EDINBURGH University is to be provided with up to #500,000 core
funding for two senior research posts in alcohol studies, as part of an
initiative by the drinks industry to tackle alcohol misuse.
One research post will be held by Dr Martin Plant, director of the
Edinburgh Alcohol Research Group, who has almost 20 years experience in
the fields of sociological and medical research. The second post will be
held by John Duffy, lecturer in statistics.
The establishment of the body backing them, the Portman Group, headed
by former Westminster School headmaster Dr John Rae, has been welcomed
by Sir Geoffrey Howe, who leads the ministerial group that co-ordinates
Government action on alcohol misuse. The group is funded by seven drinks
companies, including Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, Guinness, and
International Distillers and Vintners.
The researchers will work independently of the group and will not
require approval to undertake studies or publish research findings.
At the same time, the group has commissioned Dr Peter Marsh, senior
lecturer in social psychology at Oxford Polytechnic, to carry out an
18-month study into drink and disorder, focusing on ways to tackle the
''lager lout'' problem.
A nationwide voluntary ''proof of age'' card scheme has been launched
to help public house licensees and their staff to enforce the law on
under-age drinking more effectively, and a comprehensive video training
package for licensees has been introduced to provide skills and
techniques for dealing with problems such as aggressive customers and
drunken driving.
At the launch of the initiative in London, Dr Rae said that when he
was approached to head the group he asked to be convinced of the honesty
of its objectives.
''I am convinced they were entirely honest,'' he said. ''The threat to
the industry is more serious than to you or me, because it has more at
stake. And alcohol misuse is too important an issue to be left to
pressure groups. It requires direct action.''
He believes the key to responsible drinking lies in the education of
the young. A communication package aimed at young people is being
planned for 1990.
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