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Concern over alcohol levels
AS national Alcohol Awareness week approaches, statistics have revealed that excessive drinking is causing a very real problem for people in Redditch and Bromsgrove and across Worcestershire.
According to recently released figures, in Worcestershire during 2005/06, 2,368 males and 1,678 females of all ages were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related reasons. A total of 250 of these were aged under 18.
For those people under 18 living in Redditch and Bromsgrove and throughout Worcestershire, these figures are significantly worse than both regional and national averages.
A total of 17.5 per cent of the population aged 16 and over in Worcestershire are binge drinking, which is just marginally under the regional average of 17.9 per cent and the national average of 18 per cent. These statistics are taken from the North West Public Health Observatory report Indications of Public Health in the English Regions 2007.
| “During Alcohol Awareness Week, I suggest we all take a moment to reflect on how much we drink." | | Emma Coll, from the Worcestershire Community Alcohol Team |
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Emma Coll, from the Worcestershire Community Alcohol Team, said: "During Alcohol Awareness Week, I suggest we all take a moment to reflect on how much we drink. There's a need to guard against getting into risky habits, particularly if we socialise regularly or frequently buy alcohol to drink at home."
The government's recommended limits for safe drinking are 2-3 units a day for women and 3-4 units per day for men.
Safe, Sensible. Social - The Next Steps in the National Alcohol Strategy, published by the government, states that we all need to work together towards an environment that actively promotes sensible drinking, concentrating on combating alcohol-related crime and disorder.
During the awareness week, which runs from April 7-11, Worcestershire Community Alcohol Team will be out and about in the area handing out leaflets and information on sensible drinking and giving advice on sensible drinking strategies.
The team will be at the Salters shopping centre, Droitwich Spa, on Tuesday, April 8, from 9.30am-12.30pm, in Bromsgrove High Street the same day from 1.30-4pm and in Redditch's Kingfisher Centre on Wednesday, April 9.
The team will be meeting with Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride and also hope to meet up with Redditch MP Jacqui Smith and mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff to discuss the county's issues.
11:37am Wednesday 26th March 2008
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