Agenda item

Report of the Interim Director of Public Health

The Chairman asked the Public Health Portfolio Lead to give a update in terms of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy (for copy see file of minutes).

The Public Health Portfolio Lead noted that the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy (AHRS) 2015-2020 and the associated action plans reflected World Health Organisation (WHO) strategies and had a vision:

“To change the drinking culture in County Durham to reduce the harm caused by alcohol to individuals, families and communities while ensuring that adults who choose to drink alcohol are able to enjoy it responsibly”.

Members noted that the strategy included a criminal justice element, a licensing element, on and off-sales and there were 5 associated action plans: Altogether Safer; Altogether Healthier; Altogether better for Children and Young People; Altogether Wealthier; and Altogether Greener.  Members noted that a redrafting would include a “plan on a page” and also amalgamate elements of addressing alcohol and drug harm.  The Committee noted that there were a number of campaigns associated with the AHRS as set out within the report, including the Dry January Campaign, and the recommendations of the Alcohol and its Demand on the Emergency Services report were being looked at with a report on implementation to be brought back to the Committee in June 2017.

Councillor T Nearney noted his thanks to all involved in the Alcohol and its Demand on the Emergency Services review, and also thanked the Safer Durham Partnership (SDP).  He asked as regards the data issues as set out in Appendix 2 relating to the profiling of violent crime.  The Public Health Portfolio Lead noted there was a lot of data to process and she would check with the lead for this area, Chief Superintendent Jane Spraggon. 

Councillor N Martin noted that the report contained several acronyms and that it would be beneficial to have them expanded when first referred to within a report.  This was noted.

The Chief Fire Officer, S Errington noted that Appendix 2 contained a column titled “Number of objectives completed” and felt this was meant to read “Number of objectives outstanding”.  The Public Health Portfolio Lead noted he was correct, it should have referred to objectives outstanding.

Councillor J Maitland noted that Members, especially of this Committee, had made representations in terms of minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol and asked how this was progressing in Scotland.  The Public Health Portfolio Lead noted that there was an ongoing court case in terms of the implementation of MUP for Scotland and that Public Health England supported MUP on the evidence base that existed.

Councillor J Turnbull noted he had concern at the number and types of premises you could purchase alcohol, for example petrol stations, and asked if there was any legislation that would help in terms of stopping the proliferation of such sales.

The Public Health Portfolio Lead noted that the Council, along with Gateshead Council, were involved in looking at a fifth Licencing objective in terms of reducing harm due to alcohol.  It was noted this was being evaluated by Sunderland University and maybe something that could be used by Public Health England to lobby Government. 

It was added that it was also difficult to draw any relationship between off-licence premises and health issues, such as heart attacks.

Councillor F Tinsley noted that the Republic of Ireland had MUP for around 4 years and it had proven to be very successful.

The Public Health Portfolio Lead noted that campaigns in terms of tobacco had been very successful and legislation that had been put in place regarding smoking in public places showed how attitudes could change.

Councillor M Hodgson reiterated that the Committee had supported MUP and that Government had chosen not to take it forward.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Councillor N Martin left the meeting at 10.21am