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Medics call on government to tackle alcohol misuse |
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Thursday, 21 February 2008 |
A report calling for the governments at Holyrood and Westminster to implement a full range of policies to reduced the burden caused by alcohol misuse was launched today by BMA Scotland.
In Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic BMA Scotland estimated that
alcohol kills six people every day in Scotland and that treating
alcohol-related illness costs the NHS in Scotland £110m per year.
The total cost to Scotland, factoring in social work, criminal justice,
emergency services and economic costs totals around £1.1bn per year.
The report's key recommendations include higher taxes on alcoholic
drinks; an end to irresponsible promotional activities; standardisation
of labels showing alcohol units and warning messages; and reducing the
legal limit of alcohol permitted while driving to 50mg per 100ml.
It goes on to claim that public awareness campaigns are largely ineffective unless supported by active policy.
The report also called for a comprehensive system for routine screening
and management of alcohol misuse in primary or secondary care settings
and new ring-fenced funding for specialist alcohol treatment services
so that patients can be seen as soon as possible.
"Recent governments have worked too closely with the alcohol industry
and have pursued policies of deregulation and liberalisation regarding
alcohol control," said Dr Vivienne Nathanson, BMA Head of Science and
Ethics.
"The government approach has led to increased consumption levels and
alcohol-related problems and demonstrates a failure in the political
drive to improve public health and order."
Dr Andrew Thomson, a member of the BMA Board of Science and a GP in the North east of Scotland, said:
"Since 1997, taxes on wine and beer in the UK have only increased in
line with inflation while taxes on spirits have not increased at all.
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.
"We need to identify patients who are misusing alcohol much earlier,
but it doesn’t end there. There must be enough funding in place to
refer patients who are at risk to specialist centres. Alcohol is a
public health priority and I want Scottish Ministers to work with
doctors to put an end to Scotland’s drink problem."
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