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Duncan O'Leary

photo of Duncan O'Leary

Duncan works on projects looking at public services, skills and work.

Posted by Duncan O'Leary at 3:43pm on Thursday, 19th July 2007

This to me is incredible. As in literally. I don’t believe how seriously it is being taken. I woke up this morning to the sound of Radio 4 explaining how the new alchohol licensing laws look like they’ve failed. Then i listened further and realised that this is one study of one hospital. Then it occurred to me that this is only 18 months into the change in the law.

 

So, far from being evidence that we will never ‘change culture’ in this country where drinking is concerned, it looks more to me like a little bit of evidence that suggests that we might not – yet – have seen a change in culture in the space of less that two years.


I think a serious discussion about what changing culture actually means, how you might do it, and over what timescale is in order. We’ll be holding more seminars on the Politics of Public Behaviour later in the summer so watch this space.

 

Ps – i admit to being biased on this, because personally i enjoy the new law and also tend think it will work, so maybe i’m just ruling out good evidence having already made my mind up. But i don’t think i am.

Comments

1
Plus, it's interesting if you link these findings to those in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin released this week.  They show the change in licensing hasn't changed the amount of alcohol-related crime, but the law has seemingly 'shifted the incidents to the early hours' (from the BBC). This hospital study was of overnight visits - so perhaps a similar trend is apparent in the context of visits to A&E - ie, they're happening, generally, further into the night, rather than more often?

Either way, it's interesting, but way too limited to be meaningful on its own, surely?
Posted by Pete Bradwell  at 3:59pm on Thursday, 19th July 2007

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