A new survey by the Local Government Association (LGA) says nearly 90% of council health chiefs want a public health objective included in a revamped Licensing Act, according to an LGA release.
Additionally the survey found that nine out of ten Directors of Public Health said adding a public health objective to the Licensing Act would help them do their jobs more effectively. Councils also wanted greater access to NHS data, including hospital admissions and ambulance call-out details to assist decision making.
The survey follows an LGA report released last year calling for public health to be a potential consideration within licensing decisions on the basis of alcohol-related health harms associated with over-supply, describing the current limitations as 'bizarre'. Currently local health bodies can take part in licensing decisions, but any evidence submitted must be related to one of the existing non-health related licensing objectives. For instance hospital data might be useful in highlighting violent crime incidents, which could be considered under the 'prevention of crime' objective. Currently a fifth 'public health' licensing objective forms part of Scotland's licensing laws.
Cllr Tony Page, Licensing spokesman on the LGA's Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:
"Obviously councils are not seeking powers to refuse every application - the social benefits of moderate drinking are well documented - but it would certainly allow them to take a more balanced view in line with their other priorities such as creating vibrant and safe town centres and protecting people from harm.
Alcohol is a significant public health issue in many areas and having new licensing powers to protect and improve public health would allow councils to fully take into account the social and health impacts on their local communities as well as help reduce NHS costs."
In England new licensing powers were brought in as part of the the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act (PRSA) 2011. The 2010 consultation was branded as 're-balancing the licensing act', but given no significant change in total numbers of licensed premises since, alongside the failure of measures such as 'Early Morning Restriction Orders', any significant 're-balancing' has not materialised.
Scotland's Licensing Act does include a public health objective, although its licensing framework operates differently with various challenges identified. A 'top twenty manifesto' from SHAAP recently called for a 'national licensing authority' with powers to monitor and enforce Scotland's health licensing objective.
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