Looking for information about a council service?
Anti Binging Conference
SPOTLIGHT ON UNDERAGE/BINGE DRINKING
November 2006
Alcohol related crime, underage and binge drinking were the focus of a major conference held in Strabane last week. Approximately 80 people from various statutory and voluntary organisations across the district attended the event, to discuss issues of concern and strategies to tackle these issues.
The aim of this event was to highlight the consequences of alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour in Strabane. Many crimes are attributed to alcohol misuse and it's often a contributory factor in incidents of disorder and assaults.
This event included the launch of 3 local campaigns:
- Binge Drinking Campaign – “You Don't Have to be Drunk to be doing Real Damage”. Binge drinking is four drinks in one session for women and five drinks in one session for men. Binge drinking regularly, even just once a week increases the risk of serious health effects such as high blood pressure and stroke, heart problems and cancer. This campaign urges people to think about the effect your drinking may be having on your body.
- Christmas Drink Driving Campaign. This is the launch of the local Christmas drink driving campaign, where the message is simple “Never, ever drink and drive”. Police do not wish to dampen peoples' spirits over the festive period, however they are determined to tackle the problem of drink-driving across Northern Ireland.
- Strabane Off-Licence Code of Practice. Off-licences in Strabane town have demonstrated their commitment to tackling underage and binge drinking by signing up to a voluntary code of practice. All off-licences will be provided with posters for display in their sales area and staff will be provided with information and literature, which will help them comply with the Code of Practice. By signing up to this code of practice, local off-licences are promoting the socially responsible sale of alcohol. Off-licences have identified 4 types of identification that will be accepted, i.e. passport, driving licence, electoral card and citizenship card.
Chair of Strabane Community Safety Partnership, Cllr Tom McBride said, “There is evidence across Northern Ireland and on a local level that a clear link exists between criminal and anti-social behaviour and the consumption of alcohol by young people. I am therefore delighted to report that all off-licences in Strabane town have signed up to a voluntary Code of Practice, which aims to reduce the availability of alcohol to young people. This is just one part of a larger advertising campaign that will be organised by Strabane Community Safety Partnership in the run up to Christmas to raise awareness of the effect of alcohol misuse on our local community.”
