healthscotland.com

Alcohol Etc (Scotland) Bill: A Bill to make provision regulating the sale of alcohol and licensing of premises on which alcohol is sold and to make provision for the imposition of charges on holders of licences granted under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. This Bill was published on 25 November 2009.

Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action, published in 2009, is the main reference point and policy context for all alcohol-related work in Scotland. The document offers a programme of action covering four broad areas: reduced alcohol consumption, supporting families and communities, enhancing positive attitudes and positive choices and improved treatment and support for those who need it.

Changing Scotland's relationship with alcohol: a discussion paper on our strategic approach(external link), published in 2008, sets out the Scottish Government's strategic approach to tackling alcohol misuse. Following this consultation period, the Alcohol Framework was produced.

Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems Update (2007) (external link) builds on the progress made since the original Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems was published in 2002. It sets out a comprehensive programme of action for three years: to change drinking cultures and reduce alcohol-related harm through government action, partnership working, and encouraging individuals to take personal responsibility.

Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems (2002) (external link) key priorities are to reduce binge drinking, due to harmful social and individual consequences, and to reduce harmful drinking by children and young people because of the implicated health and social risks. The Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems (2002) and update (2007) are previous strategic approaches and have been included here to show the evolution of policy in recent years, culminating in the Framework for Action.

The review of alcohol licensing in Scotland (2003) and the review of off-sales in the community (2004) informed the development of the Licensing (Scotland) Bill, which was ratified by the Scottish Parliament in November 2005 as the Licensing (Scotland) Act, 2005 (external link)

For the purposes of this Act, the licensing objectives are: preventing crime and disorder, securing public safety, preventing public nuisance, protecting and improving public health, and protecting children from harm. The new legislation will be implemented in 2008/09.

The Nicholson Committee undertook a Review of alcohol licensing in Scotland(external link) and reported on this in 2003. It recommended a number of new guiding principles for licensing including the promotion of public health. This work was complemented by a review of Off-sales in the Community (external link). Published in 2004, it set out a series of recommendations for more responsible off-sales provision.

Health Promoting Health Service: Action in Acute Care Settings CEL(14)(external link) : A Chief Executive Letter asking all NHS boards to ‘implement specific promoting actions … and give an annual progress report on these in each of the next 3 years’. The areas of action specified clearly link to National Performance Frameworks and a number of the HEAT (Health Efficiency Access and Treatment) targets, including Alcohol Brief Interventions.

Reviewed 3 February 2011