Pub licensing reform

The government's plans to liberalise Britain's drinking laws have come under renewed fire from medical experts.

Professor Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Royal College of Physicians' alcohol committee, has urged ministers to accept that the problem of binge drinking needs more than just a law and order solution.

Stakeholder Response: Royal College of Physicians

Professor Gilmore, chair of the RCP alcohol committee, said : "The current government policy focuses too heavily on the aspects of drinking most closely related to law and order issues at the expense of health.

"This approach falls short of meeting the concerns of the medical profession.

"I think the government is taking alcohol related harm seriously, however I believe they are working under considerable constraints due to the massive force of the drinks industry lobby.

"The alcohol harm reduction strategy as produced by the Cabinet Office was cross-cutting but since then I think the focus on alcohol related harm has been lost to some extent.

"The Home Office was given the responsibility of pulling the strategy together but the Home Office inevitably has a much more law and order focus."

Stakeholder Response: Alcohol Concern

Geethika Jayatilaka, director of policy and public affairs at Alcohol Concern, said: "The recent measures proposed by the government to reduce binge drinking go some way to tackle booze-fuelled crime and disorder but they don't offer long-term solutions needed to change our prevailing drinking culture.