An evaluation of the implementation of the objectives of the Scottish Licensing Act has been released by NHS Health Scotland. It reviews the effectiveness of various interventions including test purchasing, Challenge 25 and proof of age schemes. The report finds that test purchasing is seen as the most useful way to influence licensed trade staff practice, especially when combined with robust proof of age schemes.
A recent Scotland MESAS update analysing alcohol sales, revealed that the amount of pure alcohol drunk by Scottish adults has risen from an average of 10.2L per adult in 1994 to 11.2L per adult in 2011. However, since 2005 sales of pure alcohol show a fall from 2010-2011 of 4%. This equates to 21.6 units per week on average. This remains significantly higher than approximately 20% higher than current sales in England and Wales of 2.3L per adult (equating to 17.9 units per week).
Reacting to the report, the former Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon admitted there was no single answer to the Scottish relationship with alcohol, and that the current Scottish Government Alcohol Framework included 40 separate measures to tackle alcohol harms. The BBC reported that Alcohol Focus Scotland have estimated that alcohol harms cost the 32 Local Authorities in Scotland £2bn each year. Dr Evelyn Gillan, CE of Alcohol Focus Scotland stated that Scotland needs to "shift the focus of licencing away from individual on-sales premises to managing the overall availability of alcohol".
The new Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil agreed that more needs to be done to tackle Scotland's problems with alcohol misuse, which currently cost the country £3.6bn per annum. He warned of a "nightmare problem with booze" that threatens to overwhelm the NHS. Scotland plan to bring in minimum pricing following the passing of a new bill this year.
See here for other earlier news from Scotland on hospital statistics, lowering of the drink drive limit and alcohol retail and pricing reports.
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