Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy

HL Deb 09 December 2003 vol 655 cc626-8

2.45 p.m.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will introduce a strategy to tackle alcohol-related problems.

Lord Warner

My Lords, the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit has already published an interim report on the evidence that it has examined relating to the development of an alcohol harm reduction strategy for England. A cross-government strategy involving a wide range of interests will be published in 2004, when implementation will commence in line with the NHS Plan.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his Answer. Is he aware that, because there has been for some time a drugs strategy, it has been a great problem to treat people with severe alcohol problems, particularly in prisons? Does he agree with me that joined-up government is needed, because alcohol abuse covers so many different departments, including the Home Office and those responsible for health, education, sport, roads and many others?

Lord Warner

My Lords, the noble Baroness is quite right. That is why the alcohol harm reduction strategy is being conducted through the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, which has great expertise in cross-governmental issues and problems.

Baroness Goudie

My Lords, we are aware of the cost to the health service of alcohol-related illnesses. Will the Government's strategy team consider making the same restrictions on alcohol advertising as on smoking advertising?

Lord Warner

My Lords, the role of alcohol advertising in harmful consumption was highlighted by a number of respondents to the joint Department of Health/Strategy Unit consultation. That issue will be carefully examined as part of the Strategy Unit's work to develop a strategy.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, will the Minister bear in mind that such solutions will not come cheaply, and will he beware of the quick fix that happens so often, whereby someone abusing alcohol is taken in, dried out, patted on the back and sent out into the same environment? One needs services such as Charis, a drug and alcohol dependency unit on the Mile End Road. It spends time and money, from the local authority and others, but there will be no quick fix in dealing with the problem.

Lord Warner

My Lords, my noble friend is quite right; there are no quick fixes, and we must ensure that the strategy is fit for its purpose. It is worth reminding my noble friend that, although the changes may have price tags, so does alcohol misuse. Up to £1.7 billion a year, for example, is spent by the NHS on alcohol-related problems.

Baroness Buscombe

My Lords, when will we have an opportunity to debate the statutory guidance notes that were supposed to be issued, and whose publication we have awaited for some time, as a result of the Licensing Act 2003? Many noble Lords debated at length their concerns about the deregulation of licensing laws. We were assured that much of what should have been contained in the legislation would be in the statutory guidance notes to help local authorities to manage some of the many problems that may result from deregulating licensing laws.

Lord Warner

My Lords, I do not have the answer to that question, but I shall write to the noble Baroness.

Lord Peston

My Lords, has my noble friend's department given any attention—

A Noble Lord

My Lords, the other side.

Lord Peston

No, my Lords, a speaker from the other side has just asked a question—or that is what it looked like to me. Has my noble friend's department given any attention to the difference between alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking? Cigarette smoking is poisonous from the very first puff. What is important about alcohol is that it is excessive amounts of it that are dangerous. In the context of the strategy, therefore, is he not as appalled as I am that, at this time of year, alcohol companies are pouring out advertising on television with the message that the more you drink, the better? If we are to stop anything, we must look at the nature of such advertising.

Lord Warner

My Lords, as I said to my noble friend Lady Goudie, we are looking into the issue of advertising as part of the Strategy Unit's work. As my noble friend Lord Peston said, there is a Fundamental difference. For many people, alcohol is widely associated with pleasure. What we are dealing with is misuse of alcohol and excessive consumption. Tobacco is an extremely dangerous substance in its own right.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, do the Government agree with the research that shows that the level of alcohol harm is directly related to the national volume of consumption? If that is the case, will the Government set a good example to others by reducing the amount of alcohol they serve at their own entertainments?

Lord Warner

My Lords, if the noble Lord has some information about that amount increasing or changing, perhaps he will let me know so that I can look into the matter.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, is the Minister aware that under-age drinking is increasing and that drink is coming into schools? What is the Government's policy on teachers and pupils drinking in schools?

Lord Warner

My Lords, the noble Baroness is right. We know that, although only a quarter of children in the 11 to 15 age group drinks on a regular basis, the average weekly amount that they consume has risen from 5.3 units in 1990 to 10.2 units in 2002, which is an area of concern. I am sure that my noble friends in the Department for Education and Skills are addressing this issue in the guidance that they give to schools and teachers.