Shame and guilt are common features of entrenched alcohol use disorders: think of the 'G' in the CAGE screening questions. However, Godlee is right that Her Majesty's Government appear shameless about the secret cupboards, drawers and flowerpots where they hide their alcohol policies.
Thanks to evidence collected in this week's BMJ, we can now offer Cabinet Members a personalised screening tool for occupational shame:
Commercial interests come first;
Abdicate health responsibilities to someone else, anyone else;
Gag in-house experts on alcohol;
Exaggerate the impact of any proposed change on “responsible drinkers” i.e. voters.
Right Honourable Members who score 3 or more should immediately give themselves a Pat on the Back (and perhaps the pocket).
1 Godlee F. Minimum alcohol pricing: a shameful episode. BMJ 2014;348:g110
Competing interests:
Have worked on alcohol and public health since the 1980s
Rapid Response:
Re: Minimum alcohol pricing: a shameful episode
Shame and guilt are common features of entrenched alcohol use disorders: think of the 'G' in the CAGE screening questions. However, Godlee is right that Her Majesty's Government appear shameless about the secret cupboards, drawers and flowerpots where they hide their alcohol policies.
Thanks to evidence collected in this week's BMJ, we can now offer Cabinet Members a personalised screening tool for occupational shame:
Commercial interests come first;
Abdicate health responsibilities to someone else, anyone else;
Gag in-house experts on alcohol;
Exaggerate the impact of any proposed change on “responsible drinkers” i.e. voters.
Right Honourable Members who score 3 or more should immediately give themselves a Pat on the Back (and perhaps the pocket).
1 Godlee F. Minimum alcohol pricing: a shameful episode. BMJ 2014;348:g110
Competing interests: Have worked on alcohol and public health since the 1980s