Get more out of your Alcohol Awareness Week!

05/10/2009

Today Public Health Minister Shona Robison and sports stars including Scott Russell and Mike McGregor from Glasgow Rocks basketball team kicked off Scotland's third Alcohol Awareness Week (4th - 10th October) with a larger-than-life game of skittles in George Square, Glasgow.

The annual awareness week brings together the retail and drinks industry, health professionals and the Scottish Government in a bid to foster a culture of responsible drinking throughout Scotland.

As part of this year's Alcohol Awareness Week, Scotland is being urged to 'Get More Out Of' their day, week and weekend; at home, at work and with friends or family by making positive lifestyle choices, changing their drinking habits and drinking more responsibly.

Alcohol Awareness Week 2009 highlights the simple, achievable steps that people can take to drink responsibly:
- Have food before and while drinking
- Try alternating alcohol with soft drinks or water
- Aim to have at least 2 alcohol-free days per week
- Set a good example to young people by drinking responsibly
- Think carefully before driving the next day

A number of regional alcohol awareness programmes also got underway today with launches across Scotland that included:

- Promotional activity in over 20 Tesco stores across Scotland
- Partnership with every club in the Scottish Premier League
- Launch with stars of Scottish Rugby in Edinburgh
- Partnerships with Kilmarnock FC, Ayr United and other local teams
- Rally with Stirling University Cheerleaders

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "Alcohol Awareness Week is a great chance for everyone to consider the impact that drinking alcohol is having on their lives. The colourful campaign really helps to highlight the fact that you can get more out of your work, family and social life if you drink sensibly.
"As a Government, we are committed to rebalancing Scotland's relationship with alcohol because we think excessive consumption is holding our country back. Alcohol Awareness Week is an opportunity for all of us to consider whether alcohol is having a positive or negative effect on ourselves and people around us."

Barbara O'Donnell, Alcohol Focus Scotland's Director of Services, said: "Alcohol Focus Scotland is pleased to be supporting the 3rd national Alcohol Awareness Week. With so many Scots risking their health by regularly drinking too much, it's more important than ever to remind people of the sensible drinking guidelines and provide clear information on how to drink at healthier, safer levels. Alcohol Awareness Week is the ideal opportunity to encourage people to feel the benefits of cutting down and to think about how much they're actually drinking. By drinking responsibly you can get more out of your nights in and out, your weekends and your family time."

Gavin Hewitt, Chief Executive, Scotch Whisky Association said: "Alcohol Awareness Week is the time for everyone to think about what they are drinking and to get the message about drinking responsibly. The week is one of the key initiatives of the Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership. It is now an established event in the calendar when all stakeholders come together to promote a common message to consumers on responsible drinking".

Again this year a number of third party organisations have backed Alcohol Awareness Week, including: First ScotRail, Highland Spring, Lothian Buses, the Scottish Premier League, and Strathclyde Passenger Transport.

For further information, tips for responsible drinking, ideas on how you can get involved in Alcohol Awareness Week and a full list of partners go to www.alcoholawarenessweek.com