Campaign to tackle the soaring cost of alcohol to district is launched next week (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Campaign to tackle the soaring cost of alcohol to district is launched next week
9:00am Wednesday 14th November 2012 in News By Claire Simpson
A major campaign to reduce alcohol-related crime, health and social harms launches in Bradford next week.
The drive is part of national Alcohol Awareness Week which this year has the theme ‘It's time to talk about drinking'.
Latest figures show the total cost of alcohol-related treatment in Bradford in 2010/11 was £35 million, of which £6.7m was for A&E attendances and £7m in outpatients appointments, equating to £88 per adult.
In that period there were 108,190 alcohol-related admissions to hospital, compared to an average in the Yorkshire and Humber region of 72,821.
And there were 138 alcohol-related deaths, of which 101 men and 37 women in the disrict, compared to a regional average of 105. Of those deaths 60 were due to chronic liver disease (41 men and 19 women).
Further figures show that about 89,000 adults in the Bradford district do not drink alcohol however, more than 17,000 people are drinking at levels which could seriously harm their health. A further 75,000 people drink at levels which increases the risk of alcohol-related harm.
During the awareness week, which runs from November 19-25, Bradford Council will join forces with West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Trading Standards and health agencies to highlight alcohol-related problems and encourage residents to drink sensibly.
The Council and alcohol treatment and partner agencies will run special awareness raising sessions in colleges, schools, the University of Bradford and hospitals to encourage people to start talking about the health risks, social problems, stigmas and taboos associated with alcohol.
Council youth workers will tour the Bradford district in a special exhibition bus highlighting alcohol harms and encouraging young people to think carefully about the impact alcohol can have on them and others.
The Police will crack down on drink-fuelled crime with operations against drink driving and anti-social behaviour.
Off licenses will be targeted by Trading Standards and the Police in test purchasing operations in a bid to reduce underage alcohol sales.
Steve Hartley, a Bradford Council assistant director, who is responsible for neighbourhoods, said: “Drinking too much is having a devastating and wide reaching impact on society and we are working together with partners to prevent and tackle the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption. We are addressing the issue on all fronts, from prevention work in schools to law enforcement and rehabilitation.
Superintendent Vince Firth, of the Bradford District Community Safety Partnership, said: “Tackling drunkenness, anti-social behaviour and alcohol fuelled violence is a key priority for West Yorkshire Police.
“We also know without doubt that alcohol is linked to all types of violent crime and in partnership we are determined to tackle this issue across the district.”
“Our message is simple, if you enjoy a drink, don't overdo it. Know your limits and never get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you have had alcohol.”
The Chief Medical Officer's guidelines on lower-risk drinking recommend no more than three to four units daily for men and two to three for women. Two alcohol-
Comments(18)
ertnec
says...
10:20am Wed 14 Nov 12
The Legion
says...
10:48am Wed 14 Nov 12
Old Dave
says...
10:49am Wed 14 Nov 12
On reflection, just one thing to say; the government will only take action when the amount of spending by them on alcohol related issues is greater than the amount collected in taxes and alcohol duties. And they way the tax is going up, that will be never!
Another Landless Peasant
says...
12:14pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Andy2010
says...
12:41pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Another Landless Peasant wrote:£20k to treat someone who did this to themselves....no thanks
The Government needs to provide more funding for specialist re-hab clinics where people with alcohol addictions can be treated. It will cost somewhere in the region of £20,000 per person.
I'd rather supply them with a gallon of vodka and hoped they killed themselves
bullsone03
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12:45pm Wed 14 Nov 12
yorkshiredude
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1:10pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Better investment of treatment and rehab for alcoholics would also help too.
I can see none of this happen, bar the minimum pricing maybe, to act as another regressive tax!
Another Landless Peasant
says...
2:35pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Albion.
says...
3:08pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Another Landless Peasant wrote:A good many of the people referred to here, aren't alcoholics, they are just caught in a social habit where to many people, drinking or rather over drinking is an accompaniment to other leisure pursuits.
What about cancer sufferers, do you want them to kill themselves too Andy? Alcoholism is an illness that requires medical treatment. The manufacturers and retailers should help foot the bill as well as the taxpayer.
MontyLeMar
says...
5:05pm Wed 14 Nov 12
The Legion wrote:Absolutely right. The supermarkets are the problem with alcohol at ridiculously low prices. Where is the government action there? Pubs are closing because people can't afford the drinks and it is a controlled, sociable - hopefully - drinking environment which can make a significant contribution to a local community. It's as if the government want people to buy from supermarkets and sit at home sinking into oblivion watching Corrie while destroying their liver drinking cheap cider. Government policy on this stinks of hypocrisy.
It easily sorted, make beer in pubs cheaper. That way your taking the issue off street corners, Landlords can not by law serve someone who is already drunk. The perfect self policing system..... thats probably why its been around for hundreds of years before Governments see it as another cash cow to match fuel and cars........ Or we keep making beer more expensive and that way the control will slip over to the drug dealers whos services will be cheaper and easier to access.
Yorkshire Lass
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5:22pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Another Landless Peasant wrote:Alcoholism is a self inflicted illness as with drug addition and food addiction. There are far too many people in this country who just expect the taxpayer to pay for their treatments. A bit of will power would not would help in these hard times. As anyone ever done a survey as to what people spend on getting themeslves in this state in the frist place. Now that would make interesting reading!
What about cancer sufferers, do you want them to kill themselves too Andy? Alcoholism is an illness that requires medical treatment. The manufacturers and retailers should help foot the bill as well as the taxpayer.
Another Landless Peasant
says...
6:05pm Wed 14 Nov 12
No it's not, it is an illness you are born with.
Albion.
says...
6:16pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Another Landless Peasant wrote:It is possible to build up dependency through excessive consumption though.
"Alcoholism is a self inflicted illness..."
No it's not, it is an illness you are born with.
bobbyo
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7:16pm Wed 14 Nov 12
mr-dog
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8:46pm Wed 14 Nov 12
lazybeat
says...
9:17pm Wed 14 Nov 12
MontyLeMar
says...
9:19pm Wed 14 Nov 12
mr-dog wrote:I think you'll find the idiots are going to put the price up even more in pubs but leave the supermarkets alone to sell their cut-price hooch to the real problem drinkers who end up in the hospital wards.
About time too - beer is far too expensive nowadays ;-)
collos25 says...
10:17am Wed 14 Nov 12
And pigs might fly.