Tackling Scotland's Alcohol Problem
INEBRIA eve-of-conference event hosted by SHAAP at the RCPE
On 21st September, as part of the International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs (INEBRIA) 2022 conference, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) hosted the opening eve-of-conference event. The INEBRIA 2022 conference took place in Edinburgh from 22nd-23rd September. SHAAP were sponsors of the conference.
INEBRIA is a global network of researchers, policymakers and practitioners, and aims to provide international leadership in the development, evaluation and implementation of evidence-based practice in the area of early identification and brief intervention for hazardous and harmful substance use.
The event, which took place in the Royal College of Physicians, welcomed delegates to the conference and featured a ‘Question Time’ style discussion, where audience members were given the opportunity to question a high-profile panel about alcohol-related matters.
Members of the panel included: Maree Todd, Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport; Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, SHAAP Chair; and Justina Murray, CEO of Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (SFAD). The event was chaired by Kezia Dugdale, Director of the John Smith Centre for Public Service and former Leader of the Scottish Labour Party.
Guests included stakeholders with an interest in alcohol research and policy, including those from Scottish Government and Parliament, Scottish universities and advocacy organisations.
The evening was a lively event, with engagement from the panel and guests on a number of topics, including: Minimum Unit Pricing and the level at which it should be set, access to (and funding of) treatment services, the progress made so far in Scotland in tackling alcohol harms, the importance of the lived experience voice, and the impact of the pandemic on Scotland’s alcohol problem.
Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, SHAAP Chair, said:
“Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems are proud to have hosted this welcome event for delegates to the INEBRIA Conference 2022. SHAAP provides the authoritative medical and clinical voice on the need to reduce the impact of alcohol-related harm on the health and wellbeing of people in Scotland and we are delighted to have facilitated a forum in which such important matters could be discussed. We thank the Chair and Panel for their excellent contributions, particularly the Minister for taking the time to provide her views.”
From left to right: Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, Maree Todd, Kezia Dugdale, and Justina Murray. Credit: Colin Hattersley Photography.