Alcohol the Invisible Drug of Modern Day Britain

The first Consult Policy Campaign Debate concluded that whilst much progress has been made in treating and rehabilitating drug addicts, we are not yet fully aware of the risks posed by alcohol. The findings arose from debating whether alcohol or drugs should take priority in addressing the causes of youth crime.

Consult are running a series of debates in marginal seats in both supporting the campaigns of parliamentary candidates and inviting first time and new voters to participate in policy development who might not normally attend a political event.

The first debate was held in Tynemouth at the end of last year. Delegates supported a conservation exercise in helping clear a local park in the morning with PPC Wendy Morton before adjourning to the upstairs room of a nearby pub in the afternoon.

Delegates discussed the need for a long-term approach to addressing the causes of crime and, in particular, problems like alcohol and drugs that trap many people onto the conveyor belt from a young age.

Although much progress has been made in raising public awareness of the problems caused by drugs as well as tackling its causes through treatment and rehabilitation, there is a persistent link especially in our poorest communities between addiction, debt and crime that traps vulnerable people into the cycle of social breakdown.

Alcohol, meanwhile, was argued as representing the invisible drug of modern day Britain. Whilst increasingly being linked to crime and disorderly behaviour amongst younger people, alcohol consumption is very much part of normal social recreation and professional networking, especially in our cities.

Indeed and from the problems recently raised with underage drinking, alcohol is something that many younger people aspire to take as part of experiencing adulthood. So whilst awareness on the problems caused by drugs in relation to crime is fairly high, it was felt that we are not yet fully aware of the risks posed by alcohol and how to address these.

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