Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce the number of cancer diagnoses related to alcohol.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The 2012 Government’s Alcohol Strategy, aims to cut the number of people drinking at harmful levels.
Since April 2013, a dedicated alcohol risk assessment has been included as part of our free NHS Health Checks for 40 to 74 year olds so people can get advice and information to help them cut down if they need to.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, is overseeing a United Kingdom-wide review of all alcohol guidelines which will include reviewing any new evidence on alcohol and potential harms, so that people can make informed choices about their drinking at all stages of their lives.
Warnings about the potential links between alcohol and a range of medical conditions including different types of cancer are included on the NHS Choices website at: www.nhs.uk
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they propose to publish any updated guidelines on safe drinking limits, following a review by the Chief Medical Officer.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
The Guidelines Development Group, a group of independent experts, has been tasked with developing lower-risk drinking guidelines for the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers to consider. The Group is currently researching and developing a proposal on the guidelines, including a UK-wide approach for guidance on alcohol and pregnancy. We are expecting to consult on these later in the year.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish the Chief Medical Officer's review of safe drinking levels and their response to that review.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The review is currently underway and we expect to be able to consult on any new guidelines by summer 2015.