Kathrine Quiller discusses alcohol on Sky News
27 August 2009
Mark Longhurst: (ML) Joining us now in the studio is Katherine Quiller from the alcohol support organization Foundation66. Working to change and reduce the harm caused by alcohol abuse.
It's a really complex picture Kathrine, because we've got this image normally of youngsters in a town centre on a Saturday night after drinking too heavily, and yet we're told; people at home middle class middle age people now in danger. What's going on, is it the addictive nature of alcohol that's causing all these problems?
Kathrine Quiller: I think there are two separate issues I think binge drinking is a problem but actually, when we are talking about addiction, we are talking about people drinking in their homes. We are not talking about people that are drinking too much on a Saturday night in the pub for instance. Certainly, from my front line experience, what I have seen is an increase in older people drinking at home, people that perhaps have been widowed, single people that have stopped work and don't necessarily have as much to occupy themselves as they did.
ML So there's still drinking to escape, if you like, rather than drinking to enjoy the so called social drinking
KQ: I think social drinking and binge drinking are one thing and they are connected. I think in terms of addiction, people more often than not are using alcohol as a coping mechanism to address challenges in their lives that they can't do in other ways. The alcohol temporarily relieves the strain that they are experiencing but then the alcohol itself becomes a problem.
ML: In terms of what that problem does we have lots of various initiatives on drugs. Your view is that alcohol can be perhaps even more so destructive in terms of social or family issues.
KQ: Absolutely. The drugs agenda in this country is very much geared towards the criminal justice system and the reality that we experience is that, although that is a significant problem and I don't mean to underplay that, that actually the difficulties we have with alcohol; the impact on the NHS, on families, social networks, the economic breakdown, people sustaining tenancies even; is actually more problematic in the overall scheme of things than drug use is.
ML: Now what about the approach suggestions particularly from doctors now of all things that we raise the actual price per unit of alcohol to 50pence for instance. Is that going to work, as they argue it did with cigarettes if you make it so expensive people are actually going to think twice about it?
K: It's a complex argument; there is a debate... Addiction is compulsion, so if you're addicted you will find a way to meet that addiction ...
ML: ..and perhaps even cause more crime problems-
K: Potentially. There is however, in my experience anecdotally, no doubt a link between the reduction in the cost of alcohol and the increase in consumption. Particularly I think that's with younger people and there are experiences with street drinkers for instance, whereby that will increase their consumption.
ML: So what else should we be doing, education? People talk about but again if it's an addictive quality, it's very difficult, people know it's wrong but they keep doing it.
KQ: I think education is a big part of it. Our organisation works very hard with policy-makers, in education and with families and we have specialist units that try to reach all groups. There are certain cultural groups, for example, that don't necessarily understand the impact of the levels of drinking but essentially what it is about is making people aware of the help that is out there. GP's are essential, because they are a first stop for people. We have satellites for instance people that sit in GP surgeries. GP's can refer them to for harm reduction work
ML: And they will see the first physical signs obviously
KQ: Absolutely, a lot of people stop in that manner actually.
ML: Kathrine ,thank you for your time and we wish you well in your work of course.
For further information and for all media enquiries contact Communications Manager Mykal Riley
on +44 (0)20 7940 2127 or via mriley @ foundation66.org.uk (remove spaces)
