Alcohol Policy UK

IAS Alert November 2016: Scottish Government award, alcohol advertising, Liverpool levy, children & more

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

• Scottish Government wins award for reducing alcohol harm

• Alcohol the cause of 5% of new cancer cases

• Alcohol brands’ ads within guidelines, say ASA

• Alcohol misuse most often treated in middle age

News & updates November 2016: MUP, remote monitoring, tax debates, video games, AlcoPatch & more

Selected media stories since the October roundup:

News & policy reports

Sections of the alcohol industry have prolonged the fight against Scotland's plans for minimum alcohol pricing (MUP). The Scotch Whisky Association said it had a "strong view that minimum pricing is incompatible with EU law" and would appeal, but Health Secretary Shona Robison said the decision was "deeply disappointing". BBC news and APUK analysis.

At least half of the alcohol sold in Scotland is below the sought 50 pence MUP, a survey suggests. More than two-thirds (69%) of the spirits currently sold fall below the 50p per unit threshold, according to analysts Nielsen - BBC news

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.

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.

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.

News & updates July 2016: airports, cancer, binge drinking, PM's pubs policy & more

Selected media stories since the June roundup:

Possible changes to how alcohol is sold at airports hit the headlines following comments from a Conservative peer saying he wants to “look at” airports as currently exempt from licensing laws - thus being able to open 24 hours. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said he did not want to "kill merriment altogether", but that passengers need to be responsible and not disrupt flights and others onboard. Increasing concerns have been voiced over 'floozing' and 'air rage' incidents over recent months. See the Independent's 'what you need to know' and Guardian and BBC reports.

News & updates June 2016: MUP, Euro 2016, Heineken F1 deal & research in the news

Selected media stories since the May roundup:

Minimum unit pricing (MUP) was in the Scottish media as the legal case returned to the Court of Session in Edinburgh for the first of two further hearings.

MUP was also being further politicised by being dragged into the Brexit debate; leave campaigners claiming the failure to implement was an example of a lack of sovereignty, despite the case yet to be concluded. The Scottish Licensed Trade Association also wrote in to the Herald to highlight not all sections of the industry were against MUP; indeed they were supporters of it to 'stop it being used as a loss leader in major supermarkets', and that 'alcohol should not be just another "pile it high, sell it cheap” commodity'. A final decision is expected shortly.

Older people's drinking needs to be recognised and not stigmatized

A recent report provides further insight into the nature of drinking amongst older adults as an issue of increasing attention across the UK. Produced by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, the research explores the complex range of factors and influences affecting drinking in later life, and how retirement and other significant changes can trigger changes in drinking patterns.

Scotland confirms alcohol consumption now rising

The latest data on alcohol sales shows total UK alcohol consumption increased in 2015, confirming the end of the downward trend as anticipated last year.

 

Findings bulletins: Scotland's strategy effect, injuries and opening hours, treatment, AUDIT-C, & school education

Recent bulletins from the drug and alcohol bank:

The impact of Scotland’s ambitious alcohol strategy

While some evidence-based interventions from Scotland’s alcohol strategy have been implemented, failure to introduce minimum unit pricing has limited the strategy’s contribution to declines in alcohol consumption and related harm.

Alcohol-related injuries up by a third when Amsterdam bars open later

Adding just one or two hours to late-night opening times for bars and clubs in two of Amsterdam’s nightlife areas led to a persistent 34% increase in alcohol-related injuries.