Former Member of Parliament for Gower, Byron Davies, has been announced as the chair of the new alcohol consumer organisation, Drinkers’ Voice.
Drinkers’ Voice, which launched earlier this month, seeks to bring moderate drinkers across the UK into the debate on alcohol and health. It claims that the anti-alcohol lobby has influenced people’s attitude towards drinking and has led to the government issuing among the lowest drinking guidelines in Europe.
The organisation is independent from industry influence, and is instead relying on funding from members of the public which relate to their cause.
The chair leads a board of six, and is supported by spokespeople of Drinkers’ Voice across the country.
Byron Davies had previously spoken out against the alcohol guidelines as an MP in which he held a debate to raise his concerns about the Department of Health’s advice published in 2016. The then new recommendations, which are now in place, state that men and women should drink no more than 14 units per week.
In the debate Davies raised concerns about the lowered guidelines for men, previously set at 21 units per week: [This] would effectively make 2.5 million more of our male constituents problem drinkers overnight, classed as increasing risk from low risk by virtue of the fact that they might drink more than one pint a night in the pub.’
Davies, who is also a former Metropolitan Police Officer, said: ‘’The opportunity to chair such a worthwhile cause was too much to refuse! The freedom to enjoy drink in moderation, without fear of being criticised by anti-alcohol campaigners is, I believe, a fundamental right of all responsible citizens.’
Drinkers’ Voice has already hit the headlines after a poll revealed that 70% of drinkers don’t pay attention to the current alcohol guidelines. They have also made a name for themselves among as an organisation which is being spearheaded by women.
You can donate to Drinkers’ Voice online: drinkersvoice.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to editors
Drinkers’ Voice was launched in September this year to give a voice to the millions of responsible alcohol drinkers across the UK who feel they have been denied a say in the debate about alcohol use.
Drinkers’ Voice is an independent organisation which is funded entirely by individuals and speaks for all drinkers of alcohol in an attempt to encourage a sensible debate about the benefits and risks of alcohol use, in order to allow adults to make an informed decision about their drinking.
Find out more at www.drinkersvoice.org.uk
Twitter: @DrinkersVoiceUK
Media contact: Amy O’Callaghan 07753315338 or coordinator@drinkersvoice.org.
National Coordinator, Drinkers’ Voice
