Alcohol Policy UK

News for 27/9/06

• A sleepy community of Benedictine monks in south Devon is the latest, and perhaps most unlikely, target in the battle against binge drinking.  Alcopops come and go, but Buckfast wine is a perennial favourite among young drinkers keen to test their alcohol limit.  Now the tonic wine produced by the Benedictine monks of Buckfast Abbey, Devon, has fallen foul of law makers, who believe it has much to answer for.  Scottish health minister Andy Kerr is the latest politician north of the border to express concerns about the effects of the drink commonly known as Buckie - citing its link to binge drinking.  "There's something different about that drink," says Mr Kerr, calling it "seriously bad".  BBC News  More on Buckfast and neds on Wikipedia

• A community wants local shops to ban selling alcohol in the evening in the hope of reducing crime.  About 3,000 residents in Bellsmyre, Dumbarton, said they have been plagued by booze-fuelled petty crime.  They are calling on five local shops to stop selling alcohol after 1900 BST. One has agreed to the request so far.  John Diamond, head of the community council, said: "We've had enough, we want to make our community safe and want to bid for proper facilities."  A spokesman for the Co-op, one of the local stores, said: "We do not think it is necessery to impose a curfew on alcohol as we are confident that our policies in place are effective."  Local councillor Geoff Calvert described the request as realistic and pragmatic.  He added: "People are asking for a bit of support."  BBC News

• The smoking ban hasn’t seriously deterred Scottish drinkers, they are spending more on eating out and 'mine host' is making good money, despite hikes in rent and minimum wages.  This is the message in up-beat trading statements from Enterprise Inns (ETI) with 9,000 pubs and Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) with 2,200 including the All Bar One and Harvester.  Enterprise shares fell 10p to £10.52 on profit taking, with M&B off 1p at 577p.  M&B says Scots drinkers spent 1% less on drink, but 11% more on food in the half to September 16. Dining in non-smoky eateries clearly appeals.  Enterprise confirms that traditional boozing pubs have been worse hit with a knock on effect on gaming machines in the year to September 30. But it notes that ‘negative effects are minimised where licensees prepare for the ban’.  Citywire  More on the effect of the smoking ban from the Guardian

• The Government's drive to change the nation's drinking habits is working, according to some of the country's largest pub operators.  Enterprise Inns, which owns nearly 9,000 British pubs, said the new licensing laws, which allow pubs to open later and stagger their closing times, have reduced binge drinking.  The group, the UK's second largest pub operator, said: "Licensing reform has had a minimal impact on trade but has clearly shown benefits in terms of a reduction in alcohol-related disorder, where flexible trading hours have helped to foster a more relaxed atmosphere, particularly around pub closing times." It said the pub trade had also reduced the "irresponsible pricing and promotions which were seen to encourage excessive consumption". Telegraph

• Children as young as 12 buy alcohol by ordering it over the phone with takeaways, a government adviser says.  Dr Sheila Shribman, the national clinical director for children, said the youngsters were using restaurant services to avoid suspicion.  She said it was a "worrying trend" and was particularly prevalent in north-western cities such as Liverpool.  BBC News

• Binge-drinking is no longer socially acceptable on the island of Ireland and alcohol consumption is down on both sides of the border, according to a report which has been published.   Coffee-shop culture has taken a grip and between 2000 and 2005 the average adult in Northern Ireland drank five litres less in alcoholic drinks, while in the Irish Republic the drop was even more marked - 14 litres.  While part of the decrease can be attributed to the declining number of young people and growing number of older adults, average consumption - currently 134 litres per year in Northern Ireland and a substantially higher 245 litres in the Republic - has decreased as the average person spends more time and money on other leisure and social activities, said the report.  U.TV  Details of the report Attitudes to Drinking: sober Ireland?

Alcohol trailblazers are go!

In 2004, the alcohol strategy for England promised

"a number of pilot schemes by Q1/2005 to test how best to use a variety of models of targeted screening and brief intervention in primary and secondary healthcare settings, focusing particularly on value for money and mainstreaming"

Somewhere along the line the language changed from 'pilots' to 'trailblazers' but at last the £3.2M pilot schemes/trailblazers are about to commence.  The Screening and Intervention Programme for Sensible Drinking will be launched on 20th October at St George's, University of London.  Details and booking form here.

The programme has three linked clinical trials designed to provide evidence on the delivery, effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a range of alcohol screening and brief intervention approaches across settings and regions in England.  The trials are based around three settings: primary care, accident & emergency departments, and criminal justice.  More details

News for 26/9/06

• NHS Tayside’s chief executive has admitted he’s found it difficult to put any positive spin on the truly alarming scale of alcohol abuse across the region. Stepping down as chairman of Tayside Council on Alcohol, Tony Wells said it was no longer acceptable that children as young as 11 were being treated for alcoholism in the region.  Last year, 746 people in Dundee, 296 in Perth and Kinross and 433 in Angus were referred to Tayside Council on Alcohol, as the number of people seeking help continues to increase. “I have written a number of reports as Chairman of TCA, and, as it is my intention to stand down as chairman, I would have welcomed the opportunity of reporting a more positive message,” he said.  Evening Telegraph

• THERE has been an angry response from the European Sponsorship Association (ESA) to a recent call by the European Commission for a ban on alcohol sponsorship in sport - a ruling that would have huge implications for Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, the Scottish Rugby Union and Edinburgh Rugby, to name a few. They have the backing of the ESA, whose policy director claims it is "vital that we resist this attempt to ban alcohol sponsorship across Europe," mainly, as he goes on to say, because such sponsorships deliver "essential funds" which can be "used in a number of ways, particularly in the development of sports and other activities enabling more people to participate and get involved." Among those who pour scorn on this argument, and believe that alcohol sponsorship should go the way of tobacco sponsorship, are organisations such as Alcohol Focus Scotland. Its chief executive, Jack Law, states simply that "alcohol producers should not be allowed to sponsor sports in order to promote brand awareness of their products. "It is particularly inappropriate for children to be wearing sports kits bearing the logo of an alcoholic drink brand," adds Law.  Scotsman

• Australian wine brand Banrock Station is launching a lower alcohol red wine into the UK, following its launch in the Australian market. Banrock Station Crimson Cabernet Sauvignon is 9% alcohol by volume, is light crimson in colour and is lightly spritzed. This lower alcohol wine is a result of the natural fermentation process being halted, (leaving some residual sugar) and is targeted at drinkers looking for a lighter, “off-dry” wine.  Checkout

• Pregnant women are ignoring medical advice and are continuing to drink too much alcohol while expecting, a new study has found. Baby charity Tommy's found that one in 20 pregnant women were putting their babies' future health at serious risk by consuming more than the recommended levels of alcohol. One or two units once or twice a week is the maximum amount pregnant women should consume, according to the British Medical council, so as not to put infants at risk of permanent brain damage.  This month is Pregnancy Health Month, aimed at raising awareness for how to stay healthy when expecting, the baby charity reminded mums-to-be. Kiddicare;  Tommy's press release . More about Pregnancy Health Month from Sunderland Teaching PCT
  

• MIDWIVES are targeting pubs in a campaign aimed at making pregnant women think twice about drinking alcohol. They are putting up posters and distributing cards in women's cloakrooms in pubs and clubs across Manchester to highlight how drinking during pregnancy can prevent the unborn baby's healthy growth and development.  Manchester Evening News

• Heavy drinking can accelerate time to AIDS among rhesus macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), researchers from Louisiana State University report in the October edition of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. The monkeys were exposed to alcohol for four days a week at levels designed to simulate `binge` drinking, and compared with a control group. Heavy consumption of alcohol can impair immunity, leading to infections like pneumonia. Alcohol abuse is also more common among individuals already infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than among the population as a whole. New research findings show that chronic binge drinking can accelerate the progression of end-stage simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) among rhesus macaques, likely mimicking what happens to humans infected with HIV.  Aidsmap

• The North West region's new top doctor has vowed to make tackling alcohol abuse her main task. According to a recent survey by the influential Public Health Observatory, nine out of 10 under-18s had drunk alcohol, and four in 10 are binge drinkers who consume more than five pints in one session. Now Dr Ruth Hussey, who has replaced Prof John Ashton as North West Director of Public Health, has said she will make the issue her main priority. She also said that she wants to forge closer links with local councils and businesses to improve the region's health. "We need to get all of the key agencies together to take stock of the early trends," said Dr Hussey. Harm "We need to tackle alcohol generally and alcohol in young people. We don't want to say that people should not drink, just that they should understand the harm that can happen if they do not drink sensibly. "With alcohol, we are about 30 years behind where we are with changing public perceptions and attitudes when compared with smoking."  Manchester Evening News

• Bargain beer and spirit offers are being used by supermarkets as weapons against independent rivals, it has been claimed. Vodka, whisky and popular beers such as Stella Artois are being sold at 'ridiculous' prices on aisle ends to lure shoppers though the door, according to a submission to the Competition Commission.  The 'irresponsible' practice means many smaller local stores and off- licences face oblivion because they cannot compete.  It has also been condemned by health experts for stoking Britain's binge-drinking problem. In one example, Tesco sold Pavlov vodka for £6.23, but when VAT and excise duties are excluded this is the equivalent of just 17p a bottle. This was half the lowest wholesale price available to other retailers.  This is money  Read the submission into the Competition Commission's inquiry from 'a convenience retailer' here.

• A crackdown on boozy underage youngsters and those who sell them drink was launched this week in Selkirk. The scheme comes after a spate of alcohol-fuelled crime in the town, including a recent rise in offensive graffiti and vandalism. Speaking after yet another attack last week at the Fleshmarket Steps, Inspector David Watt announced the crackdown on drink-related crime. Operation Grenadine, which is also being piloted in Galashiels, is aimed at addressing the range of increasingly-common problems arising from alcohol abuse. Run jointly by Lothian and Borders Police, Scottish Borders Council, NHS Borders Drugs and Alcohol Action Team, The Reiver Project and local licensed premises, the scheme will help identify those who buy alcohol illegally, either on behalf of underage drinkers or young people themselves. Bottles of popular drinks, such as vodka, Buckfast, cider and cheap beers and wine, will be marked, allowing police to trace drinks found in the possession of young people back to the premises where they were originally bought. Inspector Watt said: "Once we establish a shop or premises where drinks come from, we'll then make inquiries and find out who's buying them. When we find out who these people are, we'll report them to the procurator fiscal."  Selkirk Today

News for 25/9/06

• Residents who have had enough of gangs plaguing their area took their own action on Friday night  against 60 drunk teenagers in a park.  Around 20 residents living near Library Gardens, in Splott, Cardiff, confronted the youths when they started vandalising cars and throwing bottles just after 9pm and called the police.  The park is a children's playground next to Moorland Primary School.  Chairwoman of South Splott Residents' Association Debbie Gray said the problems had been going on in the park all summer.  She said: 'Last night we had around 60 teenagers trashing the area. When we went to tackle the kids they all spilled on to the pavement. We made at least 10 phone calls to the police. We had the police helicopter, two police cars and riot van. This has been going on for four months and nothing seems to be done about it.'  icWales

• The booze addiction that claimed the life of soccer idol George Best has hit record levels in Ulster.  For the number of people admitted to hospital with alcoholic liver disease here has almost TREBLED in 10 years.  In 1996/97, 469 admissions to acute hospitals were recorded.  That figure had rocketed to 1,178 in the 12-month period ending last March.  The shock statistics were the main reason behind a Department of Health decision to launch a new alcohol action plan to address binge drinking, under-age drinking and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.  The programme also aims to challenge Northern Ireland's attitude to drinking.  In addition, there has been investment in rehabilitation services and educating the public on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.  Sunday Life  Northern Ireland Health Promotion Agency site on drugs and alcohol

• BRITISH drinkers are snubbing strong continental lagers, forcing brewers to launch weaker versions of them.  Lagers such as Stella Artois and Beck’s, which contain about 5% alcohol, will soon be sold alongside weaker sister brands with an alcohol content of 3-4%.  Beck’s Green Lemon, a citrus-flavoured beer containing 2.5% alcohol, is to be launched shortly. And Budweiser recently announced Bud Silver, a 4% beer that will be sold in a pint bottle with a “gripper” handle so as not to appear to be a wimp’s drink.  The trend is being fuelled by a slump in demand for premium lagers among health-conscious drinkers. Over the past year, Tesco, Britain’s biggest supermarket chain, has seen sales of weaker lagers rise 16%. The trend has been mirrored in pubs and off licences across the country.  In contrast, premium lagers have lost 3% of their market share.  Timesonline

• Alcoholics Anonymous, the worldwide group that helps addicts stop drinking, may also help drive down the number of murders in a community, Canadian researchers reported on Sunday.  As membership in the group in Ontario, Canada, increased between 1968 and 1991, murders there dropped off, said Robert Mann from the University of Toronto and Mark Asbridge from Dalhousie University.  Research has shown there is a significant relationship between drinking and homicide in Europe, the United States and Canada, they wrote in their report, published in the October issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.  But they found an increase of one AA member per 100,000 people was followed by a drop of 0.3 to 0.5 percent in Ontario's homicide rate.  The relationship was only apparent when it came to men. They did not find a relationship in the case of women.  Reuters

Alcohol coordinator and Alcohol & violent crime posts

Two new posts for London:

DAT Alcohol Strategy Co-ordinator, Lambeth
Closing date: 20th September

Community Safety Officer (Alcohol & Violent Crime), Havering
Closing date: 29th September

News for 13/9/06

• For a fine example of a local newspaper story supporting local alcohol strategy, check out the Leeds Today feature that begins like this:  Alcohol abuse in Leeds costs the city a staggering £275m a year. The crippling bill includes the cost of treating patients, sending out ambulances and knock-on effects like damage to property, policing and court costs. On top of that there's the human price – the hundreds of people who die or are injured because of drinking. And it is not just those weekend binge-drinkers who are at risk. More and more of us – around 155,000 in Leeds alone – are drinking to excess on a daily basis. Many of us don't even realise the problems we are storing up for the future. Leeds Alcohol Tsar Tony Goodall said: "There is a timebomb ticking – and people just don't seem to be aware of it."  Leeds Today

• A rape is committed in Oldham every week. According to police figures, there were 50 reported rapes between April 2005 and March 2006 – and there were 64 attacks in the previous 12 months. In a bid to reduce the number of sexual assaults and rapes, police have launched a campaign centred on the borough’s pubs and clubs. The move is in response to concerns about people who drink large quantities of alcohol and leave themselves vulnerable to sexual assaults in what has been dubbed ‘night hiking’. The term has been coined by GMP’s City Safe unit and refers to people who attempt to get unsafe transport home after a night out, including trying to get into vehicles that have stopped at traffic lights. Officers are also targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender licensed venues, following incidents involving male rape victims.  Oldham Advertiser  See also BBC News

• Police are targeting under-age drinkers in Meltham along with the people who buy them booze.  Officers from The Valleys Neighbourhood Policing Team have acted after complaints that youngsters are getting drunk and causing problems in the village.  Pc Joanne Sharp said: "People have expressed concern about under-age drinking in Meltham and the anti-social behaviour it brings and we are taking positive action to tackle this issue.  "It's not only underage drinking -– young people are hanging around shops and asking adults to buy alcohol for them.  This is against the law and we will not tolerate it."  icHuddersfield

• Binge drinking and alcohol abuse is killing hundreds of Swindonians every year and landing thousands more in court and hospital, according to a public health watchdog. The massive cost of binge-drinking, chronic liver disease, drink-fuelled sexual assaults and injuries are all catalogued in the North West Public Health Observatory report that says 21 per cent of the town's adults are binge-drinkers.  Excess drinking is taking an average nine months off the life expectancy of Swindon men and 4.4 months of life from women.  Dangerous drinking is killing 133 men and 100 women in the town every year.  Hospital emergency departments were filled with more than 1,300 people, draining emergency resources after drunken trips, falls and other injuries.  According to the report alcohol directly caused 389 admissions to Swindon's hospitals in 2004-5.  Last year, drink-fuelled rage ended with 1,032 assaults and 28 sexual assaults from a total 1,490 crimes.  Swindon and Wiltshire Alcohol and Drug Service director Bill Carlton said that the most disturbing part of the report was there is worse to come.  Swindon Advertiser

• PARIS: French youngsters are smoking and drinking less but are increasingly indulging in the sort of weekend drinking binges usually associated with their British counterparts, a government study showed on Tuesday.  Regular drinking of alcohol reported by those surveyed dropped between 2003 and 2005 to 18 percent from 21 percent for boys, and to 6 from 7 percent for girls, the annual Escapade study of 30,000 17 year-olds showed.  But one-in-10 teenagers asked about alcohol use in 2005 said he or she had been drunk at least 10 times in the past year -- a jump of around three percent from the 2003 findings.  The report adopted the English expression "binge drinking" to refer to youth drunkenness and said the "Anglo-Saxon" style of intense boozing was more marked among boys (55.7 percent) than girls (35.5 percent).  Some regional officials have banned public drinking in order to counter the excessive noise and tell-tale garbage left behind after Saturday nights of youngster excess in city centres.  Reuters

News for 12/9/06

• More than 190 underage teenagers were treated at South Yorkshire hospitals in one year after drinking too much booze - and some even had to have their stomachs pumped. And in severe cases youngsters were so drunk they needed to be put on a ventilator in intensive care because alcohol depresses the body's natural functions and they 'forget' to breath - putting their lives in danger. A total of 194 under 18s were rushed to A&E departments across South Yorkshire suffering from the effects of too much alcohol. Doctors say most youngsters seen by medics in Sheffield are typically between 12 and 16 and have been experimenting with their friends. Dr Judith Gilchrist, a consultant in paediatric medicine at Sheffield Children's Hospital warned that youngsters need to be more aware of the dangers of drinking, because the consequences can be serious. "Most need observation, some need fluids and checks to see if they have an underlying problem such as a head injury. "Each year one or two children have to be treated in intensive care and ventilated, but that is very severe. They don't realise how serious it can be."   Sheffield Today

• Police in Oxfordshire are getting tough on vandals as part of the Force-wide Safer Streets campaign. Vandalism currently makes up nearly 20 per cent of all crime in the County. Chief Supt. Dave McWhirter said: “Vandalism affects thousands of people in Oxfordshire every year. We are committed to tackling this crime and are putting strategies into action across the five local police areas in the county. “The ethos of this campaign is about making people feel safer where they live and work because vandalism significantly contributes to the fear of crime as well as being expensive and unsightly.” Officers are targeting persistent offenders and carrying out high-visibility patrols in vandalism hotspots. Work is also being carried out with partner organisations and licensees. Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) and ASBOs are also sought against persistent offenders. Ch Supt McWhirter said: “A mindless act of vandalism after a night’s drinking can have serious consequences. A moment’s stupid behavior could affect the rest of your life.”  ThamesNews.net

• Headteachers yesterday warned that litigious parents could soon sue schools for failing to prevent their children from drinking, smoking or taking drugs. They fear that government plans to set targets for improving young people's health and welfare in England could unleash attacks on their ability to control wider health and social trends. Families are already taking legal action over schools' alleged failure to tackle bullying and heads say they could soon be held responsible for obesity, pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, drug taking and drinking.  Guardian Unlimited

• A report suggesting Oxford has the biggest binge-drinking problem in the South-East and the highest death rates from liver disease should be treated with caution, health chiefs and pub landlords in the city said.  Research carried out by the North West Public Health Observatory showed Oxford as the worst location for binge-drinking out of 66 other areas.  The public health researchers analysed data from a health survey for England, which quizzed 1,000 people aged 16 and above in the region, between 2002 to 2004.  Oxford is the 31st worst local authority area for binge drinking out of 354 nationally.  But a spokesman for Oxford City Primary Care Trust told the Oxford Mail that the survey findings needed to be treated with caution.  Oxford Mail

• A 30-STONE Charlton fan died as a charity night at his local boozer ended in violence.  Duncan Frame was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, after being found unconscious.  But there was nothing medics could do and he was declared dead on arrival.  The 52-year-old had been enjoying a charity evening at the Cutty Sark, Joyce Dawson Way, Thamesmead, when the trouble started on Saturday night.  A mass brawl left several people injured including unemployed Mr Frame who had suffered serious head injuries.  Police and ambulance crews arrived at the pub at around 11.30pm and were met with a scene of chaos.  Out of 21 people arrested, 20 were taken off to be questioned at police stations across the capital, while another had to be taken to hospital. At the time of going to press, 14 had been released on bail and ordered to return to a south London police station in November.  The remaining seven were still being held for questioning.  Police - who have launched a murder investigation - are looking into the possibility the violence was sparked by rival Charlton and Spurs' fans.  Newsshopper

• The vast majority of bar staff in Scotland believe their workplaces are healthier since the introduction of the smoking ban, according to a new survey.  The Cancer Research UK poll of 545 workers revealed that three-quarters thought the legislation would improve their health in the long term.  It found young people recognised the health benefits more than older people.  The charity has relaunched its poster campaign to celebrate the first six months of the ban.  Professor Gerard Hastings, director of the charity's Centre for Tobacco Control Research at Stirling University, said: "This is great news. The survey results show that, in just six months, the people of Scotland are already reaping the health benefits of going smoke-free." BBC News

• The European Commission on Friday announced that it has adopted a proposal to increase the minimum rates of excise duty on alcohol and alcoholic beverages agreed in 1992, from 1 January 2008.  Considering the need to avoid the EU system of minimum rates becoming meaningless, the Commission proposes to increase the minimum rates taking into account the inflation since 1992 and, therefore, restore their real value.  The majority of Member States will be unaffected by this proposal as their national rates already exceed the proposed new minimum rates. However, for those Member States that will have difficulties in increasing their national rates immediately, transition periods, up to 2010, are proposed.  Although the inflation rate is 31%, the economic and social impact of the proposal is likely to be minimal. For example, for beer, the biggest required increase in national excise duty would be in the order of one eurocent on half a litre of beer, at the latest by 1 January 2010.  Tax-News.com

Alcohol Industry news for 8/9/06

• Licensees have blasted a controversial website which they claim promotes binge-drinking and lists their premises without their consent. Pissed.co.uk advertises itself as a "survival guide to beer, kebabs and women" and in its directory lists hundreds of pubs and bars across the country. The site has also incurred the wrath of InBev UK, as it uses images of its brand Stella Artois. The company is now acting against the site to have the images removed. "They are there without our knowledge or consent," an InBev spokesperson said.   The Publican

• The European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD) and the European Spirits Organisation - CEPS have published a brochure detailing the drinks industry’s efforts to help tackle alcohol-related harm. Just Drinks

The European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD) is 'the successor organization to The Amsterdam Group'.  The European Spirits Organisation - CEPS is the European representative body for producers of spirit drinks. Download the report: Drinks Industry Initiatives 2006: Voluntary initiatives by the EU spirits industry to help reduce alcohol-related harm

Children of problem drinkers more likely to develop alcohol problems: research news for 5/9/06

• Children who grow up with alcoholic parents bear emotional, behavioural and mental scars, experts say.  The Priory study said children of alcoholics were four times more likely to be addicted to drink and there was a risk of drug and gambling problems.  The private health provider said a child's early life was characterised by chaos, trauma, confusion and shame and, quite often, sexual and physical abuse.  The report found 55% of domestic violence occurs in alcoholic homes.  BBC News  Download the report Suffer the Children: adult children of alcoholics

• Differing brain chemistry may provide part of the answer to why some people with a strong family history of alcoholism develop alcohol dependency while others do not, new research reveals.  Scientists from four scientific institutions in the US have found that an increase in levels of D2 receptors for dopamine – the chemical messenger in the brain – may play a protective role against developing alcoholism. Scenta

• Children whose mothers drink just three glasses or more of alcohol while pregnant are at greater risk of developing a drinking disorder by the age of 21, new research has revealed.  A study found that children whose mothers who drank more than three glasses at any one time during early pregnancy were two and a half times more likely to develop problems with alcohol before the age of 18.  They were twice as likely to develop an alcohol disorder between the ages of 18 and 21.  Daily Mail  Research abstract here.

Alcohol news for Scotland, 5/9/06

• Glasgow: Clubbers could be breathtested in a controversial survey to crack down on binge drinkers, it was revealed yesterday.  The Alcohol Action Group want to find out how much they booze on a night out.  The study follows a shock increase in alcohol-related injuries, which have soared from 14,000 to 51,000 in the past 10 years.  The AAG say the plan is still on the drawing board and the B-tests will be voluntary.  But club owners are furious their licences could be stripped if they are caught serving too much booze.  Eddie Tobin, head of the Glasgow Nightclubs' Forum branded the research "a joke". The Sunday Mail

 

• Major drinks companies are to work with the Scottish Executive in a bid to beat alcohol misuse, it was announced today.  In what will be the first formal partnership of its kind between industry and government, Diageo, InBev (Tennents), the Scotch Whisky Association and Scottish & Newcastle will work with the Executive to tackle the health and social harm associated with Scotland's heavy drinking culture.  The work will include new guidelines on the promotion of alcohol, a common set of responsible drinking messages, and developing model alcohol policies for workplaces.  Speaking at the International Council on Alcohol and Addictions conference in Edinburgh, Health Minister Andy Kerr said Scotland was paying far too high a price for its attitude to alcohol.  He said: "Scotland has a reputation of being a nation of heavy drinkers. It is a reputation we are far too relaxed about.  If Scotland is to fully realise its potential to be the best small country in the world then we need to challenge the ethos of drinking simply to get drunk.  Scotsman

• Alcohol-related liver diseases have rocketed in Scotland by 104% in a decade.  And more than 40% of 15-year-old girls now admit to drinking in the last week, while overall booze consumption has doubled since the 1970s.  These stark realities of Scotland's fatal love affair with alcohol were revealed yesterday by one of the country's leading authorities on the subject.  Professor Peter Brunt is an advisor on alcohol issues to First Minister Jack McConnell. He told a conference in Glasgow that he believed the increasing availability and low cost of drink were two major factors influencing the explosion in alcohol-related health issues.  His comments came the same day it was revealed that drink-related deaths in Scotland have more than doubled since the start of the 1990s.  Last year, 1513 Scots died from disease and issues related to drink compared to 657 in 1990. But at the conference, organised by Alcohol Focus Scotland, Professor Blunt said the nation's new licensing legislation, which will prevent drinks promotions such as happy hours, due to begin in September 2009, could pave the way for a reversal of this worrying trend.  "It isn't all doom and gloom. The new Scottish licensing legislation is better than it was before and better than the rest of the UK," he said.  "If operated well it can lead to a changing shift in the drinking culture."  Jack Law, Alcohol, Focus chief executive, added: "We, in Scotland, are leading the way in linking licensing with our improvement of health aspirations."  Evening Times