GOVERNMENT GUILTY OF NOT SEEING BIGGER PICTURE ON ALCOHOL CRISIS - LAMB

9.46.56am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 4th Mar 2008

The British Medical Association and Tesco have both called for measures to tackle the level of harmful drinking. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Heath Secretary, Norman Lamb said:

"The Government is guilty of failing to see the bigger picture on the growing alcohol crisis. We cannot ignore the growing evidence that cheap alcohol leads to more binge drinking.

"Responsibility to tackle this crisis lies across the board. Government, retailers and individuals all have a part to play. Supermarkets need to stop irresponsible price deals, while the Government should look at innovative ideas such as linking tax to the strength of alcoholic drinks.

"The resources invested in services available to help alcoholics shamefully is far behind those for drug addicts. As well as causing chaos in A&Es on Friday nights and fuelling anti-social behaviour, excessive drinking results in serious long-term health problems.

"Problem drinking often starts at a young age and more of our children are being hospitalised for alcohol abuse, so it essential we prioritise making it harder for underage teenagers to get hold of alcohol."