Alcohol dangers highlighted as campaign targets young and old

Bradford Chief Inspector Suzanne Akeroyd said: "It is extremely important that we use every means possible to communicate with people about the affects and consequences of alcohol.

"This is a subject that spans various agencies in the district, whether it relates to the health implications involved, its effect on the community or on the levels of crime."

Nina Smith, Bradford Council's lead for alcohol and drugs, said: "Alcohol has a significant and wide ranging impact on our communities.

"It is estimated that the annual cost of alcohol use in the Bradford district is between 160m and 240m.

"Human suffering is very difficult to measure, however we know that it has strong connections with crime, anti-social behaviour, road accidents, physical health and a whole range of social problems.

"Prevention, education, regulation, enforcement and rehabilitation are all important elements in our strategy to the reduce harm caused by alcohol."

Tim Fielding, Registrar in Public Health for NHS Bradford and Airedale, added: "We can all enjoy the occasional drink, but too much alcohol on a regular basis is likely to cause long-term damage to your health increasing the risk of heart disease, strokes, and some cancers.

"We are all concerned that over the past decade, alcohol misuse has increased, binge drinking has risen dramatically and alcohol-related hospital admissions have soared.

"There is a range of practical support and advice on offer across the district to people with alcohol problems.

"This includes a new specialist nurse service based at Bradford Hospitals Trust who provides help for people visiting A&E or using in-patient services.

"We are keen to hear from residents out there who may be struggling to cope with their own or a relative's level of drinking, so that we can make sure that our services are meeting their needs."

And teenagers at schools are learning about the risks of drinking too much alcohol as part of a major campaign being launched in the district this week.

Bradford Council's youth service have a team visiting several secondary schools including Thornton Grammar, Buttershaw School and Beckfoot School as well as some pupil referral units so that youngsters can learn about the range of risks they face if they drink too much alcohol.

They will get the chance to wear "beer goggles" and see if they can walk in a straight line. The goggles simulate the effects of drunkenness so they see how much it affects their balance and their reactions.

But they will also learn how to be aware and prevent their drinks being "spiked" with spirits or wine which makes their drink stronger, or even worse drugs that may render them unconscious.

The youth workers also emphasise that they are not just harming themselves when drinking too much alcohol – for instance pregnant girls can harm their unborn children with babies being born suffering from foetal alcohol syndrome.

Coun Imran Hussain, executive member for community safety and deputy leader of the council, said: "We want to get the message across as early as possible to our schoolchildren that not only is it illegal for them to drink alcohol under the age of 18 but it can be very dangerous.

"It can make them vulnerable to attacks in the street as well as induce long term health problems."