Drinkaware response to the government's NHS 10 Year Health Plan

“We welcome the inclusion of alcohol in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England, which rightly focuses on prevention. Our data shows that around one in five drinkers (equivalent to 8.6 million adults) are drinking above the Chief Medical Officers' guidelines of 14 units a week. At the same time, alcohol-specific deaths are at an all-time high.

“Many of these deaths are preventable and it’s important to drive these numbers down, especially as, according to our research, you are more likely to die from an alcohol specific illness if you live in the most deprived areas of the nation.

“That’s why we’re encouraged by the plans commitment to shifting to a preventative, community-led model of care where funding will better support areas with disproportionate economic and health challenges.

"We are equally pleased to see a shift to a digital first approach and an openness to work with innovative organisations. Screening and brief advice on alcohol is a cost-effective intervention that can be delivered outside of a healthcare setting, in the home, pharmacies and workplaces. Our free online Drinking Check is a simple digital prevention tool that allows people to understand whether their drinking is putting their health at serious risk. It is one of the most widely used alcohol screening tools and has already helped around 1.5 million people understand the impact alcohol is having on their health and take the first step to moderating their drinking.

“As the leading alcohol charity in the UK, we look forward to working closely with the Government, industry and wider civil society to help implement this plan and effectively tackle alcohol-related harms across the UK.”