This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Alcohol test purchasing scheme
22/02/2007
A test purchasing scheme to crack down on retailers who sell alcohol to under 18s is to be rolled out across Scotland.
The extension of the scheme, whereby underagers can be used to buy alcohol to check that licensing laws are being followed, comes after publication of an interim evaluation report of a successful pilot in Fife.
Health Minister Andy Kerr will Chair a Ministerial group - fully representative of all key stakeholders - that will ensure the effective implementation of the national roll out.
Mr Kerr made the announcement as he published the Updated Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems, which sets out a range of action on prevention, education, treatment, protection and controls. Government will work in partnership with Alcohol and Drug Action Teams, the NHS and other parts of the public and voluntary sectors to reduce alcohol-related harm.
Also published today was detail of a new partnership to engage the drinks industry's resources and expertise in tackling alcohol misuse and promoting responsible drinking.
Announcing the extension of the test purchasing scheme, Mr Kerr said:
"Communities across Scotland are blighted by the problems associated with underage drinking, and rolling out test purchasing will give us a valuable tool in the fight against this.
"I know that the vast majority of retailers take their responsibility very seriously but we need to take action against the minority who sell alcohol without carrying out the proper checks.
"The findings of an interim evaluation report on the alcohol test purchasing pilot clearly show that the scheme can be carried out safely, fairly and effectively and we now want to replicate that success across Scotland.
"But as well as enforcement, we will continue our work to encourage all communities in Scotland, including young people, to develop a healthier relationship with alcohol.
Mr Kerr said: "One person in Scotland dies every six hours as a direct result of alcohol. And deaths from liver cirrhosis are rising at an alarming rate.
"Alcohol doesn't just affect the drinker. The links between alcohol misuse, anti-social behaviour and violence are clear. Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost our economy over £1 billion a year.
"This plan outlines a range of government action, as part of a long term process of cultural change.
"But that change can only take place, with the support of the Executive, where individuals are willing to change their behaviour and in a society where alcohol misuse is no longer acceptable.
"We must all take personal responsibility for our society's excessive consumption. A culture of drinking to get drunk is not one to be proud of, and we cannot afford to assume it's someone else's problem.
"I commend our industry partners for committing to join our efforts to tackle the problems. I am delighted that I can publish today the detail of our agreement with them.
"Early actions include developing and promoting a common core set of sensible drinking messages, producing guidelines on the promotion of alcohol via sponsorship, and developing exemplary workplace alcohol policies.
"Together, we all need that cultural change. This updated plan is one stepping stone to achieving it."
Some of the actions outlined in the Plan are:
On protection and controls
- extending the alcohol test purchasing pilot to all Scotland from 1 May 2007 onwards
- providing support to ensure Licensing Boards can control the spread of licensed premises through the Licensing Act
On prevention and education
- developing a new, research-based substance misuse schools education programme to build on existing work
- supporting further development of diversionary activities such as Youth CAFEs (community alcohol free environments)
- completing a national series of public awareness publications about the short and long term effects of drinking alcohol
On Provision of Services
- developing a pilot telephone service to help identify and support harmful and hazardous drinkers at an early stage when they come into contact with the NHS
- investing in better research, including research on improving reporting and recording information on alcohol use in pregnancy
- developing an alcohol and drugs workforce development strategy to ensure staff across Scotland have the best possible training in dealing with people with alcohol problems
Background:
There were 1,513 deaths in Scotland in 2005 where alcohol was the underlying (direct) cause e.g. mental and behavioural disorders due to the use of alcohol, alcoholic liver disease, alcoholic pancreatitis. There were a further 859 deaths where alcohol was a contributory factor.
Between 1950-1954 and 2000-2002 the rate of liver cirrhosis mortality in Scottish men increased by a factor of six and a factor of four for Scottish women. Cirrhosis mortality rates in Scotland are now amongst the highest in Western Europe.
In September last year the Executive announced a formal partnership with the alcohol industry, in what is hoped to be a long term, collaborative approach to fostering a culture which recognises that responsible, moderate consumption can be part of a healthy lifestyle.
A copy of the interim evaluation report of the Fife alcohol test purchase pilot undertaken by the Scottish Centre for Social Research, contact Dr Andy MacGregor, Research Director, 0131 221 2551, can be viewed on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/19152501. A final report will be published in summer 2007.