Stark cigarette-style health warnings on alcohol are needed to save lives. The British Liver Trust is urging the Government to act now to curb and control excessive drinking in Britain, as deaths from cirrhosis continue to rise.
The Trust is responding to the Government’s consultation on future regulation of the alcohol industry ‘Safe, Sensible, Social’, closing today (14 October).
Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, Alison Rogers, said: “People know they could end up with a hangover. But they often don’t know that excessive alcohol can result in life-threatening illnesses like cirrhosis or liver cancer. People need information on how much they are drinking, what the guidelines are and what the consequences of regularly drinking too much can be.”
The British Liver Trust calls for labels to be clear on how many units each drink contains and also to warn about health consequences with messages such as:
Alcohol kills
22,000 people a year die early from alcohol
Alcohol can cause impotence
Alcohol can cause a slow death from liver disease
Labels could also warn of the increased risk of heart disease and cancers like breast cancer. A message suggesting ‘alcohol can cause man-boobs’ or ‘alcohol can damage your skin’ could be really effective in encouraging people to change their behaviour.
Voluntary action on alcohol marketing has been completely ineffective in reducing rising rates of health harm. Deaths from alcoholic liver disease have risen by 40% since 1999 and are still rising. Alcohol now causes 22,000 premature deaths each year, and the Trust believes a mandatory code is needed now to curb irresponsible marketing.
Alison continued: “40 years ago, no-one would have considered putting health warnings on cigarettes. These warnings helped to change public attitudes to smoking. Labelling is only part of the picture. Labelling, along with action on price and drinks promotions, means that we can begin to turn around the titanic tide of alcohol harm. We need to call time on the retail industry’s behaviour on alcohol and introduce effective regulation now. ”
The Trust’s response to the consultation (available at www.britishlivertrust.org.uk) also calls for:
- More personalised support for people through the NHS to help them tackle drink problems
- Better information for people on alcohol and how they can reduce the risk of drinking as part of a healthy lifestyle
- Action to end alcohol available at ‘pocket money prices’ in many retail outlets including supermarkets through increased taxation and a minimum price per unit
- A consistent approach across society rather than targeting some age groups or locations like city centres for increased regulation
- The code to make prevention of health harm an explicit objective rather than focusing just on anti-social behaviour.
Liver disease is the fifth biggest killer in the UK, and the only one on the rise. The four other major killers – heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and stroke – are now declining. But the NHS is unprepared for the rising rates of liver disease in the UK, which are being accelerated by increased alcohol consumption.
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For further information please contact:
Imogen Shillito
Phone: 01425 481 333
Out of hours: 07939 960 420
Email: pressoffice@britishlivertrust.org.uk
Email: imogen.shillito@britishlivertrust.org.uk
Web: www.britishlivertrust.org.uk
British Liver Trust, 2 Southampton Road, Ringwood, BH24 1HY
Editor’s Note:
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The British Liver Trust is Britain’s only national liver disease charity for adults. We work to improve the lives of people suffering from liver disease with key roles in education, support and research.
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There was a 41% increase in the number of deaths from alcoholic liver disease between 1999 to 2005, according to the consultation document. The Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit reported in 2004 that alcohol misuse accounts for more than 22,000 premature In England. 39,180 people are admitted to hospital with alcoholic liver disease each year – that equates to 107 people a day and 4 people every hour. In 2005 4,160 people died in England and Wales from alcoholic liver disease, an increase of 37% since 1999 (statistics drawn from the NHS Information Centre’s 2007 alcohol statistics). It is estimated that 70% of admissions to A&E are alcohol related. Alcohol also contributes to scores of serious illnesses, including breast cancer and pancreatitis.
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The Trust is working urgently to encourage prevention and investment in treatment and care for people with liver disease. Much of the increasing incidence of liver disease stems from lifestyle trends – relating to alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis. However, liver disease has many other causes including genetics, abnormalities in the immune system and even the medicines we take. The Trust is working to raise awareness about the liver and combat the stigma associated with liver disease.
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The Trust provides a comprehensive website www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, free medical helpline – 0800 652 7330, and distributes a wide range of information leaflets to individuals and healthcare professionals. In addition, the Trust is a contact point for support groups nationwide, as well as co-ordinating funding and providing support for research. |