Ministerial foreword
Although the majority of people in Scotland enjoy alcohol without causing harm to themselves or to others, we are becoming all too aware of the damage excessive drinking can cause to our physical and mental health, our communities, our economy and our way of life. The influences supporting and encouraging alcohol use are powerful and widespread, and no measures by government alone will truly tackle alcohol misuse. We need to work with the medical profession, the alcohol industry and others.
But, in addition to this, we must all look critically at our own behaviour and think about the long term problems we are storing up for Scotland. It's time for us to take responsibility for our own drinking habits, setting an example for our young people. We need to make sure that they are well educated about responsible, moderate consumption, and that they are empowered to make the right decisions.
We have made significant progress since the publication of the Executive's Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems in 2002, but more needs to be done to tackle such problems and create a Scotland that is without the harm which so often mars the enjoyment of alcohol today. This plan describes a programme of action for the next three years. It sets out to build a Scotland in which we use alcohol responsibly and understand the consequences that can follow excessive drinking. It aims to deliver a greater range and quality of services to help those individuals and families for whom that harm is already a reality and to support actively local communities in their efforts to tackle alcohol-related crime and antisocial behaviour.
Published alongside this updated plan is the detail of our innovative partnership agreement with the alcohol industry. We have agreed a number of actions as the first steps in what we hope will be a long-term, collaborative approach to achieving our shared aim of reducing alcohol misuse in Scotland.
Taken together, the actions in this plan, and in the industry partnership agreement, amount to a significant programme. But it is not the end of the story - we are committed to evaluating and developing the services and initiatives in this plan to produce a long-term vision for changing culture and behaviours over the coming decade.
Andy Kerr, MSP
Minister for Health and Community Care