319), pp. 61-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736%2821%2901701-3
Article
Garnett C, Perski O, Michie S, West R, Field M, Kaner E, Munafò MR, Greaves F, Hickman M, Burton R & Brown J (2021) Refining the content and design of an alcohol reduction app, Drink Less, to improve its usability and effectiveness: a mixed methods approach. F1000Research, 10, Art. No.: 511. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.51416.2
Technical Report
Monitoring alcohol consumption and harm during the COVID pandemic
Burton R, Sharpe C, Amasiatu C, White M, Cook M, Griffiths C, Khetani M, Clarke Z, Henn C & Sheron N (2021) Monitoring alcohol consumption and harm during the COVID pandemic. Public Health England. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-consumption-and-harm-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
Article
Gold N, Egan M, Londakova K, Mottershaw A, Harper H, Burton R, Henn C, Smolar M, Walmsley M, Arambepola R, Watson R, Bowen S & Greaves F (2021) Effect of alcohol label designs with different pictorial representations of alcohol content and health warnings on knowledge and understanding of low‐risk drinking guidelines: a randomized controlled trial. Addiction, 116 (6), pp. 1443-1459. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15327
Policy Document
Making the WHO European Region SAFER: developments in alcohol control policies, 2010-2019
(2021) Making the WHO European Region SAFER: developments in alcohol control policies, 2010-2019. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe (Editor) World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289055048
Article
Garnett C, Oldham M, Angus C, Beard E, Burton R, Field M, Greaves F, Hickman M, Kaner E, Loebenberg G, Michie S, Munafò M, Pizzo E & Brown J (2021) Evaluating the effectiveness of the smartphone app, Drink Less, compared with the NHS alcohol advice webpage, for the reduction of alcohol consumption among hazardous and harmful adult drinkers in the UK at 6‐month follow‐up: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Addiction, 116 (2), pp. 412-425. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15287
Technical Report
Alcohol consumption and sustainable development
Ferreira-Borges C, Neufeld M, Breda J, Madureira Lima J & Aragon De Leon E (2020) Alcohol consumption and sustainable development. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe (Editor) World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/340806/WHO-EURO-2020-2370-42125-58041-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Research Report
(2020) Alcohol marketing in the WHO European Region. Update report on the evidence and recommended policy actions. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe (Editor) World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/336178/WHO-EURO-2020-1266-41016-55678-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Policy Document
(2020) Alcohol pricing in the WHO European Region: update report on the evidence and recommended policy actions. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe (Editor) World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/336159
Article
Unacceptable failures: the final report of the Lancet Commission into liver disease in the UK
Williams R, Aithal G, Alexander GJ, Allison M, Armstrong I, Aspinall R, Baker A, Batterham R, Brown K, Burton R, Cramp ME, Day N, Dhawan A, Drummond C & Ferguson J (2019) Unacceptable failures: the final report of the Lancet Commission into liver disease in the UK. The Lancet, 395 (10219), pp. 226-239. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736%2819%2932908-3
Article
de Vocht F, McQuire C, Brennan A, Egan M, Angus C, Kaner E, Beard E, Brown J, Cummins S, De Angelis D, Carter N, Murray B, Dukes R, Greenwood E & Burton R (2019) Evaluating the impact of individual alcohol licensing decisions on local health and crime: a natural experiment with synthetic controls. The Lancet, 394 (Supplement 2), p. S35. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736%2819%2932832-6
Research Report
Gambling-related harms evidence review: qualitative analysis of stakeholder perspectives
Beynon C, Mason J, Burton R, O'Toole F, Pearce-Smith N, Gatineau M & Clark R (2019) Gambling-related harms evidence review: qualitative analysis of stakeholder perspectives. Public Health England. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gambling-related-harms-evidence-review
Research Report
Gambling-related harms evidence review: an abbreviated systematic review of harms
Beynon C, Mason J, Burton R, O'Toole F, Pearce-Smith N, Gatineau M & Clark R (2019) Gambling-related harms evidence review: an abbreviated systematic review of harms. Public Health England. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gambling-related-harms-evidence-review
Project Report
The range and magnitude of alcohol's harm to others
Burton R, Kane G, Mason J, Sheron N, Henn C & Beynon C (2019) The range and magnitude of alcohol's harm to others. Public Health England. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohols-harm-to-others
Policy Document
(2019) European Region Consultation on the implementation and achievements of the WHO European Action Plan to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol 2012–2020. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe (Editor) World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/346534/WHO-EURO-2019-3575-43334-60794-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Article
Hydes TJ, Burton R, Inskip H, Bellis MA & Sheron N (2019) A comparison of gender-linked population cancer risks between alcohol and tobacco: how many cigarettes are there in a bottle of wine?. BMC Public Health, 19, Art. No.: 316. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6576-9
Research Report
The public health burden of alcohol: an evidence review
Burton R, Henn C, Lavoie D, O'Connor R, Perkins C, Sweeney K, Greaves F, Ferguson B, Beynon C, Belloni A, Musto V, Marsden J, Sheron N & Wolff A (2018) The public health burden of alcohol: an evidence review. Public Health England. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-public-health-burden-of-alcohol-evidence-review
Article
Williams R, Alexander G, Aspinall R, Batterham R, Bhala N, Bosanquet N, Severi K, Burton A, Burton R, Cramp ME, Day N, Dhawan A, Dillon J, Drummond C & Dyson J (2018) Gathering momentum for the way ahead: fifth report of the Lancet Standing Commission on Liver Disease in the UK. The Lancet, 392 (10162), pp. 2398-2412. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736%2818%2932561-3
Article
No level of alcohol consumption improves health
Burton R & Sheron N (2018) No level of alcohol consumption improves health. The Lancet, 392 (10152), pp. 987-988. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736%2818%2931571-x
Article
Rehm J, Anderson P, Prieto JAA, Armstrong I, Aubin H, Bachmann M, Bastus NB, Brotons C, Burton R, Cardoso M, Colom J, Duprez D, Gmel G, Gual A & Kraus L (2017) Towards new recommendations to reduce the burden of alcohol-induced hypertension in the European Union. BMC Medicine, 15, Art. No.: 173. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-017-0934-1
Article
Missed opportunities for intervention in alcohol-related liver disease in the UK
Burton R & Sheron N (2017) Missed opportunities for intervention in alcohol-related liver disease in the UK. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2 (7), pp. 469-471. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-1253%2817%2930082-1
Article
Burton R, Henn C, Lavoie D, O'Connor R, Perkins C, Sweeney K, Greaves F, Ferguson B, Beynon C, Belloni A, Musto V, Marsden J & Sheron N (2017) A rapid evidence review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alcohol control policies: an English perspective. The Lancet, 389 (10078), pp. 1558-1580. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736%2816%2932420-5
Article
White M, Burton R, Darke S, Eastwood B, Knight J, Millar T, Musto V & Marsden J (2015) Fatal opioid poisoning: a counterfactual model to estimate the preventive effect of treatment for opioid use disorder in England. Addiction, 110 (8), pp. 1321-1329. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.12971
Article
Areas of the visual field important during reading in patients with glaucoma
Burton R, Saunders LJ & Crabb DP (2015) Areas of the visual field important during reading in patients with glaucoma. Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology, 59, pp. 94-102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-014-0359-8
Technical Report
(2014) United Kingdom Drug Situation 2014 edition. UK Focal Point on Drugs annual report to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Abuse. Burton R (Editor), Thomson F (Editor), Visintin C (Editor) & Wright C (Editor) European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Abuse. https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20170807150623/http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/uk-focal-point-report-2014.pdf
Article
Crabb DP, Smith ND, Glen FC, Burton R & Garway-Heath DF (2013) How Does Glaucoma Look?. Ophthalmology, 120 (6), pp. 1120-1126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2012.11.043
Technical Report
(2013) United Kingdom Drug Situation 2013 edition. UK Focal Point on Drugs annual report to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Abuse. Davies C (Editor) & Murray R (Editor) European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Abuse. https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/21074/1/UK_focalpointreport2013.pdf
Article
Glaucoma and Reading: Exploring the Effects of Contrast Lowering of Text
Burton R, Crabb DP, Smith ND, Glen FC & Garway-Heath DF (2012) Glaucoma and Reading: Exploring the Effects of Contrast Lowering of Text. Optometry and Vision Science, 89 (9), pp. 1282-1287. https://doi.org/10.1097/opx.0b013e3182686165
Article
Eye Movements in Patients with Glaucoma When Viewing Images of Everyday Scenes
Smith ND, Crabb DP, Glen FC, Burton R & Garway-Heath D (2012) Eye Movements in Patients with Glaucoma When Viewing Images of Everyday Scenes. Seeing and Perceiving, 25 (5), pp. 471-492. https://doi.org/10.1163/187847612x634454
Article
Do Patients with Glaucoma Have Difficulty Recognizing Faces?
Glen FC, Crabb DP, Smith ND, Burton R & Garway-Heath DF (2012) Do Patients with Glaucoma Have Difficulty Recognizing Faces?. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, 53 (7), p. 3629. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.11-8538
