Staff News - April 2023
Alcohol overprovision survey - What do you think?
NHS Highland and the Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership are looking for your feedback on the availability and purchase of alcohol in the Highlands.
What does alcohol overprovision refer to?
Scottish Licensing law requires licensing boards to assess the extent to which they consider there is overprovision of licensed premises, or licensed premises of a particular type, in their area. In considering whether there is overprovision, licensing boards must have regard to the number, type and capacity of licensed premises in a locality.
The purpose of this survey is to gather your views to help develop an alcohol overprovision statement for the Highland Council area. The results of this survey, along with other evidence such as health statistical data, will be presented to the Highland Alcohol Licensing Board to consider when agreeing an overprovision statement as part of the licensing policy.
They distributed a similar questionnaire five years ago and had an excellent response and are now in the unique position of being able to compare this older data with what we collect in this survey. Your support in completing the questionnaire is very much appreciated.
Alcohol is a legal, socially acceptable drug that is seen as an integral part of Scottish life; used to celebrate, commiserate and socialise. In Highland, particularly because of the small business culture (craft breweries/distilleries), it brings a source of employment and income. It is also a toxic substance that can create dependence and causes serious health and social problems. Often it is people, other than the person who is drinking, who feel the effects the most: children, family, friends, colleagues and those working in front line services like the NHS and police.
Within the last twenty years, the cost of alcohol has decreased whilst the availability of alcohol has increased through supermarkets and more recently through online purchasing, as a result, people are drinking far more than they used to and in the home environment.
We know in Highland 32% of men and 16% of women drink at hazardous or harmful levels (defined as drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week). Hazardous or harmful drinking can result in increased risk of being involved in accidents, becoming victims or perpetrators of crime, experience family break-up, or developing health problems.
In summary, it is clear that the availability and purchase of alcohol are contributory factors to the problems that people and communities face in Highland. The questionnaire is designed to take around 10 minutes, the survey responses are anonymous, and we ask for it to be submitted by 21 April 2023.