- Wales: Alcohol-related deaths have increased by 400 per cent among Welsh men and 300 per cent among women in the last 20 years. The report which also says that heavy drinking among teenagers in Wales is amongst the worst in Europe. Figures also predict that 170 men and 90 Welsh women are likely to die of alcohol-related conditions this year. Report author Dr Edward Coles hopes his findings will shock Welsh people into cutting down. South Wales Echo, download report here
- Scotland: Children as young as eight are turning up at school with hangovers, fuelling a rise in violence in city primaries, headteachers have warned. The number of violent incidents reported in primary and nursery schools has almost doubled in four years in Edinburgh, according to new figures released to the Evening News. The number of violent incidents reported in secondary schools fell over the same period. The majority of the 168 incidents reported in primaries and nurseries in the last academic year involved pupils either punching or kicking teachers. Headteachers said drinking the night before was leading to growing numbers of pupils being surly, restless and uncontrollable in class, leading to clashes with teachers. Scotsman
- Scotland: NHS chiefs were branded "irresponsible hypocrites" yesterday after investing charitable donations in one of the world's biggest drinks companies. Some £250,000 given to NHS Grampian by the public, either as a result of fundraising or through bequests, has been put into the drinks giant Diageo, which makes Guinness, Smirnoff vodka and Johnnie Walker whisky. It is seen as a sound investment, but the move has been condemned as it comes at a time when the NHS is warning Scots to drink less to try to tackle a big increase in drink-related illnesses. Scotsman
- Edinburgh: Aggressive drunks and beggars threatened to turn it into a no-go area in the heart of the city centre. The problems facing Hunter Square were so bad that police were handed special dispersal powers to drive out the trouble-makers. Now plans have been drawn up for gangs of homeless people to return to the square - but this time they are likely to be welcomed with open arms. A team of homeless people would operate a coffee shop there as part of a Big Issue-style initiative being presented to the city council. Edinburgh-based Streetwork wants the outlet to be the first of a chain of cafes that will rival outlets such as Starbucks. Scotsman
- Fareham: Parents have been told to stop buying booze for their children – or face fines of up to £5,000. The warning has come from police as they launch a crackdown on adults who supply alcohol to children. From today off-licences and supermarkets across the borough will display posters and distribute leaflets to shoppers, reminding them it is a criminal offence under the Licensing Act 2003. Sergeant Roy Jennings said: 'We are increasingly facing the problem of parents buying alcohol on behalf of their children and then allowing their children to drink this alcohol on the streets. 'It is also becoming more common for children to pay strangers to buy alcohol for them, and while these adults may think this is harmless, they are breaking the law.' Fareham & Meon News
- Suffolk police have warned women "intent on getting ratted" to make sure they had waxed and were "wearing nice pants" in case they collapsed. The advice was contained in a free magazine which officers say is aimed at keeping women safe when they go out drinking and clubbing. Safe! magazine also contained a picture of a girl in a mini skirt with the caption "if you've got it, don't flaunt it" and warned that alcohol could leave women looking like "wrinkly old prunes". Officers said they were adopting an editorial style which they hoped would appeal to women in their late teens. Telegraph, Suffolk Constabulary press release, download Safe! here, info about Suffolk Nightsafe here
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