Looking into the impact of alcohol

FOR most people, alcohol does not control their lives. They can enjoy a drink or two without overdoing it.

Pubs and clubs have been part of the fabric of life in Wales for centuries.

They provide a warm and friendly environment in which the community can get together and catch up. When a village loses its last pub, its loss is regrettable.

But as far too many of us know from personal experience – whether ourselves or within our families or circle of friends – there is a darker side to alcohol that can wreck lives and, sometimes, claim them too.

As with many problems that we face in society today, the coronavirus pandemic has magnified the detrimental impact of alcohol in Wales.

Data collected from Wales and England indicates that there was an increase in alcohol-specific deaths of nearly 20% between 2019 and 2020.

A majority of this harmful drinking would have taken place behind closed doors, where there are no limits and no stop tap, due to the various lockdowns that were imposed in 2020.

We also know from statistics that the harmful impact of alcohol is felt more in deprived areas.

In Wales, the rate of alcohol-specific hospital admissions is 3.3 times higher in the most deprived areas.

It is therefore no surprise that 45% of those receiving alcohol treatment live in the 30% most deprived areas.

The data also tells us that housing issues and the need for mental health treatment often go hand-in-hand with a drink problem.

Due to a multitude of contributory factors, including adverse childhood experiences, tackling alcohol abuse is therefore not as straightforward as ensuring advice and counselling are in place for those needing help, when they need it.

Having a health service that can intervene – and take preventative work – is a crucial component to addressing the problem.

Moreover, alcohol is, in some regards, a reflection on the health of our society.

Given poverty is increasing and many people find themselves without adequate housing, it is not surprising that alcohol-related deaths are on the rise.

Since my election to the Senedd last year, I have set up a cross-party group on substance misuse and addiction. In our first meeting, the meeting touched on the misery of alcoholism through one of the meeting’s guest speakers.

The hold that alcohol can have over people’s lives was also brought home during an event held at the Pierhead building back last year.

Arranged by Alcoholics Anonymous, the event featured people who spoke about the ruin and misery that drink brought to them and their families.

The tales of alcohol addiction heard that day – from people of all backgrounds – were bleak and highly emotional.

But they were also uplifting as they showed how people can return from very dark places.

Later this week, my party will be bringing a debate to the Senedd about the impact of alcohol on our lives. We do not pretend to hold all the answers to the issue at hand, nor can we pretend that there is a magic bullet that can solve this issue.

What I do know is that discussing the huge financial and emotional cost of alcohol addiction is something our national parliament should be doing.

I’m also certain that a holistic approach, which looks at tackling the wide variety of factors which can cause problem drinking, is needed if we are to reduce the number of alcohol-related deaths in our country.

Peredur Owen Griffiths is Plaid Cymru’s health spokesman