Leading voices from across the public health, medical and treatment sectors have written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, to call for an urgent and ambitious strategy to address rising alcohol harm, after key policies on alcohol were reportedly removed from the final version of the NHS 10-Year Plan.
The 34 signatories – including clinicians, researchers, treatment specialists, medical royal colleges, and charities – warn that alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions are continuing to rise, disproportionately impacting the most deprived communities.
The experts highlight that across the UK, 30% of the adult population engage in “risky drinking”, and almost one in 25 of all new cancers are estimated to be linked to alcohol.
In a stark sign of the growing crisis, alcohol-specific death rates in the North East of England have now overtaken those in Scotland (twenty years ago, Scotland had more than twice the rate of deaths of the North East).
While welcoming measures such as alcohol labelling and community-led initiatives included in the 10-year plan, the group argues these are not sufficient to address the scale and complexity of alcohol harm, which is closely linked to cancer, mental ill health, and inequality.
The letter urges the Government to adopt a preventative and evidence-led approach, including:
- Minimum unit pricing to reduce consumption of the cheapest, strongest alcohol
- Stronger alcohol marketing restrictions, especially to protect children and deprived communities
- Fairer taxation, including reinstating the alcohol duty escalator and ending cider tax loopholes
- Better NHS support, including resourcing alcohol care teams and integrated services
- Local authority powers to manage alcohol availability and online sales
The authors say meaningful action now could lead to visible improvements in public health, NHS pressure, crime, and productivity during this Parliament. They conclude, “The public want and deserve action, and we stand ready to work with Government to deliver real progress.”
