Alcohol: Impact on Accident and Emergency Services Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department of Health and Social Care
Lord Singh of Wimbledon
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Alcohol: Impact on Accident and Emergency Services
Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts(9 years, 3 months ago)
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Earl Howe
My Lords, again, there has been a great deal of progress in alcohol labelling. Independent research published in November showed that just under 80% of bottles and cans of alcohol on shelves now have the correct health labelling: a clear unit content, the CMO’s lower-risk drinking guidelines and a warning about drinking when pregnant. That fulfils an industry-wide responsibility deal pledge.
Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the drinks industry should bear the cost of treating people with alcohol-related sickness and illness who end up in A&E that is proportionate to their number? For example, it is 80% in some hospitals on a Saturday evening.
Earl Howe
My Lords, as I said earlier, there is actually no evidence that the A&E pressures we are now seeing are attributable to trends in alcohol-related attendances, and we have a mechanism through duties on alcohol to compensate society for the harms that alcohol causes.