An interim report on binge drinking has been released by Demos:
'Under the influence: what we know about binge-drinking'
By 'binge-drinking', the report refers not to the Government definition of drinking twice the recommended guidelines on one occasion, but as "young adults that drink to extreme excess, often in an intentionally reckless and very public way, putting themselves and others at risk of harm." The report analyses the causes of, and possible responses to, binge-drinking among young adults aged 18-25 in the UK, including:
Recommendations: interventions targeted at individuals
- Enforcement of existing laws relating to public disorder.
- GP consortia or local authorities should expand Alcohol Recovery Centres (‘booze-tanks’) and Alternative Response Vehicles (‘booze-buses’) across major cities in partnership with local police, and charge people who use these services.
- Doctors and members of ARC should employ brief interventions to talk to binge-drinkers about ways to limit their consumption.
Recommendations: nudges and environmental changes
- Local authorities should form local partnerships to identify trouble-spots and intervene to reduce harm and anti-social behaviour.
- High quality training for bar-staff.
- Enforcement of the 2010 bans on promotions that are designed to encourage irresponsible drinking.
- Retailers and government should consider introducing responsible advertising, display and sales practices in the off-licence trade.
Recommendations: changing social norms
- Non-preachy social marketing campaigns.
- Government should consider issuing advice to parents on drinking in front of children.
The interim paper has been prepared as part of a wider Demos project analysing the underlying causes of binge-drinking; the final report will be released in June 2011.
Past reports on the subject include 'Binge Drinking: A Confused Concept and its Contemporary History', an IAS factsheet and Alcohol Concern factsheet.
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