Alcohol strategy targets binge drinkers
Three main groups will be targeted under the strategy
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Tuesday, 05, Jun 2007 12:07
Binge drinkers in their late teens and early 20s will form part of the focus of the government's latest alcohol strategy.
Recent research has warned of growing health and social problems connected to alcohol use in the UK; alcohol abuse costs the government £20 billion a year in crime and damage to health.
The government's latest strategy, announced this morning, will also target young teenage drinkers and older drinkers unaware of the damage alcohol can cause.
It builds on the first alcohol strategy published by the government in 2004.
Developed by the Home Office and Department of Health, the plans aim to reduce the health harms, violence and antisocial behaviour associated with alcohol.
To target problems with drinking, the two departments have expressed their determination to work with the police, local authorities, prison and probation staff, the NHS, voluntary organisations, the alcohol industry and the business community.
Under the 'Safe, Sensible, Social' strategy, there will be sharpened criminal justice for drunken behaviour, a review of NHS alcohol spending, tougher enforcement of underage sales and compulsory local alcohol strategies.
Public information campaigns will seek to spread the 'healthy drinking' message and there will be a public consultation on alcohol pricing and promotion.
Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said that promoting a sensible drinking culture "is a job for the whole of society".
"Most people in this country do drink safely and responsibly but the evidence of the damage that is caused by those who don't is plain to see," he said.
Public health minister Caroline Flint added that most people do not know exactly how much they are drinking and the damage it does to their health.
"'Safe, Sensible, Social' focuses on how to make it easier to check your alcohol intake and stay within sensible limits," she said.
Lord Victor Adebowale, chief executive of the social care organisation Turning Point, said he welcomed today's strategy.
"Alcohol is a serious social problem which affects the lives of all age groups," he said.
"The government is right to prioritise alcohol education to better prevent the devastating effects of alcohol misuse occurring in the first place. Turning Point looks forward to working with the government on campaigns to promote responsible drinking and to provide support and treatment for those affected by alcohol misuse to make sure this strategy becomes a reality."