Science and British Policy

1. Science and British Policy Ilora Finlay

2. Alcohol labelling Bill 2007 • Foetal alcohol syndrome • Lord Mitchell’s Private Members Bill • No alcohol pre conception and in pregnancy • No tolerance by under 5 yrs • Labelling on bottles • Jan 2007 Bill fell • Nov 2007 reintroduced – not given time in the Commons

3. Alcohol monitoring scheme • Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill 2011 • Baroness Newlove maiden speech • July 2011 report stage • Finlay Amdt 306ZC to insert alcohol monitoring into youth rehabilitation orders defeated by 151 to 104

4. Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill 2010 • “Alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirement “ • Arrangements for tagging other means of testing • Not dependent on alcohol • Piloting powers • Royal Assent May 2012

5. Enable the court to take • enforcement action on alcohol related violence and • monitor compliance, particularly in middle level offences • Such as: • common assault, • offences against the person, • threatening behaviour and • domestic violence.

6. A pre-court screening to identify alcoholics, needs too great • Alcohol monitoring, as part of a suspended sentence, community sentence or post release licence (alternative to prison) • Magistrate is satisfied that offender understands No alcohol, with daily testing • Evidence suggests 12 weeks to achieve behaviour change

7. Pilot plan • Offender to pay for each test, £1 • Testing done by either a private company or a voluntary third sector agency, with paid staff (not volunteers). It will not tie up police constable time • For the pilot, the test centres use existing court and probation premises near transport hubs • The initial alcohol test - standard breathalyser; if positive a second test with evidential standard equipment and mouthpiece

8. Bernard Hogan-Howe – Metropolitan Police Commissioner – who is “fully supportive” of the proposal. He commented that alcohol is a precursor to crime in about 80% of crimes in London and that after 6 pm each night you can smell the problem in the police cells. • Led by Mayor and his Deputy

9. Current policy • Minimum pricing • 10% increase in price ~ 4.4% fall in consumption (Canada showed 3.4% fall) • Minimum unit pricing • Marketing • (positive response at age 18 ~ heavier drinking and more alcohol related aggression age 21) • Availability of alcohol • Licensing powers restriction • Sweden beer in grocery stores, consumption up 15%. Reversed when sale stopped.

10. Community Alcohol Prevention Project • Coordinated action – Cardiff Glasgow Birmingham • Strengthening families • Screening for hazardous drinking • Fast alcohol screening test ‘FAST’ • Brief intervention / teachable moment • Reduced consumption 55% v 8% in controls

11. March 2012 • “The message is clear. We can’t go on like this. We have to tackle the scourge of binge drinking.” David Cameron • Powers: • Stop serving drunks • Restrict opening hours • Density of licenses and late night levy • Drunks in A&E and clubs they are from

12. 2012 • 7 questions • 2 statements • I short debate • But no secondary legislation for pilots

13. BUT • Refuse to look at differential for young drivers • Complex messages persist in muddle