Government must take action on alcohol abuse - RCN

Published: 02 December 2011

Government must take action on alcohol abuse - RCN
 
For immediate release: 02 December 2011
Commenting on new figures from the North East on the prevalence of liver disease as a result of alcohol abuse, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:
“These figures are simply scandalous and provide cold, hard evidence of the shocking number of people in this country suffering as a result of excessive drinking. The Government can no longer afford to simply ‘nudge’ people when it comes to tackling this major public health issue, they must step in and take control of the situation. Robust regulation on the sale of alcohol, along with sensible minimum pricing, is desperately needed in order to meaningfully reduce the health damage caused by harmful drinking. If the Government is serious about repairing the nation’s disastrous relationship with alcohol, these regulatory measures must be combined with widespread campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of excessive drinking."

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media
1. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organizations.