Pack in boozing or see your benefits docked, alcoholics warned

Apr 15 2009 By Kevin Schofield

JOBLESS alcoholics could have benefits docked unless they get treatment for their addiction, it emerged yesterday.

Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said the move would help them get sober and back to work.

The Government have already unveiled similar plans to encourage drug users to kick their habits as part of a major shake-up of the welfare system.

Purnell said he was commissioning research to find out whether the same approach could be used to help alcoholics.

He said: "We need to look through the eyes of the person defeated by an addiction that keeps them out of work and on the outside of the community and give them the help they need.

"We have introduced a new policy that will mean heroin and crack addicts get treatment in return for benefits.

"So we are going to look at the arrangements for alcoholics on benefits, so that people get the help they need to get sober, to get their life back and get back to work."

A spokesman for the drug and alcohol addiction service Addaction said: "We support measures to get treatment to the people who need it, but that treatment needs proper funding.

"Stopping someone's benefits could have a real impact on any children they have." Opposition parties voiced scepticism over whether the radical plans would work.

Snp work and pensions spokesman John Mason said: "Scotland's relationship with alcohol is a worry and action is needed but this proposal is totally untested.

"We need evidence that such an approach would work and wouldn't push vulnerable members of society into further difficulty."

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