Alcohol Policy UK

3rd National Alcohol Conference, Safe.Sensible.Social – delivering in partnership

The next national alcohol conference will take place on 4 – 5 November 2008 in Nottingham with the focus on delivering in partnerships including:

• What has happened since the launch of Safe.Sensible.Social. in 2007?
• What does the data tell us about the challenges  we face to reduce alcohol misuse? Children, young people and alcohol
• Examples of effective interventions developed by organisations delivering in partnership

The conference is free to attend but places must be obtained by registering an interest here.

Health Improvement Practitioner: alcohol (maternity cover 9 months fixed-term), Hampshire PCT

The post holder on appointment will concentrate their expertise on the development of the PCT’s public health alcohol improvement agenda.

• Salary: £29,091 - £38,352
• Closing date: 27/08/2008
• Details here

For an informal discussion, contact Neil Luckett, Health Improvement Partnership & Programme Manager, Hampshire PCT on 023 8062 7639

Industry body releases guidance on tackling public underage drinking

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has released a new guidance document ‘A New Way of Tackling Public Underage Drinking: Community Alcohol Partnerships' which claims to be a new model for local enforcement to tackle underage drinking. The guidance is based on a Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) pilot scheme in St Neots that reduced underage public drinking and associated crime and disorder through better partnership working between retailers and enforcement agencies . The outcomes from the pilot are:

• 42% decrease in anti-social behaviour incidents in the St Neots area from August 2007 (pre-project) to February 2008 (post-project)
• 94% decrease in under-age people found in possession of  alcohol
• 92% decrease in alcohol-related litter at key hot spot areas
• Amount of alcohol found on young people in St Neots was significantly lower than  expected or in comparison with similar locations, such as Huntingdon
• No new hot spot problem areas created (i.e. no ‘balloon’ effect)
• Changed enforcement activity was cost-neutral
• Better relationship between retailers and enforcers
• Public perception that public spaces were more pleasant than previously – cleaner and fewer incidents of group drinking

See also the government's Youth Alcohol Action Plan published in June 2008

UK alcohol sales rise to buck trend

The Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) has reported alcohol sales rose by 1.8% in the last financial year 2007/08, reversing the previous two years' fall in sales.  However IAS notes that whilst beer sales have continued to fall, quantities of wine, spirits and cider have continued to rise as off premises sales rose by 2% but pub and other licensed premises sales fell by 7.4%.

A number of trade and industry bodies have been increasingly concerned for the state on pubs and premises and called for action on cheap alcohol sold in supermarkets, though themselves coming under criticism in particular for failure to take full notice of the now rescinded voluntary code on happy hour promotions.

For an IAS report on the use of alcohol as a loss leader see here

To use the IAS UK alcohol data map see here

Alcohol Strategy Development Officer, Camden

Camden PCT is recruiting a Band 7 Alcohol Strategy Development Officer to replace Charlotte Blencowe, who is off to be Public Health Strategist in the PCT with a lead for alcohol.  The ad says:

This is a an exciting opportunity to deliver a new strategy which will focus on promoting sensible drinking and reducing the harm associated with alcohol misuse in Camden. You will need a sound understanding of the problems caused by alcohol and of the wider policy context. You will need to be self-motivated and committed to raising the profile of alcohol within Camden and you should have skills in communication and relationship building.  The role will require working alongside partners and co-ordinating action on alcohol problems, including prevention, education, treatment and crime.

Camden PCT values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this. We therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community.

For further information contact Charlotte Blencowe on 020 7530 3923

Job description here

To apply, visit www.jobs.nhs.uk

Closing date: Thursday 28th August 2008

Interview date:  9th September 2008

JRF call for proposals - Research on the Transmission of Drinking Cultures: Media Influence

Joseph Rowntree Foundation has funded six research studies under the transmission of drinking cultures theme on peer, family and multiple influences. They now wish to fund one further study under this theme on media influence. 

They are looking to fund one project, up to £100,000.  Details here.

NERAF AGM 5th September

Our friends the north east regional alcohol forum,  NERAF, invite you to their AGM,  which will be held at:

Angel House, Borough Road, Sunderland SR1 1HW, on Friday 5th September 2008
Buffet lunch at 12-30pm followed by:

• 1pm NERAF AGM
• NERAF presentation
• NERAF Strategy Launch
• NERAF toolkit

Then presentations by:

• National Trailblazer Screening and Brief Intervention Trials
• Alcohol Concern
• Public Health Lead South Tyne and Wear NHS (invited)

The event will close at 3pm. For catering purposes please reserve your seat by 22nd August, contact details here.

Consultation for 'Alcohol Academy' underway!

As the alcohol agenda has gained increasing momentum over recent years, more local authorities have been employing alcohol coordinators, and regional and central government departments have been given responsibilty to support national policy.  Many coordinators report to us the importance of best practice sharing and peer support as the work can be very challenging.

AERC has funded Ranzetta Consulting/alcoholpolicy.net to explore the need for a network of alcohol coordinators/local alcohol leads, and also the need for some training and knowledge exchange, which we are calling an ‘alcohol academy’ for this research.  We are seeking the views of local, regional and national alcohol leads, as well as key academics working in alcohol harm reduction.

We would therefore greatly appreciate your views on the possibilty of developing a network and academy if you have local, regional or national responsibility for alcohol harm reduction.  There are four questionnaires, for different sets of professionals: local coordinators and alcohol leads; their employers; regional alcohol leads; and national leads, as follows:

• Alcohol coordinator/lead consultation questions
• Alcohol lead employer consultation questions
• Regional alcohol leads consultation questions
• National alcohol leads consulation questions

Please either complete the relevant questionaire and return to [email protected] or call 0208 392 87 38 to provide answers by phone or for any other comments or questions. Deadline for returns is the end of August!

Universal alcohol screening efficacy in primary care questioned by Danish study

A Danish study into universal alcohol screening trials in GPs has found that they did not reduce risky drinking one year on, reports a Drug and Alcohol findings bulletin.  Follow-up data sought a year later from 442 patients was compared with that from 464 counterparts in the control group who recieved no intervention and reported that none 'improved to a statistically significant degree relative to control patients'. The report has also claimed that doctors found that screening 'broke the rapport' with patients and that most would not continue delivering screening and brief interventions (SBIs).

However, the bulletin highlights that the study focused on universal screening which is not the common approach to SBIs in the UK where more targeted screenings take place, such as those presenting with a likely related condition. Also, in the UK shorter tools such as FAST are used rather than the comprehensive but longer AUDIT tool used in the Danish study. Studies that have found SBIs effective in primary care settings are acknowledged in the bulletin, including systematic reviews in primary care. The NTA's Review of the Effectiveness for Treatment of Alcohol Problems also highlights in its summary that SBIs are effective in reducing hazardous and harmful consumption in primary care although studies into the longevity of efficacy were needed and that booster sessions may be required.

This is perhaps where the long awaited SIPS research will help to tell us exactly how SBIs should be developed in primary care, following the welcome release earlier this year of a support framework for commissioners in the Alcohol primary Care Service framework.

Brief interventions pilot in young people's sexual health settings

An evaluation of a pilot study delivering Screening and Brief Interventions (SBIs) in a young people's sexual health service has shown positive results through a number of findings. The Place, in Sandyford, Glasgow and Clyde, piloted the scheme using a grant from AERC after a needs assessment showed alcohol was a significant factor for many of those attending the clinic. 

The pilot used the TWEAK screening tool to identify young people who were offered a Brief Intervention following staff training and posters and materials had been distributed in the clinic. Young people were also asked to fill out questionairres on their alcohol consumption to reveal more about attitudes and knowldege of alcohol amongst service users. Findings included:

• 34% of respondents did not know about safe drinking units
• 48% drank at weekends; this included Friday and Saturday
• 41% did not know where to get help, advice and information about alcohol
• 59% knew a little or had some information about alcohol

Of particular note was that 74% of all young people screened (104 total) gave a screening score that indicated they were at risk of problem drinking and eligible for an intervention. Additionally the pilot found that a significant number of young people reported concerns over alcohol use in the family.

Download the full report here: Determining the effectiveness of alcohol screening and brief intervention approach in a young people's sexual health service by Patricia Keogh Addictions Worker, Pauline McGough Consultant in Sexual & Reproductive Health, Sandyford, Glasgow and Duncan Macfarlane Clinical Audit Facilitator, Clinical Governance Support Unit, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde