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Alcohol Occasional Programme 2016/2017

Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and the Scottish Alcohol Research Network (SARN) are pleased to announce our programme for the lunchtime ‘Alcohol Occasional’ seminars. These showcase innovative research on alcohol use and provide the chance for researchers, practitioners and policy makers and members of the public to hear and discuss alcohol related topics.

The theme for this seminar series, from October 2016, is ‘Alcohol and Health Inequalities’. This series of presentations will provide insights and stimulate discussion about alcohol and health inequalities in different contexts, drawing on a range of disciplines and opening up debate about implications for policy and practice. Following the seminars, SHAAP will produce briefing papers, which will aim to capture the main themes and to communicate these to a wider audience. You can access reports from previous seminars here.

All of the Alcohol Occasional seminars will be run in conjunction with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and will take place from 12.30 – 14.00 at their historic premises at 9 Queen Street Edinburgh, EH2 1JQ. Lunch will be provided free of charge.

Thursday, 13th October 2016 Dr Katherine Smith, Global Public Health Unit, The University of Edinburgh Tackling Health Inequalities in Scotland & Implications for Alcohol Policy
Monday, 5th December 2016 Dr S Vittal Katikireddi, MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow Does harm from drinking differ by socioeconomic status? Exploring the alcohol harms paradox
Tuesday 24th January 2017 Oceana Maund and Vic Valentine, Scottish Transgender Alliance How inclusive are we? A trans perspective on alcohol and drug services in Scotland
Thursday 27th February 2017 Neil Martin, Research and Information Manager, Balance, the North East Alcohol Office Alcohol admissions and health inequalities: is the tide finally turning?
Monday 13th March 2017 Dr Lesley Graham, Clinical Lead for Alcohol, Drugs and Health in Justice Settings, ISD Scotland Alcohol problems in criminal justice settings: an opportunity not to be missed
Thursday 11th May 2017 Dr Andrew Symon, Senior Lecturer, Mother and Infant Research Unit, University of Dundee Drinking in pregnancy: a comparison between areas of high and low deprivation in Scotland
Wednesday 14th June 2017 Dr Catherine Chiang, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Alcohol Deaths in Glasgow 2010.  Has Service Redesign had an Impact?

 

Important: These events are popular and places are limited. We need you to confirm if you would like to attend these events. You can register via EventBrite by clicking on the title of the event(s) you wish to attend. If you have not booked, you will not have a place.

New support for Alcohol Minimum Unit Pricing.

Thank you to Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) for the following article.

Scottish Health Professionals welcome new report from Edinburgh University Law School, backing Scottish Government’s Alcohol Minimum Unit Pricing case

As the Alcohol Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) court case returns to the Court of Session on 7 and 8 July, SHAAP (Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems) welcomes a new academic study which strongly supports the moral and legal validity of this Public Health measure.

 The new study, by Dr Arianna Andreangeli, Making markets work in the interest of public health: the case of the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012, draws on the experience of a number of Canadian provinces that show that minimum unit pricing may well be the most effective tool to address the health-related and social ills arising from alcohol consumption.

Dr Andreangeli calls on the Scottish Court of Session to be “courageous” and…’to embrace the “brave new world” of price controls as tools of “genuine” public interest regulation. The Scottish Government’s legislation continues to be blocked by a consortium of global alcohol producers, fronted by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Dr Andreangeli asserts that the SWA case, ‘pits the demands of free, competitive and efficient markets against the protection of high levels of public health in light of the needs of Scotland’s population’.

The author ‘strongly suggests’ that:

“minimum pricing rules, compared with other price-based policy tools, may be more effective in achieving the reduction of demand- and, consequently, of alcohol-related health and social damage, especially among disadvantaged layers of the Scottish population.”

Dr Andreangeli argues that experience in Canada has shown that Minimum Unit Pricing legislation has had direct effects on alcohol-related mortality: in British Columbia, in the years between 2002 and 2009, a generalised increase in the minimum price by 1% was estimated to lead to an immediate, substantial and significant reduction in “wholly alcohol-attributable” deaths–i.e. deaths that find their “underlying cause” in the alcohol consumption–of 3%.  The same study highlighted an immediate reduction of mortality of 35.25% overall as a result of an increase by 10% on the price of spirits and a lagged reduction in years 1 and 2 following the same increase in the price for cider and coolers (i.e. mixed drinks).

Eric Carlin, Director of SHAAP, said:

“The MUP legislation has not been implemented because of the ongoing legal challenge by global producers, led by the SWA, prioritising profits over health. This new research provides important additional support for the Scottish Government’s case.

“Twenty-two people die every week in Scotland because of alcohol. The Scottish medical professions have to deal with the harms caused by cheap, strong alcohol, sold for as little as 18p per unit, which devastates the lives of individuals, families and communities.

“I hope that the Court of Session will make its decision, in favour of MUP, wisely and swiftly, in the interests of the people, reducing the burden on GPs, hospital and emergency services and the distress and harms caused to Scottish people.”

 About SHAAP

Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) provides the authoritative medical and clinical voice on the need to reduce the impact of alcohol related harm on the health and wellbeing of people in Scotland and the evidence-based approaches to achieve this. As a partnership, it is governed by an Executive Committee made up of members of the Royal Colleges.

For further information and comment contact:

Eric Carlin (Director) SHAAP: 0750 5081784 and shaap.director@rcpe.ac.uk

University College London Release APP to Reduce Alcohol Consumption

University College London have released an APP to help Iphone users curb their alcohol consumption. The Drink Less APP allows people to keep track of how much they drink, set goals to drink less, get feedback, and access unique and fun ways of changing attitudes towards alcohol.

The APP allows you to:
– Keep track of your drinking and see how it changes over time
– Set goals for the targets that matter to you and get feedback on your progress towards them
– Complete a daily mood diary so you can better understand the effects of your hangover
– Play games designed to strengthen your resolve to drink less alcohol
– Create plans for dealing with situations when you may be tempted to drink excessively
– Take part in exercises designed to change your relationship with alcohol

The Drink Less APP has been created by a team of psychologists at University College London who are researching what techniques help people reduce their consumption of alcohol. The app can be used fully without taking part in their study and there is an option to opt-out of it at any time.

If you are 18> and have access to an Iphone then please consider downloading the APP. Participation will help the researchers to understand what works to reduce alcohol consumption.

You can get more information or download the APP here.

 

Daily Mail, 25th February: Starbucks and Pret to sell alcohol in a bid to lure late-night drinkers away from pubs

Thanks to SHAAP for their weekly media monitoring.
This article was taken from The Daily Mail, 25th February

Starbucks and Pret to sell alcohol in a bid to lure late-night drinkers away from pubs

Starbucks and sandwich chain Pret a Manger are to begin selling alcohol in a bid to attract late night drinkers away from pubs.

Both chains have begun trialling selling wine and beer, evening meals and later openings in some outlets and are now looking at ways to expand nationwide.

And in a bid to woo coffee snobs who don’t like the mainstream chains, Starbucks has revealed a new look shop.

The US giant is calling the concept ‘Star R’ – which refers to its ‘Starbucks Reserve’ coffee.

Unlike its normal stores, customers are treated to table service from uniformed waiters and waitresses holding iPads to take orders.

Wine, from vineyards in its home state of Washington, craft beer and tapas are available after 4pm.

Starbucks American boss Howard Schultz has said he wants to open up to 100 of the shops around the world. More locations in London will follow as well as Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol.

Rival Pret a Manger’s trial store opened in London and sells dinners to tempt theatre goers with meals including lemon & rosemary chicken or meatballs for less than £6, served to customers’ tables on crockery.

Diners can also choose from a selection of French red and white wines, prosecco and British craft beers.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive at the British Beer & Pub Association, said: ‘As long as there’s a level playing field, and coffee shops have to jump through the same hoops as pubs when it comes to the burdens of the licencing system, there is no general reason why coffee shops shouldn’t serve alcohol.

After all, most pubs now sell great coffee, and also compete vigorously with the restaurant sector on our high streets.’

She said the coffee shops will not be able to compete with the way pubs serve cask beer which the ‘coffee shops would struggle to imitate.’

Anthony Pender, of the British Institute of Innkeeping, said: ‘We have been watching the developments around brands such as Starbucks offering alcohol with interest.

‘We do not believe this will have a long-term negative effect on the pub industry because we provide a very different experience to these types of food outlet, particularly in the evening and late night space.

‘The great British pub occupies a key part of our country’s culture and there are few things that can beat enjoying a drink with friends in a quality pub.’

As well as opening new outlets Starbucks is also planning on novelty to compete with upmarket coffee shops.

This includes coffee making that looks like a chemistry laboratory: funnels, siphons and glass chambers. These gadgets can create six different coffees with five different brewing methods.

Rhys Iley, vice president of Starbucks’ operations across Europe said: ‘The new shops are theatre for coffee. We want to showcase our coffee credentials and we are showing the science behind it.

‘We are finding customers want to come in the evening as an alternative to the pub.’

Nick Sandler, creative chef at Pret, said: ‘Customers have been asking us for some time about creating an early evening menu, so we’re giving it a go.

‘Evening dining is particularly important to customers in this area of the city who are looking for somewhere convenient and affordable to eat before heading to the theatre.’

Pret also sells alcohol at its Gatwick Airport outlet and some of its central London and station shops are open until 11pm or midnight. It will now look at where else it will sell alcohol and open late.

Retail specialist James Sawley, from HSBC Commercial Bank, said: ‘More and more restaurants and cafes are doing all day menus as the frequency of eating out is increasing.

‘From pubs to cafes to restaurants, chains are expanding their menus from breakfast and into the evening. To stay relevant in the face of changing consumer behaviours, chains have to innovate and adapt to compete.

‘The eating out market is growing and branded casual dining chains are winning market share against independents, however I expect quality independents will always thrive.’

The Scotsman, 23rd February: Toolkit issued to help people object to alcohol sales

Thanks to SHAAP for their weekly media monitoring.
This article was taken from The Scotsman, 23rd February

Toolkit issued to help people object to alcohol sales

A leading anti-alcohol abuse campaign group has issued a “toolkit” to help local communities in Scotland raise objections at licensing boards.

Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) says complicated bureaucracy means residents can find it difficult to make their views heard.

The group says the boards have a duty to listen to those they represent and who will be affected by decisions such as increased pub hours and supermarkets getting permission to sell alcohol.

They say local residents’ concerns need to be considered as much as submissions from frontline workers such as police, paramedics and doctors dealing with the aftermath of the effects of alcohol on a daily basis.

The vast majority (91 per cent) of Scots think there are already enough or too many licensed premises in Scotland, according to a survey by Bluegrass Research in 2014.

However, only three per cent of licence applications were refused last year.

AFS say this suggests more needs to be done to give people the knowledge, skills and confidence to voice concerns.

The toolkit explains the licensing process, how to raise objections and includes a number of “top tips” such as keeping hold of police incident numbers if police have been called out to deal with anti-social behaviour, taking photos to illustrate points, and keeping track of deadlines.

Alison Douglas, chief executive of AFS, said licensing board decisions affected everyone.

“They decide whether a new supermarket or pub should get a licence, whether opening hours should be extended or whether an occasional licence should be granted for an event.

“We know that the more easily available alcohol is, the more health and social problems occur. In fact, neighbourhoods with the most licensed premises have alcohol-related death rates twice those of neighbourhoods with the fewest.”

Michael Matheson, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, said: “The damaging impact of alcohol misuse is clear. That is why there is legislation in place to control where and when it is sold.

“I believe that our local communities have the most insight on these issues, however they can struggle to get their views heard. This invaluable resource will help them to have their say and I congratulate Alcohol Focus Scotland for making this happen.”

Roger Colkett, of Tollcross Community Council in Edinburgh, said: “When I took on the responsibility for licensing issues, I had very little knowledge of the Licensing Act, little understanding of the wider impact of alcohol and no experience of the procedures of Edinburgh Licensing Board.

“Had this toolkit been available then, it would have saved me a great deal of time, trouble and anxiety, particularly when attending board ­meetings.”