• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Institute of Alcohol Studies HomepageInstitute of Alcohol Studies

Bringing together evidence, policy and practice to reduce alcohol harm

  • Home
  • About us
    • People
    • Our strategy
    • Small Grants Scheme
    • Networks
    • Vacancies
    • Contact us
  • Publications
  • Explore by Topic
    • Alcohol across society
    • Availability
    • Consumption
    • Health
    • Marketing
    • Price
    • The alcohol industry
    • Transport
    • Violence and crime
  • News & Comment
    • Latest news and events
    • Blog
    • Alcohol Alert
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • See all
  • Search
News

National Alcohol Strategy – Press Statement By Institute of Alcohol Studies

26th February 1999

National Alcohol Strategy – Press Statement By Institute of Alcohol Studies

A focus on the health problems caused by alcohol to the
virtual exclusion of social damage will result in the Government’s
missing the opportunity to make a real difference.

This is the message of the Institute of Alcohol Studies’
submission to the Department of Health in support of Alcohol Concern’s
Proposals for a National Alcohol Strategy for England.
“In societies such as ours,” says the IAS, “alcohol is more accurately
described as a social problem that can have medical complications than
the other way around. For example, the strong associations of alcohol
with crime and anti-social behaviour are also well known.”

The IAS emphasises that the need and justification for a
national alcohol policy is not that drinkers may harm themselves but
that excessive and inappropriate consumption can cause harm to others,
particularly family members.

Alcohol Concern’s proposed strategy also makes modest
suggestions for a reduction in per capita consumption, something which
the Government has turned its face against, preferring the arguments of
the industry which says that the problem is restricted to the small
number who are alcohol dependent or abuse alcohol. The industry also
habitually attempts to discredit the “whole population theory”.

The IAS challenges the Government’s position, pointing out
that “researchers analysed information on drinking habits in fourteen
regions of England. They found that, exactly as the whole population
theory predicted, the regions with the lowest average consumption had
the fewest heavy drinkers and vice versa – the regions with the highest
average per capita consumption also had the highest proportions of heavy
drinkers…and the highest prevalence of people reporting symptoms of
alcohol dependence.”

The IAS attacks statements by Health Minister, Tessa Jowell,
and says that it hopes the Government does not intent systematically to
divert attention from the real issues by raising the red herring of
prohibition.

Download IAS response to proposals for a National Alcohol Strategy for England. (pdf  130kb)

More news items
Institute of Alcohol Studies Challenges Government over Millennium Binge Government proposals 'Against Public Interest'
1999 Budget Excise Duties Brown acused of political cynicism

Footer

IAS is proud to be a member of

  • Twitter
  • Spotify
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Contact us

©2023 Institute of Alcohol Studies

Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok