Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what preparations he is making to tackle the potential increase in domestic alcohol abuse as a result of reduced social interaction during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government provides advice on the importance of drinking in moderation. This can be found through the One You service and at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/the-risks-of-drinking-too-much

The 2016 UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines also provide the public with the most up to date information to help people make informed decisions about their own drinking.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing local needs and commissioning alcohol prevention, treatment and harm reduction services to meet these needs. It is important that these services are maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidance to support commissioners and providers of services for people who use alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic has been published and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-commissioners-and-providers-of-services-for-people-who-use-drugs-or-alcohol/covid-19-guidance-for-commissioners-and-providers-of-services-for-people-who-use-drugs-or-alcohol

Additionally, a Clinical Speciality guide for the management of people with alcohol dependence during the COVID-19 pandemic was published on 8 April and is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/04/C0157-Specialty-guide_-Alcohol-Dependence-and-coronavirus_8-April.pdf

Guidance to support alcohol-dependent drinkers to reduce their intake in a managed way will be published shortly.