Public safety and health organisations in Sandwell are stepping up their drive to tackle the borough’s higher than average number of alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions.
The Safer Sandwell Partnership is planning a mixture of hard-hitting action and health advice for next week’s national Alcohol Awareness Week (14-20 November).
The Partnership, which includes Sandwell Police, Sandwell Council, Sandwell Primary Care Trust and many other organisations, is responding to the challenge from Alcohol Concern to start a new debate on the harmful effects of excessive drinking.
As part of Alcohol Awareness Week in Sandwell:
# Borough probation officers – from Staffordshire & West Midlands Probation Trust – working in partnership with local alcohol counselling services, will be carrying out targeted work with offenders on alcohol issues
# Partnership teams will be visiting pubs and clubs across the borough to make sure licensing conditions are being kept to and to raise awareness of the way alcohol can lead to violence, disorder and health problems
# Council wardens and Sandwell’s young people’s drug and alcohol service, DECCA, will be carrying out joint patrols in places where young people are known to drink in public, to confiscate drinks but also to offer health advice and information
# Public health, council and police officers will be going on local radio to help raise awareness of alcohol issues
The Partnership will also be encouraging Sandwell people to take part in Alcohol Concern’s national online debate, which asks: “Is the social cost of alcohol too high?” and “What is a drink problem?”. You can take part in the conversation by visiting Alcohol Concern’s Facebook page.
Alcohol Awareness Week will also see Alcohol Concern launch its charter for a world free from alcohol harm. It will also publish reports on its recommendations for the Government’s imminent alcohol strategy and alcohol advertising and marketing in relation to advertising standards.
Carl Griffin, consultant in public health for Sandwell Primary Care Trust, said, “In Sandwell, alcohol-related mortality rates, including those related to liver disease are significantly higher than both regional and national averages.
“It is estimated there are over one hundred alcohol related deaths per year in Sandwell which also has the ninth highest rate for alcohol-related hospital admissions in England out of 152 local authorities.#
“Although many of us enjoy a drink, for some it may cause serious problems. Alcohol affects your judgement, so you do things you wouldn’t normally think of. It makes you less aware of risks and so more vulnerable. You are more likely to have fights, arguments, money troubles, family upsets, or take risks sexually.
“Alcohol contributes to accidents at home, on the roads, in the water and on playing fields. Heavy drinking, particularly over time, can lead to a number of health conditions including oral and other cancers, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, cirrhosis of the liver, depression and reduced fertility.”
Activities during Alcohol Awareness Week follow on from the recent Safer 6 campaign in Sandwell, which saw a number of alcohol-related operations, including alcohol being detained by HM Revenue & Customs officers, supported by Sandwell Police. And fake and potentially dangerous booze was seized by Sandwell Council trading standards officers.
Council wardens and police also seized alcohol from nuisance drinkers in public. Sandwell Council young people’s services and DECCA (Drug Education, Counselling and Confidential Advice) gave advice on alcohol issues to young people visiting Sandwell Youth Bus out in the community.
Councillor Derek Rowley, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “We are not killjoys – but we know that some people are drinking too much, and this can have an impact not only on their own lives but also the lives, and safety, of the wider community.
“I am pleased to see the partner organisations working together, as they do all year round, to target problems and raise additional awareness during Alcohol Awareness Week.”
Over 10 million adults in England are now drinking more than the recommended daily limit, with 2.6 million of them drinking more than twice that.
The total cost of alcohol harm in terms of health, welfare and crime costs is estimated to be between £17.7 billion and £25.1 billion a year and for Sandwell this is estimated to be between £150 million and £210 million per year.
# The recommended safe limits for alcohol are that women should not drink more than two to three units of alcohol per day and men, three to four units a day. Where one unit is 10mls of alcohol – the amount in a standard pub measure of spirits, a half pint of normal strength beer or lager, or a small glass of wine.
# If you would like help to work out whether you’re drinking too much, and if so, what you can do about it, visit the ‘Down your drink’ website and take part in a survey.
# You can also download Alcohol Concern’s new poster on drink strength – ‘What’s in your drink?’
# If you are over 18, live in Sandwell and want to talk to someone about an alcohol issue telephone 0121 525 9292 (after December 1, please telephone 0845 112 0100). If you are under 18, phone DECCA on 0845 838 5317.
Sandwell Council,
PO Box 2374,
OLDBURY B69 3DE.