Written Question · S3W-22243 · Session 3
In light of the finding in Alcohol and Violence among Young Male Offenders in Scotland (1979-2009), published in January 2009, that 43.4% o…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the finding in Alcohol and Violence among Young Male Offenders in Scotland (1979-2009), published in January 2009, that 43.4% of prisoners who admitted to drinking alcohol before their current offence and could remember what they had been drinking had consumed Buckfast tonic wine, what its assessment is of this finding and what action it intends to take.
The answer
Whilst a significant number of the young offenders surveyed in the Alcohol and Violence among Young Offenders report indicated they drank Buckfast, a similar percentage reported drinking spirits (42.0%) and a significant number reported drinking beer (31.0%). The study provides no indication of volume of each type of alcohol drunk or in what combination. More worryingly the report highlights how alcohol misuse among young offenders has increased over the last 20 years, with those reporting they get drunk daily up from 7.3% in 1979 to 40.1% in 2007.
That is why Scottish Government considers that effort needs to focus on reducing the amount of alcohol consumed, particularly by offenders, and its consequences rather than on targeting specific drinks which is likely to be both illegal and lead to the consumption of substitute products.
Our Framework for Action (Bib. number 47805) outlines a robust and comprehensive package of measures to tackle alcohol misuse, including actions which are specifically aimed at reducing and addressing alcohol-related antisocial behaviour and offending. These include: investment in diversionary activities for children and young people; tackling alcohol-related violence directly through the Safer Streets campaign; working with the Violence Reduction Unit to tackle gang-related violence in Glasgow; reviewing the identification and treatment of offenders with alcohol problems, and research into the effectiveness of alcohol brief interventions for offenders.
That is why Scottish Government considers that effort needs to focus on reducing the amount of alcohol consumed, particularly by offenders, and its consequences rather than on targeting specific drinks which is likely to be both illegal and lead to the consumption of substitute products.
Our Framework for Action (Bib. number 47805) outlines a robust and comprehensive package of measures to tackle alcohol misuse, including actions which are specifically aimed at reducing and addressing alcohol-related antisocial behaviour and offending. These include: investment in diversionary activities for children and young people; tackling alcohol-related violence directly through the Safer Streets campaign; working with the Violence Reduction Unit to tackle gang-related violence in Glasgow; reviewing the identification and treatment of offenders with alcohol problems, and research into the effectiveness of alcohol brief interventions for offenders.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-22243 by reference.