Alcohol Policy UK

NDSAG 2012: Rollnick to speak on 21 years and the future of motivational interviewing; Ron McKechnie bursary prize announced

New Directions in the Study of Alcohol Group (NDSAG) has announced its 2012 conference which will explore 21 years of experience and the future for motivational interviewing.

The conference will include a keynote from Professor Stephen Rollnick, author of 'Behaviour Change: a guide for health care professionals' and co-author with Bill Miller of the seminal 'Motivational Interviewing'.

Download the flyer New Directions and Motivational Interviewing 21 years of experience and the future for motivational interviewing or the Welsh verison here.

NDSAG 2012 takes place from Thursday 24th May 2012 to Sunday 27th May 2012, in Llandindrod Wells, Powys, Wales. Other keynote speakers will include Professor Keith Humphreys and Professor Nick Heather amongst others.

NDSAG are also announcing The Ron McKechnie Prize, a competition to submit a paper for publication in the New Directions in the Study of Alcohol Group 2012 Journal. The prize for the winning article will be a bursary for free attendance including registration, accommodation and meals for the full conference. The prize commemorates the memory of Ron McKechnie, one of the founding members of NDSAG, who sadly died last year.

The conference will also feature the annual Alcohol Research UK (formerly AERC) symposium to showcase some of the key research recently funded.

For more infromation visit the NDSAG site or blog, or download the booking form or call for papers. For queries email [email protected].

Swanswell offer on-line advice for men in Alcohol Awareness Week

Here Swanswell - a national charity which helps people overcome drugs, alcohol and other problematic behaviours - provides a guest report of their activity for Alcohol Awareness Week 2011.

Swanswell joined up with Pfizer's Man MOT during Alcohol Awareness Week (AAW) to offer an on-line alcohol clinic. The Man MOTs are a regular Monday online surgery hosted by live GPs to answer health queries in response to statistics that show that men are less likely to visit a GP than women. 

On Monday 18th November Swanswell offered visitors to the Man MOT site the opportunity to take part in a one-to-one confidential online chat with one of Swanswell's trained staff. This allowed visitors to ask confidential alcohol-related questions, including advice on related health and relationship issues. Visitors were also offered referrals to GPs and other professionals, simultaneously holding virtual surgeries on the site.

In addition to online activity, Swanswell staff also visited a range of community settings during Alcohol Awareness Week, including colleges, shopping centres and a visit to the Scouts to raise awareness about the effects of alcohol. Staff took time to explain the risks of drinking excessively and offered visitors the chance to try "beer goggles" which simulate the effects of drinking too much, or highlighting the damage that alcohol can cause during pregnancy.

Over the last two years Swanswell has also worked with Netmums to provide support to members in their Coffee House forums. Swanswell staff monitor these forums and answer questions posted on the Netmums site by parents. In 2010/11 alone the advice in Swanswell posts was viewed 288,720 times.

Alcohol Awareness Week 2011 - local action and activity round up

Last week Charities, Drug and Alcohol Action Teams, health boards, service providers and many others took part in Alcohol Awareness Week (AAW) 2011. Here's a glimpse at some of the activity that took place.

Alcohol Concern, who lead AWW, highlighted the harm caused by alcohol as part of its Charter for a world free from alcohol harm. Alcohol problems across the UK cost the NHS approximately £48K every minute, with over 100 people admitted to hospital every hour, the national Charity said. More than are 40 people dying every day, and every week over 100 children telephone Child-line affected by their carers drinking.

Regionally, Balance North East ran a conference chaired by Fiona Trott of the BBC exploring the harm to others, especially children, and also held a campaign against advertising targeting young people. Drinkwise NorthWest called for 'alcohol champions', releasing resources to support those acting to reduce alcohol misuse.

Elsewhere, a blog on the new Alcohol Research UK site explored the role of AAW and whether there is a risk of "nannying" through alcohol messages, a subject also previously explored by Phil Mellows. AAW also featured on Eagle Radio who looked at pricing, highlighting alcohol as 75% more affordable today than 30 years ago. Drinkaware did not appear to run anything specific for AAW.

Locally, Sheffield DAAT organised a memorial service in the Cathedral for those who had lost someone due to alcohol, whilst others delivered a "Know your Limits" message. Fylde Borough council amongst others arranged alcohol-free “mocktail” events. In Essex, EYPDAS highlighted that 630,000 under 18yr olds were drinking alcohol twice or more each week in the UK.

ReFresh, an organisation working with young people in Hull highlighted 130 youngsters were admitted to Hull Royal Infirmary with acute intoxication in the past year. Service manager Laura Starky attributed rising problems to the strength, cost and availability of alcohol as ReFresh launched a prevention programme aimed at  3,000 young people. The programme includes work with parents and helps young people make informed choices about the risks of alcohol misuse.

Did you do something you want to share for AAW 2011? Have ideas for AAW 2012? Please leave a comment or get in touch.

Recession and the impact on alcohol consumption; industry news & views - recent DDN alcohol features

The current edition of Drink and Drugs News (DDN), the free substance misuse publication, includes a feature which explores how recession can affect alcohol and drug use. 

The article outlines a talk from Rosalie Liccardo Pacula who described a nuanced relationship between alcohol consumption and economic fluctuations. Based on work from an American economist Chris Ruhm, analysis has shown that economic downturns affect light and heavy drinking very differently. Heavy drinking is shown to be 'pro-cyclical' to the economy - that is when the econonmy is suffering, heavy drinking declines.

Lighter or more moderate drinking however is less affected or is even counter-cyclical. The reason? Lighter drinkers spend far less money on alcohol so alcohol expenditure is less affected by a squeeze. Heavier drinkers however spend a larger proportion of their income on alcohol and are therefore more likely to need to cut back to afford other essentials such as food or clothing.

Don Shenker had stated earlier this year that it was "very likely that alcohol consumption will rise again once the economy picks up", responding to news of a slight fall in alcohol-related deaths.

Other recent DDN alcohol features include:

• Is the alcohol industry using social media to flout marketing guidelines? Alcohol Concern thinks so in recent report, a claim refuted by the industry, writes DDN and finds out what the regulators think.
• Speaking with the enemy? To get anywhere with harm reduction relating to alcohol and tobacco we should be working with the industry instead of vilifying it, says Prof Gerry Stimson
• Always ask about Alcohol (2nd page), says Dr Chris Ford who uses a powerful case study to highlight how often alcohol misuse can be overlooked by professionals

Findings offender-related alcohol research: need for offender services; alcohol diversion schemes

Recent research bulletins from the drug and alcohol Bank:

Blockages to adequate alcohol-related services for offenders
Based on exhaustive consultations in the south west of England, this report diagnoses the blockages to providing adequate alcohol-related services to offenders and makes recommendations to improve commissioning, coordination and practice.

No prison-community care pathway in north east England
Problem drinking offenders in north east England benefit from creative partnership working, but still this report baldly states that for prisoners whose sole substance use problem is drinking, a prison-community care pathway simply does not exist.

Young Hertfordshire alcohol offenders pay for their own alcohol education
Enticed by a halving in their fines, young 'binge' drinkers in south east England penalised for alcohol-related nuisance undertook a brief course which was followed by reductions in drinking and better management of potential flash points. The fines they did pay helped finance the courses.

Drinking and problems fall after educating young alcohol offenders in Derbyshire
Enticed by a halving in their fines, young 'binge' drinkers in northern England penalised for alcohol-related nuisance undertook a brief course which was followed by substantial reductions in drinking and alcohol-related problems. The fines they did pay financed the courses.

Alcohol-related Offender Health pages and relevant publications are available on the Alcohol Learning Centre, including NOMS alcohol interventions guidance.

'From one to many: The risks of frequent excessive drinking' - report calls for understanding of 'risky drinking'

A report from 2020health, a health and technology policy body, has emphasised the importance of addressing 'risky drinking' as a key part of public health policy. The report highlights the importance of brief interventions [or IBA] for risky drinkers, the need to promote alcohol-free days, and Government action including minimum pricing.

Download From one to many: The risks of frequent excessive drinking [pdf]

A foreword by Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of Royal College of General Practitioners, states:

"This report focuses on what we term ‘risky drinking’, where a person drinks often, perhaps even every day, but does not necessarily get drunk or display dependence on alcohol. It is these people, a million miles away from the classic image of the teenage binge drinker, who may not even realise they are drinking above the recommended amounts, and are quietly, slowly paving the way to serious health problems in the future."

The report re-emphasises many recent recommendations from health bodies over recent years, including NICE public health alcohol guidance, Alcohol Concern reports, Department of Health commissioning guidance and calls to mainstream brief intervertions.

It specifically calls on the use of new technologies to deliver brief interventions, which should also be included in a 'universal alcohol assessment' offered at age 30. Brief interventions should be included in all NHS health checks, integrated within the QOF and delivered by dentists.

Further information on alcohol and 'risky drinking' can be found from NHS Choices alcohol pages, Drinkaware, and resources and guidance are available from the Alcohol Learning Centre.

North West appeal for Drink Wise champions

To coincide with Alcohol Awareness Week (AAW), Drink Wise North West have launched an appeal for 'Alcohol Champions' to support and lead alcohol harm reduction approaches.

To support potential champions, two new Drink Wise packs have been published:

• The Know More pack sets out the health, financial, social and crime costs in the NW, and supports professionals in building up a business case for change. With 1 in 7 people in the NW drinking at levels which put their health at risk, it's a timely reminder of the sobering consequences of alcohol misuse.

• The Do More pack encourages people to become Drink Wise Champions: to challenge themselves, their friends and colleagues to tackle alcohol harms more robustly. The pack suggests that everyone can take small but important actions to "rebalance" the heavy drinking culture in which we find ourselves. It sets out 10 key questions, such as for workplaces to ask themselves about how they manage alcohol and related problems at work. It also lists practical steps that a Champion can take, from lobbying MPs to keeping their own drink diary.

The “Do More” and “Know More” packs form the Drink Wise Champion’s Handbook, which is intended to bring together useful ideas, resources and facts for anyone who wants to make the case for reducing the damaging effects of alcohol. It has been produced by Drink Wise North West, in partnership with Our Life, North West Employers and NWIEP.

Balance speaks out on alcohol advertising targetting young people in the North East

Alcohol advertising is risking the lives and futures of children across the North East by encouraging them to drink early and more, according to a campaign launched this week by Balance, the North East Alcohol Office.

Through its ‘See What Sam Sees’ campaign Balance says it is inviting North Easterners to take a child's eye view and witness the way the alcohol industry is bombarding young people with ads which make drinkers appear popular, successful and attractive. In the region 55% of people already agree that alcohol targets under18s. 

 

The film was ruled it could not be shown on TV as it contravened the Communications Act 2003 since Balance hoped to use the ad to encourage visitors to its website to sign a petition. The petition calls on Government to introduce more meaningful regulations to stop the alcohol industry reaching children and young people through advertising.

Colin Shevills, Director of Balance said: "Our children are brought up in a world where drinking at an early age and consuming large quantities is viewed as 'normal' or 'acceptable' and alcohol advertising plays a central role in this. We need to stop the alcohol industry from recruiting its next generation of drinkers and exposing young people to £800m worth of marketing a year."

Balance is urging North Easterners to visit www.balancenortheast.co.uk and sign its petition which calls out for regulations to:

• Prevent alcohol ads from targeting children and young people
• Prevent alcohol ads from being shown on TV and in the cinema for under 18 certificate films
• Prevent alcohol ads from being shown through social networking sites
• Prevent alcohol sponsorship of sporting and youth events.

Earlier this year Alcohol Concern called for further action to address children and young people's exposure to advertising.

Alcohol Awareness Week 2011, 14th - 20th November

Alcohol Awareness Week (AAW) runs from 14th-20th November, led by Alcohol Concern the national charity on alcohol misuse. 

As part of AAW, Alcohol Concern have launched a Charter for a World Free from Alcohol Harm. It is a call to action on politicians and professionals to campaign for the measures necessary to enable people in the UK to live free from alcohol harms. The measures are based on WHO recommendations and on policies supported by professionals in the alcohol and health fields.

The Charter aims to promote action to reduce the risks alcohol presents to society. It sets out measures such as responsible retailing, ensuring alcohol is not sold at artificially low prices, protecting children from social marketing, limiting the number of new licences, and increasing the identification and support of people suffering from alcohol-related harms.

Alcohol Concern are calling for as many people and groups as possible to sign up to the Charter, so that a real "grassroots" movement is formed. They also want the Charter and its measures to be formally included in the forthcoming National Alcohol Strategy. This, they believe, will ensure that the public health of the nation is always put first, and that we will begin to live in a world which gives each of us the right to live free from the burdens of alcohol abuse.

The publishing of the Charter is the start of a range of activities by Alcohol Concern during Alcohol Awareness Week, which also include the launch of the Youth Report on Advertising and an invitation to share your local activities on their Facebook page.

For more information see here or visit the Alcohol Concern Facebook page. Alcohol Concern have also made a units poster available to help people think about their level of drinking.

Health Committee concerns over Public Health budgets - risks to investment in alcohol treatment and prevention?

The Health Committee has voiced concerns over plans to pass control of Public Health budgets to Local Government in a new Public Health report. Launching the report, Health Select Committee Chair Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell MP said "Public Health England (PHE) must be visibly and operationally independent of Ministers. It must demonstrate that it is able to, and regularly does, speak 'truth unto power'." 

Dorrell also said the Committee remained "unconvinced that the new Responsibility Deal will, by itself, resolve major issues such as obesity and alcohol abuse. The Government must set out clearly how progress will be monitored, and when tougher action will be taken if ‘nudging’ does not work." A Lords Select Committee earlier the year said the 'nudge' approach alone is not enough.

Local Government is due to take over responsibility for work which includes drug and alcohol and lifestyle programmes under the Public Health reforms. This means budgets for drug and alcohol treatment and prevention will fall under the governance of Local Government from 2013 alongside the transfer of Directors of Public Health, currently employed by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has stated Public Health budgets will be protected, indicating around £4bn will be ring-fenced for Public Health nationally.

However the Health Committee, a cross-party group of MPs, worry that Local Government budget cuts might compromise the "protected position" of such monies. Local authorities face a reduction in funding from £29.7bn to £24.2bn by 2014, a 26% reduction accounting for inflation. The Health Committee fear scenarios where schemes are "re-badged" to take advantage of the Public Health ring-fenced monies. One BBC report suggested councils might 'play the system' in ways such as using Public Health budgets on road repairs and potholes since they can impact on hospital admissions.

MPs have called for assurances that Directors of Public Health retain some of their powers to ensure the security of ring-fenced money. Inevitably, it is argued, it is the most disadvantaged communities who will suffer if disinvestment takes place. Whilst the the Department of Health (DH) has committed to narrowing the gap in health inequalities, disinvestment in local treatment and support services will surely impact negatively on health outcomes. Alcohol services are already under-funded with organisations such as Alcohol Concern regularly calling for further investment.

The DH have stated that the new ring-fenced budget is intended to pay for new Public Health functions, not currently existing schemes. Concerns over possible disinvestment are not shared by the Local Government Association (LGA) who assert that they are best placed to decide how Public Health monies should be spent locally, and reassure that "Public Health is at the heart of what councils do".