Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic - London

BMA Board of Science
Systems for the detection and management of alcohol misuse should be developed for A&E
care and the general hospital setting throughout the UK. These must be adequately funded
and resourced.
Comprehensive training and guidance should be provided to all relevant healthcare
professionals on the identification and management of alcohol misuse.
Funding for specialist alcohol treatment services should be significantly increased and ringfenced
to ensure all individuals who are identified as having severe alcohol problems or who
are alcohol dependent are offered referral to specialised alcohol treatment services at the
earliest possible stage.
There should be continual assessment of the need for and provision of alcohol treatment
services in the UK, building on the 2004 Alcohol Needs Assessment Research Project in
England, and ensuring similar assessment is undertaken throughout the UK.
International cooperation on alcohol control
There should be strong support for European Union, World Health Organisation and World
Health Assembly initiatives and policies aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm to individual
and public health.
Lobby for, and support the World Health Organisation in developing and implementing a
legally binding international treaty on alcohol control in the form of a Framework
Convention on Alcohol Control. This should include provisions for:
regulation of the availability of alcohol through licensing
increased taxation on alcoholic beverages
statutory regulation of alcohol advertising, promotion and sponsorship
programmes aimed at educating the public of the harms associated with alcohol misuse
legislation to discourage drink-driving
appropriately funded and resourced treatment services
enforcement of the legal responsibility of retailers to sell alcoholic beverages in
accordance with legislation
promoting research and the exchange of information among countries
establishing a priority for public health considerations in the regulation of international
alcohol commerce
international cooperation to combat illegal production and trade in alcohol.
“”
Death rates of most preventable diseases are falling, supported by government
action. There is a tragedy unfolding with the rising levels of alcohol-related deaths,
which could be addressed through the application of simple effective measures.
These deaths signal a very disturbing change in drinking habits, which affect rates
of crime, violence, divorce, abuse, productivity and mental health. There is an
increasingly strong case for government to act.
BMA member
Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic 9