Alcohol: Facts, Risks, Consequences

Community Safety partners across Oxfordshire are launching a four-month campaign to tackle the bad consequences of drinking alcohol.

The campaign, which runs from October to January 2010, will encourage local people to:

• get the facts;
• weigh up the risks; and
• live with the consequences

of alcohol misuse, like heavy drinking and binge drinking.

What are the dangers of alcohol misuse?

Alcohol misuse is dangerous for your health. It can also harm and upset your family and friends. It is also a major cause of anti-social behaviour, vandalism, violence and road casualties.

Not convinced? 59% of 11-19 year olds who participated in the Oxfordshire Children and Young People Survey 2009 agreed drinking alcohol is a big problem among adults.

• Find out more about Alcohol and Safer Drinking in the Online Survival Guide

January: Focus on General Information

Safer Oxfordshire has produced a series of posters and postcards giving general information about units, healthy limits and the best way to avoid a hangover.

Click on the pictures on this page or on the links below to download your own copies.

• Here come the Girls alcohol information postcard with advice and unit guide for popular drinks on reverse
• Lad's night out alcohol information postcard with advice and unit guide or popular drinks on reverse
• Having a drink doesn't mean having a hangover postcard promoting drinking soft drinks and cutting down drinking
• Here come the Girls alcohol information poster with advice and unit guide
• Lad's Night out alcohol information poster with advice and unit guide
• Having a drink doesn't mean having a hangover poster promoting soft drinks and cutting down drinking

October: focus on young people

Not many young people misuse alcohol. Of the 11-19 year olds who participated in the Oxfordshire Children and Young People Survey 2009 only 19% said they drank alcohol regularly, and only 9% said they regularly got drunk.

But Safer Oxfordshire believes all young people deserve to be protected from the bad effects of alcohol misuse. This includes their own alcohol misuse, and alcohol misuse by others.

During October, look out for:

• A theatre production and interactive programme focusing on alcohol and risky behaviour called - “Last Orders” - for Year nine students at some Oxfordshire secondary schools
• Redesign of Oxfordshire's Drug and Alcohol Action Team website, Evolve

Remember, drinking too much or too quickly leaves you vulnerable to harm. Find out more about Alcohol and Safer Drinking in the Online Survival Guide.