Alcohol Concern likely to scale back activity

The group, which backs tough action such as increases in alcohol taxes and tighter controls on drinks marketing, has announced a restructuring of its senior management that will see the chief executive position retained on a part-time basis for one year.

Don Shenker, the current CEO, is subsequently set to leave his job, with former CEO Eric Appleby returning in the interim role. There will also be the recruitment of a full-time director of fundraising and campaigning.

The Department of Health said that the grant of £300,000 for 2010/2011 will not be provided for the coming year. It stressed that it was the Labour Government that announced funding would cease.

Earlier this year, Alcohol Concern walked out of the Government-led Responsibility Deal on alcohol, complaining that there are “no firm targets or any sanctions if the drinks industry fails to fulfil its pledges”.

A spokeswoman said: “The department used to provide core funding for Alcohol Concern, paying around a quarter of its annual costs, but the previous Government stopped this unusual arrangement in 2009. The charity was given a grant of £300,000 in 2010/11 to support the transition towards self-funding status and no funding is being provided during 2011/12.”

Despite the group’s strong stance on alcohol, Shenker has softened his tone towards well-run community pubs, as the focus has moved more towards cheap deals in supermarkets, expressing support for “responsible drinking” and deploring the current drinking culture that “values drinking at home over going to the pub”. He said pubs “should be encouraged and rewarded financially for improving community life”.

Alcohol Concern is also an advocate of the minimum pricing of alcohol.