This month we looked at the problems with alcohol consumption.  Many of us enjoy a social drink but a minority take consumption to excess.  I am sure we have all seen pictures of young people staggering about town centres and fights outside pubs and clubs. 

We tried to get a better grasp of the issue, particularly the cost to the individuals, the health service and the economy.  Of these the cost of long term health problems was the most significant, some £26 Million for hospital admissions and £729,000 for A & E visits.

A number of Health Service programmes are underway to identify people at risk earlier and get them the help they need.

We were impressed by the trading standards actions to reduce sales to those under age and the responsible attitude of the Co-Op who are making their staff training programmes available to smaller retailers.

The most obvious area for County activity is education.  Schools, both primary and secondary have PSHE (Personal Social & Health Education), which covers issues like a sensible approach to alcohol, in the curriculum.  Unfortunately it is not mandatory so some schools, we were told, don’t spend much time on it.  We will be emphasising the importance of the subject to school governors.