Alcohol Policy UK

News & updates July 2018: flying and boating; University AA, alcoholocks, marketing & more

Selected media stories since the June update:

A government-backed campaign to prevent inebriated passengers from boarding airplanes is being rolled out at ten airports – Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Southampton, Bristol and Newcastle. The One Too Many initiative, where passengers will see warnings about alcohol consumption posted on digital display screens, will be shown in duty-free shops and leaflets handed out by the police. Telegraph

NUS Wales president Gwyneth Sweatman said Cardiff University's successful Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings means they should be rolled out across all universities, reports the BBC. An AA trustee said the number of younger attendees at meetings was rising each year. However Professor Tony Moss Tweeted the article missed two important points; firstly that not all alcohol problems are dependence, and secondly that AA is just one form of support drinkers might seek.

UK alcohol consumption trend flat: MESAS 2018

The latest data on UK alcohol sales has been released by NHS Scotland, showing consumption appears to have stabilised since 2013 in England and Scotland.

The report states:

'After increasing over the 1990s and early 2000s, the volume of pure alcohol sold per adult in Scotland stabilised at around 11.6 litres per adult between 2005 and 2009. Following a period of decline to 2013, the volume of pure alcohol sold per adult has remained broadly stable and in 2017 was at a level similar to that seen in 1994.'

News & updates May 2108: treatment cuts, small measures, new strategy, MUP 'loopholes'

Selected media stories since the April roundup:

Analysis by the BBC found £162m (18%) has been cut from drug and alcohol treatment budgets in England since 2013-14, with budgeted spending falling from £877m in 2013-14 to £716m in 2017-18.

Severe funding cuts and a loss of qualified staff have pushed England’s alcohol treatment services to crisis point, a report published by Alcohol Concern warned. Problems could further worsen from 2020 due to the end of ring-fenced public health funding. LocalGov and APUK analysis.

Guidance and anticipation as Scotland gears up for minimum pricing

On Tuesday 1st May 2018, Scotland's long running bid for minimum unit pricing (MUP) will finally come into action, preventing the sale of alcohol at less than 50 pence per unit.

The Scottish Government recently issued guidance on the implementation of MUP [pdf], outlining information and FAQs on the calculation, implementation, and enforcement of minimum pricing - also at www.minimumunitpricing.scot.

MUP will be enacted as a mandatory condition applying to all licensed premises in Scotland, with local Licensing Standards Officers (LSOs) responsible for licensing adherence, and there will be 'no period of grace allowed'. The guidance states licensed premises are likely to be contacted by LSO which may include inspection visits for which 'the LSO will expect to see clear pricing information for every alcoholic product offered for sale'.

News & updates March 2018: MUP Scotland and Wales, cuts, older people, beer affordability & more

Selected media stories since the February roundup:

Writing in the Scotsman, Alcohol Focus Scotland Chief Executive Alison Douglas, said "The historic introduction of Minimum Unit ­Pricing (MUP) of ­alcohol is just weeks away and will mark a significant turning point in ­Scotland’s damaging relationship with drink. When this life-saving ­policy comes into effect on May 1, the positive impact on the nation’s health will be felt in a matter of months. In the first year alone, minimum pricing could prevent 60 ­alcohol-related deaths, 1,300 hospital admissions and 3,500 crimes, and those health and ­other benefits will build over time.". See APUK's MUP and UK policy analysis here.

News & updates February 2018: pricing, Baclofen, admissions & new UK Hospitality industry body

Selected media stories since the January roundup: 

"Hazardous or harmful" drinkers must get the help they need if minimum unit pricing is introduced, Alcohol Concern Wales has said as the Welsh Government seeks to follow Scotland with a minimum 50p unit price in law. "I think we've known for quite sometime a lot of the alcohol in this country is consumed by those where alcohol is a problem not a pleasure" said, Andrew Misell, director of Alcohol Concern Wales. BBC

Wales MUP Vs taxation report as Scotland's MUP approaches

The Sheffield Alcohol Research Group have published its final report comparing the impact of Minimum Unit Pricing to taxation policies in Wales.

Download 'Model-based appraisal of the comparative impact of Minimum Unit Pricing and taxation policies in Wales: Final report' [pdf]

Wales has been seeking a 50 pence MUP and can now expect to progress with implementation after the legal go ahead for MUP in Scotland last year following a long running legal challenge from sections of the alcohol industry. Notably the legal challenge largely revolved around how proportionate MUP was in relation to other possible options including taxation changes.

News & updates January 2018: airports, labelling 'awareness vacuum', young people, Newcastle MUP

Selected media stories since the November roundup: 

Restrictions on the sale of alcohol at UK airports could be introduced in an effort to reduce the number of drink-related rage incidents on planes. Airports are currently exempt from legislation governing when they can sell alcohol. The Home Office says passengers should be able to enjoy their holidays without having their flight disrupted by "a small minority of people". It is expected to begin assessing the impact of implementing the Licensing Act 2003 on airside premises in a few weeks. BBC

Minimum pricing back in the spotlight following House of Commons Committe and IFS report

Scotland's green light to implement minimum unit pricing (MUP), due to come into effect in May this year, already appears to be increasing policy attention to the issue south of the border as MPs heard from stakeholders at a session on MUP held by the Health and Home Affairs Committees. 

The committee sought to assess the case for introducing MUP on alcohol in England, in particular: 

• the potential impact a MUP could have on health, healthcare and the criminal justice system 
• any cross border implications posed by decisions of the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments. 

The sessions are available to watch here. Below we attempt to capture some of the key points discussed.

IAS looks back on 2017 'year in review'

The Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) has released a look back over 2017 highlighting its key moments as captured in the monthly IAS alerts.

Pricing issues of course feature as the year saw the conclusion to Scotland's long running minimum unit pricing (MUP) legal battle, as well as news and research covering a range of further policy issues including advertising, drink driving, parental drinking and other issues.