Health Matters

The Alcohol Concern Charter

14.11.2011

According to the Alcohol Concern website:

• Every minute alcohol-related problems cost the UK economy around £48,000
• Every hour more than 100 people go into hospital in England and Wales with an alcohol-related condition
• Every day more than 40 people die as a result of alcohol in England and Wales
• Every week more than 100 children call ChildLine upset about their parents’ drinking – some as young as five years old.

The week will see the introduction of the Alcohol Concern Charter, this charter is a four-point statement based on the World Health Organisation's own charter on alcohol.

The charter is looking to raise the awareness on the effects of alcohol and how its promoted. There are concerns over advertising campaigns offering cheap and discounted alcohol and the availability of such offers to the young. The charter is hoping to protect children from such campaigns and highlight the need for more stringent checks on identity when alcohol is being sold.

The campaign is aimed at all retailers, not just smaller names but supermarkets are targeted as well.

For more information and to back the campaign please see the Alcohol Concern website

Martine Mallon
Healthcare Consultant