Group backs action on binge drinking

Date published: 06 August 2009

A NORTH-WEST campaign group has thrown its support behind Government moves to crack down on boozy drinks promotions.

The group, Our Life, presented Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas with 3,500 signatures in support of a range of measures being considered by the Government to control the sale of alcohol.

The Government has been consulting on the measures, which include a ban on dangerous drinks promotions, such as “all you can drink for a tenner”, with NHS Trusts, licensing authorities and drinks retailers since May.

The meeting with Mr Woolas comes only days before the screening of a “Panorama” programme, to be shown on BBC 1 on Monday, which will focus on the binge drinking culture in Oldham and what is being done to tackle the problem.

Other moves being considered by the Government include providing free tap water and offering smaller measures in pubs and bars.

Earlier this year, Oldham’s Tokyo Project nightclub was thrust into the national spotlight after it was revealed that revellers were being targeted in a promotion which allowed them to drink as much as they wanted for £5.99 every Friday in January.

Mr Woolas, the Regional Minister for the North-West, said: “What is clear is that something needs to be done. Young people are killing themselves.

“The damage to their livers and their bodies that is taking place due to binge drinking and excessive drinking is beyond anything that has happened to previous generations and we have to address it for that health reason.

“The idea that you can go into a club and say drink as much as you like for four or five hours for five or six pounds is obscene in my view.

“People want responsible drinking. They don’t want to go to a nightclub where everybody is falling over and being sick — and worse.

“People are being put off coming into Oldham on Friday and Saturday nights for that reason.”

Dr Alison Giles, chief executive of Our Life, commented: “People in the North-West have given a resounding thumbs down to those who promote excessive drinking.

“Too much drinking leads to enormous personal distress for families blighted by alcohol harm and costs us hundreds of millions to essential public services such as accident and emergency and policing.

“The Government should implement its code of practice as soon as possible, together with further measures to force the drinks industry to behave more responsibly in the way they promote and sell alcohol.

“Our Life will be looking very closely at the detail in that code to make sure that the proposals go far enough to stem the rising tide of public order and health problems.”

The Government will now consider the results of the consultation before making any possible changes to the law, which could be in place by this time next year.