Agenda item

The current B&NES Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy (2012) was adopted by B&NES Council in April 2012. A commitment to refresh the Strategy in light of national and local developments was agreed with Wellbeing Policy, Development and Scrutiny Panel in May 2012. A Joint Scrutiny Inquiry Day in October 2013 and its subsequent recommendations have informed the Strategy refresh, alongside national and local developments since 2012.

The Panel are asked to agree with officers ecommendations in the report.

The Chairman invited Cathy McMahon (Public Health Development and Commissioning Manager) to introduce the report.

The Chairman commented that he had attended Alcohol Harm Reduction Scrutiny Inquiry Day (SID) and that he was slightly disappointed that relevant Cabinet Members did not accept every consideration that came up from the SID.  The Chairman felt encouraged that this would be revised in 2017.  The Chairman also said that he was disappointed with responses from Licensing Team as they had put more effort in what could not be done rather than in what could.

The Chairman expressed his concern in reduction of ‘drink-drive’ alcohol limit.  The Chairman said that he had been aware that similar practice had been exercised in Ireland and Scotland, though he felt it wasn’t a good measure to reduce drink driving.  The Chairman said that people who have been drinking and have 80mg of alcohol in their blood (2 pints), could drive quite safely.  The Chairman said that lowering down limits would criminalise people who had never been in conflict with the law. 

Cathy McMahon responded that Licensing Team had not responded accordingly at the SID but since the SID there had been much more response from the Licensing Team on issues that were raised at the SID. The Licensing had become a lot more open and collaborative in their work.

Cathy McMahon also said that, in terms of drink-driving, she had based her opinion on the evidence based that had been put forward by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).  NICE recommended lowering the limit because people were three times more likely to be involved in fatal car crash if they had had 50mg of alcohol in their blood, and six times more likely to be involved in fatal car crash if they had had 80mg of alcohol in their blood.  Cathy McMahon added that she appreciated that perception from people could be that they were okay to drive, but the evidence showed that risk of being involved in fatality was greater with more alcohol in the system.

Councillor Jackson added that generally people had not been very good judges of their limits.  Councillor Jackson expressed her concern in problematic drinking for people over 50 and 60.

Councillor Clarke commented that, similar to the Chairman, he had not believed in prohibition.  Councillor Clarke suggested that there should be calorie value attached to each drink.

The Panel asked about road safety figures for European countries.  Cathy McMahon responded that she could send these figures to Panel via email.

It was RESOLVED that:

1)  The Wellbeing Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel supported the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for Bath and North East Somerset (2014 – 2019) and agreed that it is taken forward for endorsement by B&NES Council Cabinet.

2)  The Strategy is refreshed in 2017 to update priorities and recommendations to ensure relevance to emerging local, regional and national issues.

The Wellbeing Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel actively engage in the call for evidence based national initiatives to support local delivery such as minimum unit pricing, a reduction in blood alcohol levels for driving, a public health objective in the licensing act and restrictions on advertising and sponsorship by the alcohol industry.