Manifesto for reducing alcohol harm in the South East launches: Professionals called to sign up

21/12/2009

As professionals gear up to face the effects of excessive alcohol consumption this Christmas, a new manifesto for the South East looks at how problems linked to drinking too much should be tackled.

The manifesto, launched on 18 December by the Big Drink Debate, outlines a vision to address alcohol-related health and social issues. It is based on findings from research and public debates which took place in the South East in autumn 2009, and encompasses the views of many professionals and members of the public. It highlights the need to:

• Support police forces in tackling anti-social behaviour and alcohol related crimes
• Work to reduce family breakdown and domestic abuse linked to alcohol
• Explore whether minimum prices and restrictions on cheap alcohol sales should be introduced
• Make adult drinkers of all ages aware of health risks from drinking above guidelines, not just binge drinkers
• Help employers advise staff on potential effects of their drinking

Professionals in the South East, along with others working in the alcohol field, can select which points the region should prioritise at www.bigdrinkdebateSE.org.uk/manifesto . Members of the public are also encouraged to state their preference. The manifesto will be open for people across the region to sign up to until 31 January.

The Big Drink Debate aims to develop a coordinated approach to tackling alcohol related issues across health, community safety, industry, retail and education sector professional networks and services in the South East. It is hoped that professionals will use the manifesto points receiving most support on the Big Drink Debate website to inform their work around alcohol.

Dr Yvonne Doyle, Regional Public Health Director for NHS South East Coast, which is behind the project, said:

"During the festive season, the effects of alcohol are at the forefront of many professional's minds. I call on your readers to register their support for the Big Drink Debate manifesto and to share it with colleagues. This is an important opportunity for professionals to contribute to the development of alcohol priorities for the South East."

A number of areas in the South East, including Eastbourne, Portsmouth, Thanet, Hastings, Brighton and Hove, Rushmoor and Worthing, have alcohol-related hospital admission rates above the national average. Despite the region being one of the safest in the country, there are many violent crimes each year and communities are reporting concerns about anti-social behaviour - alcohol can play a significant part in both areas. The highest rates of alcohol-related recorded crime in the South East are found in Slough, Reading, Southampton, Oxford and Milton Keynes.

The Big Drink Debate is being led by NHS South Central, NHS South East Coast and the Government Office for the South East. It follows a request from the Chief Medical Officer for the NHS to run Big Drink Debates to capture regional views on alcohol.

To register support for the manifesto, go to www.bigdrinkdebateSE.org.uk/manifesto , where a full Big Drink Debate report on the research and public debates is also available.