§ 26. Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of his repeated warnings about the dangers of alcoholism, if he will define in lay terms what he means by an alcoholic and which groups of people appear from the information currently available to him to be most at risk.
§ Mr. MoylePending advice from the Advisory Committee on Alcoholism, I use the definition of alcoholics by the World Health Organisation
Those excessive drinkers whose dependence on alcohol has attained such a degree that they show a noticeable mental disturbance or an interference with bodily and mental health their interpersonal relations and their smooth economic and social functioning; or who show the prodromal signs of such development"."Prodromal signs" means warning symptoms.The incidence of alcoholism, which is found in most sections of society, is affected by a number of factors, including social class, occupation and parental drinking habits. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of "Alcoholism and Cirrhosis of the Liver" by Dr. S. Donnan and J. Haskey in "Population Trends" March 1977, which. discusses the available information on occupation and class.