Liver disease is now the leading cause of years of working life lost in Europe, after ischaemic heart disease. Liver diseases are generally avoidable or treatable if measures for prevention and early detection are properly implemented; achieving this would reduce premature morbidity and mortality, saving the lives of almost 300’000 people across Europe each year. The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) is relaunching an interest group to raise awareness, put liver health higher on the political agenda and make policy recommendations.