Call for warning on strong lagers

Thames Bondway says strong beer helps fuel homelessness

A homelessness charity is urging the government to put health warnings on super-strength lagers.

London-based Thames Reach Bondway also wants to end easy availability of 9%-alcohol lagers and is running an advertising campaign and lobbying MPs.

It says one 500ml can holds four units of alcohol - the recommended safe daily drinking level for men.

Chief executive Jeremy Swain said the lagers should be banned, or made more expensive to reduce their popularity.

He told BBC London: "There's no doubt about it, the people we are working with are having their lives destroyed by super-strength lagers.

"It is in order to save lives and help people recover their health that we want to see a ban on these drinks being sold."

Super-strength lager has destroyed a lot of my life Maz Albrecht

About 4,000 people are supported by Thames Reach Bondway, which has five hostels in London.

It says that cheap and easily available super-strength lager is the main cause of alcohol-related problems for 800 of the homeless people it supports.

It wants the government to impose a 6% ceiling on canned and bottled super-strength beers and ciders and increase the tax on them or use cigarette-style health warnings.

The campaign is linked to Britain's Streets of Booze, a week-long series of programmes on BBC One ahead of the introduction of new licensing laws.

Recovering alcoholic Maz Albrecht told the programme: "Super-strength lager has destroyed a lot of my life - my children have ended up in care.

"Luckily I have a good relationship with them because they have had counselling to help them understand me, but I lost everything."