Government of the United Kingdom Country Resources Substance Abuse Strategies and Plans United Kingdom 1 March 2012 Policy document

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Fifty years ago, the United Kingdom had one of the lowest drinking levels in Europe, but it is now one of the few European countries whose consumption has increased over that period. The majority of people who drink do so in an entirely responsible way, but too many people still drink alcohol to excess. A combination of irresponsibility, ignorance and poor habits – whether by individuals, parents or businesses – led to almost 1 million alcohol-related violent crimes and 1.2 million alcohol-related hospital admissions in 2010/11 alone.

This strategy signals a radical change in the approach and seeks to turn the tide against irresponsible drinking. It will do this by reducing the availability of cheap alcohol and imposing a minimum unit price, expanding the power of local regulatory agencies, increasing industry responsibility, and improving public understanding of the risks and negative impacts of excessive alcohol use through a new set of guidelines.

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