‘Try’ to make responsible drinking your ‘goal’
A group tasked with reducing alcohol-related harm in Warwickshire is asking people to drink sensibly as they enjoy some big sporting events happening this week.
They include rugby union’s European Challenge Cup Final between ASM Clermont Auvergne and Bath on Saturday (19 May) and the Heineken Cup Final between the Leicester Tigers and London Wasps on Sunday (20 May).
Football fans will be looking forward to the FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United (Saturday 19 May) and the Champions League Final between AC Milan and Liverpool (Wednesday 23 May).
A multi-agency Alcohol Task Group for Warwickshire is urging rugby and football fans to drink responsibly as they watch teams battle it out in these major cup final ties.
The group, which includes Warwickshire County Council, the local Primary Care Trusts, local service providers, Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire Probation Service and the District and Borough Councils, has recently produced a new Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for Warwickshire.
Lorna Ferguson, Alcohol Joint Commissioning Manager for Warwickshire County Council’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team, said: “Many people like a drink when they are watching the rugby or the football, as they feel it helps them relax and enjoy themselves.
"We want people to enjoy themselves while watching these big matches, but there is a difference between drinking responsibly and drinking excessively.
“Irresponsible drinking can not only cause significant harm to people’s health but also can also lead to other problems such as crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. Alcohol-related harm costs Warwickshire around £8 million each year.”
The link between sporting events and alcohol consumption is also a factor in around a half of all cases of domestic violence, and there are around 12,000 incidents of alcohol-related domestic violence in Warwickshire each year.
Lorna Ferguson concluded: “Each year in Warwickshire there are around 200 admissions to Accident & Emergency through injury as a direct result of alcohol, so we would urge people to think before they drink and ensure they don’t get injured, end up in A&E, or even in a police cell.”
Here are some tips for safe drinking while enjoying the big game:
• Pace yourself with water or a soft drink after every alcoholic drink.
• Eat before you start drinking, or at least enjoy snacks or a meal with your drink.
• If you’re going out in the car to watch the rugby or football, decide beforehand who’ll be your “Des” – your designated non-drinking driver.
• Or plan a safe way to get home before you go, using public transport or licensed taxi companies.
For more information, visit Warwickshire’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) website by following the link below.