Forums Forums National News Wirral's Alcohol Problems

Its been in the news recently about the appalling statistics concerning alcohol in Wirral.

Out of 326 local authorities, Wirral's ranking due to alcohol was:-

322nd for admission to hospital
319th for male alcohol specific mortality
312th for female alcohol specific mortality
322nd for under 18s hospital admission
325th for female alcohol specific hospital admission
323rd for male alcohol specific hospital admission

What a terrible record and one not to be proud of!

SOURCE DATA

NEWS CLICKY

thats so bad that mate

To be honest it doesnt really surprise me...

The Council had the opportunity to do something about it a year ago when they were discussing a minimum price per unit of alcohol in the borough. As usual it was just political posturing and nothing was done.

While I appreciate that this doesnt seem very fair to people who drink in moderation it is also very unfair to allow the continuing problems relating to alcohol to blight our communities.

There are sadly far too many people who inflict their drunken behaviour on the rest of society to say nothing of the poor children who are often caught up in it. The cost of dealing with the problem must be massive I really do dread to think how much money must be spent on the treatment of alcohol related illness, assaults, antisocial behaviour, Police and ambulances that need to attend incidents etc etc ...

If a minimum pricing plan was brought in at off licenses, supermarkets etc it would go a long was to discourage drinking at home in excess, meanwhile it might help to stimulate the finances in the pub trade which has been on a downward spiral since off licenses and supermarkets have been allowed to sell alcohol for pennies..
Surely something needs to be done now... Wirral should be heartily ashamed of itself...

Make them pay for their treatment, same with the druggies!!

Exactly you have taken the words out my mouth, And the adults should be advising their children about alcohol, not getting pissed all the time in front off them!!

I tend to agree with the council that minimum pricing could well be ineffective, it would just end up with some sort of black market going on which would be difficult to police - they have hardly made any inroads into policing drugs in general, its rife and easily available despite the huge pots of money that goes in to trying to get it sorted one way or another.

Simple solution to this is serial numbers on the alcohol and a licence to buy it also proving ones age, that way if it does get in the wrong hands it can be traced back to the person who bought it. © Me 2011 so don`t steal my idea`s without paying me £££ 1st ® Ste 2011.

This would also help combat litter problems and crimes.

These people we call a government are shite, i could do better myself

Thankya thankya

Not just about underage drinking though is it...

If I was an alcoholic then a flew pence rise on my vodka would not stop me buying it, it's not that easy.

Ration method?

Perhaps but then those that want it will buy it from those that don't.

Tough one to solve.

Bet the charities are rubbing their hands in glee at those figures, will keep them employed.

Knew of a family of drunks (five of them) not so long ago, got a food delivery every week from a charity, wouldn't want the poor dears to have to waste their benefits on food now would we.

But then the few pence rise in the cost of alcohol could then go towards the massive expense that alcohol costs the Hospitals, Police, Council and tax payers... Maybe they could use it to do more 'alcohol intervention' work and educate...

The rise in alcoholism and underage drinking i wouldn't mind betting has coincided with the vast availability on where it can be purchased, if you go back to the days when you could only buy it in pubs and off licences attached to pubs, it was almost impossible to get served if you were under age, if you were under age and slightly, you might get served. The beverages were not cheap and the off licence could loose its licence for serving underage clients. While we have vast availability and shops not caring who they sell it, it won't go away, go back to off licences only and it will soon clear up the mess, that and stricter punishments all round.

Spot on Bert,very insightful as usual.