Reducing Alcohol-Related Offending
Studies in Britain, the United States and Australia have demonstrated the beneficial impact of ‘brief interventions’ on reducing excessive alcohol consumption, particularly in primary care settings. As part of Safe, Sensible, Social – the next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy, the Government has decided to evaluate the impact that the approach could have in the criminal justice area. The approach involves referring offenders arrested for alcohol-related offences to a service provider, appointed by the local Drug & Alcohol Action Team, for one or two sessions. These are used to assess drinking behaviour, the health risks to the individual and provide help / advice on reducing their drinking consumption. Risk Solutions, working with its partners from the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University and SPN Associates, has been appointed to conduct an evaluation of four pilot schemes set up by the Home Office. The study will be conducted over a 15 month period and is expected to include over 2,000 offenders.
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