Safer drinking campaign launched for Christmas and New Year

The Safer Sandwell Partnership, including Sandwell Primary Care Trust, Sandwell Council and Sandwell Police, are running a series of activities, including:

• Hard-hitting, high visibility public health messages on buses and Metro stations around safer drinking, awareness of the effects of alcohol on health and contact details of local alcohol support services
• A safer drinking campaign targeting young people within schools, colleges, pupil referral units, GP practices and other community venues
• Sandwell Police targeting night-time violence and serious violent crime, drunkenness and public order offences in West Bromwich town centre
• Police increasing patrols and visits to licensees; working with housing in targeting tenants whose use of alcohol may cause anti-social behaviour, and thereby affect their tenancies

Neil Parkes, alcohol strategy development manager for Sandwell Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), said: "Christmas is a special time of year when people catch up with families and friends and enjoy good food and drink.

"But excessive or regular drinking over the festive period can damage your stomach lining, affect your mood, weight and sleep, it can lead to liver damage, high blood pressure and heart problems.

"In the longer-term, it can lead to oral and other cancers, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, depression and reduced fertility.

"If you drink excessively, you are more likely to have fights, arguments, money troubles, family upsets, or take risks sexually."

If you are planning to drink this Christmas, drink safely and sensibly:

• Stick to the daily drinking limits: for men - 3 to 4 units; for women 2 to 3 units. One unit is 10ml of alcohol - about equal to the amount in a small pub measure (25ml) of spirits and a half pint of normal strength beer or lager. There are one and a half units of alcohol in a small glass (125ml) of ordinary strength wine or a standard pub measure (35ml) of spirits
• Try not to drink every day and have a couple of drink-free days per week
• Drink water or soft drinks between alcoholic drinks - this will help to rehydrate you
• Don't drink on an empty stomach
• Ensure designated drivers abstain from drinking
• Avoid buying in rounds - it's difficult to keep count of how much you've drunk
• If you have had a lot to drink, allow yourself 48 hours before drinking alcohol again

If you are over 18, live in Sandwell and want to talk to someone about an alcohol issue, telephone Swanswell on 0845 112 0100. If you are under 18, telephone DECCA on 0845 838 5317.

The Safer Sandwell Partnership is Sandwell's community safety partnership including Sandwell PCT, Sandwell Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), Sandwell Council and Sandwell Police and 18 other organisations.