Calling for effective action
Some of the most profound improvements in public health have come from action at national level… from seatbelts to the smokefree law in 2007.
Tobacco and alcohol are issues affecting every community and regions like the North East are hit the hardest. There is high public awareness of the problems they cause and strong support for change.
Advocacy is a core part of our work and we amplify the voices of people in our region about the harm and the need for action.
Reducing alcohol harm- a blueprint for national action
Balance has developed ‘Reducing alcohol harm- a blueprint for national action’ which sets out the scale of alcohol-related harms, alongside the latest evidence base and our vision for change in the future. This document has been initially endorsed by a number of key partners in the region, including:
- The Directors of Public Health for our seven commissioning local authorities: Amanda Healy – County Durham, Alice Wiseman – Gateshead & Newcastle, Wendy Burke – North Tyneside, Gill O’Neill – Northumberland, Tom Hall – South Tyneside, and Gerry Taylor – Sunderland
- Kim McGuinness (Mayor of the North East Combined Authority)
- Dr Neil O’Brien (Chief Medical Officer of the NHS Integrated Care Board for the North East and North Cumbria) and Sam Allen (Chief Executive of the NHS Integrated Care Board for the North East and North Cumbria)
- Joy Allen (Durham Police and Crime Commissioner)
- Susan Dungworth (Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner)
Alcohol is a driver of major harms in the region and in spite of strong partnership working in the North East, the need for national action has never been greater. Support for evidence-based interventions is extremely high in the North East and beyond – regardless of political affiliation. Taking action on alcohol harms must be a cornerstone of building a safer, stronger, healthier and more economically productive country and as part of a wider drive to combat unhealthy commodities.
Fresh and Balance are core members of the Smokefree Action Coalition (SFAC) and the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) – two coalitions of leading medical organisations and health charities calling for action nationally.
These include Association of Directors of Public Health, Cancer Research UK, Faculty of Public Health and Royal College of Physicians.
A smokefree future
It is unacceptable that at least 2 in every 3 long term smokers will die from smoking. That 8 million people have died from smoking in the UK since the 1970s. And that for each person who dies, there are 30 more suffering from a smoking-caused illness.
It is wrong that tobacco related harm is costing our region at least £2.35bn billion each year due to the impact on health care, social care, fires and our businesses.
Our public agree with us. They don’t want this to continue happening to their families or communities. 78% of North East adults support making smoking history and 73% support raising the age of tobacco.
The North East has a Declaration for a Smokefree Future which was launched at a Leadership for a Smokefree Future conference on 27th September 2023.
Creating a smokefree generation - Ailsa Rutter OBE Director of Fresh and Balance statement at the Tobacco and Vapes Bill committee.
Former smoker and cancer survivor Sue Mountain campaigning to create a smokefree future
Mum of three Sue Mountain started smoking aged 11. She underwent laser treatment aged 48 after a biopsy revealed she had laryngeal cancer in 2012. She is campaigning for a smokefree future free of the death and disease of tobacco.
Alcohol causes cancer. But only one in three people in the North East are even aware. What do the public think?
Alcohol causes cancer. But only one in three people in the North East are even aware. We need more information so people can make informed choices. We need alcohol taken more seriously with an urgent need for an independent review of alcohol harms and the evidence base for action to address these with a focus on prevention.
We are core members of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA) – promoting policies for reducing the harm caused by alcohol as set out in Health First: An evidence-based alcohol strategy for the UK.
Alcohol - take action
We campaign for an end to alcohol harm, to protect people’s health and to reduce crime; but we cannot do this without your support. Take part in Alcohol Health Alliance campaigns to raise awareness, tackle alcohol harm and achieve real change for those who need it.
