Last week the Home Office announced the twenty Local Alcohol Action Areas (LAAAs) areas across England and Wales it would support to "combat drink-fuelled crime and disorder and the damage caused to people’s health."
Although no additional funding is available to the LAAAs, each will receive support from the Home Office and relevant central health bodies such as Public Health England. The initiative follows the much larger 2008-2011 Alcohol Improvement Programme (AIP) and a 2008 Home Office scheme.
Government input is likely to cover areas identified in the PHE alcohol stocktake tool, an emphasis on industry-led Local Alcohol Partnerships and support around licensing and night time economy issues. Few if any areas seem to have 'cracked' an effective mechanism for public health input into licensing decisions following changes to the law. Just a few areas such as Newcastle and Cheltenham appear to have approved a local Late Night Levy, whilst recently Blackpool's bid to implement the first EMRO was unsuccessful.
Expect more industry-led action?
Announcing the LAAAs, Home Office Minister Norman Baker stated he was "pressing the industry itself to take more responsibility for the problems that inappropriate use of their products cause." A subsequent Independent story reports the alcohol industry has been "ordered by the Home Office to produce plans to tackle the sale and promotion of cheap super-strength beers and cider by the summer or face government action".
The Indy reports that Baker is insisting they must speed up the development of a voluntary code agreed last year to set up voluntary commitments, such as minimising alcohol advertising and confining displays and promotions to single areas. The Portman Group and the Wine and Spirit Trade Association have apparently agreed to take the industry lead on proposals.
Of course health groups wanting tougher action are unlikely to be pleased with emphasis on industry-led partnership schemes or voluntary action. Last year ASDA quit its pledge to stop promoting alcohol in its foyers after other supermarkets had not followed suit - CEO Andy Clarke said the Government needed to do more to 'level the playing field'.
ASDA had originally announced the pledge in 2011 following the controversial Responsibility Deal, which saw further health partners walk out following the minimum pricing u-turn. However industry led work to deliver on the Responsibility Deal alcohol pledges such as labelling, unit reduction and support for Drinkaware is continuing.
Comments