Alcohol Concern responds to the recommendation by the Social Justice Policy Group that taxes on alcohol should be raised to help fund alcohol treatment services

For Immediate Release

00:01 hrs Monday 09 July 2007


Alcohol Concern responds to the recommendation by the Social Justice Policy Group that taxes on alcohol should be raised to help fund alcohol treatment services


Srabani Sen, Chief Executive, said:

We welcome this proposal by Iain Duncan Smiths team and urge the Conservative partys leadership to adopt it. Alcohol-related harm continues to place a heavy burden on our society and our economy. Raising prices through taxation would particularly impact on the amount of alcohol that vulnerable groups, including young people are able to buy. Indeed, a study by the Academy of Medical Sciences concluded that a 10% hike in the price of alcoholic beverages could reduce alcohol-related mortality figures by up to 37%.

Moreover, we are pleased to see recognition of the fact that alcohol services operate in an environment of chronic funding shortages. Channelling a proportion of the revenue Government collects from alcohol taxes into a programme of coherent and sustainable treatment services is a neat solution to boosting efforts to minimise the damage done to peoples lives through alcohol misuse.

ENDS

For more information please contact Frank Soodeen at the Alcohol Concern press office on 0207 395 4003.

Notes to editors

Alcohol Concern is the national agency working to reduce alcohol-related harm in society. We work to reduce the incidence and costs of alcohol-related harm and to increase the range and quality of alcohol services available to problem drinkers and their families.

In March of this year Alcohol Concern prepared a substantial submission at the invitation of the Social Justice Policy Group. A copy of Towards a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm is available on our website at: http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/servlets/doc/1176

Date: 09 July 2007