Alcohol misuse guide recommends one-off advice

Minimum legal drinking age laws, random breath testing and face-to-face bartender training reduce alcohol misuse, according to advice from the Health Development Agency.The agency's Prevention and Reduction of Alcohol Misuse is the first in a series of evidence briefings.The alcohol misuse study suggests that giving heavy drinkers one-off advice on their habit, either in hospital or primary care settings, makes them twice as likely to moderate their drinking within a year, compared to drinkers given no advice at all.

Professor Mike Kelly, HDA director of research and information, said: 'This series plays an important role in getting information out to health professionals in a clear and concise format.'

www. hda-online. org. uk/evidence