Leader: Wider action needed to tackle alcohol crisis

Published on Sunday 6 June 2010 22:12

KEN Barrie does not mince his words in describing the depth and extent of Scotland's alcohol problem. The senior lecturer in alcohol and drug studies at the University of the West of Scotland says Scotland has "drunk itself into a corner" and that only measures to reduce the easy availability of alcohol will help combat the problem.

Dramatic though this warning sounds, there are very few in the police service and the NHS, and particularly those directly dealing with the aftermath of alcohol abuse, who would disagree with this assessment. Consumption of alcohol has risen dramatically as prices have dropped, leading to an increase in problems such as liver disease and violence. He warns that if efforts to reduce the availability of alcohol are dismissed, Scotland's alcohol crisis will continue. He said educational campaigns to encourage more moderate drinking were "almost useless".

However, it is going to take more than minimum pricing legislation on its own. A multi-pronged strategy is needed. Education has a critical role and must be extensive, sustained and hard-hitting and not side-tracked into debates about "safe" levels of alcohol. There needs to be a much tougher regime on alcohol availability. And more effort should be put into rehab and abstinence programmes. Here, there are few better experienced to warn and guide problem drinkers than recovering alcoholics. They can make an enormous contribution.