Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of current policy in reducing harm from drink driving and repeat offending on UK roads.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Existing measures, including mandatory disqualification, penalties, the High Risk Offender scheme and the Drink Drive Rehabilitation scheme, play an important role in reducing drink driving and repeat offending.
The Drink Drive Rehabilitation scheme has been found to be effective in preventing offenders committing repeat drink-driving offences. High-risk offenders must prove their medical fitness before a licence can be re-issued, and the High Risk Offender scheme has served an important role in helping to keep unsafe drivers off the roads.
The Government’s Road Safety Strategy includes action on drink driving, including consulting on lowering the drink-drive limit in England and Wales, exploring preventative technology such as alcohol interlocks, and considering new powers to suspend licences for those suspected of drink or drug driving offences. The Department keeps the effectiveness of drink-driving policy under review.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) violence and (b) drug use in prisons.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
The Government is committed to improving prison safety and we are working hard to make prisons as safe as possible for those who live and work in them. Reducing violence is a key priority and we are continuing our efforts on a range of measures, including having specialist staff and equipment to stop the smuggling of contraband such as drugs, weapons and mobile phones, supporting those identified as posing a raised risk of violence through a case management approach addressing underlying causes, and rolling out Body Worn Video Cameras across the estate to support prosecutions and ensure incidents are dealt with fairly.
We work closely with health partners to support prisoners with a drug misuse need into treatment and recovery, and we have funded Incentivised Substance Free Living Units in 88 prisons, where prisoners sign a behaviour compact, agree to be regularly drug tested and can access enhanced opportunities compared to a standard wing. Findings from our randomised control trial indicate that prisoners on ISFL units are over 30% less likely to be involved in violence, self-harm, or disorder compared to those elsewhere in the prison. We have introduced Drug Strategy Leads in key prisons and Group Drug and Alcohol Leads at Prison Group level to coordinate activity, and we are expanding access to mutual aid and lived experience services. We have also rolled out lifesaving Naloxone across prisons with training embedded as a requirement for new prison officers.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help prison staff combat substance misuse by inmates in the prison estate.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
We recognise that levels of illicit drug use in prisons remain too high, and we are committed to creating safe, stable environments where staff are equipped with the tools and support they need to promote recovery and drug-free living. We have invested over £40 million in physical security across 34 prisons, including £10 million on drone countermeasures, to help prevent drugs entering prisons in the first place.
We work closely with our health partners to ensure that prisoners with a drug and alcohol dependency are identified at the earliest opportunity. This helps create the conditions in which their addictions can be effectively addressed, and aims to ensure access to consistent, high-quality treatment and care across the estate. Our Incentivised Substance Free Living units, now funded in 88 prisons, provide structured pathways to recovery using incentives and regular drug testing. We are also increasing access to mutual aid groups across the estate, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics anonymous, and have taken steps to review our drug testing regime as a whole to ensure it supports the best outcomes.
We are committed to ensuring that our staff in specialist roles have the skills they need, including our 54 Drug Strategy Leads in key prisons, who work to implement local drug strategies effectively. At prison group level, we have recruited 17 Drug and Alcohol Leads to support joint working with health commissioners across wider geographies. Alongside this, naloxone, a drug used for suspected opioid overdose, is now available in every prison, with over 10,000 prison staff trained in the emergency use of nasal naloxone. Naloxone training is also embedded into foundation training for all new prison officers, strengthening frontline capability to prevent harm.
Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of rapid alcohol delivery services on the level of alcohol dependency and alcohol-related harm; and whether she plans to review existing licensing and age-verification regulations to access such services.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol. The Government recognises that consumer purchasing habits have evolved in recent years, particularly with a notable growth in alcohol sales made via online platforms and rapid delivery services.
The Department for Health and Social Care, which has responsibility for policy on health harms, and the Home Office are looking at how current licensing rules apply to these services and monitoring emerging evidence on the impact they may be having on people’s health. I am clear that we will act where necessary to protect public safety.
To this end, I will shortly hold a roundtable jointly with the Minister for Public Health and Prevention to consider solutions with healthcare professionals and experts in the field.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to minimise the risk of harm caused by alcohol sold through home delivery apps.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol. The Government recognises that consumer purchasing habits have evolved in recent years, particularly with a notable growth in alcohol sales made via online platforms and rapid delivery services.
The Department for Health and Social Care, which has responsibility for policy on health harms, and the Home Office are looking at how current licensing rules apply to these services and monitoring emerging evidence on the impact they may be having on people’s health. I am clear that we will act where necessary to protect public safety.
To this end, I will shortly hold a roundtable jointly with the Minister for Public Health and Prevention to consider solutions with healthcare professionals and experts in the field.
Asked by: Peter Lamb (Labour - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Licensing Reform Programme's call for evidence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect on society of rapid alcohol delivery services.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol for consumption within licensed venues (on-trade) and outside of licensed venues (off-trade), which is the responsibility of the Home Office.
The Licensing Reform Programme’s call for evidence focused on the operation of the on‑trade, and the National Licensing Policy Framework applies exclusively to premises authorised under the Licensing Act 2003 for the sale and consumption of alcohol on-site, regulated entertainment or late‑night refreshment.
Under the Licensing Act 2003, it is already an offence to sell alcohol to someone who is intoxicated. The Home Office is looking at how current licensing rules apply to home alcohol delivery services and speaking to experts and stakeholders to ensure these are effective.
Although the evidence base is still emerging, the Government is aware there are some concerns that rapid online alcohol delivery may be contributing to increased alcohol harm by significantly expanding availability and ease of access. Faster delivery times can reduce the natural friction that moderates consumption, potentially enabling higher risk and more impulsive drinking, including among vulnerable groups. The Government is committed to ensuring that the licencing regime remains fit for purpose and able to meet emerging challenges.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effectiveness of licensing regulations to protect people from alcohol-related harms.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Licensing Act 2003, which is overseen by the Home Office, requires licensing authorities to promote objectives relating to the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the protection of children from harm, and the prevention of public nuisance, which together provide important safeguards against alcohol‑related harms.
The Government is considering how best to take forward recommendations to develop a modern, proportionate, and enabling licensing system. This work is being led by the Department for Business and Trade and the Home Office with support from other departments, including the Department of Health and Social Care, to ensure public health is fully considered.
We will continue to work across Government to consider what other measures might be needed to reduce the negative impact excessive alcohol consumption is having on health, crime, and the economy.
Asked by: Lorraine Beavers (Labour - Blackpool North and Fleetwood)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a cross-government alcohol strategy.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that alcohol-related harm has wide ranging impacts across health, crime, productivity, and communities.
Commitments to addressing harms from alcohol feature in several of the Government's current strategies and plans. The National Health Service 10-Year Health Plan outlines crucial steps to help people make healthier choices about alcohol, including making it a legal requirement for alcohol labels to display health warnings and consistent nutritional information. This was reemphasised in the National Cancer Plan. The Men’s Health Strategy outlines the impact alcohol can have on men’s health, and announced the pilot of a new brief intervention to target the rise in cardiovascular disease deaths from combined alcohol and cocaine use among older men. To support better outcomes for people experiencing harmful drinking, the first ever United Kingdom clinical guidelines on alcohol treatment were published in November 2025.
The Government keeps the evidence on alcohol-related harm and the effectiveness of different policy approaches under review, and continues to consider how cross-Government action can best support improvements in population health and reduce health inequalities.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support he is giving to local authorities in Staffordshire to take enforcement action against the sale of a) tobacco b) fruit flavoured vapes and c) alcohol to under 18s.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is supporting local authorities to take enforcement action against the underage sales of tobacco, vapes, and alcohol.
On tobacco and vapes, the Government is providing up to £10 million annually until 2028/29 for Trading Standards, to support the enforcement of illicit and underage sales in England. This funding is being used to boost the Trading Standards workforce by recruiting 120 new apprentices, including one apprentice in Staffordshire, enabling more underage sales test purchases and swifter enforcement action against illicit activity.
Alongside this, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will introduce £200 fixed penalty notices in England and Wales for certain tobacco and vape offences, including underage sales, to empower Trading Standards to take swifter action to fine those who choose to break the law and sell to anyone underage, putting the public’s health at risk. The bill will also provide ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland with regulation making powers to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products. This will strengthen enforcement against retailers who breach tobacco and vape age of sale regulations.
On alcohol, the Home Office supports local authorities through the Licensing Act 2003 and Section 182 guidance, which require licensed premises to operate a mandatory age verification policy at the point of sale. Enforcement of underage sales rests with local licensing authorities, Trading Standards, and the police, who can prosecute, including for persistent sales, and seek licence reviews or revocation to protect children from harm.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2025 to Question 92263 on Low Alcohol Drinks: Children, whether he made an assessment of the potential impact of 16 and 17 year olds visiting licenced premises on drinking patterns in later life.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The existing legal position set out in Section 150(4) of the Licensing Act 2003 seeks to achieve a balance that allows parents to introduce their children to alcohol in a controlled, measured, and responsible way, if they wish to do so, whilst upholding the licensing objective to protect children from harm. The legislation also requires licensed premises to have a robust age verification policy in place, and there are a large number of offences that the police can use to tackle under-age drinking where necessary.
Consumption of alcohol by children and young people can be harmful, with health risks including acute alcohol poisoning, an increased risk of becoming involved in violence, and damage to the developing brain and liver. Evidence shows that early age of drinking onset is associated with an increased likelihood of developing alcohol abuse or dependence in adolescence and adulthood.