Some letters sent on behalf of the Council to the Western Mail

Misuse of Alcohol

The Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs roundly condemns the irresponsible behaviour of club manager Steve Dew for promoting a £5 five-hour, all-you-can-drink offer at the Escapade club in Newport (WM, 29th Oct.). The misuse of alcohol is of major current concern and the social problems that are caused affect society in general.  It is estimated that more than a quarter of Welsh children have been drunk at least twice by the time they are 13; and that young people between the ages of 11 and 15 use more alcohol than young people in any other country in Europe within the same age range. Additionally, it is estimated that there could be as many as 65,000 children and young people in Wales who are affected by parental alcohol problems. 1,100 people die each year in Wales from alcohol-related illnesses. The action of this professional licensee in order to support good (sic) profitable business is lamentable in the extreme and unforgivable. I’ll be interested to see if the drinks trade joins me in condemning this colleague of theirs who has unequivocally crossed the thin red line of acceptability. Or will their failure to condemn his actions be further proof that the drinks industry is incapable of self-regulation?

1. When Society Becomes Addicted
2. Greed and alcohol misuse make for a lethal combination
3. Misuse of Alcohol
4. A confused listener
5. When a young man gets drunk before going to a party