Chief medical officers update advice for lower-risk drinking
Men and women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week to reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer and liver disease, under new guidelines issued by the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers (CMOs). Continue reading 14 units: that’s your limit
Penumbra Milestone wins innovation award
An Edinburgh service for people with Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD) has been recognised for its innovative approach at this year’s Scottish Health Awards, held in the capital this week. Continue reading Milestone reached as Penumbra wins health award
Pubs feel the pinch: Almost three quarters of alcohol sold in Scotland was from supermarkets or off-licences
Alcohol sales went up again during 2014 – and the Scottish government says the latest figures reinforce the need for minimum unit pricing to tackle the sale of cheap, strong alcohol.
This comes after recent statistics showing a second year of increases in alcohol-related deaths.
Despite recent improvements in alcohol-related harm levels following measures such as the multi-buy discount ban and increased investment in alcohol treatment and care services, affordability remains a key issue, and is closely related to consumption and harm.
Figures published today show that 10.7 litres of pure alcohol were sold per adult in Scotland in 2014 – equivalent to 20.5 units per adult per week – compared to 10.6 litres in 2013. This is in contrast to the trend for declining sales seen in recent years and is mainly due to more alcohol being sold in supermarkets and off-licences – known as the off-trade.
Scots continue to drink almost a fifth more than in England and Wales, where nine litres of pure alcohol were sold per adult – equivalent to 17.4 units per adult per week.
The figures also show that for the first time since 2007, the average price per unit in the off-trade has not increased and remains at 52 pence. However, more than half of alcohol sold in off-trade costs below 50 pence per unit – the level proposed for minimum unit pricing.
The shift from sales in pubs and clubs to supermarkets and off-licences, where average prices are much lower, has also continued. Almost three quarters of alcohol sold in Scotland – 72 per cent – was from supermarkets or off-licences, the highest market share seen.
Public Health Minister Maureen Watt said: “It’s concerning that the decline in consumption seen in recent years now appears to have stalled, especially after figures published last week showed alcohol-related deaths have increased for the second year running.
“That is why we remain absolutely committed to tackling Scotland’s difficult relationship with alcohol head on. In particular championing the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing.
“We recognise that no single measure will help change our relationship with alcohol. Our Alcohol Framework has more than 40 measures to reduce alcohol-related harm, such as the multi-buy discount ban, increased investment in alcohol treatment and care services, increased delivery of Alcohol Brief Interventions, legislation to ban irresponsible promotions, and introduction of a lower drink drive limit.
“The Framework has had a positive impact so far, but while an average of around 22 people a week still die because of alcohol, there can be no room for complacency. That is why we are working on the next phase of our alcohol strategy which will be ready in 2016.
“The fact that more than half of alcohol in the off-trade is being sold at under 50p per unit is worrying, given the established link between affordability and alcohol-related harm. It reinforces our belief that minimum unit pricing is an essential part of an effective alcohol strategy.”
A driver will be stopped and breath tested every two minutes this summer
The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland have launched their 2015 Summer Drink Drive campaign in support of Police Scotland’s Summer Safety Campaign. Using the strapline ‘Don’t spoil summer’, the campaign reminds drivers that getting behind the wheel after even one drink isn’t worth the risk or the consequences.
New data released yesterday shows that in Scotland there has been a 17% reduction in drink driving offences from January – March 2015 (997) compared to the same period in 2014 (1,209). This follows the introduction of Scotland’s new lower drink drive limit on 5 December, which means that even just one drink could put a driver over the limit.
Police stop a driver approximately every two minutes in Scotland Scotland, and have the powers to breath-test many of them. Police Scotland enforcement activity is running alongside Road Safety Scotland’s social marketing campaign, which highlights the often spontaneous nature of summer socialising.
Following the success of the legislation change in Scotland, the Police Federation of England & Wales last week issued a call for the legal limit in England and Wales to be in line with Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Michael Matheson, said: “Since the introduction of the new lower drink drive limit six months ago, Scotland is starting to see a real change in behaviour. The 17% reduction in drink driving offences indicates that Scottish drivers are avoiding alcohol when they are driving.
“Fewer drink driving offences is a positive story for Scotland and shows that we’re leading social and legislative change in the UK. We’re urging Scots to take care this summer and to remember it’s safer to avoid driving if you’ve consumed alcohol.
Michael McDonnell, Director of Road Safety Scotland, said: “Summer can be a time for getting together with friends and family, and many people go for a drink with colleagues after work on a sunny evening. Because this drinking is often unplanned, people may not have thought about the journey home. And many people don’t realise that just one drink can put them over the legal limit.
“Evidence shows that even one alcoholic drink before driving makes you three times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident. It is estimated that one in eight deaths on Scottish roads involve drivers who are over the legal limit and, despite what many people think, eating food or a perceived alcohol tolerance don’t reduce its effects. Even a small amount impairs your judgement and reactions so, the best advice is just don’t risk it.”
Chief Superintendent Iain Murray, Head of Road Policing at Police Scotland, said: “Our message is simple – don’t spoil summer for you and your family or another family by drinking and driving. Police Scotland stop more than 20,000 Scottish drivers a month. That’s one vehicle every two minutes. If you have committed an offence, or if we have reasonable cause to suspect that you have been drinking, you may be subjected to a breath test.
“Even if you’re just over the limit, you’re still a drunk driver in the eyes of the law – there is no grey area. This may affect your current and future employment and can have wider implications for other areas of your life including overseas travel, even just for family holidays. If you drink and drive, you won’t just spoil summer.”
Find out more by visiting www.dontriskit.info or the Road Safety Scotland Facebook page.
If you suspect someone of drink driving, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 your local police office by dialling 101. In an emergency, dial 999.
LEAP treats 450th patient
LEAP, the pioneering drug and alcohol detox and rehabilitation service, is celebrating after treating its 450th patient.
Susan Boyle serenades residents during music session
Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle, who has sold over 20 million albums since being discovered on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, made a surprise visit to specialist health and social care service Penumbra Milestone last week.
Grammy-nominated Susan took time out of her busy schedule to visit the ten-bed residential service for people recovering from alcohol related brain damage (ARBD). During her visit she was given a guided tour by Service Manager Lesley Forbes and spent time listening to a residents’ music group.
The singer, who is due to head into the studio to record a new album later this month, was invited to visit Penumbra Milestone by a former service user.
Dr Mathew Hicks, who runs the music group at Penumbra Milestone, said: “Our music therapy group aims to encourage recovery from ARBD. Performing and listening to music helps residents to improve memory, coordination and motivation.
“When we told residents that Susan Boyle was coming to the therapy group they thought we were joking. When she arrived they were amazed.
“Susan listened to the music and chatted to staff and residents. Towards the end of her visit she sang one of her biggest hits – Wild Horses. It was an amazing experience to hear her sing in person – we were mesmerised!”
Penumbra Milestone is a partnership between mental health charity Penumbra, Waverly Care, NHS Lothian and Edinburgh City Council’s Department of Health and Social Care. It is an alcohol-free 10-bedded step-down unit which provides short-term care for vulnerable men and women, aged 18+, who have a diagnosis of ARBD.
Speaking about the service Graeme Henderson, Director of Services and Development at Penumbra, said: “Penumbra Milestone is an innovative step-down unit which bridges the gap between hospital and community based care. The service has been designed to ease the pressure on acute hospital beds caused by the lengthy stay of people diagnosed with ARBD.
“This joined-up approach makes the NHS more efficient and improves the care provided to people by drawing on the valuable range of skills in the third sector, NHS and council services.
“Penumbra Milestone offers the ideal environment in which people experiencing ARBD can be supported, allowing them to transition back into the community when they are ready.”
While Penumbra Milestone began accepting referrals late last year, it will be officially opened next Thursday (23 April) when actress, comedienne and campaigner Elaine C. Smith – who coincidently played Susan Boyle in a musical based on the singer’s life – will be the special guest.
for more information about Penumbra visit www.Penumbra.org.uk
Twitter (@Penumbra_Scot)
and Facebook (Facebook/PenumbraScotland).
Ads for alcohol and fatty foods should be adult viewing only
Alcohol and junk food advertising should be prohibited before the 9pm watershed in order to protect children, Public Health Minister Maureen Watt said yesterday.
Ms Watt has written to UK Government ministers arguing that the move would protect children from exposure to powerful marketing messages and branding. Control over broadcast advertising is currently reserved to Westminster.
Adverts for alcohol and high fat, salt and sugar foods are not permitted during children’s programming. But they are allowed during early evening shows that are watched by large numbers of young people.
Stronger restrictions are supported by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the British Medical Association (BMA) and Alcohol Focus Scotland.
The latest piece of research commissioned by the British Heart Foundation shows that many parents believe that broadcast advertising for high fat, salt and sugar foods remains a significant barrier which makes it more difficult for their children to adopt a healthy diet. According to their research that figure is highest in Scotland at 43 per cent. Extra restrictions on advertising for these types of food are also supported by Which?.
Maureen Watt, Minister for Public Health, said: “In recent years the rate of obesity has been relatively stable, but still unaccepbtably high, and there have been some reductions in alcohol-related harm. But we still, in general, have diets that are far too high in fat, sugar and salt, and levels of alcohol-related harm which are significantly higher than they were just a few decades ago.
“If we are to tackle the significant public health problems we face, we need bold solutions. We need a culture change in the way we think about alcohol and food high in fat, salt and sugar. There is a wealth of research which shows that children seeing these adverts while they are watching their favourite family programmes respond positively towards them and they affect their behaviour. That’s something that needs to be addressed.”
Dr Peter Bennie, Chairman of the BMA Scotland, said: “The regulation of alcohol and junk food advertising in this country is far too weak, largely because these industries have been allowed to regulate themselves. Despite the serious health harms associated with excessive alcohol consumption and obesity in the UK, these industries use marketing to promote consumption of their products.
“The cost of alcohol to our society is significant and inevitably, the NHS picks up the pieces. Obesity rates too are worryingly high, driven by the promotion and availability of unhealthy foods. Obesity brings with it increased risk of a wide range of serious life threatening and chronic diseases. While doctors have a role to play in supporting overweight patients, there is a limit to what they can do.
“The UK Government could take decisive action to change the culture of excess that the junk food and alcohol industry promotes, and tougher regulation of advertising would be a positive first step.”
Barbara O’Donnell, Deputy Chief Executive at Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “Existing advertising codes fail to prevent under 18s from being exposed to alcohol advertising. Although current rules prohibit alcohol advertising around children’s programmes, alcohol adverts are allowed during early evening family viewing when the largest number of children watch television. As a result, 10 to 15 year olds in the UK see more alcohol adverts on television, per hour of television watched, than adults. Indeed, a survey just published by Alcohol Focus Scotland found that 10 and 11 year olds were more familiar with alcohol brands than leading brands of biscuits, crisps and ice cream.
“The bottom line is that we are failing to protect children and young people from alcohol harm. More effective controls are urgently needed to ensure alcohol marketing messages only reach adult audiences.”
Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive at the BHF, said: “Regulations for TV and online advertising in the UK are too weak, allowing companies to exploit loopholes in the system at the expense of our children’s health. Every day millions of children are being bombarded with sophisticated marketing techniques encouraging unhealthy eating habits.
“Evidence shows that junk food adverts can influence children’s food preferences and consumption hampering parents’ efforts to get their children to eat healthily. In the UK over 30 per cent of children are overweight or obese and dietary surveys show that children are eating too much salt, sugar and saturated fat.
“The Government must act now to ban junk food marketing before the 9pm watershed to help give children a stronger chance of preventing future heart disease.”
A successful pilot scheme that helps frontline staff identify problem drinking amongst elderly people in the west of Edinburgh is set to be rolled out across the city.
An advice toolkit was drawn up after alcohol-related harm was identified as a significant concern amongst those aged 65 years and over and living in the Almond and Western Edinburgh areas of the city.
A report about the scheme will be made to members of the Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee when it meets on Tuesday (10 February).
Staff training and the toolkit, which includes a unit measuring glass, phone numbers and information leaflets, has been well received and it is anticipated that similar training may be received by Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue and third sector partners in the future.
The scheme was created by the joint Almond and Western Edinburgh Neighbourhood Partnership Health and Community Care Sub-Group in collaboration with NHS Lothian who had concerns about drinking habits; these were supported by local health care partners and local GPs.
The next step is to roll the training programme out to third sector partners, equality groups and local businesses. Information sessions are also planned for GP surgeries, pharmacies, libraries and shopping centres.
Councillor Maureen Child, Communities and Neighbourhoods Convener, said: “Many elderly people enjoy the occasional tipple, and there is nothing wrong with that. This toolkit is aimed at those whose drinking habits are causing harm to their health and are in need of advice.
“Staff have been very positive about the pilot scheme and have welcomed the support it gives them to approach residents who may be struggling. It makes sense to roll it out to other areas of the city, and it’s fantastic that other organisations are also interested in using it.
“The health and well-being of our residents is the most important factor, especially with our ageing population. Anything that helps to reduce health inequalities should be welcomed.”
Lesley Taylor, Neighbourhood Support Service Manager for the Council, has taken part in the training. She works with vulnerable adults through the housing support service. Lesley said: “Our priority is to support the people we visit to make the best choices regarding their health and lifestyles. This toolkit has been extremely helpful by giving staff the confidence to talk to clients where there is a concern about their drinking habits. We’ve found that people are open to the advice and have been able to dispel some of the myths surrounding alcohol use.”
Eleanor McWhirter, NHS Lothian Lead in Alcohol Brief Interventions, said: “This pilot is a great example of community groups, NHS Health Promotion Service and the Council working together to promote the health and well being of the local population.
“It revealed that intervening early and focusing on the needs of local people can be effective in reducing alcohol consumption. We look forward to potentially expanding this work to other areas of the city.”
Council strategy aims to balance safe drinking with economic development
A report that highlights the need to reduce alcohol-related harm in Edinburgh while supporting economic development will be presented to councillors next week.
The report to the City of Edinburgh Council’s Health, Social Care and Housing Committee on January 27 2015 will state that in the capital:
‘Don’t risk it’ message hits home over festive holiday period
Police Scotland statistics have today revealed that the ‘don’t drink and drive’ message has been driven home to motorists across the country.
The new lower drink drive limit of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood came into force on 5 December 2014, bringing Scotland into line with much of the rest of Europe.
During a four week festive Drink Drive campaign from Road Safety Scotland (part of Transport Scotland) and the Scottish Government, Police Scotland tested 17,504 drivers for alcohol – an average of 625 drivers each day.
A total of 351 drivers were caught under the influence this year compared to 434 in the same period last year – a 19% reduction.
Police detected one drink driver for every 50 (351 from 17,504) tests carried out compared to one drink driver for every 47 (434 from 20,646) tests carried out in the same campaign period last year. Those caught now face the New Year without a licence, a minimum 20-year criminal record and a fine.
Of those caught drink driving, 20 drivers were detected between the new 50mg limit and the previous limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
And over the period a total of 27 drivers were detected between 6am – 10am, six of whom were between the old and the new limit.
Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson, said: “These latest statistics show a 19 per cent decrease in the number of drink drive detections over the festive period, and are testament to the immediate effect that the new lower limit has helped to make our roads safer.
“Scotland is leading the way across the UK with the introduction of a lower drink drive limit, which has backing from experts, road safety campaigners and the majority of the public north and south of the border, as well as bringing Scotland into line with almost every other country in Europe.
“We will continue in our efforts to change driver behaviour in order to make our roads safer, and our advice for the year ahead is simple – drink driving is completely unacceptable and puts lives at risk, therefore the best approach is to avoid alcohol altogether if you intend to get behind the wheel.”
With the Christmas and New Year festivities now over, motorists are being reminded that the message not to drink any alcohol at all before driving and to plan journeys the next morning, remains relevant all year round.
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins of Police Scotland, said: “The initial campaign may be over, but our work continues and the message remains the same – don’t risk it, don’t take any alcohol before you get behind the wheel and it will help you help us keep people safe.
“The new limit is proving a good deterrent in stopping people from drinking and driving, but it is still unacceptable that 351 people chose to ignore all the advice and warnings and get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. They are not just risking their lives but also those of other road users and pedestrians.
“Make it your New Year’s resolution to never drink and drive and help us keep Scotland’s roads safe.”
The introduction of the new lower limit was supported by a public awareness campaign ahead of the legislation taking effect. This was followed by a high profile social marketing campaign over the festive period across TV, radio, video-on-demand, digital, PR, field activity and partnership working.
The campaign urged members of the public not to drink and drive and advised festive revellers to plan ahead when it came to their travel home from a night out and any journeys in the morning.
The campaign also sought to remind drivers of the tough legal and personal consequences of a drink drive conviction, which include a loss of licence with an automatic 12 month driving ban and a minimum 20 year criminal record.
Although the festive period is now over, Police vigilance will remain at the same level throughout 2015 and the same consequences apply if motorists chose to drink and drive.
Find out more by visiting www.dontriskit.info or the Road Safety Scotland Facebook page or follow@RoadSafetyScot on Twitter.
