A YouGov survey has revealed that 61 per cent of UK adults believe that excessive drinking is a problem (from minor to major) in their neighbourhood. The survey, carried out on behalf of The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church, asked people to judge the effects of alcohol on the area within walking distance from their home, or where they use local facilities. They believe that enforcing a minimum per-unit price could be part of the solution to this problem, a move that has already been taken by the Scottish Government and that has been backed by health watchdog, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Although the UK Government shows no sign of enforcing a minimum per-unit price nationally, the initiative is being considered by a number of local councils, including Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
Pray: that the authorities will be able to get a grip on this problem. (Eph.5:18)