Battle to beat the bottle

When a harmless moment of relaxation – enjoying a glass of something to unwind at the end of a long day – becomes a necessity then the effects can be felt beyond one person’s living room. A group of people who drink too much become detached from their family and friends, cannot do their jobs properly and store up health problems that will pile more pressure on the strained NHS.

That is why it is encouraging that politicians and health professionals are now talking about the problem in Yorkshire, which is the second worst of all English regions for levels of hazardous drinking. It is easy for alcoholism, particularly when its sufferers are smartly dressed and indulging in the privacy of their homes, to be swept under the carpet. This must not be allowed to happen, however, and society must learn to see the similarities between the middle-class dependents and the scruffy drinkers who prop up the bar.

The causes for this rise in middle-class drinking are many. The recession and Britain’s uncertain economic recovery, the falling price of alcohol and even the decline of communities, with more people living on their own or far away from loved ones, all help explain why so many Britons are turning to the bottle.

This makes tackling alcoholism all the more complex, however. Politicians must work with the various arms of the NHS to identify problem drinkers, persuade them to get treatment and then help them to make changes to their life. At a time of harsh Government spending cuts, it would be foolish and a false economy to cut the money spent on these vital services.

The image of a well-off alcoholic brings to mind the cases of high-profile footballers and actors but the problem clearly goes beyond these celebrity worlds. This form of private agony is increasing and must be tackled or society as a whole faces seeing its health, wealth and welfare damaged.