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Alcohol organisations have expressed fears that the imminent Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy will not be accompanied by additional funds.

Richard Phillips, Alcohol Concern's director of policy and services, said the charity had always had "anxieties" that there would be no new money for treatment.

"We are expecting good things in the strategy, although the lack of resources for treatment may be a weaker area," he said. While ring-fenced funding was not essential to make the strategy successful, it would make things a lot better, he added.

Mary Greener, area manager of Addaction south-west, said that services were becoming increasingly busy and there were significant numbers of people on waiting lists for treatment.