Alcohol Policy UK

Tackling alcohol-related crime and disorder: Safer Scotland; York and Eastbourne stag nights; Wakefield ASBOs

• Scotland: Police cracking down on street drinking have seized enough alcohol to fill a petrol tanker in the past year.  Officers confiscated 17,451 litres as part of a Safer Scotland campaign against knife and alcohol-related violence. The Herald

• Stag and hen parties have a negative impact on York according to the city's tourism partnership, which has asked if they should be banned. The partnership undertook research into people's opinions of the city's night time economy, asking tourists, business owners and residents for their views. Business owners felt that one of the worst aspects of York in the evening was the prevalence of stag and hen parties and that there should be a debate over whether such groups should be confined to one area or even banned completely from staying in the city overnight through hotels and guest houses adhering to a common policy.  York Press

• New pubs, clubs and bars are to be banned from an area in the centre of Eastbourne over fears it will become the stag party capital of the south. Councillors fear the town could become a ‘downmarket party place’ if they do not limit the number of bars and clubs. Eastbourne Borough Council has also decided to make it much harder for venues to extend their opening hours. The ban covers a half a mile square zone which already contains 37 licensed pubs and clubs - more than half of the total for the whole of the town.  Morning Advertiser

• People in the Wakefield District are being warned not to go over the top when they go out, or they could face severe penalties. Strict new measures have been put into place to reduce alcohol related violent crime in Wakefield City Centre. If a person is arrested for assault, public order offences, being drunk or disorderly or any other violent crime, the police will collate data and record it. The person will also be referred to the Wakefield Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, who will instigate intervention work with the individual. This may take the form of receiving a letter warning them about their behaviour or a warning of notice of legal action, or even consideration to seek an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO), which could prevent them from entering pubs and clubs within the City Centre along with other conditions.  West Yorkshire Police

Best Bar None goes nationwide - but where's the evidence?

The trade press last week reported with enthusiasm that the Home Office and Greater Manchester Police have agreed a joint approach with the British Institute of Innkeepers (BII) to develop Best Bar None.  A national steering committee will set up a new structure to implement standard guidelines, and form a commercial coordinating body, Best Bar None Ltd.

Paul Evans of the Home Office is quoted as saying:

“I am delighted that the Home Office is continuing to support this successful initiative. By further extending and promoting the scheme, in partnership with the licensed retail trade at a national level.

“Best Bar None will be instrumental in helping to improve the night time economy in the UK. It already has a good track record in the local areas that have adopted it as part of their night time economy improvement strategies and I look forward to seeing it having an even greater impact in the future.”

Where is the evidence that BBN is so successful?  Recently published research evaluating Croydon's BBN could find little 'credible' evidence to link the scheme to any reduction in alcohol-related harm, and concluded that reliable systems for measuring BBN's effectiveness needed to be developed.  See here for details. 

Stories on this from: The Publican; Morning Advertiser

Tackling young people's drinking pt91; Durham, Shirley, Shoreham, Caerfifili, Swindon

• Police have seized more than 100 cans of alcohol from underage drinkers in Beverley Way area of Peterlee . Drunken youths have been warned they will be taken home, and shopkeepers who sell drink to youngsters will be prosecuted. Those found under the influence will be taken home and all those stopped and in possession of alcohol have their details taken. Warnings and letters are sent out to their homes, with the information used to put together acceptable behaviour agreements, which will give them clear guidelines and can lead to antisocial behaviour orders.  from Sunderland Echo

• Durham County Council press release about a new report on underage drinking

• A private security firm has been drafted in to help tackle crime and disorder in Seaham, it was revealed today. The town council approved an emergency £5,000 sum to employ North East Securities to patrol its parks following increased antisocial behaviour by boozed-up yobs. The council took action following calls from the public and a series of crimes including criminal damage, break-ins and arson attacks.   from  Sunderland Echo

 

• Solihull: Drug and drink fuelled raucous parties held by youths celebrating the end of their exams have sparked concern among Shirley residents.  The Woodlands Estate Residents Action Group imediately informed the authorities about the problem.   Around 200 leaflets have been hand delivered to homes adjoining the field where the parties took place, explaining the situation, action taken and asking for help in identifying the shops which sold the alcohol. from icsolihull

 

• West Sussex: Up to 70 schoolchildren had three bin liners full of booze confiscated during a daytime beach party to celebrate the end of term. Two teenage girls were taken to hospital suffering from intoxication and a teenage boy was arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis at Wednesday lunchtime's party on Shoreham beach. One of the girls had collapsed and the other was complaining of feeling "dizzy." Police community support officers arrived at the scene to find parents dropping their children off at the beach and handing them alcohol, despite the youngsters being aged 15 and 16 years old. Shoreham police took the parents' details and are deciding whether any action will be taken against them.  The Argus

• Police in Caerffili have seized hundreds of cans and bottles of alcohol as they crackdown on underage drinking. The neighbourhood policing team has continued to take a tough stance on such activity, seizing alcohol from those underage and confiscating it from anyone drinking in alcohol free zones. During one patrol, in just 3 hours alone, officers took more than 50 bottles and cans off people drinking illegally. Neighbourhood Sergeant Paul Staniforth said; "Often when we catch groups of young people drinking and we take the alcohol off them they will disperse and go home. Those caught drinking also receive a referral for an anti social behaviour order.  News Wales

 

• Postman Clive Loveday is taking his crusade to warn youngsters about alcohol abuse to the rest of the country. The 50-year-old, who lost his only son to binge drinking in 2005, was on ITV1 show Tonight with Trevor McDonald with a possible 5m viewers. The TV crew accompanied the father-of-three when he delivered a grim warning to Swindon College in a 15th talk on the dangers of excess drinking. He said: "I hope it will educate many people on the problem of alcohol abuse." His son Matthew died on New Year's Eve after drinking spirits at a party during a game. advertisement Clive's campaign against binge drinking helps him cope with the loss of the 19-year-old.   from Swindon Advertiser

Government to consult on lowering drink drive limit

A change in the law to lower the drink-drive limit in line with other countries in Europe may have moved a step closer. Proposals to cut the limit to 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood are to form part of a Government consultation later this year.

The current limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood but 50mg would mean that motorists could be driving illegally after just one drink. Road Safety Minister Stephen Ladyman said the government, which has already been reviewing the law, was in favour of cutting the limit.

But he said that ministers wanted first to see evidence that the police are able to enforce the current level. He told The Times: 'I think it will happen. The consultation will include lowering the limit. It depends on how quickly we get enforcement at 80mg. If you go to 50mg before you have effective enforcement at 80mg people will just ignore the 50mg level.'  Which?

Tackling Violent Crime Programme: lessons on identification of alcohol-related crime

The UCL Jill Dando Crime Institute of Crime Science has published Cross cutting issues in violence: results from the TVCP tranche 3 problem profiles, here. The report gives an overview of cross cutting issues in violence as identified by problem profiles submitted to the Police Standards Unit under tranche 3 of the Tackling Violent Crime Programme (TVCP).  Alcohol features strongly throughout.

One of the key findings is that:

• It is difficult to accurately identify alcohol-related crime, and evidence is often anecdotal.

The report highlights problems with flagging police data as alcohol-related - the flags are under-used and sometimes misapplied.  Information from the TVCP areas shows that alcohol is linked with violence associated with the night time economy, and domestic violence.

The report concludes:

• Overall, violent crime clusters in town and city centres on weekend evenings and alcohol is often a contributory factor..... Trends confirm that residential areas are peak location for domestic violence, and that this type of crime also clusters on weekend evenings.

North East Regional Alcohol Workers Forum 11th July

The next informal network meeting of alcohol treatment/support workers is to be held at NERAFs' new premises at Angel House, Sunderland on Wednesday 11th July 2007.

Peter Carling-Page is the guest speaker, talking on Alcohol Strategies & Commissioning

High demand is expected, and booking is advised.  Email [email protected] or call 0191 5145852 or 0191 5656688

More details here.

Teenage pregnancy and alcohol: making the links

The Department of Communities and Local Government has published a briefing in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health,  Common themes: Local Strategic Partnerships and Teenage Pregnancy, here.

It aims to highlight how effective programmes to tackle teenage pregnancy can contribute to LSPs achieving their key priorities and outcomes.  The briefing is primarily aimed at LSPs in receipt of Neighbourhood Renewal Funding, and asks LSPs to consider how they could assist partnership working in helping to tackle teenage conception rates.

Alcohol use is cited as a risk factor for teenage pregnancy:

Research among south London teenagers found regular smoking, drinking and experimenting with drugs increased the risk of starting sex under-16 for both young men and women. Other studies have found teenagers who report having sex under the influence of alcohol are less likely to use contraception and more likely to regret the experience.

This research comes from Alcohol Concern's 2002 report Alcohol and Teenage Pregnancy.  It would be good to see LSPs do local research into the links between alcohol and TP, like this from Rochdale.

New alcohol guidelines for pregnant women: where's the evidence?

New government advice

The Department of Health issued this statement on 25th May:

Pregnant women or those trying to conceive are being advised to avoid drinking alcohol, and not to get drunk. Women who do choose to drink, before and during pregnancy, should drink no more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week.

The new guidelines have been introduced by the Department of Health to provide stronger, consistent advice for the whole of the UK.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Fiona Adshead said: ‘We have strengthened our advice to women to help ensure that no one underestimates the risk to the developing foetus of drinking above the recommended safe levels.

Our advice is simple: avoid alcohol if pregnant or trying to conceive.’

The National Organisation on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome estimates that there are more than 6,000 children born each year with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, as a result of their mother’s alcohol consumption.

Previous advice, as clearly stated in DH's 2006 booklet 'How much is too much when you're having a baby?'  was pregnant women can drink up to 1 to 2 units of alcohol no more than once or twice a week. 

Advice from other bodies

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' 2006 statement Alcohol consumption and the outcomes of pregnancy, here, reviews the evidence and concludes:

• The consumption of alcohol offers no benefits in relation to the outcomes of pregnancy. Under reporting of alcohol consumption is thought to be widespread, such that adverse effects in the offspring may not always be recognised.

• It is important for GPs, obstetricians and midwives to devise ways of identifying women who may suffer from problem drinking, during or before any pregnancy, at a time when potentially beneficial interventions can be offered.

• On the other hand, there is considerable doubt as to whether infrequent and low levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy convey any long-term harm, in particular after the first trimester of pregnancy.

• It is important that long-term prospective cohort studies be conducted to address the questions discussed in this statement.

In June 2007, the British Medical Association published Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders - a guide for healthcare professionals, here.  It says this about consumption levels:

• Women who are pregnant,or who are considering a pregnancy,should be advised not to consume any alcohol.

• The UK health departments should work in partnership with relevant stakeholder organisations to revise current guidance on sensible drinking (see appendix 3).They should ensure that consistent and clear advice is given to healthcare professionals and the general public regarding the sensible drinking message and the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. (This was written before DH revised the guidance.)

The fall out

DH are not claiming there is new evidence to support the new, simpler message.  So why change the advice?  The arguments for (anything that safeguards children is a good idea) and against (there's no evidence for this advice; why patronise pregnant women) are set out in this audio from BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour.   

There are also fears that we may be heading towards the situation in America, where women who drink during pregnancy have been charged with attempted murder, see for example here.

What do you think? Leave a comment, or email us.

Alcohol limits for leisure mariners to be introduced

Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman announced on Wednesday that he will be pressing ahead with the introduction of an alcohol limit for non-professional mariners.

The limit of 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood will be equivalent to that already in existence for professional mariners, and will apply to those persons involved in the navigation of a vessel greater than 7 metres in length and/or capable of a maximum speed of more than 7 knots.

The limit for non-professional mariners is being introduced after a consultation in 2004. Announcing the results of the consultation, Dr Ladyman said: "Everyone has the right to enjoy themselves on the water, but in a way that does not put others at risk. We have weighed very carefully the results of the consultation exercise and the views of all concerned - leisure sailors, enforcement authorities and accident investigators.

"I am satisfied that in bringing in an alcohol limit for non-professional mariners and in setting the exclusion limit at 7 metres and 7 knots we are providing the best balance between improving safety and avoiding unnecessary regulation."

The Department for Transport will be consulting on a set of draft regulations later in the Summer.

The alcohol limit is being introduced under Part 4 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 which received Royal Assent on the 10 July 2003.

There are three ways of measuring the alcohol limit.  The prescribed limits are;
a) in the case of breath, 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres,
b) in the case of blood, 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres,
c) in the case of urine, 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres.

An alcohol limit for professional mariners was introduced in March 2004. 3. The exception from the alcohol limit does not affect the offence (under Section 80 (2) of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003) of having the ability to navigate impaired because of drink or drugs.

Taunton: alcohol curfew cuts crime

Alcohol related crime is decreasing in Taunton town centre, according to police.  In 2005 the new licensing Act gave police and Taunton Deane Borough Council the opportunity to review the condition of licensed premises. As such a 12.30am curfew was imposed on re-entering pubs and clubs.

Police have now reported a considerable decrease in certain alcohol related crime since the imposing of the curfew. They say it has had a positive effect in the reduction of crimes involving violence against the person and criminal damage.

From May 2005 to October 2005 (six months previous to the ban) there was an average of 91 offences per month. However, from November 2005 to April 2006 (six months after the ban) there was an average of 63 offences per month. The monthly average so far for 2007 is 56 offences per month.

Inspector Mike Ashwin, who was then responsible for Taunton policing and is now part of the wider Somerset Tackling Alcohol Related Crime (STARC) initiative, said:"We wanted to stop people who quite frankly had had enough to drink from hopping from pub to pub and sometimes causing problems on the way."

Inspector Roger Tolley who now heads the Taunton Neighbourhood teams at Taunton police station said: "We have seen a sustained reduction in certain crime during this period which is due to the ban.

"It is only one of a number of methods we employ around the night time economy and remain committed to making our neighbourhoods a safe place to live, work and be entertained."  Somerset County Gazette