Amalgamated School Nurses Association

It's your shout - again! Historic opportunity to influence our relationship with alcohol...

As you are probably aware the Department of Health published a consultation which runs from 22nd July to 14th October 2008 aimed at gathering views on: How far Government should go in restricting harmful alcohol retailing practices What more advice and help is needed for those who want to cut down on their drinking Responses to the consultation will be vital to inform Ministers on whether legislation is needed to support any further action. This is seen as a historic opportunity to rethink our relationship with alcohol, and one that I am sure you will want to influence. To make this easy we have set up a web site where you can log your views: http://www.emphasisnetwork.org.uk/networks/alcohol/questionnaire.php

You can reply as an individual or on behalf of your organisation or business. You do not have reply to all the questions. All views will be collated and fed into the national consultation. To inform your responses you will also find links to the key supporting studies which underpin the review. What you can do to encourage responses: It is really important that as many people as possible have the chance to respond to the consultation. You might be able to encourage this by: adding the web link to your email signature adding the link to your organisation's website/intranet cascading through your communication networks copying this article in your organisation's newsletters or e-alerts encouraging a response from your board/committee Ensuring that the diversity of your area is reflected in the responses will only be achieved by effort at a local level. Please encourage those who work with minority communities such as Black and Minority Ethnic groups, faith communities, people with disabilities and others to encourage their inclusion in this debate. Policy leads can then be assured that the response to the consultation is a true reflection of a population view.

Many thanks,
Kath Childs Senior Public Health Manager Directorate of Public Health East Midlands
DD : 0115 971 4786 Fax : 0115 971 4797
Email: Kath.Childs@dh.gsi.gov.uk