We thank Drs Jauhar and Smith for their comments which serve to highlight the lack of consistent approach to alcohol-related dementia.

Among clinicians there is generally good awareness of Korsakoff's syndrome as a subacute sequel to prolonged heavy drinking and nutritional deficiency (among other causes). We agree there may be a continuum between pure Korsakoff's and dementia. However, our article was intended to raise awareness of the less well-recognised, broader dementia category at the other end of this spectrum.

Getting tied up in nosological arguments (alcohol-related brain damage or alcohol-related dementia) is unlikely to help get across the health message. We believe ignoring the word ‘dementia’ may reduce the impact of the message and conflate several neurological sequelae of alcohol misuse. The increase in general hospital admissions in Scotland reported by Jauhar & Smith serve to reinforce our message.

We agree there is no definitive neuropathological link between alcohol consumption and dementia, although epidemiological studies do suggest an association. There is simply insufficient research on this point. To conjecture that absence of evidence equates to evidence of absence is hazardous.

We are overwhelmed by the level of positive national and international media and scientific interest in our article. Hopefully, this will result in our twin aims: increasing awareness and stimulating research in this area.