Friday 23 January 2009

College President responds to new ONS figures showing a rise in the number of people drinking above recommended levels

Responding to today's publication of ONS figures indicating a small rise in the numbers of people drinking above the daily recommended limits, Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians said:

"On the basis of these figures it appears unlikely that we will stem the rising tide of alcohol-related health harms in the near future. While people's awareness of the health risks associated with drinking above the recommended limits is surprisingly good, knowledge of those limits is still poor, despite ten years of concerted work to raise awareness levels. Consequently, it is vital that the government take the next step of introducing mandatory labelling on drinks so that people are in a better position to keep track of their own consumption levels, especially now, as more people socialise at home, rather than in pubs and bars in order to take advantage of the cheap deals offered in the large supermarkets."

Opinions (Omnibus) Survey Report No. 39 Drinking: adults’ behaviour and knowledge in 2008 - Download the full report here.