Agenda item

There will be an opportunity to participate in the Drug and Alcohol Action Team Consultation.

Sue Holden, Alcohol Strategy Manager provided a presentation on the Alcohol Harm Reduction Consultation for Leicester City.

Sue explained that there had been a rising amount of problems related to alcohol particularly over the last 20 years. The Government had produced the country’s first alcohol harm reduction strategy in 2004 and this had been updated in 2007 to Safe, Sensible, Social which was designed to address issues such as licensing issues, alcohol fuelled crime, protecting young people and tackle irresponsibly managed premises.

Residents were informed that the focus was on the minority of drinkers who caused or experienced the most harm, these were:

• 18-24 year old binge drinkers,
• Young people under 18 who drink alcohol,
• Harmful adult drinkers.

It was explained that the strategy had been ongoing for the past three years however there would be a refresh. Sue explained the picture for Leicester with regards to alcohol, it was stated that:

• 75-80% of the Leicester population were either low risk or non drinkers.
• There were higher rates of non drinkers than the national average.
• There were high levels of binge drinking and high levels of both hazardous drinkers and harmful drinkers.
• Drinking levels were higher in the west of the city.
• There were also worse rates than the national average for alcohol specific mortality, chronic liver disease in men and alcohol related hospital admissions.

Residents were informed of the results of the Leicester lifestyle survey 2010 for adults agenda 16 or over. The following information was reported:

• 53% currently drank alcohol.
• 59% of men and 47% of women drank alcohol.
• 68% of alcohol drinkers were white.
• 27% drank above the daily recommended maximum units on a typical day and 25% drank within recommended guidelines.
• Men were more likely to drink about the threshold compared to women.

With regards to the Braunstone Park and Rowley Fields ward, it was noted that it ranked quite low with regards to alcohol prevalence above the recommended maximum unit on a weekly basis however the figure was increased for a daily basis.

In response to a query regarding the type of survey that was conducted, the Chair stated that it could have been a population survey. It was stated that respondents to the survey may not have been drinking at the addresses they had provided in the survey. It was noted that the daily recommended intake for men was 3-4 units while for women it was 2-3 units.

Sue explained some of the targets for the city. These included reducing hospital admission rates and reducing alcohol related violence. The Community Meeting was informed of the strategic objectives which were focused on.  These included:

• Prevention
• Community Safety
• Treatment
• Children and Young People

Progress on the strategic objectives was provided. This included:

Prevention

·        A normative campaign had been piloted where it had been stated that it was normal not to drink.

·        There was also a rolling programme with regard to units of alcohol as the Government were concentrating on making sure people were aware of their alcohol intake by units. It was thought better education could help change people’s behaviour.

·        There had been test purchase operations carried out in the city.

·        There had been funding provided for support to parents of teenagers at risk.

Community Safety

• It was stated that work had been done to address street drinking.
• Work was also being done to address violent crime and improve the co-ordination of the night time economy.
• There had been the introduction of the Alcohol Arrest Referral Scheme and the Fixed Penalty Diversion Scheme where people causing drink related problems were given a fixed penalty and were required to attend an information session on alcohol crime.

It was queried who was to be contacted if a young person below the legal age was seen carrying alcohol. It was stated that agencies such as social services, education welfare, schools, police or any other agency responsible for children should be able to assist.

It was queried whether the strategy was neighbourhood based. Sue explained that it was aimed to link in whenever possible and targeted work was being done in needed areas.

Concern was raised that there was a culture amongst some employers to encourage drinking amongst their employees.  It was noted however that this was up to the employer to look at their policy.