DRINKERS in the North West, including Warrington, have one of the “most unhealthy” attitudes to booze in the country according to a senior police officer.
Cheshire’s Assistant Chief Constable Gary Shewan called for people to look at how much alcohol they buy and said that retailers selling cheap booze added to the problem.
He said: “The North West’s relationship with alcohol is one of the most unhealthy in the country.
“The data we collect within the criminal justice system illustrates the scale of the problem with alcohol being highlighted as a contributing factor in many of the crimes and anti-social behaviour incidents officers attend on a daily basis.”
He said police evidence mirrors that of the health service which shows increases in alcohol related diseases and increased attendance at Accident and Emergency departments throughout the region.
“Each one of us needs to question our own behaviour and ask ourselves why we buy and keep so much alcohol in the home,” he said.
“Retailers are using price and promotion as a lever to increase sales. This encourages volume buying which in turn means we buy more alcohol than we actually need and store it at home making it very accessible to our children.”
His comments follow the release of further information from one of the biggest surveys carried out in the North West on drinking habits. It will give public agencies involved in tackling alcohol related harm an insight into peoples drinking habits.
Mr Shewan said: “The results of the survey are clear. We cannot have a situation where law abiding people are fearful of going into our community and town centres at night because of threatening behaviour. This cannot be right.
“The alcohol industry is facing a tough economic climate, but by employing price and promotional practises that encourage drinking to excess, licensees are excluding a high percentage of people that want to spend money in our town and village centres. These practises therefore must be detrimental to the economy in the North West.”
DRINKERS in Warrington have one of the "most
unhealthy" attitudes to booze in the country according to a senior
police officer.
Drinkers have unhealthy attitude
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
