ALCOHOL CONCERN'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE STEPS DOWN

ALCOHOL CONCERN PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Alcohol Concern today announced that its Chief Executive, Srabani Sen, is moving on after three years to take on the role of Chief Executive for Contact a Family, a prominent UK-wide charity providing support to the parents of disabled children.

Penny McVeigh, Chairman of Alcohol Concern said:
"It's been a pleasure and a privilege to work with Srabani; in three years she has raised the profile of Alcohol Concern and taken the alcohol debate to the heart of government. We will all miss her. I wish her well in her new role".

During her tenure, Ms Sen became a leading advocate of more responsible sales practices within the drinks industry and played a considerable role in influencing the government's updated National Alcohol Strategy, Safe. Sensible. Social. Her campaigning successes include securing the first ever Public Services Agreement linked specifically to alcohol during the 2008 Comprehensive Spending Review, and in persuading the government to review the effect of industry sales practices on alcohol-related harms.

Srabani Sen said:
"It's been a great privilege to serve the alcohol treatment community and Alcohol Concern, and an absolute pleasure to work with so many talented volunteers and members of staff. We are now making great strides to lift alcohol harm reduction up the agenda and are beginning to hold the drinks industry to account for the impact of their practices. However, there is also no room for complacency and we must keep pressure on government to improve access to alcohol treatment for problem drinkers."

The organisation is in the process of recruiting a successor and a further announcement will be made in due course.

For press enquiries please contact Frank Soodeen at the Alcohol Concern press office on 0207 264 0514 or email franks@alcoholconcern.org.uk.

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.

Date: 15 February 2008