The main focus of the alcohol strategy is binge drinking and its consequences for anti-social behaviour. Those are important issues, but the health impact of chronic alcohol misuse is also significant and greater emphasis needs to be placed on addressing that impact. In order to be effective the Strategy needs some clearer objectives to provide a framework for both policy judgements and accountability. The Committee recommends that Public Health England should have a central role in developing these objectives, and linking them to local strategies in every area across the country. The Committee supports the decision to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol, but a transparent process must be put in place in order to ensure that the price level is evidence-based and is monitored to assess its effectiveness. The Committee concludes that: the Responsibility Deal is intrinsic to responsible corporate citizenship, but it is not a substitute for Government policy; the alcohol industry needs to acknowledge that its advertising messages do have an effect on attitudes if it wishes to be seen as a serious committed partner in the Responsibility; rules on alcohol advertising should be re-examined to reduce the likelihood of adverts influencing young people under 18; Public Health England should undertake an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Responsibility Deal and should commission a study into the principles and implications of introducing the French Loi Evin; the Department of Health's work on which models of treatment provision are most effective in addressing the health issues caused by alcohol abuse is welcome

This strategy signals a radical change in the approach to irresponsible drinking and resultant criminal and anti-social behaviour and the increasing health problems created by the current levels of alcohol consumption. In 2012-11 there were nearly 1 million alcohol-related violent crimes and 1.2 million alcohol-related hospital admissions. The problem has developed because cheap alcohol is too readily available; increasing numbers of people drink at home before going on a night out ("pre-loading"); the Licensing Act failed to deliver a cafâ culture; too many places cater for people who drink to get drunk regardless of the consequences for themselves or others; and individuals who cause the problems have not been challenged enough over their behaviour. The availability of cheap alcohol will be curtailed through the introduction of a minimum unit price for alcohol. The exact level is to be agreed, but if it was 40p, it is estimated there would be 50,000 fewer crimes each year and 900 fewer alcohol-related deaths by the end of the decade. Consultations will also aim to end multi-buy promotions. Local areas and agencies will be given powers to challenge people's behaviour and make it easier to take action against, and even close down, problem premises. Other measures include early morning restriction orders and a late night levy so that businesses open late contribute to the costs of policing. The drinks industry has a crucial role to play in changing the drinking culture towards positive socialising. And the risks of excessive consumption will be widely circulated.

Alcohol, when drunk to excess, is a significant cause of disease and premature death, and can be a fuel for public disorder and crime. Most states which do not altogether prohibit the consumption of alcohol have policies aimed at combating alcohol abuse. The EU does not however currently have a strategy on alcohol. By a significant margin, Europe has the highest per capita alcohol consumption of any world region, and the United Kingdom is well above the average of the consumption league. But there are wide variations across the Member States, and indeed regionally within Member States: variations in the type and strength of alcohol consumed, variations in the distribution of consumption by sex and by age, variations in the type and degree of harm caused. There are variations in cost, in duties, in laws on sale and on advertising, in age limits, and in other aspects of policy aimed at reducing alcohol abuse, and at treating the problems it causes. The Committee considers many of these matters.

This report calls for a radical change in the Government's approach to the health and social problems caused by the rising consumption of alcohol in England. Consumption per head has nearly tripled since 1947, and 31 per cent of men and 21 per cent of women are drinking hazardously (more than 21 units per week) or harmfully (more than 50 units per week). It is estimated alcohol abuse in England and Wales kills 30-40,000 people a year and costs the economy £55bn. Excessive consumption also leads to serious accidents, disorder, violence and crime. In the report, chapter two looks at the history of alcohol consumption. Chapter three considers the impact of alcohol on health, the NHS and society as a whole, including the costs of crime and loss of work. Chapter four analyses the Government's alcohol strategy. Chapters five to nine consider respectively NHS policies on prevention and treatment; education and information policies, the marketing of alcohol, pubs and licensing; and off-licence sales, particularly in supermarkets. Chapter ten looks at the key issue of the price of alcohol. The Committee calls for minimum pricing for units of alcohol. Evidence shows that a rise in the price of alcohol is the most effective way to reduce consumption. It would affect most of all those who drink cheap alcohol, save up to 3000 lives a year with a price of 50p per unit, would benefit traditional pubs and encourage a switch to weaker wines and spirits. Minimum pricing should be accompanied by an increase in duty. Finally, in chapter eleven, the Committee puts forward a new alcohol strategy.

In recent years, the reduction of alcohol-related harm has emerged as a major policy issue across Europe. Public health advocates, supported by the World Health Organisation, have challenged an approach that targets problem-drinking individuals, calling instead for governments to control consumption across whole populations through a combination of pricing strategies, restrictions on retail availability and marketing regulations. Alcohol, Power and Public Health explores the emergence of the public health perspective on alcohol policy in Europe, the strategies alcohol control policy advocates have adopted, and the challenges they have faced in the political context of both individual states and the European Union. The book provides a historical perspective on the development of alcohol policy in Europe using four case studies – Denmark, England, Scotland and Ireland. It explores the relationship between evidence, values and power in a key area of political decision-making and considers what conditions create – or prevent – policy change. The case studies raise questions as to who sets policy agendas, how social problems are framed and defined, and how governments can balance public health promotion against both commercial interests and established cultural practices. This book will be of interest to academics and researchers in policy studies, public health, social science, and European Union studies.

White Paper Cm. 6374 (ISBN 010163742X) was published 16th November 2004.

Government response to the first report of the Health Committee, HC 151-I, session 2009-10 (ISBN 9780215543004)

Alcohol, Crime and Public Health explores the issue of drinking in the criminal justice system, providing an overview of the topic from both a criminal justice and a public health perspective. The majority of prisoners in the UK (70%) have an alcohol use disorder, and evidence tells us that risky drinking is high amongst those in contact with all areas of the criminal justice system. Uniquely, this book brings both a criminal justice and a public health perspective to the topic. The book opens by exploring the levels of crime attributed to alcohol, the policy context of alcohol and crime, and the prevalence of risky alcohol consumption in the criminal justice system. The following chapters examine risky drinking amongst men, women and young people in the criminal justice system. The final chapters look at the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for risky drinking in the criminal justice system, and look forward to how researchers and practitioners can work together to produce research in the criminal justice system. Written in an accessible and concise style, Alcohol, Crime and Public Health will be of great use to students of criminology, criminal justice and public health as well as the wider area of public and social policy in relation to alcohol and crime.

Colin Martin has brought together an excellent set of contributors to produce a truly comprehensive text that will ensure all interested professionals can not only update their knowledge but also better understand each other’s roles and how best to help patients and clients through shared working to achieve a common goal of better health. This book is not just for people who see themselves as having a primary role in the field, but also for those – teachers, the police and family members – who live daily with its effects. Professor Dame Betty Kershaw University of Sheffield, UK Alcohol dependency represents an enduring problem for both the individual and wider society. Despite contemporary media coverage on increasingly dangerous levels of drinking in the United Kingdom, the fact remains that excessive alcohol consumption has been a distinguishing feature of Western society for generations. This book is arranged by a number of themed parts, largely representing the key areas in the process of facilitating access to effective clinical management. The book will also be of interest to the wider public who have an interest or concern in relation to alcohol dependency. Contents include: Part 1: Identification Part 2: Medical interventions Part 3: Psychological interventions Part 4: Contemporary issues in the identification and treatment of alcohol dependency Part 5: Clients with complex needs Part 6: Reproductive and developmental concerns

Parental mental health problems and substance misuse affect a significant number of families. This handbook provides practitioners with early intervention techniques and effective support strategies for ensuring the best outcomes for these vulnerable families. Featuring pointers, models and practice examples, A Practical Guide to Early Intervention and Family Support considers the concept of resilience and effective family support. Assessing the policy context and possible barriers to support, it looks at assessment of need, safeguarding children, minimising negative impact, and most importantly, keeping families together where possible. Drawing on key research on the risks and impacts, this book demonstrates the need for a unified approach from a range of adult and children's services. This third edition has been fully updated to reflect developments in policy and services. Essential reading for all professionals who are involved in providing services to families, it will also be of interest to service commissioners and those with an academic interest in what helps to support children and families in these circumstances.