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Save Dave, the boozer in denial about his drinking
Almost two people a day are drinking themselves to death, The News can reveal.
Last year, 668 men and women in our area died because they ignored warnings about too much boozing.
Shocking NHS figures also reveal:
- Sixty per cent of booze-related admissions to Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, are men aged 35 and over;
- Alcohol-fuelled hospital admissions were 67 per cent higher than anywhere else in the South East last year;
- The average man in Portsmouth dies 10 months early due to alcohol abuse;
- And 213 people died specifically because of their boozing.
The Safer Portsmouth Partnership today launches its News-backed Save Dave campaign in a bid to slash booze-related hospital admissions among men aged 35 and over – as well as saving lives.
Dave is a character invented by health officials to represent the kind of male drinker who is at risk from drinking too much.
They are targeting high-risk drinkers in Eastney, Milton, parts of Southsea, Landport, Buckland, North End, Hilsea and Stamshaw with hard-hitting tactics to drive down the number of danger drinkers in that age group.
Alan Knobel, substance misuse co-ordinator for the Safer Portsmouth Partnership, said: 'We are targeting this group because research shows 60 per cent of alcohol-related admissions are aged 35 and over.
'People in this age group are more entrenched in their drinking habits.
'A lot of younger people drink at increased levels, which will pose a risk to their health if they carry on long-term.
'Usually by their late 20s or early 30s they have curbed their drinking habits, but it's those who continue to drink at elevated levels that could face serious health problems.'
Posters will be plastered on billboards and other public places and adverts will be broadcast at cinemas, on radio stations and on the big screen in Guildhall Square.
Officials even handed out free glasses bearing the Save Dave website address during the beer festival at Gunwharf Quays last weekend.
And dozens of placard- bearing workers kicked off their campaign with a demonstration in the city on Saturday.
The year-long project has been funded by 30,000 from Portsmouth City Primary Care Trust and the government's Choosing Health initiative.
The Safer Portsmouth Partnership aims to cut the number of hospital admissions related to booze-related illness and injury by 12 per cent by 2011.
In 12 months' time the partnership hopes to have doubled phone enquiries to the Alcohol Intervention Service; to have identified and be working with 80 new referrals a month; and to have increased GP awareness and referrals into treatment.
Mr Knobel added: 'Research we did with problem drinkers in this age group shows it is important to them what their friends and family think of them, so we are getting them to play a part in asking loved ones to seek support.
SO WHO IS DAVE?
Dave is aged 35-plus, he drinks too much, and regularly exceeds the
recommended limits.
He drinks socially and/or on his own.
Dave drinks to help him cope with the daily pressures of his life – and would be lost without a drink.
Dave is not concerned with why he should reduce his drinking. He has heard it all before.
He does not think about changing his ways, and is at increasing risk of losing control of his life.
Dave doesn't think he's got a problem.
INFORMATION
Visit savedave.info or call (023) 9284 1753.
Visit saferportsmouth.org.uk
Call Portsmouth Counselling Service's drug and alcohol line from 6pm to 9pm Mondays to Fridays on (023) 9273 5836.
Counselling slots are available from 9am to 9pm.
Visit drinkaware.co.uk or call 0207 307 7450.
>> Vote in our latest web poll.
‘We are very much playing on the fact that it’s not just about their health, they could lose everything – their friends, their family and their job.’
COMMENT n Page 6 clare.semke @thenews.co.uk
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
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