Services that Manage the Care Needs of Drunk - Scottish Government

1.7 Recent concerns about deaths in police custody have further highlighted the
need for, and possible benefits of, a network of sobering-up services, where an
individual’s care needs can be closely monitored by appropriately-trained staff.
1.8 Although the main focus of this report will be on sobering-up services, the
review also considers information about other types of interventions that are
intended to meet the immediate care needs of people who drunk and
incapable -- including free transportation services and the provision of medical
care within police custody suites (eg, through custody nurses).
Other review evidence
1.9 A review of the literature on the subject of sobering-up services was
undertaken for the Scottish Association of Alcohol Action Teams (SAAAT) by
Macdonald towards the end of 2004. 1 This previous review found little
literature which specifically evaluated sobering-up services, although it did
identify sufficient material to be able to provide a general description of these
services.
1.10 The review by Macdonald highlighted a number of issues which need to be
taken into account when setting up a sobering-up service. These included:
• Potential location and opening hours of the facility
• The need for community and stakeholder support
• Target population and admission criteria
• Staff qualifications and management arrangements
• The way in which the service links to other services (either through receiving
referrals, or making referrals)
• Policies and procedures related to the operation of the service – especially
in relation to client monitoring
• The source(s) of funding.
1.11 This current review was initially intended as a simple update to the SAAAT
review, with a focus on the literature from 2004-2008. However, in undertaking
a search of the literature, a substantial number of new evaluations and other
relevant reports were identified. Therefore, this report includes considerable
detail about the operation of these services which would not have been
available for the SAAAT review, and there is a greater focus on some of the
lessons that can be learned from the implementation of sobering-up services
around the world.
1 Macdonald R (2005), Care approaches to drunk and incapable people. Designated places, drunk
tanks and sobering facilities across the world. A literature review. Prepared for the Scottish
Association of Alcohol Action Teams (SAAAT), January.
2