Tag: Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership

Joint long-term alcohol and drugs strategic plan launched

A new plan to reduce deaths and harms caused by alcohol and drugs has been published.

The joint Scottish Government and COSLA plan aims to improve collaboration between government and grassroots delivery with a locally-led, accountable system, guided by clear national direction and support.

Backed by more than £160 million in 2026-27, the plan builds on the Scottish Government’s five-year National Mission on Drugs which ends in April.

A key priority is to expand treatment standards to include alcohol and all drugs. It has a renewed focus on prevention, with specific measures to stop people from developing problem alcohol and drug use. It also maintains support for residential rehabilitation with a focus on improving pathways through detox, crisis care and stabilisation.

The plan is underpinned by a human-rights based approach. This ensures that people with first-hand experience help shape the design and delivery of services and receive person-centred support.

Speaking at the Haven residential rehabilitation service, which has received £600,000 for eight additional beds, Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said: “The last five years have seen record investment in alcohol and drugs services, with significant progress, but we want to do more. This plan marks the next phase in our response to tackling alcohol and drug harms.

“We are already widening access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone, and Glasgow hosts the UK’s first Safer Drug Consumption Facility. As we respond to new challenges – including an increasingly toxic drugs supply – this plan refocuses our efforts in a more co-ordinated and sustainable way.

“As a joint Scottish Government and COSLA initiative, this plan will strengthen national and local partnership working so that people can receive the right help when and where they need it.”

The plan is aimed at preventing initial harm and supporting long-term recovery and wellbeing and focuses on four interconnected areas:

·       prevention and early intervention

·       harm reduction

·       treatment and care

·       the wider circle of support.

Priorities include strengthening local delivery, supporting the voluntary sector and workforce and improving data, research and evidence.  

COSLA Health and Social Care spokesperson Councillor Paul Kelly said: “Far too many individuals and families continue to be affected by drugs and alcohol harms. We need to do everything we can to support people, which requires us to work across spheres of government.

“Bringing local and national government together for the first time in this way represents a step change in how we plan and deliver support for people affected by drugs and alcohol.

“Local government works closely with our communities, across a range of preventative services, and has strong local knowledge of the challenges our communities face.

“No single service can respond to the ongoing challenge of drugs and alcohol harms. It is only by working in partnership, investing sustainably in vital supports and through the co-ordinated efforts of the whole system, that we prevent issues before they arise and support people to sustain recovery.”

The Haven Chief Executive Gary Lister said: “Through its holistic, recovery-focused programme, The Haven supports individuals to rebuild their lives, restore family relationships and move towards long-term recovery.

“The Scottish Government’s support for the current expansion of the facility — including eight additional residential beds and enhanced living spaces — will help ensure more people can access the safe, structured support they need to begin that journey.”

Paul Waterson, SAIP Chair said: “The Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership is committed to promoting responsible consumption and tackling harmful drinking. The data show that progress is being made in tackling harmful consumption, but more needs to be done.

“Scotland has had in place for many years a wide-ranging whole population approach. What is needed to make further progress is greater focus and more action to deliver targeted interventions such as community alcohol partnerships, and a greater use of assertive outreach.

“We welcome the commitment to engagement with business and industry on the alcohol harm prevention plan to be published later in 2026.”

Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland’s Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan 2026 – 2035

Tackling Harmful Drinking: Alcohol industry action showcased at Holyrood event

Tackling harmful drinking was the focus of an event at Holyrood last week, sponsored by Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands.

MSPs and other stakeholders, the third sector, Police Scotland and representatives from the drinks industry, were given the chance to see for themselves the work supported by the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership (SAIP) and delivered across the country to tackle harm and promote an increasingly moderate and responsible approach to alcohol.

Several of the organisations that the SAIP and its members work with were represented at the event, including Drinkaware, Community Alcohol Partnerships, Best Bar None and the Portman Group.

Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands said: “ It was fantastic to get the opportunity to host the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership at Holyrood, bringing industry and partners together to tackle harmful drinking.

“Scotland has a complicated relationship with alcohol, and it’s important that we prevent its misuse and the damage that can be done by drinking too much, while recognising the importance of alcohol culturally, socially, and economically.

“As a Highlands and Islands MSP, I know how important whisky is locally, and we need to empower people to enjoy that without it negatively impacting their health and relationships.

“Alcohol-related hospital stays are on the decline, and last year saw a welcome decrease in alcohol deaths, but effort is needed to make sure that trajectory continues in the right direction – industry must be part of that effort.”

Paul Waterson, SAIP Chair said: “Our industry has an important role to play in encouraging moderate consumption and in tackling harmful drinking.

“The event highlighted the range of targeted interventions being taken forward in partnership across the industry, in addition to work that many companies also do individually.

“We want to have a prosperous, vibrant alcohol industry whilst at the same time driving down harmful consumption. Progress is being made but more work remains to be done.”

Tackling harmful drinking – more targeted interventions are needed

Alcohol producers and retailers are calling on the next Scottish Government to target their efforts to tackle alcohol harm while recognising the positive role the industry can have in helping consumers make informed choices about their drinking. 

The Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership is an alliance of retailers and producers committed to tackling alcohol harm by devising and delivering targeted interventions and supporting community-based activities. 

The SAIP has launched its manifesto ahead of the Scottish election and has two main asks: to move towards greater use of targeted interventions, and to acknowledge the positive role that the alcohol industry plays in promoting responsible moderate consumption and tackling harmful drinking. 

Examples of targeted interventions include Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAPs) to target underage drinking and assertive outreach treatment to reach and support harmful drinkers. 

CAPs work by supporting local partnerships of councils, police, retailers, schools, health providers and other community groups in reducing alcohol harm among children and young people, improving their health and wellbeing and enhancing their communities. 

Assertive outreach treatment (AOT) is a service which makes proactive and persistent (‘assertive’) attempts to engage and provide tailored support to harmful drinkers. 

SAIP Chairman Paul Waterson said: “We are looking for a greater emphasis and focus on delivering targeted interventions.” 

Another change called for by the SAIP is recognition that the industry has a valid and long-standing role to play in tackling alcohol harm. 

“The SAIP is a unique partnership that has demonstrated its commitment,” said Waterson. “We have devised and rolled out a national campaign with Police Scotland to tackle the proxy purchase of alcohol by adults for minors and supported the expansion of CAP schemes around Scotland.

“We have also worked with Best Bar None and Drinkaware – all proven ways of making real change in people’s attitude to the safe consumption of alcohol.” 

The SAIP Manifesto can be found https://www.saip.org.uk/resources 

Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership: DON’T buy alcohol for under 18s

Underage drinking causes harm to children and impacts whole communities. That’s why buying alcohol for under 18s is ILLEGAL.

Help us clamp down on proxy purchasing.

Refuse to buy alcohol for under 18s.

Report it to the police if you see it.

Campaign launches to tackle youth street drinking

Street disorder and youth drinking are to be tackled in a summer campaign across Scotland.

What began as a pilot designed by the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership a decade ago in North Lanarkshire, “It’ll Cost You” is now a nation-wide campaign fronted by Police Scotland.

The clear message of the campaign is that buying alcohol for minors could land you with a fine, a jail sentence or both.

Police Scotland is working with retailers and alcohol companies to drive home the stark message that buying alcohol for children, proxy purchase, is a criminal offence.

Evaluations of the previous campaigns have shown a steady increase in awareness about the implications of supplying alcohol to minors, but it remains a serious issue with detections being made by police across Scotland during the course of last year’s campaign.

The “It’ll Cost You!” campaign is a collaboration between Police Scotland, the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership and Community Alcohol Partnerships.

This year’s campaign will run from 30 June in communities across Scotland.

Superintendent Joanne McEwan, Police Scotland, said: “This campaign showcases the benefits of key partners working together to inform the public of dangers associated with underage drinking, as well as the criminal consequences for supplying those under 18 with alcohol.”

Luke McGarty, Chair of the SAIP Campaigns Group and Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scottish Grocers Federation, said: “Retailers are the first line of defence in reducing underage drinking and anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol.

“Our members are robust in ensuring that under 18’s can’t buy alcohol from their stores, so it’s vital that customers support those efforts and are aware of the dangers of proxy purchasing’.  

“The “It’ll Cost You!” campaign fits perfectly with SGF’s position of promoting responsible community retailing. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners on the campaign again this year.”

Grahame Clarke, Community Alcohol Partnership Coordinator, said: “The campaign gives us an opportunity to spread the “It’ll Cost You!” message in local communities, highlighting the dangers of buying alcohol for young people.

“We look forward to working with Police Scotland and the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers to make sure that this messaging is carried through all our engagement activity this summer.”

Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Siobhian Brown, said: “To have run this campaign for ten years is a strong example of partnership working to help reduce crime and make our communities safer.

“‘It’ll Cost You’ reinforces the message that buying alcohol for someone under the age of 18, regardless of your relationship to them, is illegal.

“It can put them at risk of becoming vulnerable or involved in antisocial behaviour and if you buy drink for them, you could be fined, imprisoned, or both.

“This campaign highlights the dangers of underage drinking and sends a strong message that this is not acceptable.”

It’ll Cost You: A Decade of Deterring Underage Drinking!

A community campaign to tackle underage drinking reaches its tenth anniversary this year when it will once again aim to deter adults buying alcohol for children.

The ‘It’ll Cost You’ initiative has run nationally across Scotland for the last three years and will continue in summer 2025. Evaluations of the previous campaigns have shown a steady increase in awareness about the implications of supplying alcohol to minors, but it remains an issue with 8 detections being made during the course of the 2024 campaign.

It is an offence in Scotland for an adult to buy or attempt to buy alcohol for someone who is under the age of 18. This is known as proxy purchase and can result in a fine, imprisonment or both.

The “It’ll Cost You!” campaign is a collaboration between Police Scotland, the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership and Community Alcohol Partnerships and aims to raise awareness of the damaging effects and criminal nature of buying alcohol for under 18s.

This year’s campaign will run from Monday 30 June to Monday 11 August across Scotland.

Joanne McEwan, Policing Together Superintendent, said: “The multi-agency proxy purchase campaign is an important annual initiative, which helps us raise awareness of the consequences associated with providing alcohol to young people.

“Purchasing alcohol for anyone under the age of 18 is a criminal offence and you risk a fine, imprisonment, or both if you are caught doing so.

“Safeguarding young people from harm is part of our Chief Constable’s commitment to building safer communities and we will continue to work with partners to tackle underage drinking.”

Luke McGarty, Chair of the SAIP Campaigns Group and Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scottish Grocers Federation, said: “Retailers are committed to reducing underage drinking and anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol.

“This campaign ties in with SGF’s position of promoting responsible community retailing and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners on the campaign again this year.”

Grahame Clarke, Community Alcohol Partnership Coordinator, said: ““The campaign gives us an opportunity to carry the “It’ll Cost You” resources and messaging in local communities, highlighting the dangers of buying alcohol for young people.

“We look forward to working with Police Scotland and the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers to make sure that this messaging is carried through all our engagement activity this summer.”

Siobhian Brown MSP, Community Safety Minister said: “It is illegal for adults to buy or attempt to buy alcohol for under 18s and I welcome this campaign which is a good example of partners working together to stop the practice.

“People may feel they are doing no harm, but buying alcohol for underage young people risks them becoming vulnerable through alcohol or contributing to anti-social behaviour in our communities.”

It’ll Cost You!: Campaign launches to tackle youth street drinking

BUYING ALCOHOL FOR CHILDREN COULD LEAVE YOU FACING A FINE OR JAIL TIME.

That’s the stark message of a campaign running across this summer in collaboration with retailers, alcohol companies and Police Scotland.

Evaluations of the previous “It’ll Cost You!” campaigns have shown a steady increase in awareness about the implications of supplying alcohol to minors, but it remains a serious issue with 18 detections being made during the course of last year’s campaign.

It is an offence in Scotland for an adult to buy or attempt to buy alcohol for someone who is under the age of 18. This is known as proxy purchase and can result in a fine, imprisonment or both.

The “It’ll Cost You!” campaign is a collaboration between Police Scotland, the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership and Community Alcohol Partnerships aims to raise awareness of the damaging effects and criminal nature of buying alcohol for under 18s.

This year’s campaign will run from 1 July to 12 August across Scotland.

Superintendent Joanne McEwan, Police Scotland, said: “This campaign showcases the benefits of key partners working together to inform the public of dangers associated with underage drinking, as well as the criminal consequences for supplying those under 18 with alcohol.”

Luke McGarty, Chair of the SAIP Campaigns Group and Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scottish Grocers Federation, said: “Proxy purchasing is not an easy crime to detect and retailers are the first line of defence in reducing underage drinking and anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol.

“The “It’ll Cost You!” campaign fits perfectly with SGF’s position of promoting responsible community retailing. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners on the campaign again this year.”

Grahame Clarke, Community Alcohol Partnership Coordinator, said: “The campaign gives us an opportunity to spread the “It’ll Cost You!” message in local communities, highlighting the dangers of buying alcohol for young people.

“We look forward to working with Police Scotland and the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers to make sure that this messaging is carried through all our engagement activity this summer.”

Siobhain Brown MSP, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, said: “I welcome the return of a campaign that successfully illustrates the value of strong collaboration and regular engagement between partners, which help to deliver shared aims to help reduce underage drinking and anti-social behaviour in our communities.”

It’ll Cost You! campaign to relaunch this summer

A campaign to deter adults buying alcohol for children aims to build on its success when it is relaunched this summer.

The ‘It’ll Cost You’ initiative has run nationally across Scotland for the last two years and will continue in 2024. Evaluations of the previous campaigns have shown a steady increase in awareness about the implications of supplying alcohol to minors, but it remains a serious issue with 18 detections being made during the course of the 2023 campaign.

It is an offence in Scotland for an adult to buy or attempt to buy alcohol for someone who is under the age of 18. This is known as proxy purchase and can result in a fine, imprisonment or both.

The ‘It’ll Cost You!’ campaign is a collaboration between Police Scotland, the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership and Community Alcohol Partnerships and aims to raise awareness of the damaging effects and criminal nature of buying alcohol for under 18s.

This year’s campaign will run from 1 July to 12 August across Scotland.

Superintendent Joanne McEwan, Police Scotland, said: “This campaign showcases the benefits of key partners working together to inform the public of dangers associated with underage drinking, as well as the criminal consequences for supplying those under 18 with alcohol.”

Luke McGarty, Chair of the SAIP Campaigns Group and Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scottish Grocers Federation, said: “Proxy purchasing is not an easy crime to detect.

“Retailers are essentially the first line of defence and reducing underage drinking and anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol is one we support and ties in with SGF’s position of promoting responsible community retailing.

“We look forward to continuing to work with our partners on the campaign again this year.”

Grahame Clarke, Community Alcohol Partnership Coordinator said: “The campaign gives us an opportunity to carry the ‘It’ll Cost You’ resources and messaging in local communities, highlighting the dangers of buying alcohol for young people.

“We look forward to working with Police Scotland and the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers to make sure that this messaging is carried through all our engagement activity this summer.”

Siobhian Brown MSP, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, said: “I welcome the return of a campaign that successfully illustrates the value of strong collaboration and regular engagement between partners, which help to deliver shared aims to help reduce underage drinking and anti-social behaviour in our communities.”

Police launch “It’ll Cost You!” proxy purchasing campaign

An award-winning campaign to tackle underage drinking and youth disorder has been launched across Scotland.

The “It’ll Cost You!” programme is a collaboration between Police Scotland, local authorities and alcohol producers and retailers and aims to raise awareness of the damaging effects and criminal nature of buying alcohol for under 18s.

Following a series of successful pilots by the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership across Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow, results consistently showed a drop in street drinking and anti-social behaviour.

Asking an adult to buy alcohol for under 18s is one of the most common tactics used by young people to access alcohol. The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 states that it is an offence for a person to “act as an agent for a child in purchasing or attempting to purchase alcohol”. This is also known as proxy purchase.

Police Scotland analysts report that youth disorder incidents reduced by 10% in the North Lanarkshire pilot. The campaign also contributed to a 51% reduction of reports of children drinking on the street.

In addition to 38 adults being reported for buying alcohol for children, the campaign also led to two stores being reported for repeatedly selling alcohol to under 18s.

Adults who buy alcohol for children may face a fine of up to £5,000. Depending on the circumstances you could also face a prison sentence of up to three months and a criminal record

Superintendent Hilary Sloan, Police Scotland, said:  “This campaign highlights the multitude of issues which can be caused through underage drinking and by buying alcohol for teens.

“We want to help keep our young people safe from alcohol-related harm, as well as reducing anti-social behaviour and crime in our communities. Additionally, proxy purchasing is an offence, which could result in a prison sentence.

“The lighter evenings of the summer will see an increase in police patrols around Scotland to reduce attempted purchases of alcohol for under 18s.”

Dr John Lee, Chair of the SAIP Campaigns Group and Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scottish Grocers Federation said: “The success of initiatives such as Challenge 25 have helped reduce the number of direct sales of alcohol to under 18s, but young people are increasingly accessing alcohol by other means.

“Asking an adult to buy alcohol for them is one of the most common tactics used.”

Minister for Community Safety Ash Regan said: “A key objective of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 is the protection of children and young persons from harm. We remain committed to protecting young persons and children from harm. 

“Young persons are particularly vulnerable to the effects of alcohol, whether they are drinking themselves, or being affected by the drinking of other people in their lives. Underage drinking can also cause short and long term harm to health, as well as put young persons in dangerous situations when drunk.

“That is why I welcome the “It’ll Cost You” Campaign to help create safer communities for us all. The results of pilot initiatives, which the Scottish Government supported, show what can be achieved through strong collaboration and partnership working at a community level.”

Gavin Randall, Retail Operations Director,  Scotmid said: “As a responsible retailer, Scotmid is delighted to support the ‘It’ll Cost You’ proxy purchase campaign.

“Reducing underage drinking and anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol, fits in perfectly with Scotmid’s core purpose ‘to serve our communities and improve peoples’ everyday lives.”

Graham Clarke, Community Alcohol Partnership Coordinator said: “Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) is delighted to be supporting the “It’ll Cost You” campaign.  

“Proxy purchase continues to be a challenge across Scotland and the campaign will highlight the dangers and penalties that can result from adults buying alcohol for young people.  

“As part of the campaign, CAP will use the “It’ll Cost You” messaging and resources to support our ongoing work within local partnerships in Scotland to​reduce alcohol harm among young people, improve their health and wellbeing and enhance their communities.”