BIG DRINK DEBATE LAUNCHES - 19/06/08

The biggest ever survey on alcohol will be launched in the North West today in a bid to understand why the region has one of the biggest alcohol problems in the country.

In Liverpool, binge drinking, underage drinking and violence through drinking are just some of the problems we face with 247 people admitted to hospital on a monthly basis through alcohol related injuries.

The Big Drink Debate is being launched by Our Life and Government Office North West. It aims to find out people’s views are on drinking and how it affects our health, safety and well being.

The Minister said: “I am pleased to support this innovative approach. This is an exciting opportunity for the people of the North West to shape what action we could take to reduce levels of harmful drinking in our region. I encourage you to go online and fill in the questionnaire.”

Dr Alison Giles, director of the Our Life programme, said: “The Big Drink Debate isn’t a finger pointing exercise telling people they shouldn’t be drinking, but a campaign which we hope will start a conversation around why we have such an unhealthy relationship with alcohol in this region.

“An anonymous questionnaire has been designed and produced to help us understand people’s drinking habits and attitudes towards alcohol and encourage the people of the North West to think about why we drink; where we drink, and what may make us drink less.

“The information we get will help determine whether people feel more action needs to be taken on alcohol issues and to plan what we can all do together to make sure the next generation live longer, healthier lives.”

The Big Drink Debate will gather public opinion through a questionnaire during the three-month campaign.

The Big Drink Debate is being driven by the Our Life initiative which will offer new ways for the NHS, local government, the public, businesses and other sectors to work in partnership to make sure that the NW can become one of the healthiest regions in the country.