Alcohol Awareness Week

I am really pleased that progress is being made on addressing alcohol harms, which I know have a significant impact on individuals and their families within our community.

To ensure that anyone with an alcohol problem can access the help and support they need, our Government has rightly provided local authorities with £3.4 billion in ringfenced funding over the next three years for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery. This is the first multi-year settlement in over a decade, giving local authorities the certainty to plan and invest for the future, and commission prevention and treatment services.

I welcome our Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England and its proposed shift towards preventative care to address alcohol-related harms. This includes a new legal requirement for alcohol labels to display health warnings and a commitment to grow the low and no-alcohol market. Shortly after the plan’s publication, I was pleased to see the first ever clinical guidelines on alcohol-related harm published in the UK, designed to support better outcomes for people experiencing harmful drinking.

Our Government’s Men’s Health Strategy highlights how men are much more likely to have drug and alcohol problems and are more likely to die as a result of these issues. I support the strategy’s commitment to improving the join-up between drug and alcohol treatment services and to fund new research to improve healthcare and wider social outcomes for people with alcohol and drug addiction issues.

Although evidence is still emerging, I share concerns that rapid online alcohol delivery may be contributing to increased alcohol harm by expanding the availability and ease of access to alcohol. I am aware that my ministerial colleagues are looking at how current licensing rules apply to home alcohol delivery services and speaking to experts and stakeholders to ensure these are effective.

Please rest assured that I remain committed to ensuring that anyone with an alcohol problem can access the help and support they need.