Alcohol consumption
Friday, 22 Feb 2008 10:27
Brits drink more alcohol than many other European countries
Tougher measures on alcohol have been called for by a leading doctors' group to reduce harmful levels of binge drinking in the UK.
The British Medical Association (BMA) says the government must introduce effective control policies to prevent alcohol misuse.
It has expressed alarm at the significant number of men and women who drink above the recommended guidelines and claims recent governments have worked "too closely" with the alcohol industry, pursuing "policies of deregulation and liberalisation regarding alcohol control".
The UK is one of the heaviest alcohol-consuming countries in Europe, with women aged between 16 and 24 drinking more than any of their European peers.
To tackle the problem the BMA wants higher taxes on alcoholic drinks and for these to increase in proportion to the amount of alcohol in the product.
It says there should be an end to irresponsible drink promotions and for standard labels on all alcoholic products to clearly show the units and recommended guidelines for consumption.
The doctors' group also wants the legal limit for the level of alcohol permitted while driving to be reduced from 80mg/100ml to 50mg/100ml throughout the UK.
BMA council chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum said: "Our report is making some tough recommendations but if the government is serious about tackling this issue this is what is needed.
"There is strong and consistent evidence that price increases result in reduced consumption and that increased opening hours are associated with increased alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems.
"The government needs to act on this evidence."
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