This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Time called on binge drinking
18/01/2002
Concerted action to tackle Scotland's 'lad' and
'ladette' culture is at the heart of a new Executive plan
for action on alcohol problems.
Drawn up in partnership with health groups, the police,
the drinks industry and many others, the plan seeks to kick
start the cultural shift needed if Scotland is to turn away
from unsavoury drinking practices that cost the country £1
billion a year.
Action over the next 12 months includes:
- a new £1.5 million national campaign, involving TV
advertising, to change attitudes to binge drinking
- better and more widespread training for bar staff
and licensees on their responsibility to encourage
sensible drinking
- specific action targeted at children and young
people, including new resources for parents to discuss
alcohol issues with their children, better education in
schools, promotion of healthy alternatives to drinking,
and better early support when problems arise
- better support for local alcohol action teams -
doubling funding to £1 million, publishing a framework
for alcohol support and treatment services, and
appointing a National Alcohol Liaison Officer to
support their work
- better information on patterns of problem drinking
to help develop future policy - including more
consistent recording of problems by GPs, consultants
and other health professionals to get a better picture
of the extent of the problem
- raising with the UK Government concerns over the
advertising and marketing of drinks
Deputy Health Minister Mary Mulligan
said:
"It used to be said that Scotland had a 'hard man'
drinking culture. Those days are gone. Now women are
involved in the 'lad' and 'ladette' binge-drinking culture
too. And it is not just young people. Scots of every
generation have drinking problems. That much is clear.
"Chronic heavy drinking and binge drinking is not only a
problem for the individual concerned. It affects friends,
families, neighbours, and colleagues. It impacts on all our
health and social services. It contributes to public safety
worries and crime problems. And it leads to problems for
industry through loss of productivity.
"This Plan is not 'anti-alcohol'. Alcohol is part of
Western culture. Demonising alcohol would be pointless and
potentially counterproductive. But we have to recognise the
damage that too much drink can do. In Scotland alone,
problem drinking is costing at least £1 billion in health
costs, sick days and lost productivity - enough to build 10
new hospitals every year.
"Shifting to a culture of more sensible drinking cannot
be achieved overnight, nor can central government be
expected to achieve it in isolation. We do not intend to
dictate how people live their lives. But we can and will
work to encourage and support a change in behaviour.
"That means raising awareness of the effects and dangers
of alcohol, for all ages. At home, in schools, in he
workplace, in the community, and in the pub. Encouraging
people to use that information and take greater
responsibility for their own actions. And more widespread
training for managers and staff of licensed premises on
their responsibilities to promote sensible drinking.
"The key to the success of this Plan will be partnership
working, involving all the education, industry, service
provider and enforcement bodies. Working together, we can
begin to take the first steps towards reversing Scotland's
drinking problems."
Investment through the NHS and social work services to
tackle the problem and effects of drinking is estimated at
around £182 million for 2001-02. GP consultations, A&E
attendances, community psychiatric visists and other health
services come to £96 million, while social work services,
including work with children and families and community
based rehab and treatment services, comes to £86
million.
Deputy Minister for Justice Richard
Simpson said:
"Scotland has a serious problem with drunken and
disorderly behaviour. This much is obvious to anyone
walking down one of the main streets in Scotland's towns
and cities late at night.
"Public safety demands that we take action to address
this problem. That is why we have backed police campaigns
to crack-down on drink-related violence and set up a
committee to review licensing laws in relation to public
health and public order. But it is also important that we
tackle the problem at root and that is where this action
plan comes in.
"We also recognise the links between alcohol misuse and
other forms of substance misuse. The Executive has asked
that Drug Action Teams take these into account when
developing new treatment services. By tackling all kinds of
substance misuse, we will make a real difference to the
well-being of all Scots."
Director of The Portman Group and SACAM member Jean
Coussins said:
"The Executive are to be congratulated for delivering a
strategy that provides both direction and resources for the
efforts to educate people in Scotland about the effects of
alcohol misuse.
"We must encourage the three key factors of personal
responsibility, consistent law enforcement and responsible
marketing practices by the industry to achieve a culture
where sensible drinking is the norm amongst those who
choose to drink."
Bill Anderson, Chief Executive of Counselling and
Support Service for Alcohol and Drugs, said:
"The Plan for Action is the first step to seriously
placing alcohol issues on the health, social and education
agendas by initiating meaningful discussions about the
problems to which alcohol contributes.
"It will provide local Action Teams with unprecedented
opportunities to plan innovatively and forge partnerships
between the voluntary and statutory sectors to address
alcohol problems within the community."
Paul Waterson, Scottish Licensed Trade Association
spokesman and member of SACAM said:
"Although most Scots drink alcohol sensibly, there can
be no doubt that excess drinking is on the increase,
especially amongst young people and women.
"The consequences of alcohol misuse to the health
services, in terms of stretching resources; to the police,
in terms of controlling violence and so on; and to society
generally, in terms of anti-social behaviour, should not be
under-estimated. The implications for health and public
order are clear.
"This report, which we welcome and fully support,
commits us and all other interested parties to work
together in the promotion of sensible, responsible
drinking. This heralds the beginning of Scotland's
determination to rid itself of it's binge drinking culture
and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association is ready to
play it's part."