Alcohol in the news 8.2.07
Britain's leading abortion provider carried out the highest number of abortions in a single month in January. Marie Stopes International (MSI) said Christmas drinking, leading to unprotected sex, could be to blame for the highest figure recorded in its 32-year history. A total of 5,992 abortions were carried out at the charity's nine UK clinics in January - a rise of 13 per cent on the 5,304 figure for January 2005. In total, 61,983 abortions were performed at Marie Stopes clinics in the UK in 2006. Liz Davies, MSI director of UK operations, said: "It's too soon to say whether the figures we have recorded will be reflected across the country in official national statistics to be published later this year. It does seem, however, that we may be seeing the consequences of the festive season, when partying excess and alcohol consumption combine to increase libido and lower inhibition, with the inevitable consequences of unprotected sex resulting in unplanned pregnancies." This is London
Reducing harm from binge-drinking should be done for the UK’s health and not for economic reasons, it has been argued. Speaking at the Promoting Responsible Drinking conference in London, Ben Baumberg of the Institute of Alcohol Studies claimed that the economic burden of alcohol harm has been over-stated. He pointed to figures which suggested that £2bn would be saved if alcohol harm is reduced. But Baumberg argued that this cost would stay with the health service and go towards treating people for other diseases. “The difference reducing alcohol harm could make to the economy is really very small,” he told delegates. “This is not the reason to reduce alcohol harm, the harm itself is the reason to reduce it.” The Publican Hear more from Ben Baumberg in the Alcohol Policy UK podcast episode 8; see Ben's report Alcohol in Europe
Professor Ian Gilmore, the president of the Royal College of Physicians, has called for an increase in tax on alcohol to protect public health. Higher taxes were particularly needed on strong cider, other high strength drinks and booze aimed at young people such as alcopops, he said, adding that VAT on cider with an alcohol content of up to 7.5 per cent was too low. He also warned that the Government's failure to take public health into account when introducing 24-hour drinking would lead to an increase in alcohol-related illness. Telegraph
Police officers in Suffolk will face random drug and alcohol testing within the next few weeks it has emerged.The force has been working to introduce a substance misuse testing programme for the past year and is now in the final stages of agreeing who will administer the scheme. Home Office guidelines indicated that forces nationwide had to have a strategy for substance testing in place by January 1 and testing should begin soon after.
Superintendent John Everett, head of professional standards for Suffolk police, said: “We will be testing probationers (new officers), and those in what are designated as safety critical posts, things like response drivers, firearms officers and search officers. They can be tested for controlled drugs and those in safety critical posts can also be tested for alcohol on a random basis.” Evening Star 24
A major North Sea operator has sparked a storm of protest by introducing the first "zero tolerance" policy on alcohol for offshore workers in British waters. Until now, an industry-wide alcohol curb was imposed - which barred workers from travelling offshore while over the legal limit for drink driving. But employees at Canadian-based Nexen Petroleum UK have been warned they face a ban if they are found to have any trace of non-naturally occurring alcohol in their system during routine checks at the heliport. Scotsman
Contributor: Libby Ranzetta AlcoholPolicy UK February 08, 2007
