Alcohol Policy UK

NTA release national alcohol statistics report

From the National Treatment Agency (NTA):

'From 1st April 2008, the Department of Health commissioned the NTA to collect and analyse alcohol treatment data on its behalf using the NDTMS. This subset of the NDTMS is known as the National Alcohol Treatment Monitoring System (NATMS). NATMS forms a key part of The Department’s Alcohol Improvement Programme.

Download the NATMS Annual Statistics report 2008/2009

This report provides the results of the first opportunity to analyse a full year of alcohol treatment data. The collection of data on structured treatment for alcohol misuse, as recommended in ‘Models of Care for Alcohol Misusers’ (MoCAM) (2006), enables national, regional and local-level reporting on alcohol treatment to support the National Alcohol Strategy. Data reporting aids policy formulation and supports the development of efficient commissioning systems at a local level. Policy is formulated by the Department of Health.'

Mandatory code warnings to stop banned drinks deals

A number of licensed premises in Colchester have been warned to ditch irresponsible promotions that are in breach of the new mandatory alcohol retailing code, according to the Morning Advertiser. The local borough council have written to premises breaching the code advising them to withdraw the promotions or face a license review. Two nightclubs have now stopped promotions that offered 12 drinks and free entry for a set price.

The  council’s letter also reportedly promises 'much closer scrutiny' of venues that 'negatively and irresponsibly' sell alcohol below £1.50 per drink, similar to the so called local 'minimum pricing' approach taken in Oldham last year. However club Luminar has reportedly shunned the police and council-backed 'gentleman’s agreement' not to sell drinks below £1.50 in Essex town, saying it risks breaking competition law.

Guidance for retailers on the mandatory code has been released by the Home Office: 'Selling Alcohol Responsibly: The New Mandatory Licensing Conditions'

UK remains amongst top EU countries for binge drinking

A report 'EU citizens’ attitudes towards alcohol' has been released, continuing to show the UK and Ireland in particular as having the highest reported rates of binge drinking (EU definition* of five drinks or more on any one occasion). According to the report:

'Alcohol consumption in the EU is at a similar level to four years ago. Binge drinking (five drinks or more on any one occasion) affects all ages but young people aged 15-24 years are the most likely to binge drink every week.'

'Within the EU15, the countries with the highest average number of drinks per day in 2003 were Ireland, Finland, Denmark and the UK. In 2006 and 2009, these countries continued to have the highest percentages (amongst the countries making up the EU15, as well as amongst the EU27) of respondents who say they usually have more than 2 drinks on a day when they drink.'

'The prevalence of frequent binge drinking (drinking 5 or more drinks at least once a week) is highest in Ireland (44%), Romania (39%), Germany and Austria (both 36%). It is aso high in the UK, Spain and Greece (all 34%).'

The research has resulted in a number of media reports, ranging from the Daily Mail to this interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal which states:

'Per-capita consumption of alcohol in the U.K. rose 19% between 1980 and 2007, compared with a 13% decline for all 30 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, according to the most recent data. Average consumption over that period fell by about 17% in the U.S., 24% in Canada, 30% in Germany and 33% in France, according to the OECD.'

See here for further information on UK drinking trends.

*Note: UK definition of binge drinking is usually drinking twice the recommended guidelines, as opposed to 5 drinks or more in the EU report.

European seminar explores alcohol's harm to others

A seminar 'The Cost of Alcohol: Passive drinking' organised by Eurocare  to discuss the harm caused to others took place on the 2nd February 2010. See here for the seminar report.

Presentations included:

“Passive drinking” the collateral damage from alcohol by Hans Olav Fekjær (Actis) (PowerPoint) (Audio)

EU action to reduce alcohol related harm by Ceri Thompson (DG SANCO- EU Commission) (PowerPoint) (Audio)

Alcohol and Interpersonal Violence - Domestic violence: Xavier Ferrer (Fundación Salud y Comunidad) (PowerPoint) (Audio)

Alcohol and traffic accidents - Antonio Avenoso (ETSC: European Transport Safety Council) (PowerPoint) (Audio)

Children living in families with alcohol problems: the invisible victims - Mira Roine (ENCARE: European Network for Children for Children affected by Risky Environments within the family) (PowerPoint) (Audio)

Harm to the unborn child - Dr Rudi Kohl (FAS Policlinic. The Netherlands) (PowerPoint) (Audio)

Closing remarks by Cliona Murphy (Alcohol Action Ireland - Eurocare) (Audio)

Cocaethylene: responding to combined alcohol and cocaine use

A briefing paper 'Cocaethylene: responding to combined alcohol and cocaine use' [pdf] has been produced by the AERC Alcohol Academy. The paper assesses the current understanding, data, trends and implications for public health and alcohol policy.

The briefing identifies that combined alcohol and cocaine use appears to be increasingly popular despite indications of significantly increased health and social risks. Combining alcohol and powder cocaine can form cocaethylene in the liver, a unique metabolite that can enhance the user's experience but significantly increase the risk of heart attack or sudden death. Its use has also been linked to other conditions and an increased risk of violence.

However awareness about cocaethylene and associated risks appears low; the paper recommends that both further research and policy recognition are needed. It identifies a role for alcohol and drugs policy to better respond to poly-use, both within the health & treatment and community safety fields. Although there is little evidence of specific treatment or intervention approaches for combined use, it appears there is scope within existing approaches to better respond to combined use. There may be opportunities particularly within the alcohol field and through the delivery of brief interventions (or 'IBA'), whilst primary powder cocaine treatment indicates positive outcomes for combined users.

The Academy has been developing a cocaethylene training course to develop knowledge and explore treatment responses for combined users, and is working with experts to explore and develop further research on the subject. If you are interested in training or have further information on combined alcohol and cocaine use, please get in touch.

Value of smuggled alcohol seized in UK

A parliamentary question has shown the value of smuggled alcohol seized by customs officers was over £13 million in 2009-2010. According to a report in off-license news, it is not known whether the rising figures are a reflection of a rise in smuggling or increased enforcement activity. HM Revenue & Customs has a strategy to address alcohol fraud as outlined here.

Value of seized alcohol smuggled into UK (£)
2003-04	14,068,459
2004-05	5,718,224
2005-06	3,160,457
2006-07	4,864,020
2007-08	5,108,224
2008-09	8,750,397
2009-10	13,257,063

SMART recovery manual promotes new approach to peer support

The Alcohol Concern SMART Recovery project has produced guidance to alcohol services and others working with alcohol misusing clients as to how they can help the establishment and development of SMART Recovery groups in their area.

SMART recovery is an alternative model of peer support to the widely used 12 step programmes commonly adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other recovery models. The manual states:

"For people who are seeking help for alcohol dependence, the more local options there are the better, as different approaches work for different people. Also, some people may attend more than one kind of meeting, both AA and SMART meetings for example. As there is no one size that fits all approaches to recovery, it is important that individuals have as much choice available to them as possible to improve their own prospects of recovery."

The manual, 'Developing choice in peer support: how alcohol services can support SMART recovery', provides practical advice and resources for anyone who wishes to support the establishment of SMART Recovery meetings in their area.

Download the manual here (pdf) or visit www.smartrecovery.org.uk.

Liberal Democrats manifesto: support for minimum pricing principle and below cost ban

The Liberal Democrats have released their 2010 election manifesto, outlining their proposals for alcohol policy:

"We will...reduce the ill health and crime caused by excessive drinking. We support a ban on below-cost selling, and are in favour of the principle of minimum pricing, subject to detailed work to establish how it could be used in tackling problems of irresponsible drinking. We will also review the complex, ill-thought-through system of taxation for alcohol to ensure it tackles binge drinking without unfairly penalising responsible drinkers, pubs and important local industries."

As The Publican points out, they appeared to have watered down their stance on minimum pricing somewhat after the Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb had previously called out for the measure.

A summary of the 3 main manifesto's positions on drug and alcohol policy has been produced by Andrew Brown of Mentor UK - download here (pdf).

Conservative manifesto: ban 'below cost' sales and tax drinks that cause anti-social behaviour

The Conservatives have launched their 2010 election manifesto, sticking to previously announced measures proposed to crack down on the causes of anti-social drinking including cheap, strong drinks. The manifesto states:

"Under Labour’s lax licensing regime, drink-fuelled violence and disorder are a blight on many communities. We will overhaul the Licensing Act to give local authorities and the police much stronger powers to remove licences from, or refuse to grant licences to, any premises that are causing problems. In addition, we will:

• allow councils and the police to shut down permanently any shop or bar found persistently selling alcohol to children;
  
• double the maximum fine for under-age alcohol sales to £20,000;
• raise taxes on those drinks linked to antisocial drinking, while abolishing Labour’s new ‘cider tax’ on ordinary drinkers;
  
• ban off-licences and supermarkets from selling alcohol below cost price; and,
• permit local councils to charge more for latenight licences to pay for additional policing. 

Most of the measures had been previously outlined in the party's green paper on public health and by Cameron speaking out against cheap high strength drinks. However proposals to scrap the alcohol units system appear to have been dropped. 

It is not known yet whether the measures are supported by groups that have called for further action on the availability of cheap alcohol, in particular 'loss-leading' by supermarkets. Banning below cost selling would seek to prevent this, but the real term price effect is not clear nor how enforceable it will be. The green paper states they will 'work with competition regulators and retailers to find a fair formula that could be used to judge whether a product is being sold below cost'. The approach does not appear to have been assessed as having any likely impact on alcohol-related anti-social behaviour or health harms. Research by the University of Sheffield indicates that pricing measures will only be significantly effective from around a 40 pence per unit mark, a price range thought unlikely to be reached by banning 'below cost' sales.

Alcohol Concern have previously welcomed the Conservative's proposals on taxes to address cheap alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour, but commented:

"Measures of this kind would be a positive step ...But it’s limiting to target teenagers when alcohol misuse occurs among all age groups. Introducing a minimum price for alcohol will reduce harmful drinking, cutting crime and hospital admissions, while having little impact on sensible drinkers."

In recent years various health interests, alcohol groups and the Chief Medical Officer have called for minimum pricing in order to reduce alcohol harm. Whilst the Liberal Democrats support it, Labour say they have not ruled it out until they have further established the full likely impact. The Scottish National Party have so far been stalled by opposition parties in attempts to bring in minimum pricing.

See here for alcohol proposals in the 2010 Labour manifesto.

Labour manifesto: support declared for pubs & treatment investment hints?

The current Labour Government has released their 2010 election manifesto as the May 6th election looms close. A quick word search finds alcohol-related topics receiving a few mentions:

• Crime is down by more than a third; violent crime is down by over 40 per cent, and the risk of being a victim of crime is the lowest since 1981. But people are still worried about binge drinking, problem families and anti-social behaviour. We are committed to tackling these problems, not talking them up to run Britain down. (p.36)
• To tackle the binge drinking which can leave people reluctant to venture into town centres at night, we have banned irresponsible promotions and strengthened police and council powers to close down rowdy pubs and clubs, cracking down on under-age and public drinking. We have brought in a right to petition local authorities to end 24-hour licensing where problems arise. (p.40)
• The local pub and social club are also hubs of community life. Too many pubs have closed that could have been sustained by local people. We will support pubs that have a viable future with a new fund for community ownership in 2010-11. Councils must take full account of the importance of pubs to the local community when assessing proposals that change their use, and we will make it more difficult to demolish pubs... (p.52)

News to me is a commitment to increase alcohol treatment places, though this only seems to apply to offenders:

• We will expand joint working between police and the probation service to supervise prolific young offenders after they get out of prison, and the use of mentors including vetted ex-prisoners to meet offenders ‘at the gate’ so they don’t slip back into crime. And alcohol treatment places will be trebled to cover all persistent criminals where alcohol is identified as a cause of their crimes. (p.37)

The Conservative's manifesto will be released today, though they have previously outlined proposals to get tougher on licensing, raise taxes on super strength beers and ciders, and ban below cost selling of alcohol. They have also proposed to scrap the current unit system. The Liberal Democrats have uniquely called for minimum pricing measures, though Labour have not ruled it out.

See an earlier report on the political dialogue on alcohol pricing.