Blair's booze summit considers binge-drinking scourge

Key players in the alcohol industry today joined forces with the Prime Minister and government ministers to discuss ways of reducing the alcohol-fuelled violence – a regular feature of town and city centres at weekend closing times.

The cost of binge-drinking is enormous both on individual and services. Government statistics have found that almost half of all violent crime is related to alcohol and around 70% of weekend A&E admissions are drink-related. Alcohol abuse also results in 17 million lost working days, 150,000 hospital admissions and costs the taxpayer around £20 billion each year.

The government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, published earlier this year, aimed to tackle the minority of drinkers who cause problems. A key part of that strategy is working in partnership with the industry. The Licensing Act, which was unveiled earlier this year, it is hoped, will lead to a more civilised and responsible culture in the country's pubs, bars and restaurants, the government has said.

Addressing industry representatives at an Institute for Public Policy Research event held at Diagio's headquarters, Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "Millions of people drink alcohol responsibly every day. No-one wants to stop that pleasure. But there is a clear and growing problem on our town and city centre streets up and down the country on Friday and Saturday nights.

"At a time when overall crime is falling alcohol related violent crime is rising. New powers are there. They need to be used. As a society we must make sure that binge drinking does not become the new British Disease.

"There should be safe and enjoyable drinking for the majority and zero tolerance of the anti-social minority."

Home Office Minister and sponsor of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, Hazel Blears, said that trends must be reversed as nearly half of all violent crime was not alcohol related.

In order to achieve this, a police-led campaign to cut down on under-age drinking and the drink-fuelled scenes at closing times will be launched this summer, she said.

"The government, police, local authorities and the alcohol industry are all determined to tackle the alcohol fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour, which one in four people say is a problem in their area," Ms Blears added.

(gmcg)