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Drinkaware advice ‘nonsense’ says British politician

Lord Smith of Hindhead has accused Drinkaware of disseminating “nonsense” advice when speaking during a debate in the House of Lords last week following an Alcohol Harm Commission report.

Lord Smith, who is a British Conservative politician and member of the House of Lords, made the remark when highlighting the misleading guidance from Drinkaware concerning alcohol and the Covid-19 vaccine, issued in January 2021.

The organisation, which is an independent charity devoted to reducing alcohol misuse, put out a statement advising people not to drink “for two days before, and up to two weeks after you’ve been vaccinated,” which it went on to say, was necessary “to try to ensure your immune system is at its best to respond to the vaccine.”

In the debate on 12 April, Lord Smith pointed out, “This advice has since been dismissed by Ministers and the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Not least because there has been not one study which has tested any correlation between alcohol and the efficacy of either of the vaccines on offer in the UK today, a fact that even Drinkaware acknowledged.”

Nevertheless, this advice remains on Drinkaware’s website.

Lord Smith continued; “I have to say that questions should be raised with Drinkaware about how this irresponsible advice could ever have been given, not least by the drinks industry which for some unknown reason continues to fund them.”

He added, “The problems caused by this type of ‘nonsense’ advice is that they help to create a sense that all advice on alcohol consumption is ‘nonsense’. They undermine the sound and sensible advice which is being given by both government and related health industries.”

His comments echo those put out earlier this year by the drinks business, when Dr Nicolai Worm said that the World Health Organisation was “misleading the world” regarding Covid-19 and alcohol.

Dr Worm, who is a nutrition consultant, lecturer and professor of nutrition at the German University of Prevention and Health Care Management, debunked advice from WHO during the pandemic, which told people to “Avoid alcohol altogether so that you do not undermine your own immune system and health and do not risk the health of others.”

Having already drawn attention to several scientific studies that fail to support such an assertion, he said that the organisation was disseminating inaccurate information.

In contrast, he draw on scientific studies to show that moderate drinking can actually boost immunity.

In the more recent discussion on alcohol and health in the House of Lords, Lord Smith impressed the importance of a healthy balance in the debate on alcohol consumption.

He said: “Throughout this pandemic we have seen the effects which lower socialisation has had on people’s health and mental health. I have always believed that a society which socialises together is a stronger and healthier society. Although alcohol does not have to be integral to a healthy social life; moderate alcohol consumption undoubtedly plays a large part in British culture and in the social life of many millions of people who enjoy pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants or indeed entertaining at home.”

Speaking later on during the debate, he commented, “Yes, of course overconsumption of alcohol is unhealthy, but our modern-day temperance movement needs to temper creating fear and to start acknowledging that most people have common sense and just enjoy a modest drink.”

This speech was made following the first easing of Government restrictions on 12 April, where the British Beer and Pub Association reported that only 40% of pubs were able to reopen and trade.

Lord Smith concluded by saying, “The last thing we need at this point in the pandemic is for people to be afraid to take their vaccination and afraid to socialise with their friends over an alcoholic drink if that’s what they choose to do. I know when I have my second jab, I shall celebrate by raising a gin and tonic to all those who have worked so tirelessly to make the vaccine possible and who have helped in such an enormous unrepayable way to save lives and get the UK back on its feet.”

To read Lord Smith’s speech in full, and the entirety of the debate, click here. 

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World Health Organisation ‘misleading the world’ on Covid and alcohol, claims professor of nutrition

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