Alcohol policy is the action or interventions that a government and/or public authorities put in place to reduce alcohol related harm. This can range from pricing of alcohol to restrictions on advertising. As a devolved country, Scotland can legislate, formulate and lead public policy on alcohol in aspects of licensing and health & treatment.

Alcohol Focus Scotland supports evidence based interventions and as such supports the international alcohol scientists who propose a whole population approach. Our drinking in Scotland has reached epidemic proportions with harm and deaths no longer being simply restricted to problem drinkers or those considered alcohol dependent.

The level of harm in Scotland is so great that the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland has highlighted that we have one of the fastest growing rates of liver disease and cirrhosis in the world - adding alcoholic liver disease to the list of "big killers" in Scotland. 50% of males and 39% females in Scotland exceed the recommended weekly limit - with this increase in consumption and deaths this means that our alcohol policies need to target everyone in Scotland.

World Health Organisation - effective strategies and interventions to reduce alcohol related harm:

Price increases
Restrictions on availability of alcohol
Drink-driving countermeasures
Brief interventions with at risk drinkers
Treatment of drinkers with alcohol dependence

In November 2010, the Alcohol etc., (Scotland) Bill was passed, containing measures to ban multi-buy price promotions and to restrict alcohol marketing material to the alcohol aisles. Opposition politicians rejected the minimum unit price proposal (which had the support of health campaigners, police, children’s charities and many others) as was the provision to give licensing boards the power to raise the minimum age for off-sales purchases. It is anticipated that the measures that were passed will come into force around September 2011.

Whole Population Approach

In 2008, the Scottish Government published Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action. The framework emphasised the need for a bolder and broader approach to reducing alcohol related harm in Scotland.

The framework seeks to reduce overall alcohol consumption in the population, drawing on international evidence that suggests effective alcohol policy is one that encompasses a range of interventions delivered via a comprehensive approach aimed at whole population with particular targeting of high risk groups.

The framework identifies the need for sustained action in four areas: reduced alcohol consumption; supporting families and communities; positive public attitudes, positive choices; improved treatment and support. The aim is to reduce the overall amount that we all drink in Scotland, and if we can change the way we drink, then we will all reap the benefits.

As individuals, we will be at less personal risk of physical harm; as a population we will reduce the damage to families and communities across the country.

Research & Policy