As someone invested in the health of the nation, Wes Streeting knows about the importance of primary prevention of poor health. This is well demonstrated in his wish to improve the NHS with a shift from “sickness to prevention” (Wes Streeting: ‘If I’m going out, I’m a binge drinker – terrible messaging for the shadow health secretary!’, 17 June). How can this be reconciled against his apparent proud admission of being a binge drinker? Excess drinking should not be talked about in a light-hearted way.
The latest Office for National Statistics report stated that alcohol-related deaths have increased in the last two decades, while by comparison cancer deaths are declining. Alcohol misuse is one of the top five causes of premature death in the UK, as well as the cause of an endless litany of misery for individuals, families, healthcare and society.
In 2019-20, there were 280,000 adult hospital admissions in the UK where alcohol was the main causative factor. During the same time, almost 1 million patient admissions had alcohol as a contributory factor.
How can someone who boasts of being a binge drinker on nights out be someone who can be taken remotely seriously as a contender for the position of health secretary?
We don’t need a paragon of virtue, but what we do need is someone who can lead by example, as well as act as a role model. This article illustrates that, for me, he is sadly neither.
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