Will drink campaign have any effect?

A RUMMAGE in the recycling bin could turn into a health check, according to The Drinkaware Trust.

The independent charity, which aims to reduce alcohol harm, launched a £1 million campaign this week to highlight excessive drinking in the home.

New research shows one in six people worry about the amount they drink due to the number of bottles they recycle.

And frequent visitors to the bottle bank could be at risk of long-term drink-related health problems.

Reporter BEATRIZ AYALA took to Oldham town centre to ask residents about the new campaign.

ARRON Stone (22), originally from Royton but living in Ashton, said he tended to drink more in the pub than at home.

He said: “I’ve been on an alcohol awareness course for drink-driving and that has definitely changed my ways.

“I don’t drink that much anyway but I tend to drink more in the pub than at home.

“The campaign is a good idea but putting more pressure on people to not drink or drink less could have the opposite effect.”

Gemma Regan (18), from Shaw, said it was easy to drink more at home, especially with friends.

She said: “I can believe that people are drinking more at home because when I get together with my friends, we can get through four or five bottles of wine in one night.

“I don’t think the campaign will stop people drinking so much.

“You need to change people’s attitudes towards drink and it would be better to tackle social drinking than in the home.”

Francess Slater (50), from Royton, said: “With the smoking ban in pubs, more people are drinking at home.

“And there are lots of special offers in shops to encourage you to stay in and drink.”

Her daughter, Melanie Slater (31), from Royton, said: “The campaign would be a wake up call to people who drink a lot but I think they would slip again, especially as Christmas is coming.”

Louise Avery (24), from Stalybridge, said she would be shocked if she checked her recycling.

She said: “While I might have the odd drink with a meal during the week, I do binge drink at the weekend.

“I can get through half a litre of vodka, and drink more at home because it is so expensive in bars.

“I know I drink too much and I do worry about my health, but you tend not to when you’ve got a glass in your hand.”

Andy Williams (22), from Fitton Hill, said the campaign might make people worry too much.

He said: “It’s a bit cheeky. It’s a person’s own business how much they drink and if they want to drink that much.

“The campaign might be scaring people unnecessarily.”

Pal Phil Glaysher (22), from Limeside, said he had started to think about his health more.

He said: “I’ve stopped smoking so have stopped drinking as well as I always did the two together.”

Bill Faulkner (68), from Bardsley, thought while the campaign would make people more aware of how much they drank, it would not affect the amount they consumed.

He said: “I don’t think people would check their recycling because they are too busy these days.

“Being 68, I’m looking at four walls all day so I like the social side of drinking and have a few pints at the pub, although I do think of my health a lot.

“The campaign will make people more aware but maybe not change their drinking.”

James Jackson (75), from Ashton, said: “Alcohol is OK in moderation.

“People have been forced into taking it home because of the price of it in pubs today.

“But I can still get a pint of mild for £1.35 in my local social club.”

Retired GP Stewart Bailey (65), from Royton, thought the campaign was a good idea.

He said: “It’s very easy to go to a supermarket and buy a bottle of wine without realising the strength of it.

“You pour yourself a glass thinking it’s a pub measure and you are actually pouring twice as much.

“It’s also easy to not know if you are over the limit the next day. The campaign is a good idea.”