Government has failed to tackle alcohol harms and must act, say MPs

The government is failing to take a “proportionate and serious approach” to tackling alcohol related harms in England, with more than eight in 10 dependent drinkers not receiving treatment, an inquiry by MPs has concluded.In a report1 published on 24 May, the Commons Public Accounts Committee noted an “alarming increase” of 89% in alcohol related deaths over the past 20 years, with particularly sharp rises since 2019.The report highlighted that alcohol is linked to over 100 illnesses; can drive mental disorders, self-harm, and suicide; and is a major cause of preventable death. In 2019-20 it was linked to 42% of all violent crime, up from 40% the previous year.Yet despite these statistics, a “staggering” 82% of the 600 000 dependent drinkers in England are not in treatment, it said. This is despite success rates of around 60% and evidence that, on average, every £1 spent on treatment immediately delivers £3…
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