Reducing alcohol intake 'requires long-term measures'

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by Change | 31 Oct 2008

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An expert has pointed out longer-term policies are needed to bring excessive drinking and alcohol abuse under control.

Reducing alcohol abuse among the British public requires "much more in terms of time" than simply bringing in small initiatives, according to an expert from Alcohol Concern.

The agency was responding to changes proposed by a recent consultation by the National Weights and Measures Laboratory centred on food packaging, which are said to offer the public a better understanding of the size of wine glasses and how much they are consuming.

It is hoped this will allow the public to make value judgements based on the information, with a view of reducing intake and ultimately improving health.

A spokesperson from Alcohol Concern said while the organisation welcomed the introduction of these measures, it did not believe they will have "an immediate effect" on people's drinking.

The representative pointed out: "With alcohol continuing to get cheaper people don't all of a sudden have less to spend on booze they in fact have more so people will just buy more drink."

According to a survey from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, 72 per cent of wine drinkers would purchase products on the basis of price as opposed to the grape variety.

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