Welsh doctors set out new measures to crack Wales' drink problem

Doctors’ leaders inWales have unveiled a new set of tough measures designed to crack Wales’ growing drink problem.

These include:

  • A national roll-out of local schemes to outlaw the consumption of alcohol in public streets;
  • An increase in funding of services designed to treat alcoholism and alcohol-related illnesses;
  • Doctors to take a lead by helping to change both attitudes and behaviour with respect to the misuse of alcohol;
  • An increase in taxation on drinks containing alcohol, with taxation proportionate to the amount of alcohol in the product.

These new proposals follow the publication of BMA Cymru Wales’ four point plan to tackle Wales’ alcohol problem, unveiled in June 2007.

The plan called for:

  • A Licensing Measure to end deep discounting of alcohol for sale in off licences, supermarkets and other off sales outlets.
  • Research into the measures by which pricing mechanisms can be used in Wales to discourage heavy consumption of high alcohol products.
  • Legislation for alcohol labeling rather than relying on voluntary agreements with the drinks industry.
  • Reduction of the drink driving limit from 80mg to 50mg and introduction of random breath testing in Wales.

Welsh Secretary of the BMA, Dr Richard Lewis said: “The BMA remains focused on offering practical solutions to Wales’ growing drink problem. This comprehensive set of measures is designed to cover a variety of problem areas. It’s now up to the Assembly Government, in partnership with the UK Government, to ensure that these policies are taken forward.

“After smoking, alcohol is the next big public health issue.The Government needs to get to grips with the problem.”

Above the recommended guidelines

In the Welsh Health Survey, 40 per cent of adults in Wales reported that their average alcohol consumption on a day of consuming alcohol was above the recommended guidelines of no more than four units a day for men and no more than three units per day for women. This varies by region, with the highest rates in Merthyr Tydfil and lowest rates in Ceredigion. Nineteen percent of adults reported binge drinking (more than eight units in a day for men and more than six units for women) in the week previous to the Welsh Health Survey.

Data from the Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (HBSC) Survey shows that seven per cent of 11-year old girls and 12 per cent of 11-year old boys in Wales reported drinking any alcohol on a weekly basis. For 13-year olds nearly a quarter of girls and a third of boys in Wales reported drinking any alcoholic drink weekly. Of all the countries participating in the HBSC survey,Wales has the highest proportion of 15-year olds that reported drinking on a weekly basis (over 50 per cent of girls and almost 60 per cent of boys).

The number of people admitted to hospital for alcohol–related conditions has increased from 252 per 100,000 in 1999 to 309 per 100,000 in 2005. The admission rates are significantly higher than the average rate for Wales in Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Gwynedd, Newport,Wrexham, Swansea, Ynys Mon, Denbighshire, Conwy and Blaenau Gwent.

The all-Wales alcohol-related deaths (European age standardised mortality rate) has increased from 10 per 100,000 in 1996 – 1998 to 14 per 100,000 in 2002 – 2004.