BBC HomepageWorld ServiceEducation
BBC Homepagelow graphics version | feedback | help
BBC News Online
 You are in: UK: Scotland
News image
Front Page 
World 
UK 
England 
Northern Ireland 
Scotland 
Wales 
UK Politics 
Business 
Sci/Tech 
Health 
Education 
Entertainment 
Talking Point 
In Depth 
AudioVideo 
News image

Friday, 15 December, 2000, 09:28 GMT
Warning to festive drinkers
Beer
Alcohol abuse is a major cause of anti-social behaviour
A hard-hitting television advertising campaign against excessive drinking is to be screened over the festive season.

The Scottish Executive advert, which is set in a hospital casualty department, will show the consequences of irresponsible drinking.

It is designed to bolster the Safer Scotland police initiative and the executive's own festive campaign against drink-driving.

Alcohol abuse is already blamed for many of Scotland's social problems including violence, the break-up of marriages and ill health.

Breathalyser
Drink-driving is under the spotlight at Christmas
Scotland's culture has been widely targeted in the past and Liberal Democrat MSP Donald Gorrie is already considering a members bill to prompt more action.

He has called on the executive to tackle "the biggest problem facing Scotland today".

He said: "My principle concern is, that at the moment, the problems caused by alcohol do not register on the political scale at all.

"They are actually much more important than issues raised by drugs.

"I'm not saying that drugs should get less attention, but I am saying alcohol abuse and the problems arising out of that - the violence, the health problems, under-age drinking - should get at least as much attention as drugs do."

Death rate down

Scottish police forces launched their annual drink-driving campaign earlier this week.

They said drink-driving, seat belt wearing and speeding on Scottish roads will all be targeted over the festive period.

The country's drink-drive record has improved, with the number of related deaths on the decrease.

However, one in every seven deaths still continues to be linked to drink-driving.

News imageSearch BBC News Online
News image
News image
News imageNews image
Advanced search options
News image
Launch console
News image
News image
News imageBBC RADIO NEWS
News image
News image
News imageBBC ONE TV NEWS
News image
News image
News imageWORLD NEWS SUMMARY
News image
News image
News image
News image
News imageNews imageNews imageNews imagePROGRAMMES GUIDE
See also:

11 Dec 00 | Scotland
Police in drink-drive crackdown
05 Dec 00 | Scotland
Lords in drink drive ruling
04 Feb 00 | Scotland
Car ruling threatens court chaos
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more Scotland stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more Scotland stories



News imageNews image