Mps And Health Bodies Form Anti-Drinks Lobby

Cross-party MPs and 21 health bodies are forming a coalition to lobby the Government in a bid to curb the rise in binge drinking. The alliance including organisations such as Alcohol Concern and the British Liver Trust are rallying support from cross-party MPs to influence Parliament. The aim of the alliance is to force the Government to increase alcohol taxation by 10%; for it to regulate the drinks industry; and introduce warnings on alcohol advertising and promotions that "alcohol is harmful." The alliance plans a launch early November in conjunction with a BBC survey looking at the availability and use of services for those suffering from alcohol-related illnesses.