11:23am Thursday 4th February 2010
The public health directors of all 13 North-East primary care trusts today make a direct appeal to the Government to take action to curb the impact of excessive drinking.
They are calling for the Government to show the same kind of political leadership which resulted in the ban on smoking in public places.
So far, the Government has resisted the calls for a minimum price for alcohol but this unparalleled plea by North-East public health experts could conceivably start the ball rolling.
In support of their action, The Northern Echo is happy to publish their letter in full.
To Whom It May Concern,
AS Directors of Public Health in the North-East, we are calling upon the Government to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol to tackle the widespread availability of cheap drink which is having a devastating effect on our region.
Research carried out by Balance, the North-East Alcohol Office, reveals that across our region, alcohol is available for as little as 12p a unit, cans of lager for just 22p, vodka for £6.98 for a 70cl bottle and a two-litre bottle of cider priced at less than a loaf of bread.
Alcohol is being sold at pocket money prices. In fact, armed with £6.24 – the UK average pocket money – young consumers can purchase enough alcohol to drink twice the recommended daily limit for an adult male, every day of the week.
We know that low prices are linked to greater consumption. We also know that the more we drink, the greater the health risk. Alcohol is having a major impact on the North-East, where alcohol specific hospital admissions are 62 per cent higher than the national average.
It is clear that we need to bring about a change which clamps down of the sale of cheap alcohol if we are to address the damage that alcohol is doing.
Despite considerable investment in the NHS and on public health information and education, a new licensing act and efforts by the industry itself, HMRC figures show that the overall consumption of alcohol continues to rise, as measured by volume of alcohol sold. Today, alcohol is 75 per cent more affordable, in relative terms, than it was in 1980. Sales from supermarkets and off licences now account for almost half of the alcohol sold in the UK.
Apart from the risks to public health, we believe that the cost to the NHS in the North-East is simply unsustainable.
Personal responsibility is hugely important when it comes to reducing alcohol consumption, but we clearly need to do more. Research carried out by Sheffield University suggests that raising the price of the cheapest alcohol sold through a minimum price would target effectively the consumption of young people and those who drink above moderate levels.
Government has previously argued that it does not wish to penalise moderate drinkers. Neither do we. A unit price of 50p means a minimum of around £1.50 for a pint in the pub or £4.50 for a bottle of wine in the supermarket. Is this really too much to pay to reduce the annual number of deaths from alcohol related causes in ten years by a quarter. Is it too much to cut crimes by 46,000 and save the country £1bn every year in alcohol-related costs?
We urge the Government to act quickly and decisively.
The political leadership that was shown on smoking in public places needs to be shown on alcohol too. As with smoking, the politicians that take a lead in combating alcohol harm may find that they command the public’s respect and support as a result.
Yours sincerely,
Miriam Davidson, Director of Public Health, Darlington
Anna Lynch, Acting Executive Director of Public Health, County Durham and Darlington
Louise Wallace, Director of Public Health, Hartlepool
Ruth Hill, Director of Public Health, Stockton
Peter Heywood, Director of Public Health, Middlesbrough
Peter Price, Director of Public Health, Redcar and Cleveland
Peter Kelly, Executive Director of Public Health, Tees
Meng Khaw, Director of Public Health, North Tyneside and Newcastle
Sue Milner, Director of Public Health, Northumberland
Sue Gordon, Executive Director of Public Health, North of Tyne
Nonnie Crawford, Director of Public Health, Sunderland
Alyson Learmonth, Director of Public Health, Gateshead
Marietta Evans, Director of Public Health, South Tyneside
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