Nurses echo call for action on binge drinking

Published: 08 September 2009

Following the publication of the BMA's report Under the Influence - the damaging effect of alcohol marketing on young people, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) renewed calls for tighter regulation of the sale and promotion of alcohol. Janet Davies, Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery at the Royal College of Nursing, said:

"Every day nurses are faced with the devastating effects excessive alcohol consumption has on individuals and the people who care for them. The more people there are attending hospital for alcohol-related reasons, the greater the pressure on frontline health services.

 "The RCN believes that tighter regulation of the labelling, sale and advertising of alcoholic drinks, as well as widespread education on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, is needed to stop this problem from spiralling even further out of control.

"Nurses have said time and time again that the Government must take drastic action to stop this dire problem becoming even worse."

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Notes for Editors

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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 organisations.