Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of trends in the level of problematic alcohol use on (a) domestic and (b) community violence; and what steps he is taking to help tackle problematic alcohol use through the health system.

No recent assessment has been made. Data from the Crime Survey for England for the year ending March 2020 shows that despite a reduction in alcohol-related violence over the last decade, approximately four out of ten violent incidents in England and Wales are still alcohol-related. Approximately a third of domestic violence incidents are also alcohol-related. The survey is available at the following link:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/natureofcrimetablesviolence

The Department is taking action to tackle problematic alcohol use and associated harms through the landmark cross-Government drug strategy, as well as provision of Alcohol Care Teams in 25% of acute hospitals in local areas with the highest need.