One out of every five adults in England consumes alcohol in quantities surpassing the UK chief medical officers’ recommended limit of 14 units per week.
This risky behaviour significantly elevates their chances of experiencing poor health, reduced quality of life and even premature death.
Beyond the individual consequences, alcohol misuse has wide-ranging societal and economic impacts, including increased crime, harm to families and communities, greater healthcare demands and decreased workplace productivity.
Government’s initiative to tackle alcohol-related harm
To combat alcohol-related harm, the government is focusing on supporting individuals to reduce their alcohol intake.
One approach is promoting the substitution of standard alcoholic beverages with ‘NoLo’ (no or low-alcohol) alternatives.
Research indicates that the key strategies to encourage this substitution involve addressing pricing, availability and clear labelling of such products.
Consultation on labelling recommendations
The government has launched a consultation to explore options for updating recommendations related to the labelling of NoLo alcohol drinks.
The aim is to gather evidence on whether these proposed changes could incentivise the industry to shift the alcohol market towards lower strength options.
This shift would make healthier choices more accessible, acceptable and affordable as substitutes for regular alcoholic drinks.
Understanding the harms of excessive alcohol consumption
Alcohol ranks as the third leading risk factor for death and disability in the UK, following smoking and obesity.
Regular alcohol consumption at higher-than-recommended levels increases the risk of various health problems. It is crucial for individuals and society as a whole to address this issue to ensure better overall health and well-being.
For more detailed information and the full government report, you can visit this link.
