The Medical Council on Alcohol (MCA) has today published a report, The Need for a Health System Response to Alcohol-Related Harms, at an event attended by clinicians, academics, professionals in the alcohol and health field and policymakers.
The report calls attention to the growing public health challenge posed by alcohol-related health harms and urges a coordinated health systems approach to tackle the issue.
The report calls for:
- A renewed national Alcohol Strategy with a strong focus on treatment and prevention.
- Enhanced funding and support for alcohol care teams in acute hospitals.
- Improved access to community-based alcohol services, which currently reach fewer than one in five people with alcohol dependence.
- Greater integration of care pathways to ensure individuals with complex needs receive comprehensive support.
Between 2019 and 2022, alcohol-specific deaths increased by a shocking 32.8%. Alcohol continues to be the leading risk factor for premature death and ill-health among 15–49-year-olds in England and disproportionately affects the most socially and economically disadvantaged groups, exacerbating existing health inequalities, despite lower alcohol consumption by this group. The societal costs of alcohol harm are estimated to exceed £27bn each year.
The Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) welcomes the report and urges policymakers to act on the recommendations to reduce alcohol-related harm.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the AHA and President of the MCA, said, “This report is a stark reminder of the mounting toll of alcohol on our society. Tackling alcohol harm requires bold leadership and a coordinated approach across the health system. The recommendations in the report provide a clear roadmap for meaningful action to save lives and reduce the strain on our health services – we now just need policymakers to step up and implement them.”
Professor Julia Sinclair, Professor of Addiction Psychiatry at the University of Southampton and lead author of the report, stated: “This report reinforces what we already know: alcohol-related harm is a growing and preventable crisis. While alcohol consumption is often normalised in our society, the scale of its impact on health and social inequalities cannot be ignored. Now is the time to act decisively to reverse these trends, or we risk placing an even greater burden on our health system and losing more lives unnecessarily.”
Dr Danny Chambers, MP for Winchesters, added: “This is both a mental health and physical health issue – but people only seem to be able to access support when their alcohol intake causes a physical health problem. We need to be able to recognise and support people before they cause serious physical harm to themselves.”
The MCA report stresses that without action, rising alcohol-related harms will continue to burden health services, while lack of access to treatment leaves individuals and families struggling with inadequate support.
Professor Julia Sinclair will present the report at today’s launch event, with an opportunity for healthcare professionals, policymakers and experts in the field to discuss the actions required to address this crisis.
ENDS.
About the Medical Council on Alcohol
The Medical Council on Alcohol is dedicated to reducing alcohol-related health harm through education, research, and policy advocacy. For over 50 years the MCA has worked with health professionals to promote solutions to this pressing public health challenge.
