A new report has found that evidence-based government policies have had a positive impact on alcohol consumption in Scotland.
NHS Health Scotland found that a ban on multi-buy drinks promotions was among a number of successful initiatives. The report is the final review of the Scottish government’s alcohol strategy, which was introduced in 2009.
Before 2009, high and increasing levels of alcohol consumption were closely linked to increasing alcohol harm. Studies had shown that alcohol may have caused the deaths of one in 20 people who died in Scotland in 2003. And half of Scotland’s prisoners said they were under the influence of alcohol when they committed their offence.
Clare Beeston, from NHS Health Scotland, said – according to the BBC – that Scotland continued to “pay a heavy price” for high levels of alcohol consumption.
The picture has improved but levels of alcohol-related harm remain high – on average 22 people in Scotland die every week because of alcohol.”
The Scottish government’s “framework for action” outlined 41 steps to reduce alcohol consumption, and support families and communities. The report highlighted the success of several parts of the strategy:
- About 43% of “harmful and hazardous” alcohol consumers had a short conversation, or alcohol brief intervention (ABI), with a clinician about their alcohol consumption.
- The ban on multi-buy promotions in 2011 was associated with a 2.6% reduction in off-trade sales.
- Tripling of investment in specialist treatment and care services for those dependent on alcohol.
- Improved awareness of the harm that alcohol causes in Scotland.
The report also found that external factors, such as a fall in disposable income, were likely to have had an impact on alcohol trends.
Given the link between consumption and harm, and evidence that affordability is a key driver of increased consumption, addressing price is an important element of any long-term strategy to tackle alcohol misuse,” said Public Health Minister Maureen Watt.
[A]nd, as such, we remain committed to introducing minimum unit pricing.”