UK Alcohol Clampdown?

OECD calls for tougher measures to address growing concerns about high rates of alcohol consumption in the UK.

16:48 14 May 2015

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that the average alcohol consumption of individual in 1990s was under 10 litres. This number has by 75per cent in 2010. For this reason, OECD has called for tougher measures to tackle high rates of alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom. 

 

One trend highlighted by the report is the growing drinking problem among educated women. The study revealed that nearly one in five of women who belong in this group drink hazardouse levels when compared with one in 10 among the least educated group. 

 

OECD economist Mark Pearson said: "In terms of lost productivity, health spending, and accidents and ill health, drinking costs a lot of money so I think it does clearly make sense to us that this is the sort of area that any country that cares about its economic performance has to take seriously."

 

Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance agreed. "For too long, drinking has been seen as a personal choice rather than a population-wide public health issue," he added.

 

Meanwhile, a Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Drinking too much too often can be devastating for health.

 

"We know we need to do more to prevent people getting into dangerous drinking habits."