Alcohol Policy UK

Round two 'Local Alcohol Action Areas' (LAAA): evaluation to follow?

The Home Office has announced thirty-three new 'Local Alcohol Action Areas' (LAAA) which aim to 'tackle alcohol-related crime and health harms and create a more diverse night-time economy'.

The second phase of LAAAs was opened last year, inviting local authorities to bid based on plans to develop activities such as improving data sharing, developing partnerships, or designing out crime. The selected LAAAs will not receive any funding, but will be allocated a central government support manager and 'will receive support and expertise in crime prevention, licensing and public health from the Home Office, Public Health England, the Welsh government and Nightworks, a company that specialises in diversifying the night-time economy'.

PHE evidence review 2016: will Government policy respond?

Public Health England (PHE) have released its review of the evidence on actions to address alcohol harms. 

Download The public health burden of alcohol and the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alcohol control policies: An evidence review [pdf]

The evidence review covers seven key areas:

• Taxation and price regulation
• Regulating marketing
• Regulating availability
• Providing information and education
• Managing the drinking environment

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.

Scotland, Ireland & Wales: alcohol policy and harm

Alcohol Policy in Scotland and Ireland: European Trailblazers or Celtic Fringes?

Last month Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) released a briefing exploring alcohol policy in Scotland and Ireland. The briefing follows an event at which several speakers considered the positions of the two countries; some of the key points made are described below.

Clare Beeston of NHS Health Scotland provided a review of MESAS (Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy) which had used a Theory of Change (TOC) model to account for changes in the levels of Scotland's alcohol consumption and harm. A downward trend in consumption up until 2012 was driven by the heaviest drinkers and an increase in the rate of abstinence in young adults. Alcohol-related mortality rates though rose rapidly in the early 2000s, then fell in the middle of the decade. Mortality rates have been consistently highest amongst adults aged 55-64 and were eight times higher in the 10% most deprived than in the least deprived areas in 2014.

PHE CLeaR alcohol self-assessment tool to support local strategy

Public Health England (PHE) have released an alcohol CLeaR self-assessment tool which aims to 'bring together all those working to reduce alcohol-related harm in a locality to think through what is working well and to identify the opportunities for further improvement'.

CLeaR stands for 3 linked domains in local alcohol strategy planning, adopted from a similar model for smoking:

Evaluation of Reduce The Strength schemes in two London Boroughs

In recent years a growing number of off-licenses have been reportedly agreeing to adopt 'Reducing The Strength' (RtS) initiatives, whereby shops agree not to sell beer or cider of 6.5% ABV or above.

In 2014 we reported on these schemes which were being said to have positive impacts on street drinking and other issues, despite sections of the trade raising concerns or suggesting the opposite effect in some areas.

Licensing Act has caused 'significant problems' for communities says IAS report

An extensive review of the 2003 Licensing Act has identified a number of problems associated with the Act and its implementation, finding the interests of the licensed trade have benefited over those of local communities.

‘The Licensing Act (2003): its uses and abuses 10 years on [pdf]’ calls into question the impact of the Act from the perspective of reducing alcohol-related harms, though of course such issues are not easily separated from the benefits of the trade. See here for the summary report [pdf] and podcast.

News & updates October 2015: praise for Scotland's MUP fight; alcohol for Bournville; 'boozebulance' banned

Selected alcohol media reports since the September roundup: 

Alcohol policy

The Scottish government has been praised by the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance for its "political courage" in attempting to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol - BBC News. 'We drink for a good time AND when we're having a sh*t time': SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon says alcohol is 'ever present' in Scottish people's lives - Daily Mail

News & updates September 2015: stressed mums, hangover prevention, beer goggles & sober students

Selected alcohol media reports since the August roundup:

Alcohol research

British doctors and scientists have developed a pioneering technology that could save the lives of hundreds of people with livers damaged by alcohol abuse and obesity, reported the Mirror.

Stressed mothers are increasingly turning to wine after the school run, according to a report which suggests parents with children at home are the most likely to have a drink problem. Telegraph

News & updates August 2015: policing Spanish resorts; drunk rape victims, UK nightclubs decline, rise of the half pint

Selected media stories in August since the July roundup:

Crime and disorder

Two police officers posted to a Spanish resort to deal with UK tourists involved in crime have received flak for finishing work at 10pm, just as the bars start to get busy, reported the Guardian. The Daily Mail said Benidorm is to follow Ibiza and Magaluf and deploy British police officers on the streets to curb alcohol-fuelled trouble.

Drunk rape victims can remember their attacks, reported the Telegraph. The story