Alcohol Health Alliance UK welcomes alcoHELP

30 October 2013

An Essex alcohol education charity has joined a prestigious group of organisations whose mission is to reduce the damage caused to health by alcohol misuse.

alcoHELP have joined the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA UK), a select group of organisations including medical bodies, charities and alcohol health campaigners, that work together to highlight the health risks of alcohol.

Terry Martin, trustee of alcoHELP, said: “The AHA is one of the first lines of government consultants and lobbyists, and being part of this group will give us the opportunity to help influence policy at the highest level.”
“alcoHELP is the only member of the AHA that has direct contact with schoolchildren, and we look forward to presenting the findings of our work to the Alliance with the aim of helping to make an impact on government policy.”
alcoHELP was formed in 2004 with the aim of informing young people about the harm alcohol causes as a drug, and since then more than 70,000 children and young people have taken part in the charity’s workshops and events.

The charity works in partnership with schools, police, councils and youth groups to give children and young people the facts about alcohol, the consequences of its effects and the dangers of alcohol abuse.

This ethos fits with that of the AHA, which brings together organisations with the common mission of reducing the damage caused to health by alcohol misuse. It is made up of some 30 members including the Medical Royal Colleges.

The Alliance also proposes evidence based-solutions to reduce the harm from alcohol including the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing, a reduction in the drink- driving limit and restrictions around the sales locations and promotion of alcohol to young people.

A recent study by The Centre for Social Justice highlights the scale of the problems of alcohol addiction in the UK with one in four adults now regularly drinking to hazardous levels. By educating and informing school children about the dangers and consequences of alcohol, alcoHELP aims to prevent alcohol misuse before the problem starts.

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, AHA Chair, said: “I am delighted to welcome alcoHELP as a valued member of the Alliance which will bring a new perspective through its important work.”