Drinkers in Islington are over three times more likely to be at high risk of harm from booze or dependent on alcohol than the rest of the UK, according to the latest figures from a test revealed to Islington Now.
In January, 952 people in the borough took the Don’t Bottle It Up online alcohol test, which asks how many drinks people consume, and how often. Of those who took the questionnaire, 423 people or 75 per cent were found to be at some level of risk of harm from alcohol, more than three times the national average.
Of those surveyed, 78 people or 14 percent were at high risk of harm from their drinking habits or possibly dependent on alcohol. This is more than the estimated four per cent in the rest of the UK.
Fifty per cent of users were at increasing risk, almost three times the national average and 12 per cent were at a higher risk, more than double the figure for the rest of the UK.
Ian Sanford, a public health strategist for the NHS North Central London, said that the borough’s many bars and clubs contribute to the problem.
He said: “The primary thing that we can measure on the night time economy is alcohol related ambulance calls. We know there are certain areas that really stand out for ambulance call outs like Angel and Clerkenwell where there is a large night time economy.”
Mr Sandford also warned of the dangers of drinking at home, saying: “The big area of concern is people drinking in their own homes where you haven’t got a measure. If you’re pouring a glass of wine it’s likely to be a big glass of wine. We think people are likely to be drinking quite a lot at home”.
The test was launched in December 2012 and has ten multiple choice questions designed by the World Health Organisation on the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption and drinking habits. Users are then given a score between one and 40 and are deemed to be at a lower risk, increasing risk, higher risk, high risk, or possibly dependent on alcohol.
Laura Pechey, innovation and development manager at Haringey’s community alcohol service HAGA, who set up Don’t Bottle It Up, said that the test was created to help those who do not want to speak to their doctors.
She said: “Young people and business professionals aren’t talking to their GPs about their drinking and if they were they were lying. We wanted to set this up so people weren’t judged or there isn’t stigma. There are a lot of people who, if they get screened and they get advice, will reduce their drinking.”
But one user of Don’t Bottle It Up’s test told Islington Now that surveys of this kind do not paint a fair picture. Ellie Bothwell, from Newington Green, said: “The survey seems unrealistic to ask questions about how many units you drink in a typical day because I don’t see it in terms of that. Most people have a working week and that will mean you drink more on the weekend but that doesn’t mean that you are a binge drinker.”
Councillor Paul Convery, executive member for community safety in Islington, said the results of the test are not surprising.
He said: “We launched it precisely because we want those sorts of people to see very plainly the extent to which they are drinking more than is healthy because we do know that we have problems in some areas of borough where alcohol consumption is higher than the national average.”
Plans to introduce a late night levy on licensed premises open between midnight and 6am were agreed last year by Islington council. The fee will range from £300 for smaller venues to £4,440 for larger places and are part of the borough’s licensing strategy to deal with crime and disorder related to excessive late night drinking.
