Alcohol-related deaths

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have stepped up their criticisms of the government's plans to liberalise drinking laws.

 

Shadow culture secretary Theresa May said on Monday that ministers were now in "complete disarray" over the policy.

 

And the Liberal Democrats highlighted official figures showing an 18.4 per cent rise in the number of alcohol-related deaths.

 

Some regions have seen larger increases, with a 46.5 per cent rise recorded in Yorkshire and Humber.

 

 

Stakeholder Response: BNTL

 

 

Barbara Briggs, CEO of BNTL, told ePolitix.com: "Statistics can be used in a number of ways to clarify arguments - the new statistic regarding the rise in the number of deaths directly caused by alcohol is by any estimation a worrying one.

 

"Many working within the area of alcohol addiction have been saying for a number of years that due to many factors the rise in alcohol consumption would inevitably lead to a rise in the problems it causes people physically whether indirectly or directly.

 

"We have been consistently aware over the past months of the rise in alcohol 'incidents' and the price young people and society are paying. The rise in unacceptable social behaviour, the rise in violent crime, the rise in sexual attacks the list is endless.

 

"The government, whilst appearing to be aware of this, do not seem willing to tackle the underlying problems whatever statistics are presented to them. They insist that the relaxation of the licensing laws will lead to a reduction in the 'need to speed-drink'. 

 

"Our young people who consistently indulge in binge drinking do not speed drink, they start off at home with a couple of large glasses of wine, or a couple of 'alcopop' vodka drinks then move on to the pub.

 

"In Scotland they have had 24-hour drinking since 1976 and since then they have seen a dramatic rise in alcohol-related injuries, cirrhosis, cancer and brain disease. 

 

"They have the world's highest incidence of the alcohol related brain disease called Karsakov's syndrome which is severely debilitating and potentially fatal, and now affects people 20 years younger than in previous years.

 

"BNTL have consistently advocated the need for education for a holistic approach to this problem. The problems we have in society with alcohol will not go away if we relax the laws. 

 

"Society has to change its attitude to alcohol and this can only be achieved by educating our young people on the potential dangers of alcohol and helping them to make their own choices. 

 

"We do not want and would not wish to stop people drinking that is their choice but what we do want is for that choice to be made with better information. 

 

"The syndrome of 'it won't happen to me' is prevalent in all aspects of society but increasingly today it does happen to the boy or girl next-door or our own son or daughter. 

 

"Only through a coming together of the government, health professionals, the police, the brewing industry and those working with young people in education and outside the establishment can we ever begin to tackle the increasingly known problem of 'booze Britain'. 

 

"If the government is serious then they must realise that the relaxation of the licensing laws and the increase of the use of anti social behaviour orders do not address the problem only the symptoms and as we all know that does not make the disease go away or curable." 

 

 

Stakeholder Response: Alcohol Concern

 

 

Geethika Jayatilaka, director of policy and public affairs at Alcohol Concern, told ePolitix.com: "The increase in alcohol related deaths is deeply worrying but sadly not surprising. Alcohol consumption has been rising over the last 50 years in the UK and currently around eight million people drink above safe levels each year.

 

"According to the government's own research, the cost of alcohol-related harm is around £20bn annually, and there is of course the human cost to children and families of problem drinkers.

 

"Yet despite this we have seen no sign of investment for specialist alcohol services who are simply unable to offer help to all those who need it.

 

"If we are to turn the tide we must invest in the sorts of public awareness campaigns we have seen for smoking to raise awareness of the problem and to ensure that help giving agencies have the resources to deal with all who need them." 

 

 

Stakeholder Response: RoyalCollege of Physicians

 

 

Professor Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Royal College of Physicians' alcohol committee, said: "These figures are probably an underestimate but the fact that there has been such a big rise is significant. 

 

"It's very much what I would have expected from the rising tide of alcohol-related harm that I and my colleagues are witnessing on the wards."