Agenda item

The Director of Public Health submits a presentation to the Commission on alcohol related harm and the role of licensing. The Committee Members are recommended to note the presentation.

The Director of Public Health submitted a presentation to the Committee on alcohol related harm and the role of licensing. The Committee Members were recommended to note the information provided.

Julie O’Boyle, Consultant in Public Health, delivered the presentation. The following points were made:

·         It is a manifesto commitment to develop and implement an alcohol strategy for the city. Public Health are leading on this working with internal and external partners.

·         The risk of alcohol harm increases with increasing consumption,

·         There were 24k alcohol associated deaths in the UK in 2017, with the cost to the NHS estimated at £3.5billion, and cost to society at £21billion.

·         Less than 20% of people in need of treatment for alcohol dependence were getting the support they need.

·         The number of liver disease deaths was rising.

·         The rates of drinking amongst younger people have fallen over the last few years, but those aged 55-64 were drinking more frequently and harmfully.

·         Those in higher income households were more likely to drink every day, though the more severe alcohol harm was experienced in the lower income households, known as the alcohol harm paradox.

·         Positive news for Leicester was 51% did not drink alcohol (self-reported). The regional average for abstinence was 13.5%, and the national average 15%. Abstinence in Leicester was higher amongst the Asian and Black British population.

·         The LCC Health and Wellbeing survey commissioned by the Public Health team noted that 2% of the local population report drinking alcohol every day.

·         Our local survey also shows that the highest rates of drinking alcohol were amongst white males 55 years and over and was reflective of the national picture.

·         Leicester has a statistically significant higher rate of alcohol related hospital admissions in men compared to the national average.

·         Alcohol related hospital admissions for women in Leicester were similar to the England average. In 2017/18 there was the equivalent of 4,400 alcohol related hospital admissions for men in Leicester and 2,200 for women.

·         Maps in the presentation outlined the higher drinking areas, mainly the city centre and west Leicester. Harm was concentrated in the more deprived parts of the city. Knighton and Western Park had admission rates significantly lower than the Leicester average.

·         When looking at the mortality rate, women were similar to the national rate, but men were higher. Reported as a rolling average, approximately 30 men and 8 women a year die from an alcohol specific illness.

·         Leicester had a higher rate of licensed premises per square kilometre than comparator authorities. The number of premises to consume alcohol per 1,000 of the population was also higher than the England average. It was an important figure to note as it was known that availability was one of the drivers for alcohol consumption.

·         Premises to consume alcohol were mainly concentrated in the city centre, whilst off-sale premises were more dispersed across the city. The Chair requested information on the UK city with the highest concentration be provided.

·         There had been a change in the patterns of drinking in the UK with more people drinking at home, driven in part by the increased affordability of alcohol particularly in the off-sale trade.

It was explained that health was not a licensing objective, but it was noted there were health aspects for other licensing objectives, for example, violent crime, impact on the community, mental health and wellbeing, and public safety. The Director of Public Health also wanted a public health statement included in the authority’s licensing statement as there had been in other parts of the country, to show the authority recognised that alcohol had an impact on the community and families. It was noted the rate of alcohol consumption was linked to availability and affordability, and it was important to control its cumulative impact to maintain health and wellbeing.

It was reported that some areas of the country had discouraged vertical drinking establishments, as people tended to drink more and more quickly when standing up compared to sitting down. The Licensing Committee, through the licensing statement could also encourage local businesses to provide premises which were welcoming to people who did not drink alcohol and encourage licensees to provide a wider range of non-alcoholic adult drinks. In Nottingham there is an alcohol-free bar (Café Sobar) which specifically catered for people who do not drink alcohol.

It was stated that when licensing laws relaxed, the expectation was the country would automatically move into a continental café culture, but with the role of advertising and product placement, alcohol had become normalised in society. In terms of health harm, it affected the older population. Younger people tended to binge drink and there was more violence in that group.

The Chair thanked the officer for the report and agreed that Public Health work with the Authority Team on the licensing statement.

RESOLVED:

that:

1.    Members note the presentation and information received.

2.    Information on the city with the highest concentration of off-sales be provided to the Chair.

3.    Public Health work with the Authority on the Licensing Statement.