Prime Minister backs Cork It!Blair voices support for Herald campaign after MP's question in Parliament
PRIME Minister Tony Blair has given his full support to the 'Cork It' campaign.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday (Wednesday), he praised The Falkirk Herald for its efforts to highlight the problem of underage and binge drinking.
The campaign has already been backed by Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, Central Scotland Chief Constable Andrew Cameron, Falkirk Provost Jim Johnston, politicians and community leaders.
Mr Blair's resounding message of approval came during Prime Minister's Questions when he was urged to give his support by Falkirk MP Eric Joyce.
Earlier, 'Cork It' was being mentioned at the Scottish Parliament when Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie highlighted the campaign to health minister Andy Kerr and justice minister Cathy Jamieson.
Support from the country's top politicians comes as it is revealed Scotland has twice as many alcohol-related deaths than anywhere else in the UK.
New statistics show 45 Scots die every week from conditions caused by alcohol.
The Prime Minister and other MPs were told about 'Cork It' by Mr Joyce. He said: "My constituency of Falkirk has recently seen an upsurge in the amount of public underage drinking, which has led to anti-social behaviour and worse. The police are doing what they can, and my local newspaper is running a campaign aimed at reducing that blight on the lives of many of my constituents and people across the country. Will my right hon. Friend join me in commending the 'Cork It' campaign of The Falkirk Herald?"
The Prime Minister replied: "I am happy to support the 'Cork It' campaign of The Falkirk Herald, and I agree that is a real issue, but I know that the Scottish Executive has a strong plan to deal with it using anti-social behaviour legislation that is very similar to that which we have in the rest of the United Kingdom. This again shows that crime and disorder are very important issues for people out on the doorstep. They want to make sure that in their local community people are behaving properly, and I therefore give my full backing to the campaign of The Falkirk Herald."
Mrs Peattie raised the campaign with ministers when she met them to discuss the extension of the alcohol test purchasing scheme which is to be rolled out across Scotland.
The MSP said: "I told them about The Falkirk Herald's campaign to address underage and binge drinking, and that I thought it and the test purchasing scheme would complement each other. I think 'Cork It' is a great example of campaigning journalism for other papers to follow.
"The test purchasing scheme uses under age volunteers, who attempt to buy alcohol from local retailers, while being monitored by officers to ensure their safety.
"The majority of local retailers have a responsible attitude to selling alcohol to under-18s. However, as The Falkirk Herald's campaign highlights, there are still some retailers who put profits before the law and this will help us to identify and deal with them."
Announcing the extension to the test purchasing scheme, the health minister said: "Underage drinking is a concern for the health and well-being of the young people involved, as well as local people who find themselves at the sharp end of the anti-social behaviour and worry it can cause. Of course, there is no simple or single solution to underage drinking but the evidence from the pilot scheme proves some retailers could do more to adopt a standard 'no proof, no sale' approach."
Mr Kerr added: "Every six hours in Scotland someone dies as a direct result of alcohol.
Deaths prove campaign is vital
STARTLING statistics revealing the high number of alcohol-related deaths in Scotland are yet another good reason why we must tackle under-age drinking, says a local MSP.
The SNPs Michael Matheson believes the figures show why The Falkirk Herald's Cork It! campaign is vital in addressing the problems caused by drinking among young people before it is too late.
The newly published figures, compiled by the Office for National Statistics, show that alcohol related death rates for males and females in Scotland were around double the UK average between 2002-2004.
Mr Matheson said: "These figures make highly disturbing reading for us all. It's a national tragedy that Scotland's record of alcohol-related deaths is now twice as bad as anywhere else in the UK, and that the situation is worsening, not improving.
"The level of alcohol abuse, particularly amongst the young, has serious implications for them in later life as well as causing serious anti-social behaviour for our communities."
In the UK as a whole, the number of alcohol-related deaths doubled between 1991 and 2005, increasing from 4144 to 8386.
Such figures, says Mr Matheson, are further proof that drastic action must be taken to tackle the binge drinking culture nationally and locally. The MSP recently posted out questionnaires to constituents inviting them to share their concerns about the effects of under-age drinking across Falkirk. Within a few days he had received 1500 responses.
The MSP said: "I expect a great many more responses. Some of the experiences that people are having to face on a daily basis because of alcohol is quite frightening and something drastic needs to be done."
PRIME Minister Tony Blair has given his full support to the 'Cork It' campaign.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday (Wednesday), he praised The Falkirk Herald for its efforts to highlight the problem of underage and binge drinking.
The campaign has already been backed by Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, Central Scotland Chief Constable Andrew Cameron, Falkirk Provost Jim Johnston, politicians and community leaders.
Mr Blair's resounding message of approval came during Prime Minister's Questions when he was urged to give his support by Falkirk MP Eric Joyce.
Earlier, 'Cork It' was being mentioned at the Scottish Parliament when Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie highlighted the campaign to health minister Andy Kerr and justice minister Cathy Jamieson.
Support from the country's top politicians comes as it is revealed Scotland has twice as many alcohol-related deaths than anywhere else in the UK.
New statistics show 45 Scots die every week from conditions caused by alcohol.
The Prime Minister and other MPs were told about 'Cork It' by Mr Joyce. He said: "My constituency of Falkirk has recently seen an upsurge in the amount of public underage drinking, which has led to anti-social behaviour and worse. The police are doing what they can, and my local newspaper is running a campaign aimed at reducing that blight on the lives of many of my constituents and people across the country. Will my right hon. Friend join me in commending the 'Cork It' campaign of The Falkirk Herald?"
The Prime Minister replied: "I am happy to support the 'Cork It' campaign of The Falkirk Herald, and I agree that is a real issue, but I know that the Scottish Executive has a strong plan to deal with it using anti-social behaviour legislation that is very similar to that which we have in the rest of the United Kingdom. This again shows that crime and disorder are very important issues for people out on the doorstep. They want to make sure that in their local community people are behaving properly, and I therefore give my full backing to the campaign of The Falkirk Herald."
Mrs Peattie raised the campaign with ministers when she met them to discuss the extension of the alcohol test purchasing scheme which is to be rolled out across Scotland.
The MSP said: "I told them about The Falkirk Herald's campaign to address underage and binge drinking, and that I thought it and the test purchasing scheme would complement each other. I think 'Cork It' is a great example of campaigning journalism for other papers to follow.
"The test purchasing scheme uses under age volunteers, who attempt to buy alcohol from local retailers, while being monitored by officers to ensure their safety.
"The majority of local retailers have a responsible attitude to selling alcohol to under-18s. However, as The Falkirk Herald's campaign highlights, there are still some retailers who put profits before the law and this will help us to identify and deal with them."
Announcing the extension to the test purchasing scheme, the health minister said: "Underage drinking is a concern for the health and well-being of the young people involved, as well as local people who find themselves at the sharp end of the anti-social behaviour and worry it can cause. Of course, there is no simple or single solution to underage drinking but the evidence from the pilot scheme proves some retailers could do more to adopt a standard 'no proof, no sale' approach."
Mr Kerr added: "Every six hours in Scotland someone dies as a direct result of alcohol.
Deaths prove campaign is vital
STARTLING statistics revealing the high number of alcohol-related deaths in Scotland are yet another good reason why we must tackle under-age drinking, says a local MSP.
The SNPs Michael Matheson believes the figures show why The Falkirk Herald's Cork It! campaign is vital in addressing the problems caused by drinking among young people before it is too late.
The newly published figures, compiled by the Office for National Statistics, show that alcohol related death rates for males and females in Scotland were around double the UK average between 2002-2004.
Mr Matheson said: "These figures make highly disturbing reading for us all. It's a national tragedy that Scotland's record of alcohol-related deaths is now twice as bad as anywhere else in the UK, and that the situation is worsening, not improving.
"The level of alcohol abuse, particularly amongst the young, has serious implications for them in later life as well as causing serious anti-social behaviour for our communities."
In the UK as a whole, the number of alcohol-related deaths doubled between 1991 and 2005, increasing from 4144 to 8386.
Such figures, says Mr Matheson, are further proof that drastic action must be taken to tackle the binge drinking culture nationally and locally. The MSP recently posted out questionnaires to constituents inviting them to share their concerns about the effects of under-age drinking across Falkirk. Within a few days he had received 1500 responses.
The MSP said: "I expect a great many more responses. Some of the experiences that people are having to face on a daily basis because of alcohol is quite frightening and something drastic needs to be done."
01 March 2007
Source: Daily Dose 7 March 2007
Source: Daily Dose 7 March 2007
