LIDL got the go-ahead to sell more alcohol at their new store in Cowdenbeath – despite an objection from NHS Fife about the harm it could cause.
Concerns about granting more licences to sell booze were aired at both the Integrated Joint Board and the Fife Licensing Board meetings in the space of a few days.
The link to alcohol-related health issues was first raised at the IJB meeting, with Councillor Fiona Grant asking: “What about the licensing board?
"Do they take these health issues on board when they grant off-licences?
"How many premises are there? Do we need to be more aware?”
Dona Milne, Director of Public Health at NHS Fife said: “I would love to do a session with the licensing board over that.
"Over provision is the biggest cause of alcohol related harm in Fife and it is within our gift to control that.”
At the licensing board, NHS Fife objected to Lidl's application to change the internal layout of the Cowdenbeath store, which would "result in a small increase in the alcohol capacity for off-sale".
Paul Madill, a consultant in public health medicine at NHS Fife, told board members: “This application is for an area which already has high areas of alcohol related harm in an area of high deprivation.
“Cowdenbeath has the second highest alcohol related hospital stays with 828 per 100,000 population, versus a Fife average of 651.
"Fourteen license applications have been made since December 2018 and with each application, you’re increasing the alcohol availability just a little but more.
“The creaking increase may not be obvious on a case by case basis.”
However, councillors approved the application, stating that Fife currently doesn’t have an over-provision policy.
The Lidl store at North End retail park is due to open in late January.
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