- A campaign to highlight the problem of underage drinking will target East Lothian next month. An illuminated ad trailer will be parked in busy public locations around the county, displaying a graphic image of a girl vomiting and distressed after a drinking binge. The campaign is being mounted jointly by Lothian and Borders Police and East Lothian Council as part of the Scottish Executive's Alcohol - Don't Push It initiative. Scotsman
- A theatre group is using the infamous blue bag to help raise awareness about binge-drinking in Londonderry. A street theatre campaign is asking people to re-think their relationship with the item, commonly used by off-licences to sell alcohol. Blue bag-clad members of community theatre group, the Baking Factory, have been performing in and around the Millennium Forum, Guildhall Square and Waterloo Place to confront issues arising from a perceived local "drink culture". One of the performers, Eamon Baker said that the group is perpetuating the message of an old Derry City football campaign. "Drink Wisely was spear-headed by Northlands in association with Derry City Football club," he said. "The call to 'Drink Wisely' is even more relevant today. Our 'Blue Bag street theatre' is encouraging the same message in a different way. Belfast Telegraph
- Badly designed and over-crowded bars, poorly trained staff and rivalry between customers have been revealed as the three key factors that lead to alcohol-related violence in pubs and clubs, according to new research by Nottingham Trent University. Titled ‘Last Orders for Alcohol Related Violence’, the report looked at the psychological and environmental factors that lead to violence and included interviews with victims and perpetrators of violence. The study, which was commissioned by the British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation, found that there was no one factor blamed for incidents of violence and that a range of different and complimentary actions are needed to create a solution. The report suggests a range of solutions, including training to all staff to raise awareness of the importance of their responses in reducing and preventing violent incidents, more attention to housekeeping of venues selling alcohol in bottles or glasses, and more widespread and active participation in PubWatch. Morning Advertiser
- The hippocampus, a brain structure vital to learning and memory, is likely vulnerable to damage from heavy and chronic alcohol consumption. A new study has found a reduction in total hippocampus volume among alcoholics. This suggests that heavy drinking can cause significant hippocampal tissue loss. Medical News Today
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