Alcohol Policy UK

News update: breast cancer ignorance; early onset drinking linked to problems; on-trade calls for minimum pricing; alcohol-related violence

Most women 'unaware' of breast cancer threat

Eight out of 10 women do not know that alcohol is a cause of breast cancer, a YouGov survey has revealed. When compared to women who don't drink alcohol, it is estimated that those who drink three units a day increase their risk by a fifth, two large glasses increases the risk by a third and nine units a day raise the risk by half. The survey found that 82% of women were not aware of the connection with alcohol, compared with 95% who did link it to liver disease, and 71% who were aware it raised the risk of liver cancer. For more information see this Daily Telegraph report.

Drinking before 15 may increase chance of alcoholism

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has found that drinking before the age of 15 increases a child's risk of becoming a heavy drinker. It reports that a teenager's fast-developing brain becomes programmed to link alcohol with pleasure. The NIAAA study matched information on the teenage drinking habits of more than 22,000 Americans with the development of alcohol-related problems.

The findings aren't good news for England, a poll of 11 to 15-year-olds in 2007 by the NHS Information Centre found around 640,000 were likely to have drunk alcohol in the past seven days. Of hospital admissions in 2006/7 specifically due to an alcohol-related diagnosis, almost one in 10 were in under 18 year olds.

For more see a BBC report here

Police caught up in drunken disorder affects emergency call outs

The Police Federation for England and Wales is set to warn MPs that officers are not able to respond to emergency calls because they are too busy dealing with disorder caused by 24-hour drinking, a Daily Telegraph article reports. The federation has said police forces also need more money to ensure the safety of law-abiding drinkers late at night and that the 2003 Licensing act brought in has not succeeded in creating a 'cafe  style' drinking culture.

The Publican calls for minimum pricing

The Publican, the information and media resource for the UK pub industry, has launched a branded campaign 'Make it the minimum', calling for a minimum 50p per unit price. The campaigns targets the heavily discounted alcohol sold by supermarkets and off-licenses that is reported to have impacted negatively on the pub industry in recent years.

Report examines role of culture in alcohol related violence

A report by the International Centre for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) indicates that countries with strict social rules and behavioural etiquette such as the United Kingdom may foster drinking cultures characterised by unruly or bad behaviour. The report, Alcohol and Violence: Exploring Patterns and Responses, examines the association between alcohol and violence and lists 11 cultural features that may predict levels of violence such as homicide and spousal abuse. For more details see here.

LDAN and Alcohol Policy UK themed alcohol workshops

LDAN and Alcohol Policy UK have teamed up once again to present a brand new series of themed alcohol workshops for 2008/09.

Forthcoming events include:

• Dual diagnosis and alcohol...still falling through the gaps?

         19th November 2008

• Alcohol, faith and culture...supporting diverse communities
  

          18th December 2008

• Alcohol and street populations...multi-agency approaches

          23rd January 2009

• Housing continuing drinkers...points of intervention

          20th February 2009

Each workshop will cover:

•  the evidence on prevalence and best practice
•  current policy frameworks
•  tensions and possible solutions
•  interesting practice

Who should attend?

• Policy makers
• Service planners
• Practitioners

The first in the series: “Older People and Alcohol – A Demographic Time bomb?” took place on Thursday October 16th. A report on the seminar will be released shortly.

The workshops are FREE to attend but places are limited. To book please email [email protected] with you name, job title, organisation and phone number or call 020 7704 0004 to speak to Ruth McQueen or Shona Flannigan (All sessions run from 2-4.30pm in a central London location, full venue details supplied on booking).

About us: Alcohol Policy UK is the news and analysis website for the alcohol harm reduction field that was set up by Libby Ranzetta in 2005. Contributors are an informal network of consultants, researchers and practitioners, keen to share learning and ideas. Our motto: nonus wheela reinventare.

LDAN is the London Drug and Alcohol Network – developing substance misuse policy and supporting the capital’s treatment sector. (www.ldan.org.uk) to book

These workshops are supported by GLADA (The Greater London Alcohol and Drug Alliance).

Alcohol Enforcement Skills Development seminars

The Home Office Alcohol Strategy Unit is holding 10 regional Alcohol Enforcement Skills Development seminars. The seminars are free of charge and will be held over two days. The first seminar is in London on 28^th and 29^th October:

Day 1 - For delegates to have an awareness of their tools and powers under the Licensing Act 2003, Regulations and Statutory Guidance. See full agenda here.

Day 2 - The second day will be aimed at those involved in the more technical and strategic aspects of dealing with alcohol related problems, with specific focus on the Licensing Act 2003. See full agenda here.

The registration website for attending the first two seminars is now live at a www.alcoholtrainingworkshops.co.uk . The next seminars will be in Cambridge on 18th and 19th November.

If your have queries or require further details on this event you can contact William Mackenzie, Alcohol Strategy Unit, Home Office Tel: 020 7035 1819.

Calls for submissions on alcohol treatment to highlight issues and barriers

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Misuse is calling for submissions that will help the future development of alcohol treatment. The main aims are:

1. To draw together views on what the impact of recent policy developments has been on the alcohol treatment system.
2. To explore the challenges that practitioners within the NHS, local government and the voluntary sector face in achieving alcohol treatment’s potential.
3. To identify what practical steps can be taken to widen access to alcohol treatment programmes and place the system on a more stable, sustainable footing.

Lynda Waltho, chair of the Group is inviting submissions, giving a series of guidance questions including:

• What has been the impact of recent policy developments on the alcohol treatment system?
• What are the challenges for practitioners, policy makers, the NHS and other stakeholders in achieving alcohol treatment’s potential?
• What actions need to be taken to widen access to alcohol treatment programmes and place the system on a more stable, sustainable footing?

The call for evidence contains further information and guidance on responding to the above questions and can be found here.

The deadline for responses is Monday 3rd November 2008. Please send them via email to [email protected] or to Nicolay Sorensen, Alcohol Concern, 64 Leman Street, Aldgate, London E1 8EU.

Drinkaware: new grants programme

In what appears to be a major shake up of its grants programme and a rebranding of the Drinkaware Trust, Drinkaware is soon to release details of grants schemes offering dedicated funding to local and national projects working to tackle alcohol misuse, promote responsible drinking and raise awareness about the negative effects of alcohol. The schemes are open to projects working primarily with under 18s and 25-44 year olds in any part of the UK and will encompass three levels of award:    

• Ideas Fund, sums up to £2,000
• Drinkwise Projects, sums up to £25,000
• Big Impact Award, sums up to £100,000

Project costs are available for many types of alcohol awareness projects including community based work, alcohol education, including peer-led education, and awareness raising work with disadvantaged people who are at risk of harm from alcohol misuse. 

Funding will focus on work that delivers the most impact for beneficiaries and work that contributes to learning, for example the development of replicable models of effective working. Detailed funding guidelines and the application form will be available from the end of October from the Drinkaware website: www.drinkaware.co.uk.

Drinkaware aims "to positively change public behaviour and the UK’s drinking culture to help reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol-related harm".

Consultation responses published by Alcohol Concern and Transform

Transform Drug Policy Foundation and Alcohol Concern have published their responses to the recent consultation on further action on the alcohol industry, as part of the national alcohol strategy, Safe, Sensible, Social. 

Alcohol Concern's submission provides detailed responses to the consultation questions and has key recommendations including:

• A mandatory code backed by legislation
• The creation of a fair, independent regulatory system
• An interdepartmental national alcohol enforcement team sitting either within the DCMS or Home Office
• An amendment to the Licensing Act 2003 to include a health objective
• A legal requirement for all bottles and cans to be labelled with a DH standard worded health message alongside unit information
• A direct ban on price promotions within the on-trade
• Mandatory training for staff working in licensed premises and clear policies in place which will prevent irresponsible and illegal alcohol sales
• The NHS should move PSA 25 from a Tier 3 target to a Tier 2 target to ensure that more information and support is provided to those that want to drink less
• The Department of Health should work closely with the General Medical Council and the British Medical Association to encourage GPs to ask about people’s drinking on a regular basis with patients
• The Department of Health should establish an optimal level of access for alcohol treatment for England and Wales

The Transform submission assertively criticises the current lack of government regulation, particularly in failing to act on the advice of key medical bodies over the vested interests of a powerful and heavily lobbying industry. The submission also backs a number of Alcohol Concern's recommendations and also covers some broader discussion points including:

• The negative influence of the alcohol industry on implementation of public health based regulation
• The Government’s historic failure to stand up to industry pressure, or undertake the potentially unpopular regulatory measures required  
• The anomalous status of alcohol policy, relative to a) tobacco policy and b) illegal drug policy

Consultation closed on the 14th of October though continued media attention is expected as the field eagerly anticipates how the government will respond to consultation findings.

West Midlands launches the 'Big Drink Debate'

The West Midlands Regional Alcohol Group, representing regional government and police officials for the area, have launched an online consultation at www.bigdrinkdebate.co.uk, following the success of Drink Debates run in East Midlands and Surrey.  The survey aims to find out about its populations drinking, views on alcohol and ideas on how to reduce it's negative impacts on the area. An article in the Birmingham Post has highlighted figures relating to alcohol related harm for the region, including nearly 90,000 hospital admissions and an average of 54,683 drink-related crimes  committed every year. Residents within the West Midlands are being urged to fill in the online survey within a six week timeframe.

Report states strong public policy on alcohol would be more effective than clinical treatment

An article in October's gastroenterology and hepatology journal Gut by three senior medical professionals is flagging a clear message that clear and decisive policy action is required to  reduce alcohol related harm successfully. It claims such action would be more effective in addressing alcohol related harm than clinical treatment or existing initiatives. The article entitled 'An evidence based alcohol policy' is authored by Dr Nick Sheron, Dr Noel Olsen and Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the UK Alcohol Health Alliance. The timing of the article appears deliberate in view of the fast approaching 14th October deadline  for the government proposals for industry action.

Leading medical professionals and organisations such as Alcohol Concern have been calling for tougher government action on the price and regulation of alcohol, especially in light of World Health Organisation reviews of the relationship between price and consumption combined with the industry's criticised attempts at self-regulation. A press release  summarises the report's calls for action:

‘The WHO conclusion is that increased taxation is the most effective tool, followed by restrictions on promotion and finally, by reducing the availability of alcohol. The alcohol industry and the Government have favoured an emphasis on education and information-based initiatives. There is no evidence that these approaches reduce alcohol-related harm although an evidence base is emerging in other public health areas, and in the longer term these measures may turn out to be effective. Information, advice and education campaigns may be important in changing attitudes and in preparing public opinion for the introduction of effective measures, but appear ineffective when used alone.’

The full article is available to subscribers of the BMJ here.

Study explores what works best to address alcohol related disorder

A new report prepared for the Government Office for London by South Bank University has been released entitled ‘What works’ to tackle alcohol-related disorder?: An examination of the use of ASB tools and powers in London. The study considers all tools and powers currently being used in London and makes recommendations on the best application of these in addressing alcohol related disorder in a range of contexts. The report highlights that varied approaches work best to address disorder resulting from street drinking, the night time economy, licensed premises/off-licenses/outdoor drinking and disorder related to  events such as festivals and football matches.

The report provides detailed recommendations for each of the areas based on a number of key findings including:

• London boroughs currently face a wide variety of alcohol-related disorder, with the most prevalent type of disorder being connected to street drinking.
• The nature, location and impacts of street drinking varied significantly across the boroughs.
• Boroughs reported significant differences between public perceptions and actual levels of alcohol-related ASB.
• Alcohol-related disorder often crossed over with other issues such as substance misuse, social inclusion and mental health issues and violent crime.
• Problems were highlighted with the quality of data and funding for ‘alcohol-related’ issues.
• DPPOs were the most commonly used of the tools but had been implemented to manage a range of alcohol-related disorder issues.
• The range of tools and powers available is not currently being fully utilised and knowledge about key ASB tools and powers is not shared across key service areas.
• For example, local ASB teams were often not clear on how fixed penalty notices (FPNs) and penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) were being used to manage alcohol-related disorder, who was receiving them, for what behaviours and what the outcomes of the notices were.
• Approaches to alcohol-related disorder which formally agree a protocol of intervention were popular and appeared to be the most successful.
• Using tools and powers in isolation appeared to be the least successful strategy.

The findings therefore seem to reiterate the importance of partnership approaches to  impact effectively on alcohol related disorder, whilst also showing that gaps in skills and knowledge around alcohol related tools and guidance still exist. Local council and police partnerships can currently bid for Home Office funding to deliver initiatives to tackle alcohol related disorder until 7th November 2008.

Alcohol coordinator posts: Cambridgeshire and Salford

1. Alcohol Coordinator, Salford City Council
Replacing Katrina Stephens who has joined the Department of Health's new Alcohol Harm Reduction National Support Team

• Salary £30,598 to £35,852 p.a
• Closing date: 17 October 2008
• Details here

2. Alcohol Coordinator, Cambridgeshire County Council
A new post to deliver Cambridgeshire's alcohol strategy

• Closing date: 15th October
• Details here