Low drink prices could increase need for alcohol addiction help

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by Change | 2 Feb 2010

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An alcohol addiction charity has called for the price of alcohol to be increased in supermarkets and off licences.

More teenagers could require alcohol addiction support because of the affordability of drink in supermarkets and off licences.

This is according to drug and alcohol addiction charity Addaction, which expressed concern that many young people were drinking far more than the recommended levels.

Elliot Elam, a spokesman for the organisation, said the primary reason for this is that alcohol is "so cheap and affordable".

"One thing we have been calling for, and these calls have been adhered to more recently, is that the heavily discounted alcohol that you see on sale in some supermarkets and off-licences - there needs to be an end to it," he commented.

Mr Elam went on to say that the consumption of alcohol is directly related to price, something that he believes is "far too low".

He also suggested that young drinkers from poorer backgrounds may be in greater need of alcohol addiction support because their chances of employment are not so high.

Mr Elam's comments follow the publication of new figures from the Office for National Statistics, which showed that some young people are consuming up to 17.7 units of alcohol per week.

They also revealed that young people in London are much less likely to drink large quantities than teenagers living elsewhere.

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