DRINK - BUT DON'T GET DRUNK

Published: 23 July, 2008

Young people are putting themselves at serious risk of injury, illness and being a victim of crime by drinking just to get drunk', according to the new campaign launched by the Portman Group. Research undertaken by MORI and commissioned by the industry-funded organisation shows that one million young men and women drink to excess every weekend, putting themselves and others at risk. Concentrating on London, the aim of the new campaign is to highlight the risks of drunkenness and to make drinking just to get drunk as socially unacceptable as drink-driving'. Jean Coussins, director of the Portman Group, said: Our campaign aims to show the downsides of drinking to excess, and to encourage moderate drinkers to challenge the behaviour of their friends and loved ones who might go over the top.' The campaign, If you do do drink, don't do drunk', is backed by a number of organisations, including the NUS and the police. Chris Bradford, Chief Inspector of the Metropolitan Police Service Clubs and Vice Unit, said: Drunkenness is on the increase and those getting drunk tend to be younger. Young people need to give some serious thought to the situations they might find themselves in when drunk, such as becoming victims of crime.' The campaign will consist of poster and radio advertising, in-pub promotions and guerrilla' pub theatre performances.

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