Students across the city are taking a break from partying and getting “cabin fever” by taking time to relax and get pampered in the specially formulated “Chill Out Log Cabin” that is currently touring the city.

The “Chill Out Log Cabin” is being placed near popular student ‘drinking areas’ in the city centre, such as Bold Street, and is providing students with an alternative to alcohol and excessive consumption as well as promoting health and personal safety messages.  

Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Liverpool PCT and alcohol champion said: “There are approximately 40,000 students in Liverpool and they enjoy a vibrant nightlife as many drinking establishments provide cheap drinks offers throughout the week.

“This campaign will not only provide the student community with a positive distraction from drinking while they are enjoying a night out but it will also carry serious health and safety messages about the effects of drinking to encourage students to ‘think before they drink.’"

Inside the cabin students will be able to enjoy free head and shoulder massages, hair and beauty treatments, water and mocktails, games and music all in a fun, friendly, comfortable and safe environment.

Dr Paula Grey, Joint Director of Public Health for Liverpool PCT and Liverpool City Council said: “ Liverpool currently has one of the highest rates of alcohol related hospital admissions in, and we are determined to put in place a programme to reduce such admissions by at least 5% within the next three years.”

Information such as alcohol wheels which show units by type of drink and registered taxi numbers will be available to encourage students to act responsibly and think about their personal safety whilst drinking alcohol. A welfare officer from Young Adaction will also be on hand during some nights to offer advice and support to anyone who is concerned about their alcohol consumption.

Arriva buses have also teamed up with the campaign to promote their night bus service, which operates during the weekend. Promotional leaflets advising students about bus times and routes will be available at the cabin. Posters will also be displayed on their buses to encourage students and other revelers to think and plan how they are going to get home after a night out.

This initiative is part of a wider alcohol awareness campaign that is aimed at students and has been devised following consultation with them about what they think would be effective. Liverpool PCT, Pssst! & Radio City 96.7 will work together to run an on air, online and on the street campaign which will highlight the issues relating to alcohol, which were found to be most hard-hitting amongst students.  

For the first time Bluetooth Technology will be used to carry health messages. Tips and friendly advice about drinking safely will be issued to mobiles in the city centre to ensure students and other drinkers think carefully before thy drink. These messages will be issued during the weekend evenings.

Once the campaign is over, Liverpool PCT is planning to donate the cabin and is currently investigating where its permanent home should be.