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<p>The Government is taking a number of steps to tackle alcohol problems and reduce
alcohol-related liver disease. These are being led by Public Health England (PHE),
working with partners across government and local authorities. Through the Responsibility
Deal the Government is also working with industry partners to tackle alcohol problems.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>On 23 October 2014, PHE published its priorities for protecting
and improving the nation’s health and one of the seven issues they will be focusing
on is preventing and reducing the harmful effects of alcohol. This priority includes
two actions relating to liver disease:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- producing a
framework on liver disease outlining public health actions to tackle liver disease,
including alcohol; and</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- launching liver disease profiles
to support local authority health and wellbeing boards to understand liver disease
and its risk factors in their area and, in turn, design effective local population
level interventions.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Other key actions from PHE on alcohol
and liver disease include:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- developing the evidence
base for what works in preventing alcoholic liver disease and increasing awareness
of the harmful effects of alcohol and the impact of interventions, to support policy
development nationally and locally;</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- supporting and
promoting effective use of licensing legislation and local powers to create a safer
drinking environment that encourages people who drink to do so at a lower risk levels.
Part of this is improving the effectiveness of the powers directors of public health
have on alcohol licencing;</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- encouraging and supporting
people who drink to do so within the lower risk levels;</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>-
reducing the harmful impact of alcohol on individuals who already experience harm.
PHE will be supporting a widespread roll-out of interventions and brief advice; and</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- supporting improvements in treatment provision in line with
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. Locally, PHE is supporting
the development of effective alcohol specialist services in secondary care and accessible,
evidence-based specialist treatment for dependent drinkers.</p><p> </p>
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