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News & Views
Ridgeway Surgery, North Harrow, UK
Parkview Medical Practice, Carnoustie, UK
E-mail: c.etherington@gp-e84068.nhs.uk
E-mail: ovanhecke@nhs.net
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Too much of a good thing? |
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Alcohol-related discharges in Scotland are said to have hit an all-time high of over 42 000. This, however, represents only a third of the estimated consultations in primary care for alcohol misuse in 2006–07. Industry sales data show that enough alcohol was sold in Scotland in each of the last 3 years to enable every man and woman over 16 to exceed the sensible male weekly guideline each and every week (The Scottish Government, 2009). Alcohol misuse is no longer a marginal problem, with up to 50% of men and up to 30% of women across Scotland exceeding recommended weekly guidelines.
In March 2009, the Scottish government announced a package of measures including establishing a minimum price per unit of alcohol. This together with drink-driving measures and alcohol brief intervention (ABI) for risky drinkers remain the most effective policies.
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