Jasbird
08-20-2003, 12:52 AM
<http://society.guardian.co.uk/drugsandalcohol/story/0,8150,1021986,00.html>
Time called on binge drinkers
Licensing overhaul to stem Scots' alcohol misuse
Kirsty Scott
Wednesday August 20, 2003
The Guardian
Scotland has unveiled plans for a radical overhaul of licensing laws
to try to end the country's deadly binge-drinking culture.
The proposals, which could see pubs opening all hours but barred from
serving cut-price drink, have been welcomed by campaigners working to
stem alcohol abuse.
But the plans come just a day after Ireland introduced draconian
anti-drinking laws after a similar overhaul of licensing restrictions
which only exacerbated alcohol-related crime and disorder in the
republic.
Scotland's own drink problems have cost it dear. Alcohol-related
deaths in the country have more than doubled in the past 10 years. It
was recently revealed that Scotland had the highest incidence in the
world of Korsakov's syndrome, an alcohol-related brain disease which
causes irreversible memory loss.
Drink is involved in half of all murders and three-quarters of
assaults, and the NHS in Scotland spends about £1.5bn a year on
alcohol-related diseases.
Following apocalyptic warnings from experts that Scots must "relearn
their relationship" with alcohol, the Scottish executive commissioned
the report into the country's 25-year-old licensing laws.
Among the 90 recommendations designed to demystify alcohol and
discourage binge drinking are proposals for abolishing traditional
opening hours, for allowing children into pubs, and for a proof-of-age
identity card.
The report also recommends a crackdown on "happy hours" - cheaper
drinks at certain times of the day - and other cut-price drink
promotions, and the introduction of pub enforcers to police the rules.
The Scottish justice minister, Cathy Jamieson, said the report, which
will go out to consultation, offered the best chance for Scotland to
address the heavy drinking among some of its citizens.
Ms Jamieson said: "While many aspects of our social drinking patterns
have changed beyond recognition in the last 30 years, one unchanging
feature of the Scottish drink culture is its [link] with violence.
"Changing the licensing laws by itself will not break the link between
drinking and crime. But what changes to the law can do is encourage
greater responsibility - personal responsibility and responsibility
for licence holders... It's time to call time on this binge-drinking
culture and the link between drunkenness and violent disorder."
Mary Ellmers, of the charity Alcohol Focus Scotland, welcomed the
report but said it was crucial that any laws were enforced and that
Scots recognised they had to alter their thinking on alcohol. "We have
to get away from this idea that too many people have, that you can't
have a good night unless you get completely plastered."
Doctors have praised the report for its recognition of the health
costs of alcohol abuse.
"It is a massive problem," said Dean Marshall, of the British Medical
Association. "It is not just about public disorder."
But representatives of Scotland's 17,500 licensed premises said they
feared the proposals would worsen binge drinking by launching a
price-cutting race as pubs and clubs vie with each other for custom.
Paul Waterson, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: "We
have far too many licensed premises in Scotland. That's what's
creating a lot of the problems. The last thing we want to see is a
free-for-all."
The law and the cost
England
The rules
A controversial new licensing bill, due to take effect in 2005, will
allow 24-hour drinking for the first time in 90 years. Designed to
curb binge drinking and create a more family-friendly drinking
culture, the bill will give police greater powers to crack down on
offenders
The human cost
£3bn spent on alcohol-related disease in England and Wales
Scotland
The rules
A new report recommends a complete overhaul of licensing laws. Pubs
would be allowed to open all hours and admit children, but happy hours
would be banned and premises would be policed by an army of licensing
enforcers
The human cost
£1.5bn spent on alcohol-related disease in Scotland
Ireland
The rules
Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 introduces sweeping new restrictions to
counter the liberalisation of the 1990s. Closing times have been
brought forward; no one under 18 will be allowed in any bar after 8pm;
and it is an offence to serve a drink to anyone who is already drunk
The human cost
£1.9bn spent on alcohol-related disease in Ireland
Time called on binge drinkers
Licensing overhaul to stem Scots' alcohol misuse
Kirsty Scott
Wednesday August 20, 2003
The Guardian
Scotland has unveiled plans for a radical overhaul of licensing laws
to try to end the country's deadly binge-drinking culture.
The proposals, which could see pubs opening all hours but barred from
serving cut-price drink, have been welcomed by campaigners working to
stem alcohol abuse.
But the plans come just a day after Ireland introduced draconian
anti-drinking laws after a similar overhaul of licensing restrictions
which only exacerbated alcohol-related crime and disorder in the
republic.
Scotland's own drink problems have cost it dear. Alcohol-related
deaths in the country have more than doubled in the past 10 years. It
was recently revealed that Scotland had the highest incidence in the
world of Korsakov's syndrome, an alcohol-related brain disease which
causes irreversible memory loss.
Drink is involved in half of all murders and three-quarters of
assaults, and the NHS in Scotland spends about £1.5bn a year on
alcohol-related diseases.
Following apocalyptic warnings from experts that Scots must "relearn
their relationship" with alcohol, the Scottish executive commissioned
the report into the country's 25-year-old licensing laws.
Among the 90 recommendations designed to demystify alcohol and
discourage binge drinking are proposals for abolishing traditional
opening hours, for allowing children into pubs, and for a proof-of-age
identity card.
The report also recommends a crackdown on "happy hours" - cheaper
drinks at certain times of the day - and other cut-price drink
promotions, and the introduction of pub enforcers to police the rules.
The Scottish justice minister, Cathy Jamieson, said the report, which
will go out to consultation, offered the best chance for Scotland to
address the heavy drinking among some of its citizens.
Ms Jamieson said: "While many aspects of our social drinking patterns
have changed beyond recognition in the last 30 years, one unchanging
feature of the Scottish drink culture is its [link] with violence.
"Changing the licensing laws by itself will not break the link between
drinking and crime. But what changes to the law can do is encourage
greater responsibility - personal responsibility and responsibility
for licence holders... It's time to call time on this binge-drinking
culture and the link between drunkenness and violent disorder."
Mary Ellmers, of the charity Alcohol Focus Scotland, welcomed the
report but said it was crucial that any laws were enforced and that
Scots recognised they had to alter their thinking on alcohol. "We have
to get away from this idea that too many people have, that you can't
have a good night unless you get completely plastered."
Doctors have praised the report for its recognition of the health
costs of alcohol abuse.
"It is a massive problem," said Dean Marshall, of the British Medical
Association. "It is not just about public disorder."
But representatives of Scotland's 17,500 licensed premises said they
feared the proposals would worsen binge drinking by launching a
price-cutting race as pubs and clubs vie with each other for custom.
Paul Waterson, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: "We
have far too many licensed premises in Scotland. That's what's
creating a lot of the problems. The last thing we want to see is a
free-for-all."
The law and the cost
England
The rules
A controversial new licensing bill, due to take effect in 2005, will
allow 24-hour drinking for the first time in 90 years. Designed to
curb binge drinking and create a more family-friendly drinking
culture, the bill will give police greater powers to crack down on
offenders
The human cost
£3bn spent on alcohol-related disease in England and Wales
Scotland
The rules
A new report recommends a complete overhaul of licensing laws. Pubs
would be allowed to open all hours and admit children, but happy hours
would be banned and premises would be policed by an army of licensing
enforcers
The human cost
£1.5bn spent on alcohol-related disease in Scotland
Ireland
The rules
Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 introduces sweeping new restrictions to
counter the liberalisation of the 1990s. Closing times have been
brought forward; no one under 18 will be allowed in any bar after 8pm;
and it is an offence to serve a drink to anyone who is already drunk
The human cost
£1.9bn spent on alcohol-related disease in Ireland