A new study takes a detailed look at how a cumulative impact policy worked in one Local Authority
T Pliakas, M Egan and K Lock.
Cumulative impact policies (CIPs) can be introduced by Local Governments in England and Wales. Typically, a Local Authority identifies specific places where there are problems linked to high levels of alcohol sales and consumption, such as crime and anti-social behaviour. Those places become known as ‘cumulative impact zones’ where any new applications for licenses to sell alcohol face more strict criteria in order to be accepted. In this way, CIPs can be said to strengthen the ability of Local Government to either reject new license applications to sell alcohol, or ensure that the applications meet additional criteria such as reducing opening hours.
Previous research has found that in different Local Governments, CIPs are used in different ways to tackle different local problems, and some are implemented more stringently than others.
In this research study we wanted to take a closer look at how a CIP could impact on a particular urban area. We worked with one Local Government in London to evaluate the impact of introducing multiple cumulative impact zones. We studied impacts over time on the number and type of applications for licenses to sell alcohol and their outcomes. We also looked at impacts on opening hours for alcohol sales, alcohol-related ambulance call-outs and crime, and – with limited data – impacts on alcohol sales.
In this Local Authority, the CIP had most impact on the type of new license applications, rather than overall number. Licence applications after the policy was introduced tended to involve shorter trading hours and were for fewer off-licences. We also found early declines in overall crime rates and longer term, small reductions in units of alcohol sold in bars in cumulative impact zones. Alcohol-related ambulance callout rates did not change significantly. From this, we conclude that the CIP had been partially successful. It had changed the types of licenced alcohol retail premises being approved – with shorter hours and less off licence sales- which was in line with the aims of the Local Government. It also partially reduced some alcohol-related harms, without appearing to impact on the local night time economy. However, a range of other measures may be necessary for further benefits to reducing alcohol related health harms.
To find out more see :
Pliakas T, Egan M, Gibbons J, Ashton C, Hart J, Lock K. Increasing powers to reject licences to sell alcohol: Impacts on availability, sales and behavioural outcomes from a novel natural experiment evaluation. Preventive Medicine. 2018;116:87-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2018.09.010