Alcohol Change UK has provided a response to the call for evidence which will inform the development of a Men's Health Strategy for England.
This is part of the government’s programme to reform the NHS, with the aim of ensuring that services are responsive to men and outcomes are improved.
In our response, we highlighted that:
- Alcohol is one of the biggest issues facing men’s health – particularly in our more deprived regions.
- Even low levels of alcohol consumption are linked to a wide range of health issues, particularly among men.
- Men are more likely to drink alcohol and to do so above the recommended low-risk drinking guidelines and subsequently experience more alcohol harm.
- Alcohol consumption plays a central role in socialising for many different cultural groups of men and is often used as a symbol of masculinity.
- The normalisation of drinking as part of masculinities requires a holistic approach to alcohol policy to reduce harm, shifting the spotlight away from alcohol.
- This means reducing the affordability, availability, and marketing of alcohol and ensuring that support and treatment is properly funded and accessible to men across all social groups.
