Alcohol Policy UK

Street drinking in Barking & Dagenham: a research report

A new research report detailing the experiences of street drinkers in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham highlights the lack of published research on the subject, as well as the complexity of the issue and possible responses.

Download Street Drinking in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham: 2018 Research Report [pdf].

The report was commissioned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and conducted by researchers at London South Bank University in partnership with local service provider WDP. The project used in-depth interviews and field observations alongside local outreach workers from April to October 2018 involving people in recovery, key workers, and local residents.

News & updates October 2017: soberocracy, hangover-free prosecco, gin pong, rise of the micropub

Selected news and media stories since the September roundup:

We are witnessing the rise of a 'soberocracy' suggested the Telegraph at the start of Macmillan Cancer Support's 'Go Sober for October' initiative, whose popularity, and that of Alcohol Concern's 'Dry January', make 'the seemingly ingrained British belief that nights out and nights in both require alcohol [look] increasingly anachronistic'.

News & updates July 2017: memory, diabetes benefit?, drunk in charge of a child, school exclusions & more

Selected news and media stories since the June roundup:

Supreme Court judges retired to consider the latest appeal against minimum pricing of alcohol in Scotland, reported BBC News whilst public health experts continued to put forward their case for the policy (eg in the Guardian and Independent). See our report here.

Commons alcohol policy briefings: MUP, taxation, licensing, pubs & street drinking

A spate of alcohol research briefings produced by the House of Commons Library have recently been released, suggesting continuing Government interest in alcohol's impact on society. Whilst alcohol policy is unlikely to form a significant feature of any campaigning in the forthcoming general election, an expectation of the need to tackle alcohol harms now seems further embedded amongst the general population.

The recent House of Commons Library briefings include:

Tackling Street Drinking PCC guidance: what's new?

New guidance 'Tackling Street Drinking' [pdf] has been released by a consortium of Police Crime Commissioners (PCCs), which aims to 'reduce the incidents of, and burden from, street drinking and to improve the interventions provided to street drinkers themselves.'

The guidance states that street drinking is a 'widespread and persistent problem', and should be tackled on the basis of negative effects on those who witness it including children, the effect on local businesses, and costs incurred to the public sector.

As such the report identified 'nine areas of action that PCCs can pursue to make a difference':

News & updates August 2016: Olympics sales boost as sponsors criticised, alcohol and flying, healthy choices, 21 pubs a week close & more

Selected media stories since the July roundup: 

The British Olympic team's Strongbow sponsorship deal came under fire from alcohol and health groups in a letter to the Guardian, warning over 'strong evidence that exposure to alcohol marketing leads young people to drink at an earlier age'. Strongbow featured official Team GB branding on its products and spent several million pounds on a “supporting the supporters” campaign in Britain. Heineken, who own the brand, defended the partnership stating it would be 'exclusively focussed on the adult fans' and 'Strongbow will not be sold or promoted at Games venues, feature in TV coverage, or be linked to any individual member of Team GB'.

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.

Evaluation of Liverpool 'wet centre' for street drinkers

An evaluation of a 'wet centre' to reduce street drinking issues in Liverpool has been released by Liverpool John Moores University's Centre for Public Health.

The Rehabilitation, Education, Support & Treatment (REST) Centre ran as a pilot from June to September 2015. Delivered by local homeless providers commissioned by Liverpool's Citysafe Partnership, it has since been set up on a more permanent basis.

News & updates January 2016: NHS strains, drink driving, kudzu, industry and problem drinkers & more

Selected media stories since the December roundup, not including the widely reported change in drinking guidelines:

Alcohol, health and the NHS

The NHS faces a ticking timebomb of dementia, brain damage and liver disease due to the heavy drinking of the baby boomer generation, reported the Daily Mail

A study reported in the Daily Mail found that alcohol consumption can increase consumption of unhealthy food via its effects on inhibitory control, although not in highly restrained eaters.

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