New powers to tackle drink problem in city

Sheffield Council’s public health team is working with the University of Sheffield to map out where alcohol problems are having the most impact on health in the city.

A new report to the governing body of the Sheffield NHS Clinical Commissioning Group said new powers could be considered to tackle the issue under proposed government moves to give local organisations more say over political policies through devolution.

It said: “We have started work to widen out our alcohol strategy to thinking about what additional work can help to reduce the population impacts of alcohol.

“Ideas around reducing the cumulative impact of alcohol sales in areas of the city and work to consider what additional powers we might like to request under a devolution deal are being explored. We are also working with the University of Sheffield and other partners to better map out where the harms of alcohol are most felt in the city, and what policy measures may make the most impact on this.”