ALCOHOL POLICY WHAT’S HAPPENING IN ENGLAND? Professor Colin Drummond St George’s University of London

Alcohol is a big problem 90% males, 80% females drink alcohol (16 and over) 30% males, 19% females drink above “safe” level (ONS, 2002) 32% males, 15% females “hazardous/harmful drinkers” AUDIT 8-15 (Drummond et al., 2005) 7M 7% males, 3% females drink above 50/35 units/wk (ONS, 2003) 6% males, 2% females “alcohol dependent” 16+ AUDIT (Drummond et al., 2005) 1M Compared to 0.5% “problem drug misusers”

Source: Anderson et al., forthcoming

Alcohol problems are increasing Alcohol misuse in yr old men increased by 32% in last 12 years In women (all age groups) increase of 70% over same period In 65 years + increase of 31% in men and 75% in women Increase in alcohol related mortality of 25% in last 10 years (women>men) 23% increase in alcohol related road injuries

Source: ONS 2001

“Rising consumption over the last 25 years have been accompanied by an increase in availability” 68% increase in licensed hotels and restaurants 100% increase in off licences 145% increase in on licence applications Increased capacity of on licenses: “Super pubs” are now 20 times bigger than typical pubs

Source: Anderson et al., forthcoming

What is planned?

The Licensing Act 2003 explained: “Flexible opening hours for premises, with the potential for up to 24 hour opening, seven days a week.” “This will help to minimise public disorder resulting from fixed closing times.” Source: DCMS, 2004

DISCLAIMER: NO EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN USED IN THE MAKING OF THIS DOCUMENT

Content of the strategy Better education and communication Improving health and treatment services Combating alcohol-related crime and disorder Working with the alcohol industry

National Alcohol Strategy mapped against Babor et al., 2003 Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity

Some major problems No money No targets No high impact strategies Licensing relaxation Voluntary codes for alcohol industry Less effective controls on alcohol consumption Increased criminalisation

Policy score Less than 9½ 9½ to 10½ 10½ to 12½ More than 12½ Source: Anderson et al., forthcoming

CONCLUSIONS Sharp increase in alcohol consumption in UK has led to dramatic increase in alcohol misuse and alcohol related problems This has occurred in an alcohol policy vacuum Government appears more persuaded by the alcohol industry and their lobbyists than public health experts Hence alcohol strategy designed to be acceptable to industry and to have minimal impact on whole population alcohol consumption Strategy unlikely to reduce or even stem increase in alcohol misuse and alcohol related harm There is a need for close monitoring of indicators of alcohol-related harm