Alcohol Help

Businesses that persistently sell alcoholic drinks to children could lose their license to sell alcohol in a matter of a few short weeks…

Trading Standards Officers and Warwickshire Police can now stop businesses selling alcohol for up to two weeks where the retailer is found to have made two or more sales of alcohol to children in a three month period.

For many stores that rely wholly or predominately on the sale of alcohol for their profits, such as off-licenses, preventing a retailer from selling alcohol can often have a significant effect upon a business – effectively closing it for trade.

These new powers offer Trading Standards Services the opportunity to take quick and decisive action against problem businesses, whilst still allowing officers to take a full prosecution if a business transgressed further.

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “Most retailers understand the problems caused by under-age drinking, to the health of young people and in terms of anti-social behaviour in the community. They take their responsibilities seriously and ensure that children and young people cannot buy alcohol.

“However, there remains a small minority who despite education, support and warnings, continue to sell to under 18s. This new power will help us to take quick and decisive action against them which will have an effect not only on their alcohol sales, but their entire business.”

In the latest undercover test purchase exercise, 17 alcohol retailers were visited across North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby. Businesses that were suspected of selling alcohol to children were targeted and four sales of alcohol were made to 15 year old child volunteers.

Nuneaton and Bedworth and North Warwickshire: 11 alcohol test purchases attempted and one sale made (in North Warwickshire).
Rugby: six alcohol test purchases attempted and three sales made.

Warwickshire Trading Standards uses information and intelligence gathered from local communities to target problem businesses and investigations by Warwickshire Trading Standards Service are now on-going.

A recent survey has revealed that 20 per cent of 13-year-olds drink alcohol at least once a week. In 2009, the Chief Medical Officer advised that under-15s should not be drinking alcohol at all.
Alcohol misuse is a major public health problem, placing a heavy burden on society, and affecting a large number of individuals of all ages.
A new national alcohol strategy was published in March 2012.
In Warwickshire, alcohol is key public health priority having featured in the Director of Public Health’s annual report of 2011; it is a cross-cutting priority for all four Community Safety Partnerships; and there is Warwickshire wide alcohol implementation plan supported by all key stakeholders.

Under 18?

Contact Compass Warwickshire for drug and alcohol advice, information and specialist treatment on freephone 08000 88 72 48. The service is available between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Please leave a message if your call isn’t answered – someone will get back to you.

More information from – http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/alcohol

In addition to the new powers detailed above, brought in following an amendment to the Licensing Act 2003, Trading Standards Officers also have the option to prosecute as an alternative. The offence of persistently selling alcohol to children now carries a maximum fine of £20,000 (raised from £10,000) and following conviction, a Magistrates court could suspend the retailers licence to sell alcohol for up to three months.

Warwickshire County Council
Shire Hall
Warwick
CV34 4SA

01926 413727

Information will be available in chemists around Warwickshire for the whole month as part of a health improvement campaign to raise awareness of the harm alcohol can cause.

As part of the Public Health campaign, training has also been arranged for pharmacy staff to help them speak to the public about alcohol and safe drinking.

Coventry and Warwickshire’s treatment service, The Recovery Partnership, who are commissioned by the Warwickshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), will train pharmacy counter staff to understand alcohol units and safer drinking limits, and learn more about the risks from excessive alcohol use. This will give them confidence to speak to customers about alcohol and signpost them to further services more appropriately.

This is part of a wider NHS Warwickshire Public Health project – the Health Champion Programme – set up to address a range of health related matters in partnership with the Local Pharmaceutical Committee and all pharmacies across the county.

Under the programme, pharmacies support three nominated public health topics each year by setting up visual displays, providing information, and offering advice to customers.

Warwickshire’s Director of Public Health, John Linnane, said: “Pharmacies were an obvious choice for us as venues for the mini health campaigns as they are well positioned in local communities and convenient for patients and the public.

“As they have regular contact with members of the public, pharmacy staff can have a great impact on improving the health of people in Warwickshire.

As well as alcohol, in 2012, we will also be looking at mental health and wellbeing, and healthy eating so similar campaigns on these themes will run in pharmacies later in the year.”

Paul Hooper, Warwickshire’s Substance Misuse Manager added: “The DAAT are pleased to be involved in this health campaign with local pharmacies. Alcohol misuse is a serious issue which causes a great deal of harm to individuals and their families so we welcome the opportunity to raise awareness of the issue.

“By passing on information safe drinking limits and offering advice to help people manage their alcohol intake, we hope to bring down the number of alcohol related hospital admissions, reduce the number of people in treatment and improve general health of the Warwickshire residents.”

For alcohol advice from the DAAT go to www.warwickshire.gov.uk/alcohol and to find out more about the Recovery Partnership visit www.cw-recovery.org.uk/

Warwickshire County Council
Shire Hall
Warwick
CV34 4SA

01926 410410

ESH Rugby Family Support Group, Rugby
For those addicted to or affected by alcohol dependency

About us:

Service details; ESH run support and information groups for
family members and friends of those with a drug or alcohol problem.

Information and opportunity to discuss: Alcohol and drugs awareness;
Treatment service providers and how treatment works; Legal concerns;
Financial and housing implications; Education, training and employment;
Harm minimisation; Personal experiences

Opening times; ESH Works office during normal working hours.
Appointments will be at the locations in the evenings 7.00pm onwards.
They must be booked at latest by the end of the previous day.

Catchment area; Warwickshire

Referral method; Self-referral

Contact Details:

ESH Rugby Family Support Group
Top Hill Support Services
56 Regent Street
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV21 2PS

Telephone: 01926 333224

Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service is cracking down on the sale of alcohol to children in a pre-Easter blitz.

Trading Standards Officers, supported by Warwickshire Police, carried out undercover test purchases of alcohol at 14 off-licenses and 3 pubs at locations in Rugby and South Warwickshire during March.

Three sales were made, two in South Warwickshire (one at a pub and one at an off-license) and one in Rugby (at an off-license).

Child volunteers, aged 14-16 with parental permission attempted to buy alcohol at the 17 separate on and off-license premises which included corner shops, small supermarkets, garages, national off-license chains and pubs.

Where sales were made, Police issued the seller with an £80 fixed penalty notice and Trading Standards Officers are now investigating the matter further.

Warwickshire Trading Standards has a number of options it can take ranging from advice to prosecution. Businesses could also face having additional conditions placed on their license to sell alcohol, or face losing it altogether.

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection said: “The Trading Standards Service works hard to educate shop owners and staff on the measures they can take to stop the sale of alcohol to children.”

“I would like to thank the majority of retailers who have consistently shown that they take their responsibilities seriously and do not sell alcohol to those aged under 18.”

“Under age drinking is a major cause of anti-social behaviour in our communities and can damage the health of young people.”

“We will continue our undercover work and take action against those businesses that are allowing children to buy alcohol.”

Warwickshire County Council
Shire Hall
Warwick
CV34 4SA

01926 410410

ESH Shipston-on-stour Support Group, Shipston-on-stour
Support and information group for friends & family of those with an alcohol problem

About us:

ESH run support and information groups for family members and friends of those with an alcohol problem. Whether you want to contribute something to help others or you need some support or assistance yourself, just come along and meet other people in the same position and see how you can help each other.

Opening times; ESH Works office during normal working hours. Appointments will be at the locations in the evenings 7.00pm onwards. They must be booked at latest by the end of the previous day.

Catchment area; Warwickshire

Referral method; Self-referral

Contact Details:

ESH Shipston-on-stour Support Group
Ellen Badger Hospital
Stratford Road
Shipston-on-stour
Warwickshire
CV36 4AX

Telephone: 01926 333224

Compass Coventry Young People’s alcohol Substance, Coventry
We work with young people as individuals, tackling their alcohol substance misuse.

About us:

The Compass Coventry Young People’s alcohol Service provides targeted and specialist interventions for young people, aged up to 18, who are affected by their own or another’s substance misuse.

The alcohol service also supports families and fellow professionals in the wider children’s workforce. The team work in partnership with the adult Community Drugs Team to deliver a range of health care interventions such as heath assessments, NEX provision, BBV screening and vaccinations and pharmacological (detoxification and prescribing).

The team also provide a dedicated service for the Youth Offending Team for young people identified through the Asset process.

The alcohol service operates out of a discreet central base, located close to partner agencies for young people, as well as providing an outreach service through satellite venues across the city.

Compass works closely with Youth Justice Services and is increasing the number of referrals into specialist alcohol treatment from other agencies by working closely with CAMHS, A&E, school nurses and children and family teams. The range of support offered to fellow professionals includes weekly professional surgeries with early intervention teams, attendance at three way meetings and early identification and engagement training for frontline staff.

The Compass team is addressing a general under representation of young females and young people from BME groups in the specialist service by working directly with strategic groups and other local providers such as LGBT services and CEMAP (Coventry Ethnic Minority Action Partnership) and ACCOL (African Caribbean Community Organisation Ltd) to raise the profile of services within diverse communities.

Opening times; Mon – Thu 9am – 5pm (Weds 6.30). Fri 9am – 4.30pm.

Contact Details:

Compass Coventry Young People’s alcohol Substance
12 Warwick Row
Coventry
West Midlands
CV1 1EX

Telephone: 024 7625 1653

Residents in Coventry and Warwickshire who have an alcohol problem now have access to a new integrated and recovery-focused treatment service – The Recovery Partnership.

The Coventry partnership is provided by Addaction and Cranstoun, two national substance misuse charities which between them operate over 100 specialist services.

The Coventry Recovery Partnership is a one-stop-shop for people with a dependency on drugs and/or alcohol. It will build on the success of previous services and continue to offer interventions – such as drug and alcohol advice and information, needle exchange services, a range of treatment options including prescribing, detoxification and support for those going through the criminal justice system – but with a sharper focus on helping people to become drug or alcohol free.

The Recovery Partnership also provides structured day-care, aftercare and support for parents and carers to help people achieve and maintain this freedom from dependency. It replaces drug and alcohol services previously provided by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (services known as CDTs), Trust the Process Counselling, Swanswell Charitable Trust, Warwickshire Probation Trust and West Midlands Police.

”Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, said: “Addaction and Cranstoun have already been delivering some drug and alcohol services in Warwickshire and we are confident that they will be effective in providing the joint service and improving the lives of those affected by drugs and alcohol.”

Coventry City Councillor Phil Townshend, Cabinet Member for Community safety and Equalities added: “Alcohol and drug misuse blights the lives of individuals, families and whole communities. Effective treatment – alongside policing, licensing and prevention – is crucial to making everyone healthier and safer.

“This new contract will build on the good performance of current providers in reducing the harm to individuals and communities and improve the support available to individuals wanting to become – and remain – free from drug and alcohol addictions.

The contract across Coventry and Warwickshire is worth £15.3 million over two years. It is believed to be the largest single contract of its type in the country.

A separate contract to offer services for young people with drug and alcohol issues in Warwickshire was also tendered at the same time. This has been awarded to national service provider Compass who took up the service at the start of the month.

Service bases will be open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, with extended hours (evenings and weekends) to be confirmed.
Full contact details:

Nuneaton & North Warwickshire
37-38 Coton Rd, Nuneaton, CV11 5TW
Tel: 02476 641100
Fax: 02476 388060

Rugby
1 Regent Place, Rugby, CV21 2PJ
Tel: 01788 569582
Fax: 01788 562576

Stratford & South Warwickshire
Stratford Healthcare, Arden Street, CV37 6HJ
Tel: 01789 206770
Fax: 01789 417750

Leamington & Warwick
16 Court St, Leamington Spa, CV31 2BB
Tel: 01926 885000
Fax: 01926 435198

Coventry

8 Ironmonger Row, Coventry, CV1 1FD
Tel: 02476 630135
Fax: 02476 234686

Recovery Partnership Coventry
8 Ironmonger Row
Coventry
Warwickshire
CV1 1FD
West Midlands
Tel: 02476 630135

Coventry Police support the Godiva Festival every year and 2011 looks set to be another successful year with local neighbourhood officers, special constables and dedicated alcohol licensing officers all on hand to ensure a safe, fun event for all the family.

In partnership with Coventry City Council, the police work closely with event stewards to implement restrictions on drinking alcohol in the War Memorial Park over the course of the three-day festival.

The city of Coventry is covered by a Designated Public Places Order (DPPO) which means that it is an offence to drink alcohol on unlicensed premises in an open public space, including parks.

Members of the public are asked not to bring their own alcohol to the festival or drink in the family areas of the park. Alcohol can be purchased from an on-site licensed bar and consumed within a designated area. Alcohol can’t be taken into or out of this fenced area.

The DPPO gives officers the power to remove alcohol from an individual. They are also able to enforce a £50 fine for over-16s where appropriate, or a £30 fine for juveniles aged between 10 and 15.

Inspector Alastair Orencas, heading up the policing operation for the event, said: “The Godiva Festival is a fantastic event for the city that we want people of all ages to be able to enjoy. There will always be a small minority intent on drunkenness but this is usually far outweighed by crowds of local people just having a great time.

“Our main message is that if you bring your own alcohol to the festival, you will be asked to surrender it, possibly be refused entry to the music tents and risk missing out on seeing your favourite band.”

Chief Inspector Kerry Blakeman will be keeping residents and festival-goers up-to-date with all the latest information.

In addition to high visibility patrols in the park and surrounding areas, officers will be available for advice at the community police van which will be stationed alongside the other stalls at the event. Prior to and during the festival, Earlsdon neighbourhood officers will also be visiting local off-licenses to raise awareness of the alcohol restrictions in place.

Please remember:

· Don’t bring your own alcohol to the festival as it will be confiscated and you could face a fine

· If you’re bringing a vehicle, park it sensibly, considerately and legally. And never drink and drive – alcohol and drugs directly affect your ability to drive

· Stay with friends, look after your personal property and don’t bring anything with you that you can’t afford to lose

· Consider residents living close to the park and keep noise to a minimum when you leave, especially later on in the evening.

Warwickshire Policy Authority