Alcohol Concern calls on MPs to sign charter

Published: 14 November, 2011

Alcohol Concern has launched a charter calling for a "world free of alcohol harm" and is calling on the government to make changes to its forthcoming alcohol strategy.

The health charity's charter, which it launched to coincide with this week's Alcohol Awareness Week, has four core commitments.

They are:

Society
Everyone has the right to enjoy life free from the effects of alcohol harm - at home, work or in the community, and everyone has the right to be free of the pressure to drink and to be supported when they choose not to.
Young people
All children and adolescents have the right to grow up in an environment protected from the promotion of alcohol and the negative consequences of alcohol consumption.
Drinkers
Anyone who develops a problem with alcohol - as well as members of their family - has the right to accessible advice, treatment and care.
Information
Everyone has the right to objective and independent information and education, starting early in life, on the consequences of alcohol consumption on health, the family and society.

In order to match up with its charter, it is calling on the government to make the following changes to its forthcoming alcohol policy. Firstly to prevent irresponsible promotion of cheap alcohol and deep discounting, to control of the availability of alcohol locally, protect children from alcohol marketing and increase support for people affected by alcohol misuse.

Alcohol Concern's new chief executive Eric Appleby said: "The imminent renewal of the national strategy on alcohol is a decisive moment in which to act. Politicians have this opportunity to start towards making the aspirations in the charter a reality.

"We're asking everyone, especially policy-makers and those with responsibility for our health and well-being, to sign. During Alcohol Awareness week, we'll be publishing an open letter to our health ministers and their shadow counterparts asking them to sign up and indicate their commitment to reducing alcohol harm "

Responding to the charter, Henry Ashworth, chief executive of the Portman Group, said: "We are pleased that Alcohol Concern is focusing on similar priorities to the industry's own initiatives and the government's Responsibility Deal.

"It is vitally important to remember that the vast majority of people in the UK do drink responsibly and it is in all of our interests for alcoholic products to be consumed sensibly across the board. Responsible alcohol producers and retailers are committed to playing their part and we are reviewing how we can strengthen regulation so alcohol is marketed responsibly and appropriately to legitimate adult consumers."

Printer friendly version