Binge-drinkers urged to alternate splurges (From York Press)

Binge-drinkers urged to alternate splurges

6:16pm Wednesday 4th June 2008

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A THREE-month campaign is being launched in York to highlight the health risks associated with binge drinking.

Revellers will be encouraged to alternate their nights out with nights at home, and alternate their alcoholic drinks with soft drinks, under the banner of Operation ALTN8.

It begins this Saturday and is being run by Safer York Partnership. As well as raising awareness, it will focus on tackling alcohol-related violence and increasing the number of police officers on patrol in the city at weekends.

It also aims to target the health risks of excessive drinking, after statistics from the NHS Hospital Episodes Survey, published in October last year, revealed a stark increase in the number of hospital admissions directly related to drinking.

These included victims of drunken attacks, cases of liver cirrhosis or alcohol poisoning and those hurt in alcohol-related accidents including road collisions.

The figures revealed a north-south divide with the worst problems of hard-drinking in the north east.

Jane Mowat, director of Safer York Partnership, said: "We are aware that York, like any major UK city, suffers from problems of violence and disorder associated with excessive alcohol consumption.

"While the police work hard to deal with the consequences, it is important that we encourage people, particularly young people, to think about the impact that alcohol can have.

"We are promoting a very simple message through ALTN8 that small changes to alcohol consumption can make big differences to health and life expectancy."

The campaign is being supported by the Accident and Emergency department at York Hospital, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, British Transport Police, City of York Council, and Youth Services, who will all be involved over the next three months.

The ALTN8 message and logo will be widely publicised across the city throughout the summer.

Ms Mowat said: "The added benefits of the campaign are that by alternating one alcoholic drink with a soft drink, you will suffer less from hangovers, by remaining sober, you will be less likely to become involved in disorder, will be safer and remember what you did last night."

The operation is part of this year's Feeling And Being Safe In York campaign.

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