This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Attitudes to alcohol revealed
29/07/2005
People across Scotland are beginning to recognise the dangers of alcohol and the damage binge drinking causes to their health.
A new survey published today shows that alcohol is perceived as a problem and attitudes to it are beginning to change.
However, the 2004 Scottish Social Attitude Survey on drinking and smoking reveals that young people are much less likely to view binge drinking as a serious problem.
Key findings include:
- 46 per cent of respondents identified alcohol as the drug causing most problems for Scotland
- 64 per cent of people surveyed agreed that drinking is a major part of Scottish life
- 21 per cent support an outright ban on 'irresponsible' drinks promotions while a further 37 per cent think these offers should be restricted. Support for resisting cheap drinks promotions is lowest among younger people
- 75 per cent of respondents think it would be very or fairly easy for someone in their area to find help with alcohol problems
- 39 per cent of respondents avoid pubs and bars and 46 per cent avoid restaurants at least sometimes because they are bothered by other people's smoke
- 53 per cent of respondents supported a complete ban on smoking in restaurants, while 25 per cent supported a ban in pubs and bars
Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"Scotland has a well known culture of drinking that dates back centuries and has a massive cost to our society.
"This survey provides a clear picture of attitudes towards alcohol and smoking in Scotland today. We are taking extensive measures to tackle issues around binge drinking including the Licensing (Scotland) Bill, and last month's announcement of an additional £5 million in funding for Alcohol Action Teams.
"Evidently attitudes to alcohol vary with age, so it is crucial we continue with our efforts to develop a culture of sensible drinking in young people.
"We have funded an advertising campaign aimed at cutting binge drinking in young people and published a guide for parents to help them talk to their children about the dangers of alcohol.
"I am pleased to see that there is support for our move towards smoke free bars, clubs and restaurants. It is clear that this support has continued to grow as the more recently conducted MRUK survey shows.
"That report found 56 per cent of those surveyed supported our legislation which will make Scotland the first part of the UK to be completely smoke free in all enclosed public places.
"Clearly changes in behaviour cannot be achieved overnight, which is why we are committed to working with bodies including the NHS, the licensed trade, local authorities and schools to achieve a major cultural shift."
The Executive commissioned a module of questions about drinking and smoking in the 2004 Scottish Social Attitudes (SSA) survey. The findings are based on interviews with a representative sample of 1,600 adults across Scotland. The SSA has been conducted annually since 1999 and is designed and conducted by the Scottish Centre for Social Research, a not-for-profit educational charity.
The Licensing Bill will:
- outlaw nationally those irresponsible drinks promotions which can lead to binge drinking
- tackle under-age drinking through no proof no sale approach
- put in place a national licensing framework with standard national licence conditions.
2005/06 alcohol funding totals £10 million and the majority breaks down as follows:
NHS Board Funding (£000s)
- Argyll and Clyde 915
- Ayrshire and Arran 706
- Borders 280
- Dumfries and Galloway 359
- Fife 659
- Forth Valley 488
- Greater Glasgow 2190
- Grampian 699
- Highland 466
- Lanarkshire 814
- Lothian 1107
- Orkney 221
- Shetland 221
- Tayside 556
- Western Isles 221
Total £9,902,000 (the remainder will go towards quality improvement measures).
The Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill will become law on March 26 2006.