Police highlight thedanger of drinkingin a new campaign

Since Monday officers have been checking that off-licences, bars, pubs and clubs are not selling alcohol to under 18s, using swabs to check for drugs in premises and visiting venues that have a history of drink-related offences linked to them.

Council and fire and rescue officials are checking venues have trained door staff, proper safety procedures and are selling accurate measures of drink.

Police say nearly half of all violent crime is alcohol related.

Offenders are thought to be under the influence of alcohol in nearly half of all incidents of domestic abuse and alcohol plays a part in up to a third of known child abuse cases.

Chief Inspector Simon Nelson said: “Many people like a drink but no one likes to end up hurt or in trouble because of drink.

“Every night we have to deal with those who have had too much drink. It can range from incidents where drinkers are being too noisy and ruining the sleep of residents to those in which offenders become violent and leave their often innocent victims with serious and even fatal injuries.”