Give us the real tools to do our jobs’: views of UK stakeholders on the role of a public health objective for alcohol licensing

This article consists of a citation of a published article describing research funded by the Public Health Research programme under project number 15/129/11, and is provided as as part of the complete record of research outputs for this project. The original publication is available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2022.07.006 Objectives This study ascertains the views of UK stakeholders on the actual, and possible, impact of a public health licensing objective in their day-to-day work. Study design and methods Twenty-eight interviews were conducted with members of public health teams who were actively engaged in alcohol licensing in their local area between 2017 and 2019. Six teams were based in Scotland (where there is a public health licensing objective) and 14 in England (where there is no similar objective). Results Scottish participants reported that while challenges remained in applying the public health licensing objective, progress had been made and the objective was beneficial to their work. Participants in England felt that an objective would increase the legitimacy, value and impact of their contributions. In both Scotland and England, constructive relationships between PHTs, licensing authorities and other key stakeholders were developing suggesting that PHTs could have a sustainable and positive role in licensing. Conclusions In many Scottish areas, the alcohol licensing system is evolving to take constructive account of its public health objective. In England, PHTs that have invested resources in engaging in this area have demonstrated an ability to work effectively within licensing systems. Strong support for the adoption of a public health licensing objective among these PHTs adds weights to calls for the UK Government to reconsider its previous decision not to introduce such an objective. Funding This publication was funded by the Public Health Research programme as a part of award number 15/129/11. This article reports on one component of the research award EXILENS EXploring the Impact of alcohol Licensing in ENgland and Scotland: a mixed-method, natural experiment evaluation of public health engagement in alcohol premises licensing and impact on alcohol-related harms. For more information about this research please view the award page [https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/15/129/11] DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2022.07.006