Ambulance staff "frequently" attacked during alcohol-related callouts

A study by the University of Stirling is calling for stronger regulation of late-night alcohol sales.

It's after "frequent" attacks on ambulance staff.

It found paramedics have been punched, kicked, and chased with knives by drunk people.

Researchers say restrictions on alcohol marketing could reduce demand for ambulances over time.

27 frontline ambulance staff across Scotland were interviewed as part of the research.

Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, the principal investigator on the study, and Director of ISMH, said “The latest UK government proposals to further liberalise the alcohol licensing system are likely to increase pressure on ambulance services in England and Wales – making alcohol even more easily available twenty-four seven, including from shops and via rapid delivery. These findings remind us that this would be bad news for efforts to reduce ambulance waiting times.

“We already know what measures work to reduce the harmful impacts of alcohol – restricting availability, increasing price, and reducing marketing – it is up to both local and national governments to decide to take those measures.”

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said: “This research provides a stark reminder of the profound impact alcohol has on our emergency services – placing an avoidable strain on hospitals, paramedics, and other frontline staff, and diverting vital resources away from patients with other urgent medical needs. Current UK Government plans to make alcohol even more accessible are deeply concerning. These proposals risk exacerbating the pressures on emergency services and making it harder for frontline workers to do their jobs and protect the public.”