North East Big Drink debate begins

Jun 17 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal

To fill in a questionnaire visit www.northeastbigdrinkdebate.org.uk

THE largest public health debate ever held in the region has begun.

Drinkers and non-drinkers alike are being asked to take part in the North East Big Drink Debate, which was launched by Balance - the country’s first ever regional alcohol office - and supported by The Journal.

The debate aims to provide a comprehensive study of the area’s attitudes towards, and relationships with, alcohol by encouraging members of the public to fill in a questionnaire.

Shoppers in Newcastle’s Northumberland Street were some of the first to take part in the survey as the debate was launched in the city centre yesterday.

John Collingwood, 29, of Dunston, Gateshead, said he thought a regional discussion was well overdue.

The managing director said: “It’s really good to get people thinking about how much alcohol they consume on a daily and weekly basis.

“People often aren’t aware of how much they have as they could be drinking while relaxing at home and aren’t really counting their units.

“This debate will make people look at their drinking habits and perhaps reassess how much they consume.”

Balance has already said it wants to see a review of alcohol pricing, a clamp-down on the availability of drink for under-18s and the end to promotions which encourage excessive drinking.