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Government begins consultation on tackling the problems associated with alcohol misuse (15/10/2002)

A consultation document has been issued today as part of the Government's commitment to tacking the problems associated with alcohol misuse.

The document starts a consultation process which is being carried out jointly by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit and the Department of Health. This is a key stage in the production of a national alcohol harm reduction strategy for England.

The Government is committed to producing a strategy on harm reduction which offers a clear and coherent way forward. The strategy will promote:

• action to help those who suffer the consequences of alcohol misuse;
• action to identify and where possible prevent those problems; and
• action to manage the consequences, for example disorder and anti-social behaviour in our town and city centres.

The consultation document outlines areas for investigation, invites comments on them, and seeks suggestions about other areas that the project should be looking at.

Hazel Blears, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, is Sponsor Minister for the project. She said: 'The large majority of people who drink, do so without causing themselves or others harm. This project focuses on the harm that can be caused by excessive drinking.

'The NHS Plan said that the Department of Health would be implementing a National Alcohol Strategy by 2004, and we are on course to achieve that target.

'This consultation is a key stage in the development of the harm reduction strategy. It is a joint consultation between the Department of Health and the Strategy Unit.

'I hope all those interested in this area will help us to ensure that we have identified the key issues, give us their ideas and solutions for future action, and tell us what current practice they think has worked well - and what could work better.'

The consultation document is available on the Strategy Unit website www.strategy.gov.uk/2002/alcohol/consultationdoc.shtm ; on the Department of Health website (www.doh.gov.uk/alcohol), and by telephoning 08701-555455.

Notes for editors

1. The project was announced on July 19 by Douglas Alexander, Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, in response to a parliamentary question from Mr Kevin Brennan MP. The Unit aims to complete the project by Summer 2003.
2. The project team will be working closely with officials in the Department of Health who have been working on an Alcohol harm reduction strategy, as well as other key stakeholders, including Home Office, Department of Culture Media and Sport, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Government, and representatives of user groups in the voluntary and commercial sectors.
3. The project will undertake an extensive process of consultation with all stakeholders and relevant groups. The project announcement will start this process and the team will use a range of consultation routes to engage with stakeholders.

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