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Drinkaware's response to Conservative public health paper

15 Jan 2010

In response to the announcement that a Conservative government will put the prevention of public health problems such as alcohol misuse at the heart of its health agenda, Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware, says:

“When it comes to alcohol there is no doubt that we should all be trying to make it easier for people to keep track of how much they’re drinking - labelling can help, but education plays an important role as well.

“Many people either have no idea how much they drink or drastically underestimate it, so exploring solutions to make this easier is a useful step. For example, people are often surprised to discover the calorie content of their favourite tipple so this can be a really valuable way of getting people to reconsider their drinking patterns.

“We regularly see the effects of alcohol misuse on the streets. But, people of all ages drinking at home are putting themselves in harms way, often without even realising it. Regularly exceeding daily guidelines can increase people’s chances of developing liver damage, some cancers and mental health issues.”

Ends

For further information or for spokespeople please contact:
Becky Medhurst
Communications Officer
020 7307 7453 or 078 2797 1740
bmedhurst@drinkaware.co.uk

Notes to Editors

o Drinkaware (www.drinkaware.co.uk) provides consumers with information to make informed decisions about the effects of alcohol on their lives and lifestyles. Our public education programmes, grants, expert information, and resources help create awareness and effect positive change. An independent charity established in 2007, Drinkaware works with the medical profession, the alcohol industry, government and independent members to achieve its goals.
o The recommended daily unit guidelines are: 3-4 units of alcohol per day for men (a pint and a half of lager) and 2-3 units per day (a 175ml glass of wine) for women.

Page last updated by: Root User, 19 Apr 2010.