21 December 2011
61% of UK adults say excessive drinking is a problem in their neighbourhood
A YouGov survey has revealed that 61% of UK adults believe that
excessive drinking is a problem (from minor to major) in their
neighbourhood.
The survey, carried out on behalf of three major British Churches,
asked people to judge the effects of alcohol on the area within
walking distance from their home, or where they use local
facilities.
The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the
United Reformed Church have expressed concerns about the increasing
availability of cheap alcohol and the effect that this might be
having on communities across Britain. They believe that enforcing a
minimum per-unit price could be part of the solution to this
problem, a move that has been backed by health watchdog, the
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).
"We know that it's people in local communities that bear the brunt
of the easy availability of cheap alcohol," said Ruth Pickles,
Vice-President of the Methodist Conference and a former alcohol
misuse counsellor. "It affects their health services, their
streets, their families and friends. As Christians, we want to work
within communities to help find solutions that really work and
protect those most vulnerable."
Although the UK Government shows no sign of enforcing a minimum
per-unit price nationally, the initiative is being considered by a
number of local councils, including Greater Manchester, Lancashire
and Merseyside.
"It's encouraging to see local authorities taking the initiative in
considering this important issue," said the Revd Dr Kirsty Thorpe,
Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church.
"We would like many more councils to take action in response to the
alarming rise in liver damage in younger people. Cheap alcohol is
the real issue here. This problem is costing the NHS around £2.7
billion per year."
"Removing cheap alcohol is a vital first step," added the Revd
Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great
Britain. "The crucial need is to get to grips with the reason for
excessive drinking. For some it is a form of protest against
society, for others it is a personal cry for help. We need to
listen harder and find ways in which we can encourage a sense of
purpose and self-worth which makes excessive drinking
unnecessary."
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total
sample size was 2132 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 14th
- 16th November 2011. The survey was carried out online. The
figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults
(aged 18+).