What is the problem?: Evidence, politics and alcohol policy in England and Wales, 2010–2014

Citation

Nicholls J & Greenaway J (2015) What is the problem?: Evidence, politics and alcohol policy in England and Wales, 2010–2014. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 22 (2), pp. 135-142. https://doi.org/10.3109/09687637.2014.993923

Abstract
This article considers alcohol policy development in England and Wales under the coalition government after 2010. With a particular focus on minimum unit pricing, it examines why policy departures based on supply-side controls drawn from public health models were abandoned in favour of a restoration of policy equilibrium. This article adopts a historically informed political science perspective, drawing upon insights from John Kingdon’s policy streams approach, with a focus on how the “alcohol problem” is defined and framed by policy actors. It argues that while the restoration of policy equilibrium was significantly attributable to industry lobbying, also important were the inconsistent framing of policy proposals, lack of departmental synergy, ideological tensions and a lack of coherence in the communication of evidence.

Keywords
Alcohol; evidence base; policy

Journal
Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy: Volume 22, Issue 2

People

Dr James Nicholls

Senior Lecturer in Public Health, Health Sciences Stirling