Alcohol Policy UK

IFS suggest taxation over minimum pricing

The Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) has suggested minimum pricing could transfer as much as £700 million from consumers to retailers and producers, advising tax increases as a preferred longer-term strategy.

See the IFS report 'The impact of introducing a minimum price on alcohol in Britain' [pdf]

In a press release, the IFS said:

“Minimum alcohol prices would transfer large sums from consumers to those firms that retail and produce alcohol, but may target households that consume the most alcohol more directly than increases in alcohol taxes. However, higher taxes would generate much needed revenue. The Government should seek to change European regulations on how alcohol taxes can be structured, so that taxes can mimic the impact of minimum prices whilst ensuring the resulting revenues go to the Government and not firms.”

The report references the key work on minimum pricing including the University of Sheffield's independent review, but does not take account of possible market responses such as how retailers might change the prices of alcohol or other products. Therefore suggestions that supermarkets use alcohol as a loss-leader whilst making up the prices on other products were not accounted for; however the report suggests 'retailers would almost certainly respond by changing other alcohol prices'.

The Government is currently reviewing alcohol taxation following a recent HM Treasury consultation, having pledged to "review alcohol taxation and pricing to ensure it tackles binge drinking without unfairly penalising responsible drinkers, pubs and important local industries".

The Coalition has indicated they are not willing to consider a national minimum pricing approach, though is looking at how best to implement its pledge to 'ban below cost-sales'. However critics and the on-trade have warned that a below-cost ban will not have a significant impact on the majority of cheap alcohol sales.

Professor Petra Meier, who led the University of Sheffield review, highlighted that discussions on minimum pricing and tax changes should not be confined to an "either or" approach as they would each have differing impacts. A combination of both tax increases and minimum pricing is also advocated by the World Health Organisation.

Factsheet: Alcohol, crime and disorder in the night-time economy

A new Alcohol Concern factsheet, written by Dr Phil Hadfield (University of Leeds) and Dr Andrew Newton (University of Huddersfield) is now available:

Alcohol, Crime and Disorder in the Night-time Economy [pdf]

The factsheet provides a comprehensive review of the NTE in relation to alcohol and the many interlocking crime and public health issues. It compares national crime and disorder data with the results of street-based surveys and finds important variations - suggesting that people in the NTE drink more than the national average and drink at higher levels than their peers. The factsheet looks in detail at the 2003 Licensing Act and the dilemmas which face local authorities, police and their partner agencies in developing statements of licensing policy and planning local alcohol strategies to achieve safer, more sustainable and welcoming NTE's.

Offender Health & IBA: literature review and case for change

A joint project has been undertaken by the Regional Public Health Group London and London Offender Health to explore and develop the delivery of Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) within Criminal Justice settings.

Reports from the project are now available including:

• 'Case for change – Commissioning Identification and Brief Advice to improve health and justice outcomes in offender populations' Download Case for Change [doc]

• 'Alcohol Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) in Offender Health: A Literature Review'  Download IBA OH lit review [doc]

Further alcohol and Offender Health documents and resources can be found here.

IAS Alcohol Alert: Issue 2 2010

The latest Alcohol Alert [pdf] from the Institure of Alcohol Studies (IAS) is now out. See here for the list of reports, including takes on the future of alcohol policy under the Coalition and other alcohol policy news and coverage.

Pharmacy option added to IBA e-learning

The Alcohol IBA e-learning has added a new Pharmacy course pathway so that professionals can now obtain free training on how to deliver simple identification and brief advice (IBA) in a pharmacy healthcare setting.

The course consists of five e-learning sessions and one assessment session. The sessions feature animation, interactive exercises, case studies and video and each takes around 20 minutes to complete. A certificate of completion can be printed out once the assessment session has been undertaken.

The e-learning includes:
-Information and facts about alcohol
-Understanding units
-Using identification tools
-Structuring and conducting brief advice
-Practicing brief advice

It has been designed by the Department of Health's Alcohol Improvement Programme in partnership with e-Learning for Healthcare.

Access the IBA e-learning

'Light' drinking during pregnancy does not increase risk says research

New research by University College London (UCL) says 'light' drinking during pregnancy does not harm a young child’s behavioural or intellectual development. However 'light' drinking meant only 1 or 2 units a week or at any one time; less than 'moderate' drinking which was classed as 3 to 6 units a week or 3 to 5 at any one time.

See the report 'Light drinking during pregnancy: still no increased risk for socioemotional difficulties or cognitive deficits at 5 years of age?' [pdf]

Advice over drinking when pregant has been somewhat controversial, with official NHS advice advocating a message of avoiding alcohol altogether. A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that its advice would remain unchanged to avoid confusion among pregnant women:

"After assessing the available evidence, we cannot say with confidence that drinking during pregnancy is safe and will not harm your baby...Therefore, as a precautionary measure, our advice to pregnant women and women trying to conceive is to avoid alcohol."

Chris Sorek, the chief executive of alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware, also urged caution stating:

"Despite these findings, it is important to remember that 'light drinking' can mean different things to different people.

"Excessive drinking during pregnancy can carry serious consequences and lifelong damage to children and should be avoided."

NICE advises women to avoid drinking in the first three months of pregnancy especially, due to increased risk of miscarriage.

See news stories here from the BBC, The Guardian and a Radio 4 report.

JAG Alcohol and Housing briefing: findings from the 3rd Practitioners Forum

The Joint Action Group For Alcohol in London (JAG) has produced a new briefing on Alcohol & Housing [pdf], based on feedback from The Third Alcohol Practitioners Forum held at City Hall on 20th May 2010. The Practitioners' Forums focus on practice and delivery to provide knowledge, skills and expertise to support the JAG deliver London’s Regional Statement of Priorities on Alcohol (here). Sessions at the May forum covered in the briefing included:

• ‘Alcohol, homelessness and access to housing’
• ‘Drinking in the home’ including older drinkers, domestic violence and drinking within the family
• ‘Unacknowledged drinking in the home’ including specialist support for BME groups. 

The Regional Public Health Group also presented the initial findings from the London Drink Debate consultation.

See the Alcohol Learning Centre for more on housing and alcohol and presentations from the day.

Licensing news & updates Oct 10: code 2nd phase in; trade concerns over licensing reform; new licensed premises figures

Mandatory code 2nd phase in
The 2nd phase of the mandatory licensing code came into force on October 1st - all premises must now have an age verification policy such as Challenge 21 and offer smaller glass sizes. Available measures must include 125ml glass of wine, beer in half pints and either a 25ml or 35ml measure of spirits. Home Office code conditions and guidance here.

However the future of the code remains uncertain - indications suggest the Coalition may scrap the former Government's legislation to make way for new measures in the licensing reform. 

Trade ramps up opposition to Licensing reform
A number of trade organisations have been stepping up action to oppose the Government's Licensing reform for which consultation recently closed. The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has announced a 'fighting fund' to support a 3-stage campaign against the reform; an ALMR briefing paper says the proposed changes are 'unnecessary, unjust and unaffordable'.

The pub trade's Morning Advertiser (MA) has also called for a "peasant's revolt" encouraging licensees to tell their local MP's how "damaging" the changes would be. An article released by The Publican also raises concerns about the reform which could make licensing departments 'responsible authorities', but also reported the Home Office are "looking carefully" at concerns. However some police and local authorities are reported to have welcomed the proposals.

Licensed premises figures 2010
The latest licensed premises figures have been released in the Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Statistical Bulletin 2010 [pdf]. Related documents, tables and annexes can be found here.

News & reports in response: 'Licensed premises hit record high - despite pub closures' Morning Advertiser; 'Round-the-clock drinking licences at record level' BBC, and '24 hour drinking myth exposed' - The Publican. See here for an interesting piece in The Economist exploring the 'evolution of pubs' and a similar BBC comment last year.

More news and reports
A comment on 'Trade unions and the pub' is the latest addition to the Politics of Drinking blog. Paul Walsh, Chief Executive of Diageo UK will sit on a panel of business advisers to the PM David Cameron - see Telegraph and Independent reports. The new Labour leader Ed Miliband has backed pubs against supermarkets says the MA.

Latest HubCAPP news and projects: Sep 2010

The Hub of Commissioned Alcohol Projects and Policies (HubCAPP) website will shortly be merged with the Alcohol Learning Centre (ALC). The launch date will soon be announced via the ALC website and the next e-bulletin. You can register for ALC e-bulletins here or email enquiries to  [email protected]

Latest additions to the hub:

Bradford and Airedale | Hospital­-based Alcohol Service Project aims to establish the number of people admitted to medical assessment units (MAU) who require an assessment by an Alcohol Clinical Nurse Specialist (ACNS).

County Durham | Whole System Approach to Commissioning a Community Alcohol Service (CAS) was designed as a Public Health model, following a holistic, integrated approach to meet the regional priorities of prevention, treatment and control.

Haringey | Speakeasy! A One-Day Youth Forum on Drugs and Alcohol The One-Day Youth Forum on Drugs and Alcohol was organised in order to reach young people affected by drugs and alcohol in Haringey.

Pembrokeshire | Dignity. Use it. Don't Lose it. was the first stage in a campaign aimed at keeping young people safe whilst on a night out using Bloowire Bluetooth technology

South of Tyne and Wear | North East Regional Alcohol Forum (NERAF)  is a charitable organisation that was designed to "enable positive life change and full recovery" and reduce the harm caused by alcohol misuse to individuals, families and communities.

NUS | Social Norms in Student Drinking - is the media image justified? The NUS, are conducting research into social norms in student drinking as part of the Noctis social norms project.

Darlington | Street Paramedic Pilot aims to place a paramedic with police officers, in and around Darlington Town Centre on Friday and Saturday nights (8pm to 2am), in order to reduce assaults, unnecessary ambulance call-outs and alcohol-related A&E attendances.