Does nanny know best about drinking?

Friday 04 July 2014

Jersey is considering introducing “nanny state” measures to crack down on cheap discounted booze and tackle the Island’s drinking problem - because Health say that the clear evidence of harm and early death means that they have to take action.

At a British-Irish Council meeting in Dublin on the misuse of drugs and alcohol the Island presented its plans to address the issue of pricing and access to cheaper alcohol and - like other members - is waiting to see whether Scotland wins its case in the European Court to introduce minimum pricing to help the country’s alcohol-related problems.

The Scottish government wants to set a 50p rate per unit of alcohol but the plans are being challenged by the Scotch Whisky Association for breaching European law.

Head of Health Improvement Martin Knight said: “Alcohol is a well-established part of our culture; when used responsibly and in moderation it can bring benefits, but all too often alcohol becomes much more than harmless enjoyment.

“Across the member jurisdictions concern was expressed about over use of alcohol and its link to violence, public disorder and high levels of health problems including those leading to death and at much higher levels than other drugs of abuse.

“Public health officials are often criticised for trying to introduce 'nanny state measures', however in the case of alcohol we are responding to clear evidence of harm and early death as well as the knowledge of increased risk from not just high levels of consumption but sustained moderate consumption above recommended levels.”

Latest figures show Islanders are still drinking more than in most places in the world and around 4,000 people are now hooked on alcohol.

But the head of the charity that helps people battling addiction says it's a political answer to a social issue and he’s not convinced minimum pricing will make a difference until the Island's drinking culture changes.

Jason Wyse from Silkworth Lodge said: "Minimum pricing is not a bad thing and we must as a society do everything that we can in order to try and reduce the amount of alcohol consumed within the island.  As long as minimum pricing is not seen as the answer to tackling the alcohol problem that we have because there is a lot more work that needs to be done in this respect.

"A review of our Education within schools would be a good start, as changes in alcohol consumption will come through generational change, so where better to start than with our youngsters."