Police drive to curb young binge drinkers (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Police drive to curb young binge drinkers

AS figures revealed the horror of binge drinking across the nation this week, Wiltshire Police launched a crackdown on alcohol abuse.

Shocking new statistics uncovering the true extent of the problem nationally show that 13 children a day are being admitted to hospital suffering from the effects of drink.

Closer to home, figures from Salisbury District Hospital reveal approximately 154 people were admitted to A&E between August 2004 and July 2005 with acute alcohol-related problems, while others were referred from GPs with chronic alcohol-related illness.

In response to the binge-drinking culture, Wiltshire Police's Be Safe, Know Your Limits campaign encourages those aged 18-25 to learn about the impact of excess alcohol and to know their limits.

Information packs have already been sent out to pubs, bars and pharmacies across south Wiltshire, focusing on personal health and safety, with licensing officers distributing information to pubs and clubs and chatting to people about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

The force has set out specific targets to try and stamp out the problem, providing treatment, education, earlier intervention and identification, along with rehabilitation and resettlement, support for families and addressing other risk factors.

For full story see this week's Journal.