‘Too little stress’ on health problem of alcohol

PLANS to tackle alcohol abuse are too focused on public order problems and not enough on health, MPs warn today.

The Government’s alcohol strategy – which suggests there should be a minimum alcohol unit pricing in England – lays too much weight on binge drinking and anti-social behaviour and public disorder, according to a Health Committee report.

MPs say there must be a greater emphasis on the health issues arising from “insidious and pervasive” chronic alcohol misuse.

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Committee chairman Stephen Dorrell said the report sought to move the argument forward “to the broader health implications of alcohol and in particular of long term consumption of alcohol above safe levels”.

The committee welcomed plans to set a floor price for alcohol but said there needed to be more evidence about the effects. Scotland is already set to introduce a 50p minimum.

They cautioned that setting a minimum price will not just be a one-off event, adding: “Once a minimum price is introduced, if it is judged to be successful, the level will need to be monitored and adjusted over time.”

Mr Dorrell said: “If you’re going to set a price which is different from the Scottish price, then you have to think through what the implications of that would be in particular for the alcohol trade in the north of England. All those issues need to be thought through.”

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The British Medical Association also urged policy makers not just to focus on binge drinking.

Its director of professional activities, Vivienne Nathanson, said: “The scale of alcohol consumption in England causes significant medical, psychological and social harm and places a huge burden on the NHS. “This is not caused by binge drinkers alone but is a result of the high level of consumption across the population.”

Royal College of Nursing chief executive Peter Carter said Ministers needed to recognise the “huge toll” everyday drinkers placed on their health.

“Selling alcohol at rock-bottom prices clearly plays a significant role in increasingly the level of alcohol consumption,” he said.

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Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said: “We regret the committee’s readiness to support minimum unit pricing when by its own admission there is a lack of evidence about the specific effects of different price levels.”

A spokesman for the Portman Group, a body for alcohol producers, added: “It is deeply disappointing that they have failed to understand the significance of the innovative unit reduction pledge, supported by all major producers, retailers, and leading wholesalers who have committed to lower the alcohol content of leading brands, and introduce new ranges of lower alcohol products.”

Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost the taxpayer £21 billion and causes thousands of deaths every year. Latest figures show there were 6,669 deaths directly related to alcohol in 2010, 1.3 per cent more than in 2009 and 22 per cent more than in 2001. Overall in 2010 and 2011 there were 1,163,300 hospital admissions attributed to alcohol.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We are introducing a minimum unit price to stem the tide of cheap alcohol and deal with those dangerous drinkers who cause disproportionate harm to themselves and others.

“There is strong and consistent evidence that shows that an increase in the price of alcohol will reduce consumption.”

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