Agenda item

(1)               Preventing Crime and Disorder

(2)               Securing Public Safety

(3)               Preventing Public Nuisance

(4)               Protecting and Improving Public Health, and

(5)               Protecting Children from Harm

Mr Kelman advised that at the last Forum meeting, it was decided that the joint meeting should refocus on the basics of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 i.e. the Five Licensing Objectives. He stated that there had been a lot of discussion today regarding the night time economy and the immediate knock-on effects but there had been little discussion about the wider remit of public health (Objective 4 – Protecting and Improving Public Health). He wondered how the Board were measuring how effective they were being in meeting this objective. Mr Anderson agreed that it was a very difficult area to measure and, in discussion with colleagues across the country, it appears to be an area which all other Licensing Boards are struggling with. He advised that the Director of Public Health is looking at this very issue at present and that guidance was expected shortly. Mr Kelman suggested that the Board may want to look at other areas of consultation/data i.e. from ambulance services, health board. He advised that there is a meeting later on this year with Alcohol Focus Scotland, the details of which he would advise to the Board of at a later date.

David Wright, Service Manager Education, Culture and Sport, advised that there is a programme of education regarding alcohol and drug abuse embedded within the Curriculum of Excellence, and that awareness of the wide-reaching public health issues caused by prolonged alcohol and drug abuse was quite prominent. Mary Crawford advised that she had recently been to a primary school and seen displays done by Primary 3 pupils that explained the dangers of alcohol and drugs.

The joint meeting also discussed the culture of consuming offsales purchases prior to going out to pubs and clubs, and noted that this was also becoming quite a serious issue. The joint meeting welcomed the work that was being done in this area towards public health i.e. designated areas in offsales.

Inspector John Soutar stated that the measuring of a wider range of statistics or data would allow the Board to have a better indication of how the Statement of Licensing Policy was impacting upon the five objectives. This would allow the Board to move into a more significant role.

Councillor Jaffrey referred to a recent newspaper article which claimed that there was a growing problem with pensioners drinking too much, citing cheap deals at supermarkets as the main cause. She also advised that she felt there was too much ‘grey’ or vague information coming from the Scottish Government and more governance was needed from that level.

With reference to the newspaper article, Linda Smith, NHS Grampian, advised that the information quoted in the article was from a recent research paper entitled ‘Alcohol Abuse in Older People in Grampian’ that was circulated at a recent Aberdeen City Community Health Partnership committee meeting. She endeavoured to circulate the paper among the members of the Forum and Board after the meeting. She advised that the paper looked at the problems from a preventative point of view, focusing on wider-reaching issues such as alcohol fuelled domestic violence and mental health issues caused by excessive drinking. The paper also looked at the wider effects upon the economy of an alcohol dependent culture, particularly in an ageing population.

With regards to the protection of children from harm, Councillor Robertson commended the work being done by Grampian Police utilising children to do test purchase at licensed offsales premises.

It was agreed that it was important to try and get the message across regarding the dangers of alcohol abuse and the far reaching effects on society. Councillor Donnelly suggested that a Government led advertising programme to educate and re-educate people of the dangers inherent within the abuse of alcohol, in both an initial and long term basis, may help the issue somewhat. Councillor Boulton agreed that people need to think twice about drinking heavily and take some responsibility for their actions and the wider reaching outcome of their actions within society.