Alcohol Policy UK

Alcohol field station for Camden

A special patrol of paramedics will treat drunken revellers in the streets of Camden Town in a bid to relieve pressure on hospitals. The pilot scheme to station a specific ambulance team in the area comes amid concerns there are too many alcohol-related admissions to Accident and Emergency from the area on Friday and Saturday nights.

Under the plans being developed by Camden’s Primary Care Trust and the London Ambulance Service, a team of paramedics in an ambulance will be based in the streets around Camden Town Tube station. They will be looking for drinkers who “appear to be intoxicated by alcohol”.

The aim is to treat them before they have to be taken to hospital accident and emergency departments, easing the pressure on the Royal Free and University College hospitals at peak times. The scheme is due to be operating by August, although the specific hours of cover are still being worked out.  Camden New Journal

See also previous posts about alcohol field stations

Happy hours are here again?

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has withdrawn its voluntary code on cheap drinks and happy hours following legal advice, the Morning Advertiser reports. It has been three years since the code was originally introduced, supporting the case that the industry are capable of self regulating. However there are reportedly serious concerns from within the industry given the overdue release of the KPMG report on the industry's use of voluntary codes, which will inform ministers' decision as to whether impose further laws to control the pricing and availability of alcohol.

In response to the withdrawal of the code, Mark Hastings of the BBPA said:

"We are currently taking legal advice on the status of the BBPA code.

"It's widely recognised that pubs have made enormous strides to tackle irresponsible promotions and we are confident they will continue to operate responsibly."

When asked about the timing of the withdrawal, Hastings said:

"The advice at the time was it was fine, but very recently other questions have arisen and we have to take them seriously. In the meantime, we have to withdraw [the code]."

The decision is a setback for ministers as they near the conclusion of a cross-departmental review of ways to change the drinking behaviour in Britain by tackling cut-price alcohol and drinks promotions, says the Financial Times, which reports that implementing several options favoured by ministers, including setting a minimum price for a unit of alcohol, poses significant legal challenges.

Withdrawing the industry rules on promotions compounds the legal problems facing policymakers, who were focusing on how to act against supermarkets and shops selling cheap alcohol. After the suspension of the standards, pubs and clubs will have independently to decide whether to avoid certain "irresponsible" promotions, rather than sign up to common standards.

Scotland proposes ban on under 21s purchasing alcohol

A controversial action plan is expected to be launched this week by Scotland's Justice Secretary, Kenny McAskill, raising the legal age of purchasing alcohol from off-licenses and supermarkets to 21. Under 21s would still be able to purchase alcohol in pubs and bars, but the move is aimed to reduce the availability and misuse of alcohol by young people.

However, the New Scotsman reports significant controversy regarding the proposals, particularly from the industry that claimed the move would 'demonise and mystify' alcohol for young people.   The move is reportedly linked to the apparent success of a pilot scheme in West Lothian, which was linked to significant reduction in alcohol related violence and disorder. Along with the increase in the age limit, the Justice Secretary will also reportedly propose setting minimum prices for alcohol and banning three-for-two and buy-one-get-one-free deals. A recent Times article looks further at the proposals and possible implications.

The new tough line may be defended by the Scottish government's announcement earlier in the year that they would invest £25 million in the screening, prevention and treatment for alcohol misuse.

1 in 3 councils expect to use Alcohol Disorder Zones

A survey carried out by the Local Government Association (LGA) has found varying levels of expected use of Alcohol Disorder Zones (ADZs) by local authorities. In a press release from the LGA, it was announced:

The survey of 182 councils in England and Wales, carried out by TNS for the Local Government Association, found that 33% were not going to adopt ADZs, 34% were going to and 33% were still to decide. The survey also revealed that almost a quarter of councils (24%) said they expected to recoup the costs of operating ADZs through the charging regime, while 41% said they did not.

However there has been significant scepticism over the expected benefits of ADZs, with warnings over the impact coming from both the media and representatives of the night time economies, such as from a senior business leader in Liverpool.

New London Mayor bans alcohol on public transport

Boris Johnson, the new mayor for London has banned alcohol on public transport as his first policy announcement since coming into power. The 'ban' will take effect from June the 1st 2008.  The move has caused a number of concerns about how it will be enforced, particularly as the only punishment will be ejection from the transport. 

The new rules on drinking on London's transport will be made by changing London Transport's conditions of carriage, since bringing in the byelaw necessary for legal action such as on the spot fines is expected to take a year. In an article in the Guardian, the British Transport Police are reported to have backed the move although organisations such as transport unions have opposed the move.

Concerns raised over Alcohol Disorder Zones

The Telegraph reports a parliamentary committee has said Alcohol Disorder Zones (ADZs) 'will fail' in their aim to curb alcohol related crime and disorder. ADZs were introduced as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006  to help local authorities to combat alcohol related disorder following changes brought about by the Licensing Act 2003.

ADZs are due to be launched this year, but the House of Lords report has accused the scheme of being 'unduly bureacratic' and unclear. No ADZ schemes appear to be have been launched yet although other powers, such as police directions to leave powers, are being used.

Female drink offences 'soar' shows channel 4 news

A report by channel 4 news has shown that drink offences by women have increased by as much as 1000%, according to figures obtained from police forces across the country. The Guardian reports this equates to an overall 50% rise over the last five years. The findings  follow the recent announcment that alcohol fuelled violence by women has risen 60% in Scotland. In response to channel 4's findings, Mike Craik, chief constable of Northumbria police expressed the need to look further towards reviewing the pricing of alcohol, discounting promotions and advertising as well as further action on underage drinking. Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern highlighted that promoters are still targeting young women with drinks promotion and cheap alcohol, as the industry has not passed on increases in alcohol duty to the consumer.

In response the Home Office said it would be launching a further multi-million pound alcohol campaign in the summer.

Seminar on alcohol licensing and drinking culture

A seminar entitled Alcohol Licensing: café culture or city centre chaos? takes place next month on the 7th May in Enfield to look at the debates around current licensing policy and its impact. The seminar will consider a range of research including the recently released report Implementation of the Licensing Act 2003: A National Survey which closely examines the findings of national research on the impacts of the licensing act. This follows the recent  review of the 2003 licensing act.

The National Survey report broadly supports the review in finding that there has not been a consistent impact across the country, and there has been little significant change for better or for worse. However, the National Survey provides a detailed analysis of the challenges and responses facing local authorities and the policy and cultural context of the changes, as well as providing a range of recommendations.

More details

• Middlesex University Criminology Research Centre seminar series
• Alcohol Licensing: café culture or city centre chaos? Betsy Thom, Professor of Health Policy
• Time: 4.30 - 6pm on May 7th
• Venue: Enfield Campus, Queensway, Enfield EN3 4SA; Broadbent Building, room 52

Managing the Night Time Economy: North Somerset; Birmingham Broad Street

• A policing initiative addressing Night Time Economy issues in North Somerset has been submitted to this year's Tilley awards as 'best problem solving project' in the area.  Operation 'Joined Up' was set up prior to the implementation of the new licensing act and included the appointment of a a special 'alcohol and violent crime officer'. This allowed a focus on partnership working to deliver regular visits to licensed premises prior to the act and other key actions such as underage test purchasing. For further details see the Avon and Somerset Constabulary website.
• In Birmingham the third 'Best of Broad Street' awards ceremony was hosted to recognise best practice within Broad Street's Night Time Economy. Over 300 guests attended the Coca Cola sponsored event which saw awards go to 15 categories. Further info at Birmingham Mail

Know Your Limits update - pilot reports

The Know Your Limits campaign team funded by the Home Office and Department of Health has published its latest update - Stakeholder Update 8 . It summarises new pilots that have specifically targeted students, the night time economy and young men.

• In Preston, students were targeted with sensible drinking messages and encouraged to drink more water on a night out. This was in response to research that showed that 43% of 18-24 year olds in Lancashire admitted to carrying on drinking once they knew they had reached their limits
• Central Weston-Super-Mare was targeted following findings that 6 out of every 10 crimes were associated with the night time economy. The campaign therefore used bluetooth technology and giant projectors to deliver sensible drinking messages to support other activity including the Street Safe bus and street pastors
• In Wolverhampton, young men were targeted with life sized stickers of men suffering the ill effects of alcohol misuse. Stickers of men who had been beaten up or passed out were placed in A&E, bars, pubs, clubs and the Wolve's Molineux football stadium
• In Liverpool students were trained as 'Lager Lifeguards', learning how to spot the signs of intoxication and help people suffering from a range of alcohol related ill effects including injury, vomiting and unconsciousness

Two new campaigns are also in production: a units campaign due to be launched in May; and a binge drinking campaign in June, which will be supported by printed and online materials. It is also advised that local campaigns are coordinated with these, and with  forthcoming target dates including St George's Day (23rd April) and May Bank Holiday weekend (3-5th May).

To get in touch with the Know Your Limits team call 020 7403 2230 or email knowyourlimits@forster.co.uk