Government scheme targets alcohol abuse hotspots

• Increase image
• View all images

The government is to give 20 of the worst areas for alcohol abuse a £6m cash boost so local health services can better identify those at risk.

Regional alcohol managers will provide treatment advice and gather statistics on hospital admissions and medical conditions to help treatment commissioners.

Access to specialist treatment will be made easier and an additional £1m fund will create a new learning centre and support activities.

The centre will draw together best practice from each area so other services can learn from the programme.

Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said: 'Starting with the most deprived areas in inequality hotspots, we are going to roll out a new programme which will identify and help drinkers who are at risk. For every pound spent on alcohol intervention, £5 are saved by the public purse - so this is money well spent.'