Alastair Campbell speaks of Britain's alcohol problem

Alastair Campbell, Labour’s former spin doctor, has spoken publicly on Radio 5 Live about his own alcohol problems and the problems that face Britain today.

Mr Campbell was himself an alcoholic, so he knows what damage alcoholism can do. He is now calling for a change in alcohol pricing to force a minimum price on alcohol as a way to improve the health of the nation and also to improve Britain’s image and shake off the reputation it has of being the ‘booze capital of the world’.

Mr Campbell spoke to Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio 5 Live and said: “Britain has got a real problem with alcohol and I think we’re all just blinding ourselves to the consequences of it.”

Statistics have already proved this point. Accident and emergency departments are inundated with patients every Friday and Saturday night who have succumbed to a variety of alcohol-induced accidents. Britain has developed an image of being a country of binge drinkers; the average town centre on a Saturday night often proves this case.

Mr Campbell went on to say: “I accept that I am somebody who probably feels more strongly about it because of the damage it’s done to me in the past, but I think that’s also what qualifies me to look around the streets as I do.”

Mr Campbell also explained how alcohol problems extend beyond A&E. One doctor he spoke to said that alcohol was the biggest factor in every ward in his hospital.

Will higher prices really stop binge drinking? Bars and pubs already sell alcohol at highly-inflated prices and this is not deterring young drinkers.