Alcohol Policy UK

Pubs and policy in 2019?

Pubs look set to continue to be a source of interest within alcohol policy debates in 2019, in part owing to their perceived role amongst some as part of a healthier drinking culture and shift away from cheap off-trade sales.

Pubs have however been in decline since the 1980s, with current estimates suggesting 18 pubs are closing every week, and 1 in 4 having closed since 2008 according to ONS pub statistics released last year.

Dry January in 2019: still in vogue, but still facing questions

It seems 2019 is to be another strong year for Dry January, with over four million people expected to take part according to Alcohol Change UK. However the campaign continues to face criticisms from some perhaps unexpected quarters.

Alcohol Change UK emphasise that going dry for the month leads people to drink less year-round, responding to the commonly raised issue of whether taking part may lead to more drinking pre or post January, with some arguing year round moderate drinking messages are preferable. Alcohol Change UK say new unpublished data on 2018 participants bolsters previous research by the University of Sussex which suggested 70% of risky drinking participants were still drinking less six months on. Participants also reported a wide range of other health and social benefits including saving money, better sleep and losing weight.

Can duty cuts save pubs? Lobby groups target 2018 budget

Its no secret that pub numbers have been in decline for decades, but less clear is the role duty and tax policies may have played. Ahead of the 2018 budget, a number of industry-led campaigns have again been vying for the Chancellor's attention in calling for freezes on alcohol duties.

However as seen in the run up to previous budgets, questions over who really gains and who loses from alcohol duty freezes have been raised, with some stating that cuts or freezes actually harm pubs. Whilst clear or publicly available evidence may be lacking, some have pointed out that cuts and freezes to beer duty have seen falls in supermarket prices, but actually rises in pub prices. During the duty escalator period of 2008-2013 (for beer) the rising gap between pub and supermarket beer prices appeared to have been halted, as put forward in an IAS briefing on 'The rising affordability of alcohol' [pdf] and seemingly supported by evidence on tax changes in a 2012 RAND report.

Alcohol Charter calls for evidence based national strategy

An Alcohol Charter has been released by a cross-party parliamentary group and thirty organisations calling for the forthcoming national alcohol strategy to reflect the PHE evidence review for reducing alcohol harm.

Download the Alcohol Charter [pdf] here.

The Charter includes a call to increase alcohol duties by 1% above RPI in order to provide £100 million ring-fenced for alcohol treatment services which are currently "in crisis" according to a recent report. It also makes key calls to improve support for those in need, measures to protect public health and actions to address alcohol-related crime and disorder, attracting some media attention.

News & updates September 2018: Labour pledge hospital alcohol teams, drink-drive limit questioned, health, pubs & more

Selected media stories since the August update:

Alcohol treatment figures are falling despite record numbers of people with dependency, reports The Guardian. The figures come as MP Jon Ashworth pledges Labour would fund an alcohol care team in every district hospital at a cost of £13.5 million, though would result in savings of £40 million to the NHS. Figures suggest that at least 41 English hospitals do not currently have an alcohol care team in place - The Metro.

Drink-drive limits are too high suggests a BBC report. In England, Wales or Northern Ireland, it says 'you can drink a surprising amount of alcohol before you go above the current drink-drive limits'. However even within the limits - 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood- drinkers are up 13 times more likely to kill someone than a driver with a zero BAC. The drink-drive limit is the highest in Europe with most countries at 50mg per 100ml. "The government currently has no immediate plans to lower the drink-drive limit" a Government spokesperson said.

IAS Alert September 2018: cheap alcohol calls, FASD, treatment levy, Diageo & more

The latest Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) Alcohol Alert: September 2018 is now available (here for PDF version). Read the editorial here and articles below:

• COVER STORY – Postcard campaign on cheap drink launched
• FASD a ‘hidden epidemic’
• Pay 3p more for a beer, save lives with an Alcohol Treatment Levy
• MUP boosts alcohol sales for Scottish stores, study says
• Jon Ashworth: Alcohol addiction services will no longer be neglected
• Alcohol industry CSR actions ineffective
• NIAAA tweaks alcohol-cancer link understatement

PHE, Drinkaware & public policy: reaction and debate continues

In the weeks since Public Health England (PHE) announced its partnership with Drinkaware for the 'drink free days' campaign, it has faced widespread criticism. The extent of the concern may have taken some, including PHE, by surprise. However, the fact it has raised the profile of debates about industry-Government partnerships may be seen by critics as an important repercussion.

An open letter expressing concern about the partnership has now been released, calling on UK public health scientists to sign and support its calls for PHE to “work with your Alcohol Leadership Board to formulate and publish guidelines for engagement with the alcohol industry and its associated organisations”. The letter argues the decision has led to significant “reputational risk to PHE’s status as a provider of impartial, evidence-based advice” and its authors are “alarmed by public statements from PHE” in response to concerns raised.

Alcohol labelling 'failing consumers' says Alcohol Health Alliance

The Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) have launched a 'right to know' campaign calling for an end to the self-regulation of alcohol labels which it says is currently 'failing consumers'.

The campaign follows a review of 320 alcohol product labels across 12 UK locations which found 'only 24 labels out of 320 informed consumers of the Chief Medical Officers’ (CMOs) low-risk weekly guideline of 14 units, more than two and a half years after the guideline took effect.'

PHE partner with Drinkaware for 'Drink Free Days' campaign

Public Health England (PHE) has jointly launched a new campaign with the industry funded alcohol education charity Drinkaware to promote 'Drink Free Days'.

According to PHE, the campaign 'will be encouraging middle-aged drinkers to use the tactic of taking more days off from drinking as a way of reducing their health risks from alcohol.' It states evidence suggests 'that simple and easy ways of helping people to change their behaviour are the most effective, which is why Drinkaware and PHE have chosen to focus on Drink Free Days'.

IAS Alert August 2018: airport alcohol disorder, guidelines and risk, pubs & 'responsible drinking'

The latest Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) Alcohol Alert: August 2018 is now available (here for PDF version). Read the editorial here and articles below:

• COVER STORY – Drunk, disruptive air passenger numbers on the rise
• Alcohol industry relies on heavy drinkers
• No level of alcohol improves health, says The Lancet
• Moderate drinking does not prevent dementia
• Alcohol addiction medications improve patient lives