Topics

Alcohol Themes

Following a recent article in the Airdire and Coatbridge Advertiser on "Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol: A discussion paper on the Scottish Government's Strategic Approach" the Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Action Team (ADAT) asked for the general public's views on alcohol and its associated problems.

Valerie Tallon, ADAT coordinator, said: "Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost the country more than £2.25 billion per year across the NHS, police, the courts, social services and the wider economy.

"No single solution will solve the problems caused by alcohol so the Scottish Government is proposing a comprehensive package of measures and we would like to hear your views."

The proposed measures for tackling Scotland's alcohol misuse problem include; raising the minimum age for off-sales alcohol purchases to 21, setting a minimum price at which a unit of alcohol can be sold and ending 'three for the price of two' type promotions.

For full information on the Scottish Government proposals please visit http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/16084348/0

Please click on this link to see an example of a reader's response.

Based on a wide-ranging consultation and evidence-gathering process, the Plan for Action on Alcohol groups action to meet priorities and objectives under some broad headings or themes, namely:

culture change
prevention and education
support and treatment
protection and controls

Culture Change

The Plan for Action cites a cultural focus on intoxication. While overall consumption levels in Scotland are in fact similar to elsewhere in Northern Europe, Scottish drinking patterns seem more harmful.

Changing drinking culture involves:

Addressing some underlying broad issues such as poverty, that may foster harmful drinking cultures and prevent health improvement
Prompting thought and debate among the general public and opinion-formers about the issues involved
Giving people the information that they need
Influencing attitudes of individuals and organisations
Giving people access to help when they want to change their behaviour
Ultimately, changing behaviour

Prevention and Education

Properly targeted messages on sensible drinking, not just in schools but within the wider community, are needed. Consumption has increased over the past 30 years among young adults in particular changes in licensing have meant more outlets selling alcohol for longer hours to young people who have more money to spend and have been encouraged by alcohol promotions such as happy hours to drink more.

Short term aims:

To start to change unhelpful perceptions of, and attitudes to, alcohol in Scotland, offering realistic options and alternatives
To promote clear and consistent messages relating to alcohol problems

Long term aims:

To reduce the level of consumption of alcohol by some groups within the population
To reduce harmful patterns of alcohol consumption
To reduce specific risks relating to alcohol consumption, such as hazards through work or sports

Support and Treatment

The Scottish Executive also published the Alcohol Problems Support and Treatment Services framework setting out a guide to effective services and a template for identifying which services are available and what other action may be required.

Short term aims:

To provide equitable, accessible and inclusive services to address the needs of those who experience problems with alcohol and those affected by others' alcohol problems
To improve awareness of sources of help and support with alcohol problems

Protection and Control

A review of liquor licensing, The Nicholson Review, was undertaken at the same time that the Plan for Action on Alcohol was published. The Nicholson remit was to rationalise the licensing system and allow it to support public health as well as public order and to protect children. The remit was formalised into the licensing principles and these must be followed in future license applications.

Long term aims:

To reduce crime, nuisance and fear of crime relating to alcohol

Drug Pillars

National Objectives for tackling drug misuse in Scotland were set out in Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership in 1999. These objectives are aligned under the four overarching UK aims and key objectives agreed by Ministers in all four countries in the White Paper, Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain. These aims reflect the four elements or Pillars of the national strategy, namely

Young People
Communities
Treatment
Availability

Young People

UK Aim - To help young people resist drug misuse in order to achieve their full potential in society.
UK Key Objective: Reduce the proportion of people under 25 reporting use of illegal drugs in the last month and previous year.

Communities

UK Aim - To protect our communities from drug related anti-social and criminal behaviour.
UK Key Objective: Reduce levels of repeat offending amongst drug misusing offenders.

Treatment

UK: Treatment - To enable people with drug problems to overcome them and live healthy and crime-free lives
UK Key Objective: Increase participation of problem drug misusers, including prisoners, in drug treatment programmes which have a positive impact on health and crime.

Availability

UK Aim: Availability - To stifle the availability of illegal drugs on our streets
UK Key Objective: Reduce access to drugs amongst 5-16 year olds