Alcohol: Government strategy does not go far enough

Increased binge drinking by under-25s and related antisocial behaviour form the main backbones of the strategy, which calls for a greater link-up between the drinks industry, police, licensing panels and local authorities to implement a code of good conduct for pubs and clubs, and provide targeted educational information.

The strategy recommends the increased use of exclusion orders to ban troublemakers from clubs and town centres; fixed penalty fines; and better enforcement by police of existing rules on underage drinking. In addition, a national audit of treatment services is proposed, and pilot programmes to discover whether early intervention will help young people. TV advertising will be targeted to avoid glamorising irresponsible behaviour to young people.

Peter Martin, chief executive of drug and alcohol treatment charity Addaction, said he was disappointed that no money was being made available for the treatment of young people with alcohol problems.

"Treatment agencies are going to the wall due to lack of funding and young people have nowhere to access help," he said.

He added: "By trying not to be a nanny state or hurt the drinks industry, the Government is trying to please everyone, but it would be interesting to see what the industry will do voluntarily for young people."

According to Government figures, the UK suffers a loss of 20bn a year in productivity and health service costs through alcohol misuse. Melanie Johnson, junior health minister, said: "We see this document as an important contribution to the public health debate, Choosing Health?, which will lead to the health white paper this year."

www.strategy.gov.uk.