P252 CJEFAX 252 Mon 17 Nov 21:17/18 1/3 W DO WE DRINK TOO MUCH Family doctors are being encouraged to question their patients about their drinking habits. A controversial report "z the Royal College of Practitioners says that in the past forty years alcohol consumption has increased dramatically. OPs have to deal with the consequences of alcohol abuse ranging jrom indigestion to road deaths, irritable and inefficient spouses and workers to death jrom liver failure. ] MoreP252 CEEFAX 252 Mon 17 Nov 21:13/55 2/3 ARE WE DRINKING TOO MUCH? Out of every GP's patient list about 5u people will bj drinking at levels which pose a high risk to their health. The report bz the Royal College of General Practitioners says that min should not drink more than 20 units and women not more than 15 units a week. One unit is the amount of alcohol contained in half a pint of beer or a glass of wine or sherry or a single measure of spirits. MoreP252 CEEFAX 252 Mon 17 Nov 21:44/26 3/3 Q W DO WE DRINK TOO MUCH The Roybl College of General Practitioners wants questions about alcohol consumption to "become a normal part of the health care process". Every GP has the skill and resources to help patients to drink less and to cope with people whose social, physical and psychological status is suffering. The report calls for more co-operation between OPs and local groups dealing with alcohol abuse: "There is less ill health as a population's alcohol consumption decreases." More