The United Kingdom government is encouraging households to maintain supplies of tinned food, bottled water, and other essentials as part of an ongoing effort to boost national resilience.

The advice, which builds on guidance first issued in 2023 and reinforced in 2026, recommends keeping enough non-perishable food and water to last several days in case of major disruptions. Officials specify roughly 2.5 to 3 liters of drinking water per person per day, with more needed for cooking and hygiene.

The push comes amid heightened concerns over cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and potential hybrid threats from state actors, particularly Russia. Cabinet Office ministers have referenced risks including power outages, supply chain interruptions, and interference with essential services.

A national resilience campaign, coordinated through the Cabinet Office, aims to help ordinary citizens handle initial impacts of emergencies. This would allow authorities to prioritize vulnerable populations. The effort includes plans for updated guidance in schools and a large-scale defense exercise scheduled for next year.

Government documents and parliamentary statements have noted the need for preparation against a range of scenarios, from extreme weather to foreign interference. Recent reports highlight ongoing updates to contingency planning, sometimes referred to internally as the "war book," to address how international conflict could affect the homeland.

The recommendations remain focused on practical, limited stockpiling rather than large-scale hoarding. Items suggested include ready-to-eat canned goods, a battery- or wind-up radio, torches, first-aid supplies, and cash for use when electronic payments are unavailable.

Critics on the right have long argued that successive governments underemphasized civil defense and energy security, leaving the public exposed to modern threats. The current emphasis reflects a recognition that deterrence and preparedness must extend beyond military capabilities to everyday resilience.