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Panorama – The Hidden Harm of Alcohol

The Panorama Programme on BBC 1 on 20/02/2012 fronted by Alastair Campbell showed the hidden harm of Alcohol that is having devastating consequences up and down the UK. Britain’s relationship with alcohol is deeply damaging to society ADS has been calling for greater awareness for people that are drinking too much and causing lasting damage to their health.  

 The Office for National Statistics reports that the professional classes are now the most frequent drinkers in Britain, with 41% of the drinking above recommended limits at least once a week. This can range from a couple of drinks after work a few days of the week to a bottle of wine in the evening once at home. It seems to be accepted by society that alcohol on this scale is part of British Culture. The simple fact is that it shouldn’t be.

 Above four bottles of wine a week and the risk of liver disease curves up exponentially, if you drink more than this a person has a very substantial risk of developing liver disease. Problem drinking is causing a hundred British people to die every week from liver disease and causes 13,000 new cancer cases each year ranging from mouth, throat and stomach.

 ADS argues, and has been for some time, that unless effective policies to curb excess drinking are implemented a cultural shift in Britain to its attitude to alcohol will never happen and tens of thousands of people will die premature and painful deaths. The reality is that stark.