What is an Alcohol Treatment Requirement (ATR)?
The alcohol-treatment community sentence in England and Wales — who qualifies, how long it runs, how it is monitored, and how to secure one.
An ATR sits under section 212 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. It is the alcohol counterpart to a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement, and it is often the difference between a community order and a custodial sentence where drinking sits behind the offending.
What is an Alcohol Treatment Requirement?
An ATR is an alcohol-treatment condition a court attaches to a community order or suspended sentence order in England and Wales. It runs 6 months to 3 years under probation supervision, requires the person's consent, and is the alcohol equivalent of a DRR.
ATR, AAMR and abstinence tags
Alcohol Treatment Requirement
- • 6 months to 3 years
- • Treatment-led, consent required
- • Keywork, groups, sometimes detox
- • Probation supervised
Abstinence monitoring (AAMR)
- • Up to 120 days
- • Enforcement only, no treatment
- • Ankle tag monitors alcohol
- • Can be combined with an ATR
What to do this week
- 1. Self-refer to the local alcohol service and start attending — attendance records are evidence.
- 2. Ask your solicitor to request a Pre-Sentence Report considering an ATR.
- 3. Get a clinical assessment that states dependency severity and the recommended treatment pathway.
- 4. If detox is needed, confirm a placement in writing before the hearing.
Common questions
What is an Alcohol Treatment Requirement?▾
An ATR is a requirement attached to a community order or suspended sentence order that obliges the person to attend structured alcohol treatment under probation supervision for between 6 months and 3 years.
How is an ATR different from an Alcohol Abstinence Monitoring Requirement?▾
An ATR is treatment: keywork, structured programmes and often medically supported detox. An Alcohol Abstinence Monitoring Requirement (AAMR, the 'sobriety tag') is enforcement — it monitors abstinence for up to 120 days using an ankle tag and imposes no treatment. Courts can combine them.
Who qualifies for an ATR?▾
Someone aged 18+ who is dependent on alcohol or misusing it in a way linked to their offending, who consents, and for whom a local treatment place is available. The court needs an assessment confirming dependency before imposing one.
Can an ATR include residential rehab?▾
Yes in principle, but funded residential placements are limited. In practice many families self-fund a residential detox and rehab placement and present the confirmed booking at sentencing to strengthen the case for a community disposal.
What happens on breach of an ATR?▾
Missed appointments are reported to probation, which can warn or return the case to court. The court can add requirements, extend supervision, or revoke the order and resentence for the original offence.
How fast can treatment be evidenced before a hearing?▾
Self-referral to a community alcohol service can usually be completed within days, and a private assessment with a written report within a week. Evidence of attendance before the hearing is far more persuasive than an intention to attend.
Related
For criminal defence solicitors
Refer a client for a court-ready assessment, free to your firm.
Court-ordered rehab overview
How DRRs and ATRs work side by side.
Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR)
The drug-treatment equivalent.
Pre-sentence rehab assessment
What assessors look for and how quickly it can happen.
Alcohol detox guide
Medically supervised alcohol withdrawal explained.
General information, not legal advice. A criminal defence solicitor should lead sentencing strategy.