Developed by Safer South Gloucestershire, the strategy will mean increased treatment and support for alcohol service users and their families/carers and plans to reduce the growing trend of alcohol misuse and alcohol related disorder.
Olwen Kelly, community safety and substance misuse manager, said: “The overarching aim of the South Gloucestershire alcohol strategy is to minimise the health harms, violence and anti-social behaviour associated with alcohol, whilst ensuring that the people of South Gloucestershire are able to enjoy alcohol in a social, safe and sensible manner.
“Alcohol is a legal substance and can be enjoyed socially by most adults in moderation. But there is a growing recognition of the effect of alcohol misuse on individuals, families and society. The misuse of alcohol has a big impact on the safety of individuals and communities, and can be a contributing factor to wider issues such as anti-social behaviour, violent crime and domestic violence.
“If you drink to excess on a night out you are putting yourself at greater risk of robbery, assault, sexual assault or an accident. There are also health warnings which come with excessive drinking such as liver disease, stomach cancer and alcohol poisoning.”
The South Gloucestershire alcohol harm reduction strategy has been developed in response to the Government’s national Alcohol Strategy 2004 and the more recent launch of its Safe, Sensible and Social campaign which is a programme of action to build on the progress already made by local areas in reducing the growing trend of alcohol misuse and alcohol related disorder.
Olwen continued: “The strategy aims to reduce alcohol-related problems through partnership working, in order to improve the quality of life for South Gloucestershire residents, workers, businesses and visitors. It sets out five key priorities and detailed action plans have been developed against each of these to ensure they are effectively addressed.
“It will be vital that partners within South Gloucestershire work together to ensure the strategy is implemented effectively, and that a multi-agency response is given in order to tackle alcohol misuse and the significant impact it has on individuals, our young people and our local communities.”
Encouraging everyone in South Gloucestershire who drinks to do so in a safe, sensible and social way is a challenge that the strategy aims to meet by bringing together the right people, organisations and community groups to focus on:
• Effective information and communication
• Tackling and reducing alcohol-related crime and disorder
• Protecting young people from alcohol-related harm
• Improved identification of treatment and care
• The development of responsible licensee and retail trading
The strategy is underpinned by Government indicators given nationally to police, health and local authorities. These indicators are included in Local Area Agreements which will provide a measurement of the progress of local alcohol strategies.
To view the strategy and have a say visit https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk The consultation runs until 24th October and results are expected to be published in November.