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Launch of the UK Alcohol Health Alliance: a new coalition calling for tougher measures on alcohol
A ground-breaking coalition of 24 organisations whose mission is reduce the damage to health caused by alcohol was launched in London last 23 November.
The UK Alcohol Health Alliance, which brings together medical bodies, patient representatives and alcohol health campaigners, calls on the Government to do more to prevent the rise in alcohol-related diseases.
The members of the coalition will work together to:
- Highlight the rising levels of alcohol-related health harm
- Propose evidence-based solutions to reduce this harm
- Influence decision makers to take positive action to address the damage caused by alcohol misuse
While loose coalitions have previously been formed on specific topics in the medical field, notably tobacco control, this is the first time that a group has existed specifically to co-ordinate campaigning on alcohol, bringing together medical bodies, patient representatives and alcohol health campaigners.
The formation of the Alliance comes at a time when:
- 13 children a day are hospitalised as a result of alcohol use
- Alcoholic liver cirrhosis has increased by 95% since 2000, and by 36% over the last two years to 2006 and is still increasing
- Overall alcohol related deaths have increased by 18% from 2002-2005
- More people die from alcohol related causes than from breast cancer, cervical cancer and MRSA combined
The ‘passive effects' of hazardous use of alcohol are catastrophic - rape, sexual assault, domestic and other violence, drunk driving and street disorder.
The Alcohol Health Alliance UK will campaign for:
- Dedicated funding for alcohol treatment and prevention strategies
- Increased taxation on alcohol
- A ban on alcohol advertising before 9.00 pm and in cinemas apart from 18 rated films
- Promotional material to carry information on health related harm
- The drink driving limit to be reduced to the EU standard of 0.5g/l and a near zero limit for new drivers
Membership of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK:
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Action on Addiction, Alcohol and Health Research Trust, Alcohol Concern, Alcohol Education and Research Council, British Association for the Study of the Liver, British Liver Trust, British Society of Gastroenterology, College of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Dental Surgery, Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Institute of Alcohol Studies, Medical Council on Alcohol, National Addiction Centre, National Organisation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - UK, Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Royal College of Physicians of London, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Royal College of Surgeons of England, Scottish Intercollegiate Group on Alcohol/SHAAP
For more information about the UK Alcohol Health Alliance aims and key messages see
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/alcoholalliance/