Science and British Policy
Ilora Finlay
Alcohol labelling Bill 2007
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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
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
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
• Enable the court to take
– enforcement action on alcohol related violence and
– monitor compliance, particularly in middle level
offences
• Such as:
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common assault,
offences against the person,
threatening behaviour and
domestic violence.
• 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
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
• 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
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.
• 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
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
2012
• 7 questions
• 2 statements
• I short debate
• But no secondary legislation for pilots
BUT
• Refuse to look at differential for young drivers
• Complex messages persist in muddle