Last week's Guardian contained an alcohol supplement covering a range of alcohol issues facing the UK. If you missed it you can find the reports contained within the pull-out here.
The supplement was sponsored by Diageo, one of the leading drinks manufacturers in the UK, indicating the industry are still keen to show they are voluntarily doing their bit to promote responsible drinking in the face of further action from government, proposals for which are currently out for consultation.
The supplement covers a range of issues with features on education, young people, health and the history of alcohol consumption and legislation. A report by Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians and chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, argues that whilst further legislative measures will not be popular with politicians, the public or the industry, they are still necessary as price and availability are the biggest levers for consumption.
Education and young people's views on binge drinking
Much of the supplement focused on the issues facing young people; one report looked at a number of initiatives that have been raising awareness of alcohol issues amongst young people including theatre projects and the success of specific intervention programmes looking at issues such as family problems. Another report surveyed teenagers on alcohol and binge drinking which included views that:
- Happy hours don't make a difference as cheap alcohol will just be bought elsewhere
- Cheap shots do encourage binge drinking but police and security should be increased
- Binge drinking warnings 'help' but aren't taken seriously
- People should be shown the long term consequences
- Beers should have the number of units displayed alongside alcohol strength
- People think in 'pints and half pints' rather than units
- There is a big drinking culture and pressure to drink, especially on tee-totallers
- Alcohol education in schools should be improved
- There is not peer pressure but a drinking culture exists
- Alcohol is easy to get from off-licenses, though harder in bars and pubs
If you have views on whether further action should be taken to regulate the industry, price and availability, please submit them by the 14th October 2008 using the consultation guidance and documents found here.
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