19.07.12
Alcohol strategy ‘must focus on health outcomes’ not public order
The Government’s alcohol strategy is focused on the wrong problems, a new report by the Health Select Committee suggests. The plans aim to solve public order problems that result from binge drinking, rather than a main focus on the health issues involved.
There are nearly 7,000 alcohol-related deaths each year. The Committee stated that the strategy needs clearer health objectives to measure the effectiveness of the policy.
A minimum price per alcohol unit is supported by the report, although the Committee suggested this should be monitored and removed if it doesn’t reduce harmful drinking. This ‘sunset clause’ could allow the policy to expire after a certain period if it was not effective.
Committee chair Stephen Dorrell MP said this was due to the lack of research that indicated minimum pricing would have a positive impact on reducing harmful drinking.
He said: “We were struck by how little evidence was presented to us about what the implications of different levels of minimum pricing would be.”
“The main focus of the strategy is the need to address public order issues. We agree that these are important, but we believe that the health impact of the misuse of alcohol is more insidious and pervasive,” the report states.
Dorrell added that more regulation on the advertising of alcohol, especially towards youth people, should be considered. The steps taken so far by the industry to promote responsible drinking are a “civic duty” rather than a bonus they should be congratulated for.
“Individuals who drink alcohol and the companies which sell it have an obligation to do so in a way which respects the rights and interests of their fellow citizen,” he said.
Sir Ian Gilmore, RCP special adviser on alcohol and chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance welcomed the Committee’s recognition of the “insidious and pervasive” health damage from chronic use, the support for minimum pricing and the call for tougher measures on advertising.
However, he expressed disappointment the Committee did not call for a review of overall regulatory structures or more to limit social marketing targeted towards young people.
He said: “It’s time that the alcohol industry acknowledges the power of its advertising messages and accept responsibility for their consequences. We need a clear Government commitment to an independent evaluation of the Responsibility Deal and a timetable for reviewing progress and detail of the action that will be taken if outcomes are not achieved.”
Deputy director of policy at the NHS Confederation, Jo Webber, said: “Now what’s really needed is for the Government to set out its stall clearly. It needs to be explicit about what it’s going to do, by when, and how, in order to tackle our current problems with alcohol usage, as the NHS can’t keep picking up the pieces.”
To view the report, visit: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmhealth/132/13202.htm
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