From March 2007 to April 2008 the Royal College of Nursing supported a project to improve services for people with alcohol-related problems by demonstrating and publicising the effectiveness of nursing interventions. The project team included representation from England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. This article presents a framework that can be adapted and used by nurses to promote the development of specialist nursing services by health and social care commissioners and policy makers to improve care for people who misuse alcohol.