Written question asked by Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative) on Monday, 20 November 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 November 2006. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Tuesday, 28 November 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Alcohol-related Criminal Activity

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the most recent estimate used by his Department is of the annual cost to the public purse of all alcohol-related criminal activity; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: [holding answer 23 Nov 2006]: The Government’s Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy published in 2004 provides the most recent estimate of the costs of alcohol related crime and disorder. This estimated that the overall annual cost to England and Wales of crime and antisocial behaviour linked to alcohol misuse to be some £7.3 billion. The Strategy set out the steps we would take to tackle the problems of alcohol misuse and seek to prevent any further increase in alcohol-related harms. We are committed to taking stock on delivering the recommendations in the Strategy in 2007.

Secondary information