Focus on Alcohol - national and regional context

Cathy WynneAssociate Director of Public Health, NHS CumbriaChair of Cumbria Alcohol Strategy group

Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England(2004)

First cross-government statement on alcohol harm, shared analysis and programme of action to respond, including

Better education & communication Improving health & treatment services Combating alcohol related crime & disorder Working with the alcohol industry

Progress since 2004.......but Despite violent crime falling by 43% since 1995, public perception of

crime and disorder is that it is rising

Numbers of young people 11-15 drinking alcohol seems to have fallen, but those who drink are drinking more and more often, and higher consumption is linked to other risk behaviours

Rate of decline in drink driving casualties has slowed

Deaths caused by alcohol consumption have doubled in past 20 years, with more people becoming ill and dying younger

People may be drinking more than they think

Safe, Sensible, Social next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy (2007)

BUILD ON foundations laid and lessons learned since 2004

GOAL: To minimise the health harms, violence and antisocial behaviour associated with alcohol, whilst ensuring that people can enjoy alcohol safely and responsibly.

TARGETS: Minority of drinkers who cause or experience the most harm to themselves, their communities and their families: Young people under 18 years who drink 18 – 24 year olds who binge drink Hazardous drinkers

Safe, Sensible, Social next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy (2007)

Sharpened criminal justice for drunken behaviour Review of NHS alcohol spending More help for people who want to drink less Toughened enforcement of underage sales Trusted guidance for parents and young people Public information campaigns to promote a new sensible

drinking culture Public consultation on alcohol pricing and promotion Local alcohol strategies (by April 2008)

Safe, Sensible, Social next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy (2007)

Sharpened criminal justice for drunken behaviour Review of NHS alcohol spending More help for people who want to drink less Toughened enforcement of underage sales Trusted guidance for parents and young people Public information campaigns to promote a new sensible

drinking culture Public consultation on alcohol pricing and promotion Local alcohol strategies (by April 2008)

CMO guidelines January 2009 5 point plan for an alcohol-free childhood- now out to consultation until 23 April

Establish family values on alcohol Educate and inform Set boundaries Encourage positive alternatives Challenge stereotypes

Safe, Sensible, Social next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy (2007)

Sharpened criminal justice for drunken behaviour Review of NHS alcohol spending More help for people who want to drink less Toughened enforcement of underage sales Trusted guidance for parents and young people Public information campaigns to promote a new sensible

drinking culture Public consultation on alcohol pricing and promotion Local alcohol strategies (by April 2008)

…….and hot off the press………. CMO annual report 2009

Passive drinking: the collateral damage from alcohol

Alcohol consumption fallen since 1970 in many EU countries, but in England has risen by 40%

Consequences go far beyond individual Success in reducing smoking but relentless rise in alcohol No stated national consensus that we need to substantially reduce

consumption Price and availability of alcohol affects its consumption and the

damage it causes

CMO Report – recommended actions

Develop national consensus that we need to substantially reduce consumption

Passive drinking acknowledged as key issue Licensing laws to reflect full impact of passive drinking Immediate priority: government to introduce minimum

pricing per unit, proposing a 50 pence minimum price per unit of alcohol Particular impact on “own brand” and “value pack”

beers and ciders

NW Regional Action on Alcohol Harm

Established NW Alcohol Forum, with sub-regional representation and all key stakeholders involved -– Chaired by Home Office lead

Influencing national alcohol strategy development and implementation

Engagement with Beverley Hughes, Regional Minister for the North West on the alcohol agenda

Regional team established to support sub-regional strategy groups, provide links to national policy work and lead on campaigns and programmes

Established Our Life as agent for change, starting with the Big Drink Debate

Big Drink Debate

On 9.30am Thursday 23rd April at Rheged, Penrith

Current Activity– NW regional tier

GONW identified health inequalities one of top priorities with alcohol harm reduction a key theme

Evidence base and date collection supported through NW Public health Observatory

GONW/regional scrutiny process to assess and benchmark local areas with regard the misuse of alcohol leading to a robust challenge process where Local Alcohol Strategies are failing

LAAs will be encouraged to prioritise alcohol harm reduction as a cross cutting theme where it has been identified as local priority

Cumbria’s Local Area Agreement

NI 39 To reduce the increase in alcohol related hospital admissions

NI 170 Hospital admissions for unintentional and deliberate injuries to children 0 to 17 years

NI 41 Perceptions of drunk or rowdy behaviour as a problem

NI 112 Under 18 conception rate

NI 47 People killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents

Alcohol also contributes to:

NI 65 Percentage of children becoming the subject of a Child Protection Plan for a second or subsequent time

NI 19 Rate of proven re-offending by young offenders

NI 20 Assault with injury crime rate

NI 30 Re-offending rate of prolific and priority offenders

NI 32 repeat incidents of domestic violence

NI 195 Improved street and environmental cleanliness

Local Indicators in LAA

LI 6 Reduce health inequalities between local authority area and England

LI 7 Reduce health inequalities within the local area in all age, all cause mortality

Contribute to:

LI 1 Reduce incidence of referrals for child protection, repeat referrals and repeat incidence of abuse of children

Stretch Targets in LAA

SI 7 The number of domestic violence incidents in Cumbria SI 9 The percentage of recorded domestic violence that are repeat

incidents SI 10 The percentage of prolific offenders who re-offend SI 11 The number of first time entrants into the Youth Justice

System

Contribute to: SI 2 – 16 to 18 yr olds who are NEET SI 13 Number of deaths and injuries arising from accidental fires SI 14 To hold the number of KSIs in which a driver aged 16 -20 was

involved tom a 5 year average

Safe, Sensible, Social next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy (2007)

Sharpened criminal justice for drunken behaviour Review of NHS alcohol spending More help for people who want to drink less Toughened enforcement of underage sales Trusted guidance for parents and young people Public information campaigns to promote a new sensible

drinking culture Public consultation on alcohol pricing and promotion Local alcohol strategies

Big Drink Debate

On 9.30am Thursday 23rd April at Rheged, Penrith

Scotland’s Alcohol Plan includes……..

End irresponsible drinks promotions (eg 2 for1), below-cost sale in licensed premises, marketing by “was 5.99 now £2.99” offers

Pursue establishment of minimum price per unit of alcohol Duty on licensing boards to consider raising age of sales to 21 in all

or part of their areas, and give Chief Constable right to request review of licensing board’s policy

Place “ social responsibility fee” on some retailers to help deal with adverse consequences of alcohol

Introduce legislation to require licensed premises to offer 125ml wine and 25ml spirits

Tougher enforcement, review of test purchasing

Patterns of Drinking in the NW