Since the early 1980s, alcohol sales and the amount that people drink has steadily increased, until peaking in 2008 and declining slightly since. Some of this decline is due to more adults choosing to be teetotal, as well as fewer under 18’s drinking alcohol. However, drinking behaviour is different for different groups. It’s the people who already tend to drink less that are cutting back, while those who are at high risk of health conditions, because they drink heavily, are drinking more now than they did before.
Reducing harmful drinking is one of seven priority areas that Public Health England is focusing efforts on securing improvement. Alcohol misuse is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health and disability among 15-49-year olds in the UK, and the fifth biggest risk factor across all ages. Alcohol is a causal factor in more than 60 medical conditions, including: mouth, throat, stomach, liver and breast cancers, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, and depression.
The Greater Manchester Drug and alcohol policy vision is to make Greater Manchester a place where everyone can have the best start in life, live well and age well, safe from the harms caused by drugs and alcohol.
Our six priorities for making things better
Drugs and alcohol are everybody’s business and we will work together with our communities and partners around the following key priorities:
- Prevention and early intervention
- Reducing drug and alcohol related harm
- Building recovery in communities
- Reducing drug and alcohol related crime and disorder
- Managing availability and accessibility
- Establishing diverse, vibrant and safe night time economies
The Bolton Picture
Further useful links