Alcohol

Alcohol plays an important role in British society. It is consumed by a vast majority of adults in Britain and contributes a substantial amount to the British economy. While a vast majority of people enjoy alcohol without causing harm to themselves or to others, Harmful drinking affects individual’s health, society and the economy. The misuse of alcohol can lead to a range of public health problems such as alcohol poisoning, violence and accidents or even to more chronic effects such as liver cirrhosis and some cancers. The harmful effects on the society are diverse and far ranging and include:

  • The burden on the NHS in terms of hospital admissions and treatments in primary care settings
  • Economic harm due to unemployment and reduced capacity to work
  • Crime and anti-social behaviour fuelled by alcohol consumption
  • Social harms such as domestic violence, and divorce
  • Economic harm such as sickness absence and unemployment

Recognising the importance of this problem, the Department of Health and the Home Office jointly launched an updated government alcohol strategy in June 2007, setting out clear goals and actions to promote sensible drinking and reduce the harm that alcohol can cause.

Images from the NHS Photo Library

Data

Publication and policy documents from DH and elsewhere

  • Alcohol Needs Assessment Research Project (ANARP)
    The Alcohol Needs Assessment Research Project (ANARP) was commissioned by the Department of Health. Carried out in 2004 it presents information for England at a national and regional level to highlight the range of alcohol use disorders in the population and the range of services currently available to offer treatment for alcohol problems. The report identifies gaps in services and the regional variations in access to current treatment.
  • Choosing Health: Making healthy choices easier
    This White Paper sets out the key principles for supporting the public to make healthier and more informed choices in regards to their health. The Government will provide information and practical support to get people motivated and improve emotional wellbeing and access to services so that healthy choices are easier to make.
  • Indications 8: Alcohol
    The eighth in a series of national reports produced for the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) by the Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO) is on alcohol. It contains 36 different indicators of alcohol-related harm, health and behaviour across all nine English regions; with analysis of sub-regional inequalities where possible.
    Items: 2
  • Models of care for alcohol misusers (MoCAM)
    Models of care for alcohol misusers (MoCAM) provides best practice guidance for local health organisations and their partners in delivering a planned and integrated local treatment system for adult alcohol misusers.
  • NTA review of the effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems
    This review by Duncan Raistrick, Nick Heather and Christine Godfrey covers the published international research literature on alcohol interventions and treatment. In describing the effectiveness of the various interventions and treatments available it will enable local services and partnerships to assess current provision and plan future developments to meet the needs of their population.
  • Safe. Sensible. Social. The Government’s Alcohol Strategy
    This is the UK alcohol strategy published in June 2007. It follows on from the 2004 Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy and sets out to minimise the health harms, violence and antisocial behaviour associated with alcohol, while ensuring that people are able to enjoy alcohol safely and responsibly. It specifically focuses on the minority of drinkers who cause the most harm to themselves, their communities and their families.
  • Signs for Improvement: Commissioning interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm
    This guidance Is designed to direct commissioners in areas where tackling alcohol harm is identified as a priority, to the resources and good practice guidance, which will assist them in commissioning interventions to reduce the harm caused by alcohol in their local community. It offers ways to improve commissioning looking at each World Class Commissioning competency and all stages in the commissioning cycle.
Links to important organisation(s)

  • Alcohol Concern
    Alcohol Concern is a national agency on alcohol misuse that works to reduce the incidence and costs of alcohol-related harm and to increase the range and quality of services available to people with alcohol-related problems. The agency also provide information and encourage debate on the wide range of public policy issues affected by alcohol.
  • Alcohol Learning Centre (ALC)

    Alcohol Learning Centre (ALC) aims to share resources on local alcohol improvement interventions nationally. ALC is an on-line one-stop-shop which collates, co-ordinates and disseminates learning and promising practice from across the NHS and the third Sector. It contains alcohol specific policy documents, guidance and tools and provides training resources to support frontline practitioners in delivering Identification and Brief Advice (IBA).

  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
    Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences with each other in order to solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
  • Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals (FDAP)
    The FDAP is the professional body for practitioners working with people with substance use problems.
  • National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA)
    The NACOA provides information, advice and support to children of alcoholics and people concerned with their welfare through its free, confidential telephone Helpline (0800 358 3456).