Alcohol Awareness Week in England & Wales started today and will run until November 20th.  The emphasis this year is on the  ”Charter for a World Free of Alcohol Harm” in which Alcohol Concern looks to politicians and policy-makers to improve the lives of those affected by alcohol.

Regularly drinking above recommended the daily limits risks damaging your health.  Men should not drink more than 3-4 alcohol units a day, women should not drink more than 2-3 units.

Alcohol Concern has advised that a combination of highly caffeinated drinks and alcohol is potentially lethal.  As the national agency on alcohol misuse it warns that by mixing the two drinks people are not as aware of the amount they have consumed.  Also because both caffeine and alcohol are diuretics drinkers become dehydrated therefore potentially drink more.  This can lead to vomiting, nausea, and other health problems in the long term.

In their latest briefing “Mixed messages” the charity highlights the risks involved in this cocktail of drinks.  Speaking on behalf of the charity Andrew Misell said “Sales of energy drinks have shot up in the UK in recent years, particularly among young people, but there is a general lack of guidance about the dangers of mixing high-caffeine drinks with alcohol.”  Mr Misell further added “A study in the USA found that students drinking alcohol mixed with energy drinks were four times more likely to intend to drive compared with drinkers who had consumed alcohol without energy drinks.”

A study published by Alcohol Concern, the national agency on alcohol misuse, has made a direct link between the amount of off-licenses in a area to the amount of underage drinkers.  The research is based on figures relating to 2006-2009 in England and does not include London.

The study found that on average for every two off-licenses per 100,000 population, one under-18 year-old was admitted to hospital for drink related problems. In recent years the amount of off-license sales have increased as more people are drinking at home therefore the tendency is to consume more.

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, commented on the report by saying  ”This research further underlines the need for a comprehensive alcohol strategy from the government, which tackles the affordability, promotion and the availability of alcohol.”

The Department of Health is due to publish a new alcohol strategy later this year

Leading alcohol misuse charity Alcohol Concern has commented on the white paper published by the Government titled “Healthy lives, healthy people“. The paper, published in November 2010 sets out the overall plan by the Government to create a “wellness” service in England and Wales.

Based on the previous paper called ‘Making Alcohol a Health Priority’  Alcohol Concern have this week outlined a number of recommendations to the Government.  These include ”doubling of investment in alcohol services, an alcohol treatment strategy to drive access levels of at least 15% for people seeking alcohol treatment.”  Further to that they are also looking for the Government to “ensure that alcohol becomes a public health priority in recognition of the extensive harm it causes across society.”

Leading health campaign charity Alcohol Concern is calling for restrictions on the placement of alcohol within supermarkets.  The charity visited branches of all the major supermarkets in Cardiff during one day in December.  Across all the establishments they found alcohol in many sections of the shops including discounted alcohol at shop entrances and beside food aisles. Commenting on the findings Mark Leyshon from the charity said “It’s now common practice to sell wine next to ready-meals for example, pushing the idea that a relaxing meal should be accompanied by an alcoholic drink.”  Alcohol Concern wants the display of alcohol to be restricted to just one aisle.

Speaking in behalf of the retail outlets, Andrew Opie, food director for the British Retail Consortium responded by pointing out that this survey took place in December therefore the results were distorted because of “increased public demand” during the lead up to Christmas.  In addition, Mr Opie also commented that “There’s no evidence to link the way alcohol is sold currently to irresponsible drinking.”  He further added that “Retailers are focused on promoting a responsible attitude to alcohol. It doesn’t help to demonise it.”