News for 4/10/06

• Older women who are drinking within the recommended limits of one to two glasses of spirits daily are more likely to survive and more likely to remain in good health than women who do not drink, suggest new data from a long-term study of Australian women.  "Our findings indicate that the recommended limits of one to two drinks per day seem appropriate for women aged 70-80 years," reported Dr Julie Byles, who is director of the Research Center for Gender, Health and Aging at The University of Newcastle in Callaghan, Australia.  Reuters. Abstract here.

• After decades of complaints about drunks, prostitutes and menacing down-and-outs, traders and the Safer Swansea Partnership are making the bold claim the city's High Street problems are over. According to the partnership, which includes businesses, Swansea Council and the police, "On-street drinkers and intimidating gangs are now rare, and are effectively dealt with." What was once the city's main street became a haven for undesirables during recent decades and came to be seen as a no-go zone, largely avoided by shoppers and visitors. Now the area's unwanted characters have been hit with a barrage of anti-social behaviour measures that have included 24-hour CCTV coverage and an alcohol control zone which makes on-street drinking illegal. icWales

• The Daily Echo and the police team behind its Call Time on Glass campaign were recognised at this year's Dorset Justice Awards.  Bournemouth's alcohol licensing enforcement (ALE) team and the Echo picked up an award in the category of innovation in working with communities to tackle crime or the fear of crime.  With an average of more than 40 glass-related assaults over the past three years inside venues in Bournemouth town centre, the ALE team set about encouraging venues to change from glass to polycarbonate plastic.  24 venues have change to polycarbonate and these venues represent in excess of 25,000 "vertical drinking spaces" - over half the town's capacity.  Daily Echo