Staying safe between Christmas and New Year
Colin Shevills, director of Balance, the North East alcohol office, said: “We’re not here to stop people enjoying themselves, but to help them find the right balance and stay safe by treating alcohol with respect. This is particularly important between Christmas and New Year when there is a tendency to overdo it.
“Drinking too much can ruin your night out by creating a range of unpleasant situations from falls and broken limbs to fights. Half of all violent crime is alcohol related and young men are particularly susceptible.”
There are a number of measures people heading out on the town or to a house party could take to help them enjoy themselves and stay safe. These include:
• Eat before going out.
• Follow each alcoholic drink with a soft drink.
• Book a taxi in advance and store the taxi telephone number in your mobile phone (remember to charge your phone).
• Keep your taxi money separate to your spending money.
• Don’t take your bank card – set yourself a budget and stick to it.
• Don’t get in an unlicensed cab.
• Stay with friends.
“The North East already has the highest rate of alcohol related hospital admissions in the country, don’t let yourself be a statistic this Christmas,” added Colin.