- The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) is urging young people to log on to www.up-2-you.net, the health website, and use the information in the alcohol section, to compete for some great prizes. This site is packed with information on health topics including smoking, passive smoking, drugs and mental health, and now incorporates a new section on alcohol, which has been developed in response to current concerns about underage drinking.
Victoria Creasy, Senior Manager for Public Health at the HPA, said: “The aim of the site is to provide the facts about a number of health topics for young people so they will be equipped with the right information to make decisions about issues that could have a major impact on their health. The new alcohol section has been developed in response to the current concerns about underage drinking, as research shows, the average age for young people to have their first drink in Northern Ireland is 11 years." HPA
- West Lothian Drug Action Team (DAT) is launching a new alcohol health promotion resource targeting men. The resource, "The Adventures of Beerhead" was developed in partnership with West Lothian Drug & Alcohol Service, NHS Lothian and 360 Degrees Communications. The excessive consumption of alcohol is a key priority for West Lothian DAT as an increase in binge drinking, particularly amongst men, has been seen in West Lothian and throughout Scotland on the whole.
Hilary Smith, Research & Development Officer, West Lothian DAT commented: “Statistics indicate that 1 in 3 men exceed weekly recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption. We know that young people are starting to drink at an earlier age and 16 – 24 year olds are the most likely to drink heavily. West Lothian DAT is keen to promote a responsible attitude towards drinking and this resource will target young men and provide them with factual information and advice relating to alcohol.” Alcohol Focus Scotland
- Lancashire: Partygoers are being urged to control their drinking through the festive period as part of an operation to curb alcohol-related crime. The countywide crackdown on Christmas crime – codenamed Operation Shepherd – has been launched to focus on assaults, drink driving and domestic violence. Police will be working with local authorities and Trading Standards to target individuals and premises that sell alcohol to underage people. Test purchasing operations are planned throughout December. Lancashire Evening Post
- Thousands of lollipops are to be given out to drinkers in Witney, Carterton and Chipping Norton in a bid to stop fights. A total of 5,000 lollies will be handed out to revellers by door staff of 60 premises on the Friday and Saturday nights before Christmas. It is thought that the sugar rush bought on by the lollipops will calm people down. The West Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership - the police, the district and county councils, the magistrates, probation and youth offending services, housing trusts and primary health care trusts - have organised and funded the scheme, which will cost £1,175.Oxford Mail
- Emergency services in Nuneaton have joined forces to target "mature" motorists who gamble on drinking and driving over Christmas. Police say it is men in the 35-50 age bracket who tend to give a positive breath test following a collision. Nuneaton's Newtown Road fire station was the venue for the launch of a campaign aimed at getting men in this age group to act responsibly this Christmas. Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, the police and the county's Road Safety Unit have launched a joint appeal.
Maria Smedley, community fire safety manager, said: "The impact of alcohol is regularly witnessed by our firefighters, but the most catastrophic effect is when someone is seriously injured or killed in an accident on the roads." A series of posters, beer mats and other promotional material will be distributed to pubs, clubs and bars around the area. icCoventry
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