Misuse of Alcohol

Public health is also known as the science of improving and protecting the health of a community

through promotion, education of a healthy lifestyle as well as research for injury and disease

prevention (Scarborough et al. 2011). For the development of programs that promote and protect

the community’s health the community need to be educated on the effect of the environment and

their personal choices to the health. According to professional analysis, community health is

highly threatened by the modern lifestyle such as alcohol misuse. The health dimensions can

encompass “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the

absence of disease or infirmity” as stated by the WHO (World Health Organisations). Public

health is basically concerned with protecting and promoting the health of the whole population.

The population can either be an entire country or a small population such as a local

neighbourhood. The interdisciplinary approaches of biostatistics, health services, and

epidemiology incorporate through the public health. Community health, environmental health,

occupational health and behavioural health are among important subfields (Keyes et al. 2011).

Alcohol consumption can be harmful or beneficial to individuals depending on factors such as

age, amount of alcohol consumed, among other factors. The term ‘alcohol’ may mean ethyl

alcohol or ethanol unless specified (Litten et al. 2012). Alcohol refers to neutral spirits distilled

above or at one hundred ninety degrees whether for industrial or nonindustrial use. Alcohol is a

thin and clear liquid that has a high volatility and a harsh burning taste. Alcohol beverages refer

to any liquid that is suitable for human consumption since it contains a certain percentage of

alcohol. In the UK, alcohol consumption is an integral part social, occupational and family life

for most of the people. Alcohol consumption, especially among the young people, has to be in

the raise for the recent past. The rise has led to a growing concern among the policy-makers with

an aim to moderate the high consumption of alcohol (Kiernan, 2015).

Why Alcohol misuse is a public health issue
Misuse of alcohol among members of the community not only does it affects emotional, physical

but also the social aspects of an individual. Alcohol misuse in the UK has become worrying and

a cause of concern to those responsible for public health (Young-Wolff et al. 2011). For many

years, alcohol has been part of the culture since many people used it rationally. Misuse of alcohol

in the UK has led to serious public health problems and other problems related to misuse of

alcohol such as increased levels of crime. The alcohol misuse whether binge-drinking,

chronically heavily drinking or moderate drinking leads to inappropriate circumstances such as a

threat to the wellbeing and health of the victim as well as affect friends, family, society, and the

community through crime problems, productivity loss, and anti-social behaviours. In addition,

alcohol misuse is directly linked to health concerns such as mental ill-health, high blood

pressure, violence, sexually transmitted infection (STI), liver diseases and accidental injuries

(Litten and Allen, 2012).

The health determinants and wellbeing are circumstances or conditions in which individuals

grow, live, and work. The conditions determine the opportunities of individuals maintaining a

good health. This condition can be referred as “causes of the causes” since population’s health is

shaped by the economic and social structure. Some of the factors that influence the population’s

health may be individual factors, lifestyle factors and environmental factors which include

culture, economic and social. According to healthy people 2020, health determinants fall into

five broad categories which include social factors, policymaking, individual behaviour, health

service and biology and genetics. The relationships among the factors determine population

health. Individuals and population’s health is highly affected by the policies at the state, federal

and local level. The increase of taxes on alcohol beverages can improve the health of a

population since it would reduce the number of individuals misusing alcohol. Individual

behaviours is another major health determinant. Individual plays a significant role in their health

outcomes. A good example is when one quit drinking alcohol he or she reduces the risk of

getting diseases associated with excess alcohol consumption such as liver diseases, high blood

pressure among others (Nuutinen et al. 2011).

Alcohol misuse has affected the society since both young and old are engaging in it

(Young-Wolff et al. 2011). Majority of the drinkers tend to have health complication later in the

life due to excess intake of alcohol. Misuse of alcohol has many consequences for the individual,

family, and community at large. Some of the direct and indirect consequences include increased

crime rate, mental health, reduced quality of life, increase in a number of car crashes and the

high cost of healthcare. Alcohol abuse has led to deaths of many citizens who are highly

productive. According to 2017 health report, alcohol misuse contributes to 1 death out of 10

deaths among the working adults. In addition, alcohol misuse has resulted in serious economic

consequences in sectors such as health, lost productivity and high crime rates (Foxcroft et al.

2014).

Alcohol consumption and trends
For the recent past, several surveys have been conducted regarding alcohol consumption trends.

Some survey says that the trend has decreased and other it has increased but as stated by The

NHS Information Centre (2010), the drinking behaviour among children and adults has

increased. According to the report, 71% of men above 16 years and 56% of women above 20%

are reported to drink alcohol once a day. The report further stated that 11% of men are said to

drink on daily basis as well as 6% of women. The report further indicates that men and women

consume an average of 16.8 units and 8.6units per week respectively. Even the students have

engaged in alcohol misuse where 18% of both male and female students are reported to have

engaged in alcohol misuse (Duff et al. 2012). London is reported to have less young people

engaged in alcohol misuse than any other region in the UK. The report further stated that Great

Britain has acknowledged there has been an increase in alcohol misuse from 54% in 1997 to 85%

in 2015.

Alcohol misuse can be said to be the use of alcohol with a purpose not consistent with medical or

legal guidelines. There are a number of alcohol misuse or patterns in drinking alcohol which

include, harmful drinking, and alcohol use that damage mental and physical health. Harmful

drinking mainly results in social challenges as well as economic challenges. Individuals who

engage in harmful drinking risk themselves from getting health challenges. Heavy drinking in the

UK is defined as consuming over eight units a week by men and six units per week by women.

In addition, heavy drinking can be said to be drinking beyond moderate (Foxcroft et al. 2014).

Effects of alcohol misuse on social and health services
Alcohol misuse is highly associated with a number of criminal offenses which include drunk

driving, violence, drunkenness. For many years crimes related to drunkenness have been a cause

of concern for the public (Bowley et al. 2013). Some of the crimes related to alcohol misuse that

are of public concern involve drunk and disorderly, criminal damage offenses among other

public order offenses for young male and females happening in towns and entertainment areas.

In addition, there has been a large number of adult’s death as a result of alcohol misuse.

As stated by NHS guidelines (2012), misuse of alcohol leads to many social, physical and mental

challenges. According to the NHS report, 4% of both male and female in England aged 16 to 60

years are dependent on alcohol. The report further states that 24% of the England population

consume alcohol in levels that can harm their wellbeing in term of health. Misuse of alcohol is a

rising problem in young people and children in the UK. There has been an upward trend of

people being hospitalized on cases related to misuse of alcohol (Nuutinen et al. 2011).

Alcohol is used in and around workplaces since it is perceived as an antidote to pressure

experienced at modern workplaces. In addition, alcohol is used in workplaces to help workers

network and socialize well with colleagues and clients. Despite, its contribution alcohol can

damage the UK economic productivity in different ways. Some of these ways include increased

levels of sickness among the adults engaged in alcohol misuse. Heavy drinking is likely to result

in absenteeism at work due to injuries related to drunkenness. Misuse of alcohol can as result of

worker’s inability to perform their duties and may lead to early retirement and unemployment.

Premature death is the greatest loss which occurs as a result of alcohol misuse among individuals

of the working age. When these factors are put together they result in a loss of £6.4bn in the

UK’s economy (Scarborough et al. 2011).

For many years, alcohol misuse by individuals tends to alter the roles family members play

towards one another as well as to the outside world. Since there are families that operate in a

form of division of labour such as one person supervising the children, the other managing

family finances and others doing other activities such as cooking. Therefore, in such a family if

one individual engages in heavy drinking the consequences may be felt by all the family

members and this would result in other family members taking up his or her roles. In cases

where all the roles are undertaken by one individual, the consequences might be serious. Misuse

of alcohol can also result to poor communication between family members where partners may

fail to talk things out or partners tend to have a loose tongue saying things that shouldn’t be said

(Duff, 2012).

Concept of healthcare delivery
The prevention of misuse of alcohol can benefit the majority of the adults engaging in harmful

drinking. The different care models for alcohol misuse recommends that planners for alcohol

misuse need to focus more on harmful, dependent and hazardous alcohol misusers (Bowley et al.

2013). There have been national campaigns which aim at raising awareness among the general

public of the effects of heavy drinking on individuals and those around them. The campaigns

have been consistent with an aim convey a message that is sensible in clarifying for the

population to understand the amount of alcohol they consume. Due to the harm caused by

excessive drinking, the public should be continuously educated regarding harms associated with

excessive drinking. The public should have access to the information regarding what is available

for the patient locally through clear patient information (Khadjesari et al. 2012).

There has been a commitment in the public health to come up with a programme to improve

alcohol treatment services due to the huge demand and the frameworks of care models. The

programme would be funded through pooled treatment budget of alcohol and substance abuse.

Mainly, alcohol treatment is provided by specialist addition services and GPS while most

treatment services in the UK are mainly offered by the voluntary sector. For the recent past, the

emphasis has been put on treatment for class A and B drugs instead of alcohol treatment. As a

result, this has led to underfunding of alcohol misuse services as well as taking much longer time

to treat alcohol cases as compared to drug misuse (Foxcroft and Tsertsvadze, 2012).

According to the government’s policies, the prevailing views of the public is that reduction of

alcohol consumption to lower levels is sustainable even to those who are dependent on alcohol

(Menezes et al. 2013). The government through public health department have assessed alcohol

needs and reduction of alcohol harms through interventions of alcohol misuse. As a result of the

government efforts, there has been a development of a programme to guide both healthcare

providers and drinkers. The strategy put in place further states the actions that need to be taken in

order to reduce alcohol-related crimes and health issues. The “Greater London Alcohol and Drug

Alliance (GLADA)” has released statements of priorities related to alcohol in the capital. The

body based its decision on three main objectives which include; reducing alcohol-related health

issues through raising awareness, easy and better access to treatment as well as early

intervention. The second objective is to reduce alcohol-related crimes, anti-social behaviours,

drunkenness, and disorder. Lastly, to reduce risks of harm to young people and children as a

result of drunkenness (Jones and Fear, 2011).

The government has provided advice regarding the recommended levels of alcohol consumption.

According to the guideline, men should consume four units in daily maximum while on the other

hand women consume three units per day maximum. The alcohol consumption has been

increasing over the years and this has been a cause of concern for all the stakeholder in the public

health.

For the problem to be dealt with both the government and the involved individuals need to

acknowledge the existence of the problem. Denying the problems could worsen the situation,

therefore, acknowledging the problem would help all the parties reduce the problem. Some of the

where one can avoid harmful drinking is by taking short alcohol breaks and learn to say NO.

Developing self-control is the best way to overcome harmful drinking since self-control is a key

element at workplaces and in the society (Sundin et al. 2014).

Conclusion

Alcohol misuse has been an issue of concern in the UK for many years. Alcohol drinking in the

UK is traditional and in some cases cultural. In addition, alcohol is included in all meals and all

gathering in the today’s society. Therefore, the public need to be educated so as not to misuse

alcohol which could lead to health and social problems. Lastly, alcohol treatment needs to be

accessible to all as is the case with drug abuse (McAleer et al. 2011).