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Tackling underage summer holiday drinking in Leicester

Posted on 30/07/2009

police,constabulary,leicestershire police Tackling underage summer holiday drinking in Leicester

Joint press release issued by East Midlands Ambulance Service, Leicester City Council and Leicestershire Constabulary:

School’s out for summer and historically the emergency services see an increase in the number of 999 calls received from teenagers who are seriously ill or have fallen victim to crime after drinking too much alcohol. 

To tackle the problem a new summer holiday service which will warn and inform about the dangers of alcohol and provide support and referral opportunities for local teenagers has been launched. 

“Nationally and locally young people are drinking less. However, the small numbers who are drinking more means higher health risks and risks of becoming the perpetrator or victim of crime,” said Emma Munday, Leicester City Council Alcohol Strategy Manager.

The partnership project between East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), Leicestershire Constabulary and Leicester City Council will see a paramedic and police officer visiting local hot spots, identified by police intelligence, in an ambulance service Fast Response Vehicle on alternate Friday and Saturday evenings.

The team will speak with local teenagers, without lecturing, to highlight the pros and cons of drinking, and hand out goodie bags provided by the council including information leaflets to sign post teenagers to support services or advice on matters such as alcohol services, assault and sexually transmitted diseases. 

EMAS Service Improvement Manager Louise De Groot worked the first shift on Friday 24 July. She said: “It is illegal for under 18s to buy alcohol but we know that some do and that they drink it in unsafe places. We are taking this positive step to educate local teenagers about the dangers of alcohol and help them to take more responsibility for their own health and safety.

“It is important that we do this in an open, calm and non-threatening manner if we want to positively influence young people’s drinking habits. If successful the campaign will help reduce admissions to Accident and Emergency and help us get advice and support to young drinkers.”

Having an ambulance and police representative together means they can highlight the wide ranging possible consequences of binge drinking including:

Truancy, failed exams and exclusion from school

  • Teenage pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections
  • Compromised personal safety when walking home alone or trusting others too easily
  • Falling victim to crime due to less awareness of surroundings
  • Increased risk in death from liver disease in the 25 to 34 age group

Chief Inspector Martin Halse from the City Area of Leicestershire Constabulary said: “Alcohol can make you feel invincible when you are in fact most vulnerable. It makes you less aware of your surroundings and potential dangers and therefore more at risk of becoming a victim of crime or being involved in an accident. 

“Underage drinking and associated anti-social behaviour can also impact on the community and it is important young people recognise the affect their behaviour can have on other people.

“This service will help us encourage youngsters to make informed choices and be more responsible for themselves and their friends.”

The service is part of the government’s Department for Children, Schools and Families funded Youth Crime Action Plan and will operate during the summer holiday.

Core data will be collected and at the end of the summer a ‘public perceptions questionnaire’ will be issued by Leicester City Council to capture local perceptions of the campaign and young persons drinking and anti-social behaviour. Results will be fed into a report on the summer campaign with findings, good practice and recommendations made.