Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, commenting on the release of “Reducing Alcohol Harm: health services in England for alcohol misuse” the Forty-seventh Report from the Public Accounts Committee, said:
“This report highlights the key reasons why alcohol problems are on the rise in England. When an average child’s weekly pocket money can buy 13 litres of cider it is right that MPs call for tougher, cross-department action to curb the irresponsible sale and promotion of cheap alcohol.
“Alcohol dependency affects more than one million people and, of course, has a huge, often hidden, impact on the families and friends. More must be done to ensure PCTs are taking the alcohol agenda seriously and are commissioning sufficient services that will be able to swiftly help those that develop problems.
“Your chances of suffering from a number of diseases, such as throat, mouth and breast cancer increase if you drink above government recommended guidelines. Yet labelling of alcohol is poor with insufficient information for consumers to make informed choices about their drinking. We welcome mandatory action on labelling in the light of the drinks industry’s failure to voluntarily comply with better practice.”
Alcohol Concern