The Human Cost Of Alcohol - Doctors Speak Out, BMA Scotland

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 02 Apr 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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Doctors reveal the stark reality of Scotland's alcohol misuse problem in a new report published by BMA Scotland today (Thursday 2 April 2009).

In The Human Cost of Alcohol Misuse, doctors working in the NHS speak out about the serious health consequences of alcohol misuse on their patients.

- In the last year 42, 430 patients were discharged from Scotland's hospitals for alcohol related conditions.

- There has been a 400% increase in the number of people with alcoholic liver disease since 1996.

- In 2006, an estimated 111,200 GP consultations in Scotland were for alcohol misuse.

- Alcohol kills six people in Scotland every day.

Dr Peter Terry, Chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said:

"Alcohol can be an enjoyable part of social and cultural life in Scotland, but the growing 'booze culture' emerging in our towns and cities is creating serious health problems for the future. Many people regularly drink more than the recommended levels of alcohol; ignoring the negative health consequences of this.

"The health effects of alcohol misuse are serious and severe and are related to more than 60 medical conditions. The lives of far too many Scots are being compromised and cut short by our relationship with alcohol."

Dr Andrew Thomson, deputy chairman of the BMA's UK Board of Science, said:

"We must call time on Scotland's alcohol problem. Reversing the trend of alcohol misuse will require strong political leadership and bold action. The debate about tackling alcohol misuse should not centre on the profits of supermarkets or drinks producers, but it should focus instead on how we can implement policies that will change drinking behaviours for the good of the nation's health.

"No single action alone will change drinking behaviour in Scotland. Today's report outlines a wide ranging, evidence based strategy that incorporates education and awareness into policies to reduce access and availability. For example, better labelling can help people to understand how much they are drinking and therefore make informed decisions about their alcohol consumption.

There is strong and consistent evidence that an increase in price will reduce consumption and BMA Scotland believes that this should form a central plank of any strategy to deal with alcohol misuse.

Dr Thomson added:

"The introduction of minimum pricing is essential to stop retailers from selling alcohol at ridiculous prices, sometimes even cheaper than bottled water. Supermarkets should be leading the way in promoting the public health message. It is unfortunate that their only interest is to make money through irresponsible promotions that encourage heavy drinking."

Some of the quotes included in the report read:

"There is a tragedy unfolding with rising levels of alcohol-related deaths, which could be addressed through the application of simple effective measures."

"As a GP I see many families torn apart by alcohol problems…. Alcohol often plays a major part in domestic violence and the breakdown of relationships."

"Every single working day I see many patients suffering ill effects because of alcohol. Many are disbelieving when I point out the effect of alcohol on their condition - "everyone I know drinks like I do, many drink more", they say. Some seem to think it is a national duty to drink to excess - it is part of their Scots identity."

"We continue to see children as young as 13 or 14 in our community hospital unconscious as a consequence of alcohol which has become the obligatory social lubricant for almost every event. The cost of all of this on the individuals concerned and on friends and families that surround them are incalculable."

"A 15 year old boy fell unconscious at a party, he spent the next 24 hours in intensive care with severe acute alcohol poisoning requiring ventilation."

"It is not infrequent to find patients with fatty liver in their 30s and 40s, and when asked about previous alcohol consumption often describe heavy or binge drinking when a student in their 20s."

Recommendations in the report include:

- The introduction of minimum pricing based on alcohol content
- Licensing Boards should consider the public health consequences when considering applications for new licenses.
- All licensees should be encouraged to sign up to the Challenge 21 initiative.
- Promotional activities in on and off licensed premises should be strictly regulated
- Legislation for compulsory labelling of alcohol products should be introduced.
- The detection and management of alcohol misuse should be an adequately funded and resourced component of primary and secondary care.

Source
BMA Scotland Public Affairs Office
14 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1LL