Response to the ONS data on alcohol-specific deaths in England and Wales
Matt Lambert, CEO of the Portman Group, the social responsibility and regulatory body for alcohol in the UK, responds to the ONS statistics on alcohol specific deaths:
“The data around the levels of harmful drinking within the UK are complex, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The majority of people in the UK continue to drink responsibly, with four in five drinking within the government lower-risk guidelines of 14 units per week or not at all and recent reports highlight that the majority of people continued to drink responsibly during lockdown.
“We need to see more targeted measures which address unsafe levels of drinking and support those who are vulnerable to access the right treatment and support, particularly during lockdown.”