A RESEARCHER who is examining the impact of the minimum pricing of alcohol in Wales and Scotland will be a key speaker at the first conference of a new alcohol charity.

Dr Wulf Livingston, who is Reader in Social Science at Wrexham Glyndwr University, has joined a range of other academic colleagues on studies into the minimum pricing of alcohol for both the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

Later this month, he is among five keynote speakers in a panel discussion at the inaugural Alcohol Change UK conference, set to be held in London on June 19.

Following the keynote address by Shadow Health Minister Jonathon Ashworth MP which opens the conference, he will be joined by Dr Livingston, Alcohol Change UK’s CEO Dr Richard Piper, Alison Douglas , the CEO of Alcohol Focus Scotland, and Dr Helen McAvoy, Director of Research, Institute of Public Health in Ireland.

Between them, they will explore how different alcohol policy and interventions are experienced across the UK – and examine the impact each approach is having.

Dr Livingston said: “The conference in June is the inaugural one for Alcohol Change, since the merger of Alcohol Concern and Alcohol Research UK, , and it’s drawing a lot of interest from professionals in the field for that reason. As it’s the first conference, is one where the organisation itself needs to find its way.

“Panel sessions will be looking into four P’s as part of its remit – these are Policy, People, Passion and Practice.

“As Alcohol Change UK are taking stock, and are a national charity, they are looking at policy across the four different parts of the UK, and that’s why they asked me to participate – as someone who has done a lot of research into alcohol use, both in Wales and in Scotland.

“We work as part of a wider team on each contract - they are delivered in partnership with Sheffield University for the Scottish research and the University of South Wales for the Welsh research, - with both including Wrexham Glyndwr University and both alongside the Figure 8 Consultancy.

“One of the things that we are looking into at in our work is the impact of minimum pricing. Minimum pricing has been brought in in Scotland and some of the work we have been doing is looking at the impact it has had, and what effect the policy is having when it comes to harm reduction.

“Minimum pricing is also set to be brought in soon in Wales using powers relating to Public Health – something which the Welsh Assembly has the power to legislate on. It’s likely that the law will change at some point this year.

“ It’s a perfect example of the different approaches to policy that there are across various regions of the UK, with legislation already in place in one country, and being considered in another – with neither England nor Northern Ireland yet set to consider it.

“That should make for a fascinating discussion - and it’s one I’m very much looking forward to.”