Scotland

Formulation of alcohol policy involves a range of government departments and local authorities.

Political devolution in Scotland means that the Scottish Government and Parliament have the authority to formulate, legislate and lead public policy on alcohol in areas such as health and treatment, licensing, criminal justice and law and order.

In the UK, alcoholic beverages are manufactured and retailed under licence. Anyone producing or retailing alcoholic drinks requires a licence to do so. New licensing legislation in Scotland, which is due to come into force in 2009, will require licensing boards to consider for the first time the impact on public health when deciding whether or not to grant a liquor licence. The public health principle enshrined in the new Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, along with the other licensing objectives – preventing crime and disorder, securing public safety, preventing public nuisance and protecting children from harm – explicitly recognises that alcohol is no ordinary commodity and that public scrutiny and regulation of the alcohol market is essential to protect individuals and communities from alcohol-related harm.

Scottish Alcohol Strategy

Government strategy for tackling problem alcohol use in Scotland is currently under review. A new framework for action is outlined in Changing Scotland’s relationship with alcohol: a discussion paper on our strategic approach [pdf, 889KB], published in June 2008.

The Scottish Government is inviting comments from individuals and organisations on the proposals contained in the document. Details of how to submit comments can be found on the Scottish Government website. The consultation period ends on 9 September 2008.