Reducing harm and changing culture: Scotland's national Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems

The prime purpose of the Scottish national Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems is ‘to reduce alcohol-related harm in Scotland’ through prevention and education, protection and control, and the provision of services bound in the need to change the local drinking culture and attitudes. It is an inclusive plan, which, while creating a vision, is also pragmatic in its attempt to build on what works and what is already in place. This article will provide an understanding of what has been undertaken since the launch of the Plan for Action in 2002. It is based on working practice and highlights new legislation currently in the parliamentary process, partnership initiatives that aim to reduce harm within communities and work with young people between the ages of 16 and 24 years. The legislation incorporates the five new licensing principles: the prevention of crime and disorder; the promotion of public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; the promotion of public health; and the protection of children from harm. Harm reduction in the context of this article considers reducing harm to individuals, whether they are drinkers or non-drinkers, which is explicit within the five objectives of the new licensing legislation.