The UK government’s ten-year plan for the NHS today angered experts having omitting the main evidence-based preventive policies to tackle alcohol harm.
In its election-winning manifesto last year Labour pledged to focus on ways to prevent the major causes of ill-health.
Instead the plan opted to back new standards for alcohol labelling and growth of the no-lo market, with little evidence either policy is likely to have a significant impact on on the UK’s record levels of alcohol harm.
The leadup to the plan’s launch saw a fractious public debate about its contents with alcohol interests through leaks and headlines. This raises questions as to how proposals have come to be made which to do not reflect election promises.
“It’s frankly embarrassing to launch a ‘prevention’ plan that ignores the most effective ways to prevent alcohol harm,” said the Institute of Alcohol Studies’s Jem Roberts referring to price, availabilty and marketing controls.
“This is not just a missed opportunity–it is a dereliction of duty,” said Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, adding there is little evidence no-los cut alcohol consumption. But he welcomed steps towards better labelling.
The plan was “hugely disappointing”, according to Joe Marley of Alcohol Change UK, while also welcoming its commitment to mandatory health warnings and nutritional information on alcohol product labels.
“In spite of lots of talk about moving towards prevention rather than treatment, there is basically no meaningful alcohol prevention policy here,” said alcohol researcher Colin Angus.
On labelling the government says it will “introduce a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages.” It says warnings have “proven effective” in South Korea.
The 168-page report also says that it will “support innovative community level innovations”, including peer-led suport groups and coaching. ■