Balance responds to news that government is reversing alcohol duty freeze
Susan Taylor, Head of Alcohol Policy for Balance, said: “This is a very positive step. Nearly one million people a year are now admitted to hospital as a result of alcohol. Evidence shows that heavy drinking is linked to cheap alcohol and successive duty freezes have led to more people in hospital and more deaths as a result.
“In regions like the North East we suffer the worst harms, the highest rate of alcohol-specific deaths and an even bigger pressure on our NHS and emergency services. Duty freezes also make supermarket alcohol cheaper and more of a threat to pubs.
“We are today launching our latest campaign, Alcohol Causes Cancer, to remind people of the health risks associated with alcohol, and as latest figures suggest nearly one million people in the North East are drinking above the recommended low risk limits, putting their health at greater risk of cancer, heart disease, mental health problems and a variety of other issues.
“Following on from this positive first step in the Chancellor’s statement today, we now urge the government to carry out an independent, evidence-based review of alcohol harms.”