Addressing Alcohol’s Impact on Health: The Need for Environmental Evaluation

Addiction Economy Thought for Today - More info needed on the creation of the environment which leads to the 'inescapable availability' of alcohol. Number 2 of our 5 Economic Drivers of Addiction.

Here again, the focus of this piece about the costs of alcohol to the NHS in Barnsley from the Barnsley Chronicle focuses attention on the 4000 + 'problem people' 'abusing' alcohol and how NHS and Police can better respond, less on the root problem - evaluating the environment for alcohol in the area, the links to depravation and mental health etc. (Except by Richard Piper from Alcohol Change.).

I recall a similar piece on the influx of hen parties somewhere - with no comment about the council approval of a massive proportion of the town's retail space being bars!

In addition to minimum pricing and alcohol advertising restriction, also interesting to research the retail environment and targeting of specific individuals and groups.

Perhaps this is being done. Interested to know.