19 - Encouraging safer drinking

Archived news release from 2007

safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership, is encouraging people to drink responsibly during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

 

Pubs and clubs across the borough will be helping to promote responsible drinking by displaying the new ‘stay safe’ posters.  The campaign aims to prevent violent behaviour by encouraging people to consider the amount of alcohol they drink.

 

A third of all violent offences are alcohol-related and over 25 percent of alcohol-related incidents, including street violence and domestic abuse, occur with young people aged between 17 and 22.  Those involved in alcohol related violent incidents could face a caution, fine or imprisonment.

 

The daily recommended maximum alcohol consumption for men is three to four units and for women two to three.  A pint of stella contains three units, double vodka and coke two units, a bottle of budweiser or bacardi breezer one and a half units, pint of strongbow two and a half units and one large glass of wine is equal to three units.

 

Binge drinking is a major cause of accident and illness.  Nearly one half of all cases admitted to casualty after midnight are associated with alcohol excess.  Many of these are serious with head injury and disfigurement from facial injuries.

 

Binge drinking may lead to more serious patterns of intake, with the development of alcohol addiction and subsequent damage to brain, liver and other organs.

“At this time of year people are inclined to drink more frequently, consume greater quantities and may mix their drinks.  This can lead to violent behaviour and actions they may regret. 

 

“Anyone who does behave violently after consuming too much alcohol could face a caution, fine or imprisonment.

 

“While we don’t want people not to drink at all, we do want people to be aware of their own limits and drink responsibly.”