El problema del alcohol en el Reino Unido y lo que hace (y no hace) el gobierno al respecto Britain’s alcohol problem and what the UK government is (and is not) doing about it

Autores/as

  • Nick Heather Emeritus Professor of Alcohol & Other Drug Studies, Division of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Enviar correspondencia a: Nick Heather PhD, Division of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK. Phone: (0)191 227 4521; Fax: (0) 191 227 3190;

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.336

Palabras clave:

problemas relacionados con el alcohol, políticas del gobierno, Gran Bretaña, leyes que regulan el consumo de bebidas alcohólicas, grandes oleadas de consumo de alcohol alcohol-related problems, government policy, United Kingdom, licensing laws, long waves of alcohol consumption

Resumen

El Reino Unido experimenta en la actualidad un serio problema con el alcohol, como demuestra el acusado incremento de los porcentajes de mortalidad por cirrosis hepática y la extensión de las enfermedades y los problemas relacionados con el alcohol entre la gente joven. El gobierno inglés tuvo dos grandes iniciativas en 2004 —cambios radicales en la legislación que regula la venta de bebidas alcohólicas y una Estrategia para la reducción de los daños del alcohol en Inglaterra—, que se describen y critican. Según creen la mayoría de los expertos británicos en el campo del alcohol y un significativo segmento de la opinión pública, estas medidas no conducirán a una reducción de los perjuicios relacionados con el alcohol. El gobierno de Gran Bretaña se preocupa más por apoyar la bonanza de la industria del alcohol que por introducir medidas efectivas para limitar los daños causados por sus productos. Sin embargo, se plantea en la conclusión que las reacciones a otra «gran oleada» de consumo de alcohol y problemas con el mismo tal vez obligarán al gobierno a revisar sus políticas sobre el alcohol.
Britain is currently experiencing a serious alcohol problem, as shown particularly by a steep increase in rates of liver cirrhosis mortality and by widespread alcohol-related disorder and harm among young people. The UK government introduced two major initiatives in 2004 - radical changes to the licensing laws regulating the sale of alcoholic beverages and an Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England – and these are described and criticised. In the opinion of most UK experts in the alcohol field and in a significant body of public opinion, neither of these developments is likely to lead to a reduction of alcohol-related harm. The UK government appears more concerned to support the welfare of the alcohol industry than to introduce effective measures to limit the damage caused by its products. However, it is speculated in conclusion that reactions to another “long wave” of alcohol consumption and problems may force the government to revise its alcohol policies.

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Publicado

2006-09-01

Número

Vol. 18 Núm. 3 (2006)

Sección

Editorial