Alcohol Help

The Royal Borough is reinforcing its commitment to clamp down on local licensees who sell alcohol to minors following a recent test purchase operation during last week’s Alcohol Awareness Week.

Two of the 10 off-licences visited at the weekend by trading standards officers and Thames Valley Police did sell alcohol to two 16-year-old volunteers and will now face appropriate action.

Cllr Phill Bicknell, cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, said: “It is very disappointing that some licensees are still flouting the law and failing to ask for ID – and then selling alcohol to underage young people.

“Alcohol consumption by young teenagers has a profound detrimental effect on their own health and on their communities, with a direct link between alcohol and anti-social behaviour.

“It is clear that there is still work to be done and our trading standards officers will continue to work with the police to tackle the problem of underage sales and deal firmly with business who break the law.

“But our approach is not aimed at just taking action against retailers but also at educating and helping them not to repeat their mistakes. Our advice to supermarkets, off-licences, pubs or restaurants remains the same – no ID, no sale.

Di Wright, Drug and Alcohol Action Team manager and commissioner, said: “This operation is a great example of multi-agency work and shows that the borough is tackling the issue of underage drinking from both sides. Our Three Strikes scheme works directly with young people who are caught drinking in public places while test purchasing operations aim to stop the supply of alcohol to minors. In my view, this approach is the best way forward.”

Debie Pearmain, licensing officer for Windsor and Maidenhead local police area, said: “Two premises failed the recent test purchase operation by selling alcohol to 16- year- old boys. No age or identification was requested. Each premises will be dealt with appropriately. Designated premises supervisors must not sell alcohol to under-aged persons. This will not be tolerated.

“Any premises caught selling alcohol to minors could risk the premises licence being reviewed and a prosecution. They must ask for identification – if that cannot be provided the staff must refuse the sale. Staff must remind themselves of the licensing objectives, in particular the protection of children from harm.”

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Town Hall
St Ives Road
Maidenhead
Berkshire
SL6 1RF

The Royal Borough is reinforcing its commitment to clamp down on local licensees who sell alcohol to minors following a recent test purchase operation during last week’s Alcohol Awareness Week.

Two of the 10 off-licences visited at the weekend by trading standards officers and Thames Valley Police did sell alcohol to two 16-year-old volunteers and will now face appropriate action.

Cllr Phill Bicknell, cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, said: “It is very disappointing that some licensees are still flouting the law and failing to ask for ID – and then selling alcohol to underage young people.

“Alcohol consumption by young teenagers has a profound detrimental effect on their own health and on their communities, with a direct link between alcohol and anti-social behaviour.

“It is clear that there is still work to be done and our trading standards officers will continue to work with the police to tackle the problem of underage sales and deal firmly with business who break the law.

“But our approach is not aimed at just taking action against retailers but also at educating and helping them not to repeat their mistakes. Our advice to supermarkets, off-licences, pubs or restaurants remains the same – no ID, no sale.

Di Wright, Drug and Alcohol Action Team manager and commissioner, said: “This operation is a great example of multi-agency work and shows that the borough is tackling the issue of underage drinking from both sides. Our Three Strikes scheme works directly with young people who are caught drinking in public places while test purchasing operations aim to stop the supply of alcohol to minors. In my view, this approach is the best way forward.”

Debie Pearmain, licensing officer for Windsor and Maidenhead local police area, said: “Two premises failed the recent test purchase operation by selling alcohol to 16- year- old boys. No age or identification was requested. Each premises will be dealt with appropriately. Designated premises supervisors must not sell alcohol to under-aged persons. This will not be tolerated.

“Any premises caught selling alcohol to minors could risk the premises licence being reviewed and a prosecution. They must ask for identification – if that cannot be provided the staff must refuse the sale. Staff must remind themselves of the licensing objectives, in particular the protection of children from harm.”

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Town Hall
St Ives Road
Maidenhead
Berkshire
SL6 1RF
customer.service@rbwm.gov.uk
Tel: 01628 683800

An innovative Royal Borough training scheme for pharmacists could save the NHS and local authorities millions.

That’s the independent estimate of the scheme run by the Royal Borough’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) with NHS Berkshire East to train pharmacists to provide free alcohol advice.

The pilot scheme – launched in the borough in 2010 – is one of five listed in a report by the South East Alcohol Innovation Programme as identifying significant potential cost savings.

The pilot trains pharmacists to:

raise awareness of ‘safe’ alcohol consumption levels
identify the early signs of harmful drinking
offer advice and referral for additional support to people who have drinking problems.

Cllr Simon Dudley, cabinet member for adult and community services and chairman of the shadow health and wellbeing group, said: “It is fantastic to think that our pilot scheme could potentially save the NHS and local authorities millions of pounds if it were to be rolled out nationally.

“Alcohol misuse affects the health service, social care and the criminal justice system – using money which could be put to more constructive use. Everything we can do to help reduce people’s harmful and hazardous drinking is for the good and this Royal Borough pilot has proved to be an effective approach and I am glad its potential has been recognised.”

Lorette Sanders, primary care pharmacist at NHS Berkshire East, said: “Berkshire East pharmacies are currently helping around 30 people a month to identify their drinking levels. Half of these people are in the increasing or high risk drinking categories and are offered advice and further support which can make a real difference to their health and the quality of life for them and those around them.”

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Underage alcohol drinking in public places is being tackled across the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in an innovative ‘three strikes’ approach.

The borough’s Anti-Social Behaviour and Drug and Alcohol Action Teams have joined Thames Valley Police and T2 to launch the three-stage process on Monday 22 August.

This aims to identify young people who are at greater risk of developing an alcohol drink problem and to reduce anti-social behaviour caused by young people who are inebriated.

If the police catch a young person under 18 drinking they will confiscate the alcohol and take the name and address of the young person. The process is as follows:

First time: A letter setting out the three-stage process will be sent to their parents/carers.

Second time: The police will carry out a home visit to speak to the parents/carers of the young person.

Third time: An Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) will be developed requiring a full assessment with the young person’s substance misuse worker at T2 and at least one alcohol awareness session.

Yellow cards outlining this process will be handed out to young people and posters will be distributed to youth centres and secondary schools around the borough at the start of the new term.

The three strikes initiative is just one of a number of actions being taken to address the problems of underage alcohol drinking in the Royal Borough. The police already target ‘hot spots’ around the borough on Friday and Saturday nights as part of Operations Legless and Lawless in an effort to confiscate alcohol from under-18s before they can get drunk.

T2, the borough’s drug and alcohol treatment service, offers advice, information and treatment for those with substance misuse issues and their family and friends.

Cllr Phill Bicknell, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Safety, said: “Alcohol-induced anti-social behaviour negatively impacts on the quality of life for young and old alike. This joint initiative takes a progressively firm stance against those who will not change their behaviour and demonstrates the commitment of all agencies involved in stamping out this type of anti-social behaviour.”

Cllr Simon Dudley, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, said: “Alcohol can be a major factor in incidents of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage by young people in the borough.

“Drinking often leads to risky and damaging behaviour and can also have a serious impact on a young person’s health.

“This is a really good example of partnership working and will hopefully help us to help young people to address their drinking. The effects of alcohol are worse on young people whose bodies are still developing.”

Supt Tim De Meyer, Local Police Area Commander, said: “Underage drinking is a major cause of thuggish behaviour and crime. This new system will reduce these offences, which cause so much distress to residents.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Windsor and Maidenhead

Slough: Cascade
Clinically based counselling and treatment for alcohol misuse.

About us:

Open: Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm

Info: Drug and alcohol service for young people and adults.

Services include: Access to other services, Assessment, Brief interventions, Community care assessment, Consultancy and training, Dual diagnosis, Family and / or couple counselling and support, Group work, Home visits, Information and advice, Key worker, Outreach activities, Relapse prevention, Telephone counselling / helpline, GP advice clinics, Hepatitis B & C Screening, Psychiatric assessment and interventions, workplace services.

The waiting period is approximately 3 weeks and there are an average of 6 sessions for counselling.

There are aftercare services.

Interpreter services could be arranged along with leaflets. Some leaflets available in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu.

Contact Details:

Cascade
Oak House
Upton Hospital
Albert Street
Slough
Berkshire
SL1 2BJ

Telephone: 01753 821789

Windsor: The Cardinal Clinic
Alcohol, Drugs, Addictions & Dependence Treatment

About us:

An estimated 2 million people in the UK have an addiction and making the decision to seek treatment can be one of the hardest decisions a person has to make. The Cardinal Clinic offers a wide range of support and treatments for both substance and behavioural addictions and are tailored to individual needs.

Treatment for most addictions are normally provided on an inpatient basis, however, some patients can benefit from day treatments instead of being an inpatient. This can be for a number of reasons including personal commitments and lifestyles

Many addictions programme start with a detox period which usually lasts between 7-10 days. This is carried out under the medical supervision of a Consultant Psychiatrist and fully trained nursing staff, medication is often prescribed to ease the symptoms of withdrawal. After the detox period the patient will then be assessed again to look at the underlying reasons for the addiction and how to address these reasons.

Alcohol Detox Package

Anyone who feels that drinking is affecting their life would benefit from this treatment. The package is a 10 day programme deisgned to help take the first steps to a new life. You will first have an assessment with one of the Consultant Psychiatrists who specialise in alcohol.

The Package includes:

* Pre-admission assessment by an alcohol team nurse, if required.
* Physical examination
* 10 day In Patient care in one of the Cardinal Clinic’s en suite bedrooms
* In Patient alcohol support group meetings
* Drug treatment, if necessary to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal
* All charges for the Consultant Psychiatrist consultations
* 10 Out Patient support group meetings following discharge

To commence treatment we require a referral letter from your GP. Upon receipt of the referral letter treatment can usually be started within 24 hours. Feel free to contact us for more information.

Contact Details:

The Cardinal Clinic
Bishops Lodge
Oakley Green Road
Oakley Green
Windsor
Berkshire
SL4 5UL

Telephone: 01753 869755