Alcohol Concern and BBPA fight it out

The fight between Alcohol Concern and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) raged on this week.

Earlier this month Alcohol Concern announced that one in every 13 people was dependent on alcohol.

But the BBPA's Mark Hastings said the figure was "totally implausible" - questioning where the charity got its data from.

Now Mr Hastings has said he cannot see how the charity had reached this figure after looking at the Office of National Statistics research - the same used by Alcohol Concern.

He told thePublican.com: "The numbers are quite simply incorrect. Alcohol Concern quotes that three million Britons cannot make it through the day without a drink. In fact, the study that they make reference to does not say anywhere that three million people drink on a daily basis. It doesn't even ask this question.

"The only time it comes near is an area which looks at how many people have six or more drinks each day. This, I agree, would suggest people were erring towards the misuse of alcohol. But the result is 800,000 - which is a long way short of three million."

But Alcohol Concern insisted the research was completely reliable. Chief executive Eric Appleby said: "There wasn't one specific question. We worked out an overall percentage from the answers to show that one in every 13 people is dependent on alcohol. The survey is a cross section of random people from UK households."

Related articles:​

Claim that one in thirteen is alcoholic ridiculed (6 March 2003)

We take a look at why Alcohol Concern is being blamed for drink-related scare stories in the press. Click here.