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Trade bodies slam "doomsday" predictions on alcohol deaths

Published:  20 February, 2012

Trade bodies have slammed projections from leading UK doctors that up to 210,000 people will die from avoidable alcohol-related diseases in the next 20 years as "doomsday scenarios".

Trade bodies have slammed projections from leading UK doctors that up to 210,000 people will die from avoidable alcohol-related diseases in the next 20 years as "doomsday scenarios".

Prominent medics from the Royal College of Physicians, including Alcohol Health Alliance founder Sir Ian Gilmore, provided the latest projections on alcohol-related deaths in England and Wales, based on data up to 2010.

The "worst-case scenario" data showed that one third (70,000) of the forecast deaths will be from liver disease and the rest from other causes including accidents, violence, and suicide or from chronic diseases, such as hypertension or cardiovascular disease.

The authors criticised the Responsibility Deal, which sees drinks firms work together with charities, health groups and the government, in an effort to reduce problem drinking.

They also reiterated their stance on minimum pricing by saying: "Can the UK government ... afford to duck effective action on alcohol that will have such a positive impact on crime and disorder, work productivity, and health? [It] will have to withstand powerful lobbying from the drinks industry, but the prize of reversing this tragic toll of alcohol-related deaths is there for the taking."

Trade bodies react

But Henry Ashworth, chief executive of the Portman Group, said it was "really important that we put this report in context".

"The vast majority of people drink responsibly. Painting doomsday scenarios won't help reduce alcohol misuse and calling for Soviet Union style population controls cannot do anything but alienate the vast majority of people who already drink within Government guidelines.

"We agree with the Prime Minister that strong partnerships are essential to tackle the minority who use alcohol recklessly and drinks producers are committed to supporting this approach."

Gavin Partington, interim chief executive at the Wine & Spirits Trade Association, said: "Any pragmatic view would recognise that overall alcohol consumption has been going down (fallen by 11% since 2004)."

This should make us examine figures relating to alcohol-related hospital admissions more closely, said Partington. "It suggests we're talking about a small number of people whose consumption has remained risky and hazardous."

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