The Health Protection Agency (HPA) together with NHS London has confirmed a positive anthrax case in a heroin user in London and is currently in hospital for treatment.  Such organisations cannot stress enough the importance of taking precautionary measures when taking heroin and have advised to cease consumption if possible.

Chronic liver disease, associated with excessive alcohol consumption, has trebled amongst Scots in the last 15 years.  The latest figures place Scotland as the 2nd-highest country in Europe, after Hungary.  The NHS released yesterday that 1,059 deaths were caused by this disease.

Only 6% of the labels on drinks adhere to the voluntary agreement put together by the Government in 2007.  It was agreed that the following information would be included on labels to include:  unit information, pregnancy advice, message about drinking and accountability, the Drinkaware logo and NHS recommended drinking limits.

Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron, has criticised that the current labelling of the drinks industry is disappointing.  She states, “Whilst there should be no need to bring in legislation when the industry can clearly sort it out themselves, we will not hesitate to act decisively if [the] industry does not deliver.”

Due to be trialled at an unnamed pub, charity Alcohol Concern has praised the Government’s unveiling of the shatterproof pint glass where “glassing “ incidents cost the NHS approximately £2.7 billion per year.  It is common for violent assaults in Britain that drinkers would smash glasses and use them as weapons.  Even so, what about tackling the actual root of Britain’s binge-drinking problem?

Click here for new information provided by the NHS relating to the health effects of alcohol for men and women.  Men could be four times more likely to have high blood pressure and women could be three times more likely to suffer a stroke.