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Alcohol in Scotland
Changing our drinking culture
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Tuesday 8th June 2010
Grosvenor Hotel, Edinburgh
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Conference chair:Keynote speakers:- Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, The Scottish Government
- Dr. Evelyn Gillan, Chief Executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland
- Ken Barrie, Senior Lecturer in Alcohol and Drug Studies, University of the West of Scotland
Also presenting:- Mark Baird, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Diageo GB
- Prof. 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)
- Alison Wales, Policy Officer, Childline in Scotland
- Dr. Charles Lind, Clinical Director of Addictions, Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust
- Ross Gordon, Research Associate (Social Marketing), The Open University and co-author of 'Tackling alcohol harm: Lessons from other fields'
- Christina Borthwick, Scottish Youth Commission on Alcohol
- Sgt. Gregor Forbes, Lothian and Borders Police
It has been estimated that alcohol-related problems in Scotland cost as much as £3.6 billion every year, which is about £900 per year for every Scottish adult. Reports have estimated that over one million, or one-fifth, of Scotland’s adult population are “hazardous” drinkers.
The Alcohol Etc. (Scotland) Bill was introduced by Nicola Sturgeon MSP in November 2009. One of the more controversial aspects of the bill is minimum pricing to reduce the availability of cheap, high strength alcohol. Although the bill did not specify a minimum price, it has been suggested that a 40p per unit of alcohol minimum price could decrease consumption by 5.4%, reduce NHS costs by 21 million pounds per year and save costs associated with crime by 2.7 million pounds every year. Critics have argued that those susceptible to binge drinking will continue to drink the same amounts despite the added cost and additional revenue from minimum pricing will simply go into the pockets of distributors.
The urgency of tackling Scotland’s relationship with alcohol is highlighted by the rise in violent crime where alcohol is involved. A report commissioned by the Scottish Government has attributed the fact that Scots are twice as likely to commit homicide and suicide to the increase in drinking. In fact, alcohol-attributable deaths are up to six times higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK. Home lives have also been affected, as the number of children calling ChildLine in Scotland about harmful parental drinking is higher than the rest of the UK. In the meantime, the rate of consumption does not seem to be slowing down.
Excessive drinking is not just a problem amongst men; up to 50 percent of men and 30 percent of women admit to exceeding the weekly recommended alcohol intake guidelines. Whilst the figures for hazardous drinking have remained steady for men, the female rate has been rising over the past few years, and the number of under-15s admitted into hospital for alcohol-related problems has also been rising.
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 drink 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?
If you have any questions please email us or call 0131 272 3108. We look forward to seeing you at this important and timely event. |
Conference development by: Cristina Masters
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Upcoming conferences
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September 2010 |
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October 2010 |
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