Britain’s Drink Problem, BBC’s Panoram... - British Liver Trust

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Britain’s Drink Problem, BBC’s Panorama program.

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I know that this program wasn't a direct liver related subject but the BBC’s Panorama program did inspire a healthy debate. For those who are not interested in alcohol-related liver disease. Please ignore this post.

An article that has been published in the Lancet a few days ago makes for some upsetting reading. I apologise for the length of this article.

Britain’s Drink Problem, the episode of BBC’s Panorama that aired on June 10, 2019, highlighted the UK Government’s continuing failure to take effective action to address the worrying rates of alcohol harm in the country. As the Lancet Standing Commission on Liver Disease in the UK has documented, the level of deaths and illness from alcohol are concerning; there were 1·1 million hospital admissions related to alcohol in England during 2016–17 and 7697 alcohol specific deaths in the UK in 2017. Effective measures to reduce alcohol-related harms include regulation of price through minimum unit pricing, increasing alcohol duty, and regulation of all alcohol marketing.

Yet Matt Hancock, the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said that he was “dead against minimum unit pricing”. Since 2012, UK alcohol duties have been reduced in real terms and the UK Government has failed to develop a coherent alcohol strategy. At the same time, alcohol treatment services, largely devolved to cash-strapped local authorities, are under increasing pressure.

The UK Government has abdicated responsibility, relying on voluntary schemes based on industry goodwill rather than evidence-based policies. The bizarre position on alcohol labelling in the UK, highlighted by Panorama, reveals the flaws of this voluntary approach: there is more nutritional information (including calories) on a typical container of milk than on a bottle of wine. Furthermore, having tasked the Chief Medical Officers to revise the low-risk drinking guidelines on the basis of best available and most up-to-date evidence, the UK Government has not required the alcohol industry to display this information on their products. As a result, most alcohol labels do not show the updated 2016 drinking guidelines.

The alcohol industry cannot be relied on to promote public health—it goes too strongly against its commercial interests. With 68% of alcohol sales revenue in England in 2013–14 coming from drinking above low-risk drinking guideline levels, the industry is financially dependent on heavy and harmful drinkers. The alcohol industry has aggressively resisted the most effective policies to reduce harm—for example, through fierce lobbying of the UK Government into a U-turn on minimum unit pricing in 2012 and using legal challenges to delay the introduction of minimum unit pricing in Scotland by 6 years. Yet industry groups continue to be seen as a partner, rather than a threat.

In 2018, in a widely criticised move, Public Health England collaborated with the alcohol industry-funded Drinkaware organisation on a public information campaign.

With governments in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland supporting minimum unit pricing, England risks being left behind. It is the Scottish Government that is pressing Westminster politicians to restrict alcohol advertising and to ensure that the drinking guidelines are on every bottle

Where to go now? The obvious channels for progress are the UK Government’s forthcoming alcohol strategy and its green paper on prevention. However, all the signs are that the direction of government policy is unlikely to change, despite pressure from expert clinicians and public health specialists through organisations such as the Alcohol Heath Alliance and the Lancet Standing Commission on Liver Disease in the UK.

To make real progress, we need to help our politicians see that there is an opportunity rather than a threat. The UK has been an international leader in bringing down smoking rates and has been at the forefront of important symbolic policies like plain tobacco packaging. This progress was not achieved overnight, and it took about 40 years for expert medical advice to ban smoking in public places to be implemented. The breakthrough came when the UK Government acknowledged that tobacco regulation could not be left to voluntary agreements and the free market. Heath gains can be achieved only by governments regulating the alcohol market through evidence-based policies.

Politicians should be reassured that the electorate understands the need for regulation. There is strong support among the British public for minimum unit pricing and for mandatory health warnings, unit content, and nutritional information on alcohol labels. The UK Government’s alcohol policies are not fit for purpose. The Panorama programme exposed the perversity and failures of a system that trusts the alcohol industry to keep its own house in order. As politicians scramble for position in the UK, let’s hope they were watching and absorbed the message.

From my own personal view point, I have spoken with own local MP about this twice, and have pointed out the high mortality rate within her constituency of liver disease from alcohol. 26.1% of people over the age of 16 are at risk of liver disease. She refuses to be drawn into this and says that there is a conflict of interest as It would appear she receives funds from CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).

Make's you think doesn't it???

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22 Replies
TT-2018 profile image
TT-2018

Richard,

Thanks for the post, it is definitely time to let people make informed choices based on known facts about causes of Liver disease. I personally believe that this should include clearer health warnings on alcohol products.

Mark.

Willh0 profile image
Willh0

I watched it and it’s the same with most self governing agency’s. I was interested about the min pricing part of it too. I didn’t think it would work but seems to have. It was also nice to see my favourite liver consultant and the person that saved my life, the amazing dr Euan Forrest. I’ve not seen him in a bit as I’ve been treated at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but nice to see that he’s well.

in reply toWillh0

The Scotland min pricing was a missed opportunity in my opinion. Had this been made a tax, by the Scotish government. The money raised could have been plough back in to supporting local services like detox and alcohol support groups. The idea being that the cause helps to pay for the effect, but instead all extra moneys are going to the retailer, and ultimately back the the brewers.

I wrote to the Welsh minister for health about a year ago and asked what Wales expected to do with this extra revenue, and if it was going to introduce it as a tax. I had a letter back saying that this decision hadn't been made as yet. The Welsh min pricing is due to be introduced this summer. Will just have to wait and see.

Kate50 profile image
Kate50 in reply toWillh0

He’s my fav too 😁

Willh0 profile image
Willh0 in reply toKate50

The thing I noticed in the one the other week was that all the liver consultants down south were Sirs!!!! He’s an amazing doctor and I think that he deserves to be recognised for the amazing work that he does. I think we should start a petition to get him a knighthood. If Murray can get one for hitting a wee ball about, then surely he must be a shoe in for one.

Kate50 profile image
Kate50 in reply toWillh0

You would think so he is brilliant, I get shared care now between Edinburgh and Glasgow so back seeing dr Forrest so I’m much happier with that, how are you now, keeping well I hope 🙂

Willh0 profile image
Willh0 in reply toKate50

I’m ok, I suppose. That’s me up to monthly checks now from fortnightly so it’s going in the right direction. Just need the rest of me to try and get better now.

I’ve not really spoke to him in about 6 months, and the whole Walton building team. I keep on meaning to stick my head in to say hello but I want to be back as close to 100% as I can be before I do. It was strange seeing my old bed when they were showing the ward stuff. Not only did he save my life but after that the way he spoke to me made me stop drinking. Before I had the TP and you had to sign the no drinking thing I was saying that I didn’t need to sign it as I had made him a promise and to me that was more important than signing anything. I’ll need to make an effort and get up to ward 9 over the next few days with my autograph book!!!

davianne profile image
davianne

Great post, Richard, Self regulation never works, so why governments continue to promote this method of control defeats me. Maybe they are worried about a backlash in elections. The self preservation of your local MP with a conflict of interests issue is typical of the breed, career and income before people and Country.

David

I know that the brewing industry pay vast sums by way if contributions to the various political parties. Back on the 1st Jun 2014 there was a story in the Daily Express, the headlines read, "Conservative party gains £200,000 in donations from opponents to pub reforms".

The political parties don't want to risk upsetting the industry as they rely on those donations.

R1100S1 profile image
R1100S1

Good post

I am involved in running a local sports club we have a bar and encourage responsible drinking with reasonably priced alcohol low and free alternatives.

We have several supermarkets and other retail outlets that retail alcoholic drinks at prices lower than we can purchase wholesale (often same supplier) The booze is a loss leader to attract customers into stores, This I truly believe encourages irresponsible drinking especially open to underage drinkers.

A publican has to control his customers- a check out operator has no control of the product.

Rant over and I recognise a bias our Steward is a non drinker and so are many of our members.

in reply toR1100S1

I totally agree with you. I believe retailers should have a responsibility towards their customers. It should be care before profit. But sadly it's a case of stack it high and sell it cheap.

Bootandall profile image
Bootandall

Hi,

I got no dog in this hunt, but seriously don't see how raising the price of booze would be an effective deterrent to all drinking. Maybe promoting R1100S1's alternative social clubs that encourage responsible drinking, and more public service announcements about the dangers of drunk driving, would be more effective long-term, as changing attitudes towards unhealthy drinking habits and irresponsible behavior catches on.

Red50 profile image
Red50

Great post Richard, I totally agree with the health warnings on alcohol and all the other points made. 👍

poppy555 profile image
poppy555

Thank you for your post, Richard. I will be in the minority as I don't agree with the minimum pricing as such, but do agree with you that a tax with money put back to help this situation would have been much more useful.

I love that most alcohol now has, not only the content, but the amount of units contained. This is very helpful, but really want to see pubs selling a much wider variety of low and zero alcohol. Even better would be if the industry could produce zero wine that doesn't taste like ****. I completely get that zero is best, but that's not going to work for everyone and, for those with a problem, putting the prices up may only lead to further serious issues.

Just my opinion. Grateful to have this space here and the support of this forum.

in reply topoppy555

It's important to note though. If you are a recovering addict with liver disease, alcohol free alternatives are as dangerous as the real thing due to the large amount of sugar added.

TT-2018 profile image
TT-2018 in reply to

Also remember that if you are on a transplant list with an alcohol related diagnosis, alcohol free alternatives are to be completely avoided.

Mark.

alfredthegreat profile image
alfredthegreat in reply to

Hi Laura, not all alco free drinks are loaded with sugar. There are two brands of alco free lager that I drink that only contain I gram of sugar per bottle. both are only 40 cals a bottle/can. Regards Alf

in reply toalfredthegreat

Good news 😀

alfredthegreat profile image
alfredthegreat in reply to

Think they are thinking more healthy nowadays in all areas :-)

in reply toalfredthegreat

So they should ... Thats also good news ! 😀

Red50 profile image
Red50

Hi Richard, wonder if you can help me , sorry I hope you’re feeling good today.I am desperate I feel soo down , groggy and lonely, also had pain under the breasts, I just feel like ending it all, I can’t bear this hopixlessnss I feel like running away please help 🙏😋😋

Have sent you a private message.

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