An alcohol strategy designed to cut levels of underage and binge drinking is being unveiled by the government. | A strategy to bring about a cultural shift in English attitudes to alcohol have been unveiled by the government. |
A £10m-a-year campaign to alter the behaviour of young people, so they drink and act more responsibly, will be a central part of the England strategy. | Underage and binge drinkers and older people who drink regularly at home without realising the health problems being caused, will be targeted. |
It also aims to educate an older age group, whose drinking at home may be reaching dangerous levels. | There will be a review of "happy hours" and other drinks promotions. Areas will have to draw up alcohol strategies. |
Ministers will announce a review to establish whether promotions and pricing are linked to excess drinking. | Alcohol Concern's Frank Soodeen called it a "big step forward", but said more money was needed to treat alcoholics. |
The moves come after some medical experts called for tighter controls on alcohol advertising and sponsorship. | The £10m-a-year campaign in England aims to get drinkers to take more responsibility for their behaviour . |
An independent panel will be set up to provide advice to teenagers, parents and teachers about safe drinking levels. | |
Other measures could include health warnings, labelling changes and steps to deal with alcohol-related violence. | |
| Three groups | Three groups |
| It will be the first time such a strategy will target older drinkers who drink too much at home in the evenings. |
| Health minister Caroline Flint denied they were targeted "middle aged, middle class hardened drinkers", but said: "There are people, adults, who on a very regular basis are probably drinking twice the amount that is recommended." |
| She said the alcohol strategy would also target young people who "going out to get drunk on a Friday and Saturday night", who leave themselves vulnerable, cause problems for communities and are at risk of long term health problems. |
| The strategy, drawn up by the Home Office and the Department of Health, also backs further crackdowns on people selling alcohol to under-18s. |
| Since the government's first alcohol strategy in 2004, much of the focus has been on licensing law reforms and new powers to deal with alcohol-fuelled disorder and underage drinking. | Since the government's first alcohol strategy in 2004, much of the focus has been on licensing law reforms and new powers to deal with alcohol-fuelled disorder and underage drinking. |
The updated strategy has been developed by the Home Office and the Department of Health. | But I think what we're also trying to do is to say as a society let's think about the attitude that we have to drink Vernon CoakerHome Office minister |
A Home Office spokesman said: "What it is going to be looking at is three broad-based groups. | Minister Vernon Coaker told BBC Radio Five Live the government had given police more power to deal with drunkenness, had reviewed education in schools and looked at treatment services. |
"These include underage drinkers, binge drinkers and slightly older, stay-at-home drinkers who may not know what damage they are doing to themselves." | "But I think what we're also trying to do is to say as a society let's think about the attitude that we have to drink," he added. |
| The moves come after some medical experts called for tighter controls on alcohol advertising and sponsorship. |
| Alcohol labels |
| The strategy backs more guidance on safe drinking levels for teenagers, parents and teachers, helplines for those who want to cut down, a review of NHS alcohol spending, and tougher punishments for drunken behaviour. |
| Alcohol referral schemes are also to be introduced for alcoholics, in the same way that drug addicts are sent for compulsory counselling after being arrested. |
| Mr Soodeen welcomed the strategy, adding: "We are incredibly excited. It looks far more ambitious and far reaching than its predecessor." |
| But he said the government had not laid out plans to invest more in treatment. |
| Richard Kramer, director of policy for drug charity Turning Point, said it was important the strategy did not just concentrate on underage drinking. | Richard Kramer, director of policy for drug charity Turning Point, said it was important the strategy did not just concentrate on underage drinking. |
Alcohol posters | |
| "Many people with alcohol problems have concurrent mental health problems or other drug issues and are often turned away from services that cannot cater for their complex needs," he said. | "Many people with alcohol problems have concurrent mental health problems or other drug issues and are often turned away from services that cannot cater for their complex needs," he said. |
"There should be a multi-agency approach with all bodies trained to work with those with complex needs, who are currently excluded from services." | |
| The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for posters displaying alcohol levels in drinks to be on display in bars. | The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for posters displaying alcohol levels in drinks to be on display in bars. |
Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA's head of science and ethics, said: "The trouble is that whenever you are in a pub you do not ask to look at the label on a bottle of wine. |
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"If you don't know how much alcohol there is in a given glass in front of you, it's hard to work out how much alcohol you have had that day or week." | How much do you drink at home? Do you drink sensibly or do you consider yourself to be a binge drinker? |
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