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Scotland - Edinburgh - the Health Objective

On Monday 23 April, Edinburgh Licensing Committee refused alcohol licences to three sites across the city including an application by Sainsbury’s for a new store on South Bridge,Edinburgh.

The decision is being reported in the Scottish press as the first example of the direct influence by a local Health Authority upon a Licensing Board’s decision following the inclusion of Health Authorities as Consultees in October 2011.

NHS Lothian made representations opposing the application stating that the granting of a further licence in the Old Town, thus increasing the provision, would be contrary to the licensing objectives.  Lothian cited statistical information that that the area already had one of the highest number of alcohol related injuries in the city.

Police evidence was also called evidencing a number of crimes which had been committed in the vicinity over the previous 12 months.

The engagement of the NHS Lothian in the process was broadly welcomed by the Scottish Government, Licensing Board and various Alcohol Health groups.

As this was an application for a new licence by an operator apparently new to the area, local issues clearly could not be  attributable to them, and the abilities of a major national supermarket chain to operate stores, while promoting the licensing objectives, was not enough to convince the Board on this occasion.