Citizens’ juries and alcohol policy: what do people really think?

Guest(s):

Katherine Smith – University of Strathclyde
Jeff Collins – University of Edinburgh

Subject:

This month we’re joined by Professors Katherine Smith (University of Strathclyde) and Jeff Collins (University of Edinburgh) to discuss their citizens’ juries on alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food in Glasgow, Wakefield and Doncaster.

We explore the idea of deliberative democracy, why citizens’ juries can produce very different results from traditional public opinion polling, and what happens when members of the public are given time, evidence and space to consider complex public health issues.

We discuss the striking findings that emerged from the juries, including widespread concern about the pervasiveness of alcohol marketing, strong support for greater action on alcohol harm, and the near absence of the ‘nanny state’ arguments that often dominate political and media debates. We also examine why participants became increasingly concerned about industry influence on policymaking, and what these findings might mean for the future of alcohol policy.

“By the end of the second workshops in Glasgow, in Wakefield, in Doncaster, there was unanimity about the need to protect policymaking from industry influence.”