A new grantmaking charity with start-up funds of £13m has launched this month – Alcohol Research UK is taking over the work of the Alcohol Education & Research Council, a former quango which is set to be dissolved as part of the Public Bodies Bill.

All of the Alcohol Education & Research Council’s (AERC) assets, activities and staff have been transferred to Alcohol Research UK. This includes a £13m endowment and all of the AERC’s on-going strategies and grant programmes.

Dave Roberts, who led AERC for the past two years, will remain chief executive at Alcohol Research UK. All of AERC's four staff and board of trustees have also transferred to the charity.