Monday 10th December 2001

Young drinkers receive a death warning

Institute of Alcohol Studies calls for government action to stem the tide of dangerous drinking among young people.

The IAS today called for government action to contain the barrage of alcohol industry marketing that contributes to the British culture of binge drinking, particularly among the young. The Institute also called for the Government to delay reform of the licensing law until a national strategy to combat alcohol misuse is in place.

Derek Rutherford for the IAS said:

''The government has for too long shirked it's responsibilities regarding the alarming increase in young people's drinking. It has continually stalled on the publication of its long awaited alcohol strategy but is determined to press ahead with licensing reforms that will further loosen controls on alcohol consumption. The government should now reflect upon this report and take urgent action to address the alarming trends that it describes.''

The Chief Medical Officer of Health has released figures showing a dramatic increase in deaths due to alcohol-related liver cirrhosis, the rise being especially steep in women. The figures show that twice as many 18 to 24 year old women as men are drinking at or in excess of danger levels and among 35 to 44 year olds, there has been an eight fold increase in deaths among men, and seven-fold among women. Cirrhosis of the liver now kills 1,600 women a year, compared to 1,200 seven years ago.