Alcohol Policy UK

IAS Alert October 2016: MUP, calls to lower drink driving limit, licensing & more

The latest Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) Alcohol Alert: October 2016 is now available (here for PDF version). Read the editorial here and articles below:

• Personal licences for alcohol continue to rise

• Booze sold at “pocket money prices”

• Road safety and health groups call for lower drink driving limit

• Parental absence linked to pre-teen drinking risk

• Smirnoff #whatwebring video deemed safe to view

• Volume markings lead to slower drinking

• Judges: Minimum Unit Pricing is still legal

• Women closing the drinking gap on men

• SALSUS: Drunkenness among Scottish 13-year-olds rises

Licensing figures 2016: number of licensed premises continues to rise

The Home Office recently released 2016 statistics on alcohol and late night refreshment licensing in England and Wales, showing a further small but steady rise in the total number of licensed premises. Reviews of premises potentially causing problems have continued to decline, though the reasons behind this are unclear.

As of 31 March 2016 there were 210,000 premises licences in England and Wales, an increase of 3% (up 5,500) compared with 31 March 2014 when the data was last submitted by Local Authorities. The Home Office reports this is a 'broadly increasing trend seen since 31 March 2010' when 202,000 premises were recorded.

Scottish Courts approve minimum pricing - but further delay still possible

Public health groups and other supporters of minimum unit pricing (MUP) recieved welcome news last week as the Scottish Courts decided the measure could be justified under EU law.

Scotland had first passed legislation to implement MUP in 2012 but have been facing ongoing legal hurdles as a result of action led by sections of the alcohol industry. In January this year the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled it was for the Scottish Inner House of the Court of Session to decide on MUP, but could only agree it if 'proportionality' could be proved.

Latest from the IBA blog: who and where for brief interventions?, 95% comfortable talking about alcohol, training questions & more

The alcohol IBA blog was set up to promote understanding and the delivery of IBA through news, links and ideas. 

Recent posts from the IBA blog include:

• Who and where for IBA – are nurses and universities best?

• 95% people are ‘comfortable’ talking to GPs about alcohol

• IBA in non-health settings: Middlesex research programme findings

• PHE updated ‘IBA tool’ following new guidelines

Alcohol Research UK funding calls & new Alcohol Research Grapevine

Alcohol Research UK funding calls: research grants & studentships

Applications are open for the 2016 Alcohol Research UK Research Innovation Grants programme, which must be received by 1 November 2016.

Alcohol Health Alliance call for minimum pricing as Scotland awaits

This month the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) released a report calling for firm action on pricing as it warned of the damaging impact of alcohol available at 'pocket money prices'.

The report, 'Cheap alcohol: the price we pay' [pdf], says it is possible to buy almost seven and a half litres of high strength white cider for the cost of a standard off-peak cinema ticket. The report was covered in the media, highlighting the key findings:

• Alcohol continues to be sold at pocket money prices, with white cider dominating the market for cheap, high-strength drinks.

Second phase of 'Local Alcohol Action Areas' (LAAA) open

The Home Office has written to Local Authorities inviting them to apply to take part in the second round of the Local Alcohol Action Area (LAAA) project. Up to 40 areas in England and Wales may be chosen to receive support from 'central government and, where appropriate, the alcohol industry' - see the LAAA round 2 prospectus here [pdf].

The second round was announced earlier this year in the Government’s Modern Crime Prevention Strategy which emphasised local partnership approaches, particularly relating to initiatives to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder. Local areas applying will be required to 'tackle one or more of a core set of challenges focused on preventing crime and disorder in the night time economy' that include:

Events & dates: guidelines & tech, alcohol & pregnancy, King's MSc Policy & Practice, European conference & SSA

Selected alcohol events and opportunities forthcoming in 2016/17:

Last Chance! Reducing alcohol consumption: guidelines, local government & digital tech

On Wednesday 12 October 16:30 – 19:30 in London, a UCL led event 'Reducing alcohol consumption: guidelines, local government and digital technologies' takes place. The free event will bring together researchers and practitioners to discuss the latest research evidence and research evidence gaps. See here for registration.

BBPA 'sales to drunks' posters - enough to change behaviour?

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has "rejuvenated" its poster campaign which aims to help raise awareness of the laws prohibiting selling alcohol to or on behalf of someone intoxicated - BBPA press release.

The BBPA says it has worked alongside Drinkaware and National Pubwatch to create the campaign, which "aims to support staff in upholding these laws and ensuring a safe and sociable drinking environment".

However the extent to which posters can change the behaviour of either bar servers or customers is uncertain; indeed posters designed to promote responsible drinking have been shown to potentially have the opposite intended effect.

News & updates September 2016: Welsh MUP block, air rage, 'alcohosynth', hangovers, ad bans & more

Selected media stories since the August roundup:

Alcohol in the news

Welsh Government attempts to set a minimum 50p per unit (MUP) have been blocked by Westminster in a move criticised by Doctors - BBC News. MPs refused to devolve pricing powers to the Welsh Government who would seek to stop alcohol being sold "cheaper than water".

The growing number of older people being treated for alcohol dependence is 'all over us like a rash', according to an article in The Huffington Post. The number of people in England aged over 60 being treated for alcohol dependence rose 38% between 2009/10 to 2013/14 as 'the ‘Baby Boomer’ Generation continue with hedonistic lifestyles into their later years'.