NorthEast conference to plan booze-reduction strategy

Alcohol experts and police from the North East have come together last week to discuss combating excessive drinking in the region.

The conference - Raising the Bar: Tackling Alcohol Misuse in the North East - took place in Sedgefield and was attended by leading figures such as Northumbria Police’s Chief Constable Michael Craik, Government Office for the North East deputy regional director Judith Million and Dr Stephen Singleton, regional director of public health

“Alcohol misuse has far-reaching effects, not only for the individual concerned but also that person's family, the NHS and the community as a whole,” explained Dr Singleton.

“We know we have a problem in the North East, but there are no easy answers.”

Health chiefs in the North East have already drawn up the multi-million-pound scheme Better Health, Fairer Health, which was announced in January.

It aims to transform the health of the region within 25 years by tackling issues such as obesity, diet, mental health, wellbeing in old age and alcohol abuse.

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