Abstract
Introduction: As in most other countries, England has no explicit alcohol licensing objective around health, so objections to applications tend to focus on the traditional concerns of crime and public disorder. We examined the practicalities of using health-related information in local licensing decisions and the prospects for a dedicated health-associated licensing objective.
Methods: Seven local authority pilot areas were purposively selected and provided with a compendium of health information (Public Health England Toolkit), including data-access agreements and mapping software. A series of 'mock licensing hearings' explored practical challenges in using health data. Key informants were interviewed at baseline and 10-12 weeks after receiving the Toolkit.
Results: Access to localised health information was problematic and there was a mismatch between a ‘data-orientated approach’ and the need for contextualised evidence. Perceived difficulty in proving that a new licence would damage health discouraged challenges on health grounds.
Conclusion: Constraints in using health information in alcohol licensing are not restricted to the absence of a dedicated health-associated licensing objective. While the latter may enhance the legitimacy of public health participation, improved access to localised health information, stronger collaborative working and training in how to contextualise evidence, will all be critical to better alcohol harm reduction through licensing decisions.
Methods: Seven local authority pilot areas were purposively selected and provided with a compendium of health information (Public Health England Toolkit), including data-access agreements and mapping software. A series of 'mock licensing hearings' explored practical challenges in using health data. Key informants were interviewed at baseline and 10-12 weeks after receiving the Toolkit.
Results: Access to localised health information was problematic and there was a mismatch between a ‘data-orientated approach’ and the need for contextualised evidence. Perceived difficulty in proving that a new licence would damage health discouraged challenges on health grounds.
Conclusion: Constraints in using health information in alcohol licensing are not restricted to the absence of a dedicated health-associated licensing objective. While the latter may enhance the legitimacy of public health participation, improved access to localised health information, stronger collaborative working and training in how to contextualise evidence, will all be critical to better alcohol harm reduction through licensing decisions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 575-586 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Cities & Health |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Jul 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The work was supported by the PHE Project: Evaluation of Analytical Support Package for Alcohol Licensing or PHE/ASPAL_2016. Maria Smolar: Alcohol programme manager at Public Health England; PHE lead for analytical support package (ASP) project. Dr James Nicholls: Director of Policy at Alcohol Research UK; Project advisor. Dr Joanna Reynolds: Associate Professor of Public Health at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for her constructive comments on an early draft.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords
- alcohol licensing
- local health data
- Public health policy
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This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via Routledge at https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2022.2091880. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.