Holyroods Alcohol in Scotland Changing our drinking culture conference

13/04/2010

Holyrood's Alcohol in Scotland: Changing our drinking culture conference will be taking place on Tuesday 18th May at the Grosvenor Hotel in Edinburgh. For full details and to register online, please go to www.holyrood.com/alcohol

This one-day conference will consider the economic, health and social consequences of alcohol consumption and consider the Government's strategy to tackle Scotland's drinking culture.

Essential debate questions:

* What strategies are needed to combat Scotland's drinking culture?
* Would minimum pricing be an effective strategy?
* What about raising the purchasing age to combat rising alcohol consumption and associated problems amongst the young?
* Has devolution contributed to the problem with the absence of a joined up strategy? And, will minimum pricing in Scotland simply drive trade over the border into England?
* What is being done in other countries to combat binge drinking?
* How does our drinking culture affect men and women differently?
* Is the drinks marketing industry helping or hindering the process of rehabilitation?
* What are the social and economic impacts of Scotland's drinking culture?
* How can we create genuine behaviour change to create a more healthy relationship with alcohol?

Speakers include:

* Chair: Ruth Wishart, Broadcaster and Journalist
* Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, The Scottish Government
* Dr. Laurence Gruer OBE, Director of Public Health Science, NHS Health Scotland
* Janet Hood, Director, British Innkeepers Institute Scotland
* Christina Borthwick, Youth Commissioner, Scottish Youth Commission on Alcohol
* Dr. Evelyn Gillan, Chief Executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland
* Professor Anne Ludbrook, Chair in Health Economics, University of Aberdeen
* Michael Todd, Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Advertising Standards Authority
* Charlie Bryceland, Community Project Officer, Alcohol Focus Scotland
* Alison Kerr, Chair, Community Action - Blackburn (Changing Attitudes to Alcohol)

For full programme details, and to register online, please go to www.holyrood.com/alcohol

For organisations making block bookings please contact us on 0131 272 2175 or at alcohol@holyrood.com for a discount.