Reports of rising mortality rates from liver cirrhosis were overshadowed last week by the Lib Dems' alcohol-related problems, but the story is still rumbling around. See Monday's Daily Telegraph for example. Original post with all the details here.
The British Liver Trust has now weighed in with a press release highlighting the importance of taking action now to prevent future deaths. Chief Executive Alison Rogers is critical of the government's approach to alcohol strategy when it comes to health harms, and says:
"....there appear to be no plans by Government to monitor the impact on health of the licensing laws and no facility to do so. Indeed, the implementation of the licensing laws has had no input from the Department of Health; the emphasis has been purely on crime and disorder and has remained the responsibility of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport."
The British Liver Trust has already called for a major Government health campaign related to the risks of excessive alcohol and emphasized the importance of better data collection in the UK. There is still no public funding for either project, says the press release.
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