Alcohol Policy UK

British teenagers amongst worst in Europe for excessive drinking - 2007 ESPAD report

The 2007 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) report was published last week.  The study focuses on alcohol and drug use amongst 15 to 16 year-olds in 35 European countries and found that UK consumption for young people was highest behind only Denmark and the Isle of Man.

The report adds weight to calls for minimum pricing.  Professor Martin Plant who leads the UK part of the ESPAD study said:

There is a clear scientific consensus that alcohol education and mass media campaigns have a very poor track record in influencing drinking habits. Far more effective - and cost effective - policies include using taxation to make alcohol less affordable.

A number of important research and policy documents relating to alcohol and young people have been released more recently including:

• The consultation on guidance for the consumption of alcohol by children and young people by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) recommending alcohol should not be consumed by under-15s
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) findings recommending that government policy should change to recognise the  role and perception of alcohol by young people in society
• The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) report; 'Use of alcohol among Children and Young People' showing alcohol's complex and rooted role for young people in today's society

Last year the Youth Alcohol Action plan was also published to to 'stop young people drinking in public; help them make the right decisions about alcohol; and provide clear information to parents and young people about the risks of early drinking.' Reports this year have also shown that alcohol-related hospital admissions for young people have continued to rise.

Jobs: Eurocare Policy Officer, Brussels

EUROCARE (The European Alcohol Policy Alliance) is seeking to recruit a policy officer for its office in Brussels. Eurocare is an alliance of some 50 voluntary organisations working on the prevention and reduction of alcohol related harm in Europe. Member organisations are involved in research and advocacy as well as treatment and education programs. The role of the position will include:

• Monitoring and informing members of relevant developments in EU Institutions and in Member States
• Building relations with EU policy makers and other relevant organisations
• Drafting position papers, press releases and policy briefings as required
• Contributing to newsletter and website
• Preparing and organising meetings and events
• Representing the Organisation in meetings

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter by 15 April 2009 to: Mariann.Skar@eurocare.org. For more information see here.

CMO calls for minimum pricing on alcohol and targets 'passive drinking'

The Chief Medical Officer's (CMO) annual report, published this week, calls for minimum pricing to be introduced in the chapter 'Passive drinking: the collateral damage from alcohol'. The report highlights the impact of other people's drinking, which he terms 'passive drinking', such as children born with alcohol-related birth defects and those affected by alcohol related violence. The report also suggests that alcohol is 'deeply ingrained' within our society, and that introducing a minimum price of 50 pence per unit would have significant health benefits and would only really impact heavier rather than low risk drinkers. The document recommends that:

• There should be a national consensus, prompted by government, that as a country we should substantially reduce alcohol consumption
• Passive drinking should be acknowledged as a key issue. It should present a consolidated rationale for action and be the basis of a national campaign
• The total impact of passive drinking should be calculated by means of a national study including a full economic analysis
• Licensing laws should reflect the full impact of passive drinking, making public health considerations central to licensing
• As an immediate priority, the government should introduce minimum pricing per unit as a means of reducing the consumption of alcohol and its associated problems. Consideration should be given to setting the minimum price per unit at 50 pence

Significant media attention has arisen over the minimum pricing debate:
- 'Doctors back Donaldson over price rise' The Guardian
-'Supermarket chief says no to minimum pricing' The Publican
-'Concussing yourself with cheap cider does not veto your right to fairness' The Guardian
-'Time to crack down on the price of alcohol' The Times
-'Gordon Brown rejects call to set minimum pricing' The Guardian

The NHS has also released a FAQ webpage explaining the outline of minimum pricing concepts. For a summary on Scotland's minimum pricing plans see here.

NI39 data for 2007/08 now published

After delays in the release of Hospital Episode Statistics, the NWPHO has just published the long-awaited 2007/08 figures for alcohol-related hospital admissions used to measure NI39 and Vital Sign 26.  Analysis and comment to follow.

Minimum alcohol pricing to be recommended for England

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Sir Liam Donaldson, is shortly to publish his annual report, which this year will advise that England adopts minimum pricing measures to address the health impact of alcohol misuse. It is expected that the CMO report will call for a 50 pence per unit minimum price, which according to research would reduce consumption of alcohol and alcohol-related health harm, currently costing the NHS around £2.7 billion per year.

The government last year commissioned a review from the University of Sheffield into the effect of price on consumption. The findings showed that, based on a number of international studies, price was an effective lever on consumption and alcohol-related harm.  Despite the findings, the government did not opt for pricing controls when it announced a mandatory code for licensed premises. The code - the terms of which are yet to be set - will ban irresponsible promotions such as happy hours and 'buy one get one free', though will not stop supermarkets using alcohol as a 'loss leader'.

The CMO's call comes shortly after Scotland announced that it would introduce a minimum price of 40 pence per unit alongside a range of other measures including raising the age of off-licences sales to 21 in some areas. The BBC announced the news, reporting that the measures would mean a bottle of wine could not be sold for less than £4.50.

Jobs: Regional Alcohol Manager & Deputy Regional Manager for Young People- Bristol, Treatment Care Pathways Developer- Newcastle

Some interesting jobs have been coming up on the NHS jobs homepage:

Regional Alcohol Manager - Bristol

The post will be responsible for leading the implementation of Department of Health alcohol policy in the South West and supporting local partnerships in the development of commissioning and delivery of alcohol-related harm prevention and treatment services

• Salary £37,106 to £44,527 pa (Band 8a)
• Closing date for applications 20/03/2009
• More details here

Deputy Regional Alcohol Manager Children and Young People - Bristol

The post will be responsible for strategic leadership of the Department of Health alcohol-related harm reduction programme for children and young people in the South West, working with regional partners to implement the Youth Alcohol Action Plan, and with the National Treatment Agency to improve treatment services for young people.

• Band 7 Salary £29,091 to £38,352 pro rata
• Closing date for applications 20/03/2009
• More details here
  

Alcohol Treatment Care Pathway Development Lead - Newcastle

The post will support the service redesign of alcohol treatment and harm reduction services across the North of Tyne area by working with commissioners, new and existing service providers, service users, carers and other partners to develop new and robust care pathways.

• Band 7 £29,091-£38,352
• Closing date for applications 19/03/2009
• More details here
  

Scotland moves closer to introducing minimum pricing

The Scottish government today announced bold plans to take further action to act on the availability and price of alcohol by introducing minimum retail pricing measures. The plans were announced today as the Scottish National Party published a series of documents as A Framework for Action.

The introduction of a minimum price is aimed at targeting practices believed to be contributing to mounting alcohol-related health and social harms, such as supermarkets using alcohol as a 'loss-leader'. The measures are being brought in based on findings that show controlling price is an effective way to reduce alcohol consumption and harm. In addition, the proposals and next steps set out a range of further actions including:

• The end of promotions such as 'buy one get one free'
• Legislation to require licensed premises to make smaller measures available of 125ml of wine and 25ml measures of spirits
• Raising the minimum legal purchase age for off-sales purchases to 21
• Introducing powers to place fees on licensed premises in order to contribute to the adverse consequences of alcohol consumption
• Action to restrict further the use of marketing materials within licensed premises
• Powers to introduce alcohol only checkouts in off-sales premises

In addition, a range of further measures was announced to continue to improve alcohol health promotion, treatment and support.  Funding of an additional £85m over the next three years was announced to support alcohol treatment and prevention, especially focusing on brief interventions, an effective method of reducing hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption (see commissioners' guidance here).

An article in today's Guardian has already prompted active debate over the news,  highlighting that hospital admissions from alcohol-related diseases and violence have now exceeded heart disease for the first time.  it said one study suggested alcohol misuse, binging and violence cost the Scottish economy £2.25bn a year.  Scottish officials admitted that it would be a challenge to ensure the measures were "effective, ­proportionate and legally robust" and would need time to find the right price and policy.

In England, the government last year announced measures to tackle irresponsible promotions through a mandatory licensing code, but opted out of addressing loss-leading despite consultation support. The terms of the mandatory code are yet to be set, though health lobbyists such as the Alcohol Health Alliance UK are still calling for pricing controls as the 'most effective way to reduce alcohol harm'.