Government alcohol strategy "incredibly weak"

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 15th Mar 2004

Commenting on the launch of the Government's alcohol strategy, which was originally promised in 1998, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Mark Oaten MP said:

"Our towns and city centres have been slipping out of control for 6 years. The Government has got to get its house in order and attack this £20bn problem at its root instead of running scared of the alcohol industry.

"Alcohol abuse is far more widespread than the abuse of illegal drugs, and the effects on society are just as damaging. We need much better enforcement of the existing law against serving alcohol to people who are already drunk and disorderly.

"It is time for pubs and clubs to make a financial contribution to the cost of policing alcohol-fuelled disorder."

Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, said:

"Six years in the making this strategy is not worth the waiting. It's not just weak, it's incredibly weak.

"Binge drinking is not just a law and order issue, it is a major health concern. Over the last decade alcohol consumption has risen increasing health costs today and storing up a health crisis tomorrow.

"Clear labelling with numbers of units should be mandatory. Alcohol problems must be treated as seriously as drug problems."