Information on Loughborough

New campaign urges young women to drink Safe! and keep Safe!

Posted on 19/05/2009

police,constabulary,leicestershire police New campaign urges young women to drink Safe! and keep Safe! Front cover of the magazine

Front cover of the magazine

A new campaign has been launched by the police and Community Safety Partnerships to promote personal safety and safe drinking among young women. 

20,000 copies of a new magazine called ‘SAFE!’ have been published.  It is designed to look like a gossip magazine for women; its articles appear tongue in cheek but they also have a hard-hitting message. The magazine will be distributed to pubs, clubs, schools and colleges, youth groups, local businesses, supermarkets and given out at local youth events.

SAFE! encourages women to think about and plan their night out, be aware of the amount of alcohol they consume; understand more about the effects of alcohol (and their potential vulnerability whilst under its influence).  It also encourages friends to stick together and look out for one another and importantly plan how they are going to get home safely at the end of the evening.

It has been funded by the police and the four Community Safety Partnerships across the North Area which covers Loughborough, Charnwood, North West Leicestershire, Melton and Rutland. 

Chris Woodward, the North Area Partnership Manager who secured the funding said; “We are conscious that alcohol can play a part in people's social lives, including young women, but we need to raise their awareness of potential problems and the fact that they become more vulnerable whilst under the influence of alcohol.  The magazine has three key message presented in a fun tongue in cheek style that we hope will appeal to young women.  Readers are told to stick with friends, book a taxi home and watch the amount they drink.” 

Latest research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reveals that binge drinking among women has more than doubled since the 1990s.  It found that 15% of women now binged on alcohol each week. 

The campaign is being backed by NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland.  Paul Stratton, who leads on alcohol, said; “The magazine is full of fun articles but has a serious note, it offers great advice to young women about the potential dangers of binge drinking – staying together whilst on a night out, keeping an eye out for possible drinks being spiked, advice on alcohol units – and even a section on the effects of consuming too much alcohol on hair and skin! It is colourful, interesting, easy and fun and ideal for a quick look whilst on your coffee break.”

The initiative is also supported by the North West Leicestershire Partnership In Safer Communities. The Chairman of this Partnership, Councillor Trevor Pendleton said; 'The Partnership is keen to embrace projects that encourage people in the District to consider the implications of binge drinking. The new 'Safe' magazine is a fantastic opportunity to remind local young people who choose to drink alcohol to do so responsibly. Tackling alcohol misuse is one of the Partnership's key objectives this year, and we are therefore keen to promote initiatives such as the 'Safe' Magazine.'' 

Some comments from students at Stephenson College in Coalville, when they read the magazine were; ‘good idea’ ‘some aspects made me feel sad’ ‘gets to the point’ and ‘a reality check’ and a ‘clever way of getting the message across.’