BMJ, doi: 10.1136/bmj.39496.556435.80, (Published 22 February 2008)

Editorials

Tackling alcohol misuse in the UK

Higher alcohol taxes and restricting availability are more likely to succeed than partnerships with industry

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Nations, like people, can develop a pathological pattern of alcohol misuse. Ever since the Blair government consolidated its alcohol control policy around a "partnership" with the alcohol drinks industry,¹ the United Kingdom has been anything but united about how to deal with the nation’s alcohol problems.^{2 3} While some people have seen collaboration with industry as a way of "disabling the public interest,"² the ostensible rationale was to involve alcohol producers and retailers in new initiatives—such as voluntary limits on advertising, safer packaging, and codes of good conduct—to make town centres safer at night. In response to mounting evidence that this approach is not working,³ this week the BMA voices its opinion on how the problem should be tackled through the release of a report on alcohol misuse.⁴

According to the report the long wave of increasing alcohol consumption—which has moved the UK into eighth position in the hard drinking nations . . . [Full text of this article]

Main alcohol control policies recommended in BMA report

Control access to alcohol
Promote responsible industry practices
Implement measures to reduce drink driving
Education and health promotion
Early intervention and treatment
International cooperation on alcohol control

¹ Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030-6325, USA

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