Funded by North Lancashire Teaching Primary Care Trust, the Students' and Professionals', Experience, Concerns and Issues regarding Alcohol use by Lancaster Students (SPECIALS) Project discerned what motivated many students to drink heavily/recklessly, and used the data in partnership with relevant stakeholders -within and outside of higher education - to develop strategies to encourage sensible drinking behaviours among undergraduates. To achieve these aims the SPECIALS project captured the views of students living in Lancaster concerning alcohol use; captured the experiences, concerns and issues of professionals working in Lancaster; and provided empirical research to inform the North Lancashire Teaching Primary Care Trust's targeted initiatives and discussions with geographic and thematic partnerships.