The UK Science Select Committee, which monitors government science policy and classifies drugs in the UK, has recently admitted that its current classification of drugs -including alcohol and tobacco - is based more on historic assumptions than thorough scientific assessment.

The Committee came to this conclusion after carrying out a detailed scientific review of the harmful effects of various drugs based on damage caused to the individual’s physical and mental health, level of addictiveness, as well as social implications and cost to society.

Specifically, the recent research revealed startling results: Alcohol ranked fifth in the same deadly list that gives heroine and cocaine first and second place! Both alcohol and tobacco are now considered even more damaging than many other drugs that have already been banned as harmful substances.

These results have prompted a group of Government Members of Parliament to call for the current system of drug classification to be replaced by one based on health and social risks, and to include alcohol and tobacco in the ratings.

It is of course no coincidence that Master gave a detailed discourse about the harmful effects of alcohol in February of this year in the UK. Her message has indeed created momentum for change at both EU and UK Governmental levels.

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