COI seeks agency to beat binge-drinking

Campaign 19-Aug-05

The Home Office and the Department of Health are launching a joint campaign to tackle binge-drinking and are poised to approach agencies.

Activity is due to run at the start of next year and will aim to portray
drunken behaviour as socially unacceptable.

The campaign is scheduled to follow the liberalisation of licensing laws

in November, which will allow pubs and bars to stay open longer. The

move has been criticised for encouraging binge-drinking.

A Home Office spokeswoman said the ad drive would have a substantial
budget, and added: "We are committed to getting the sensible-drinking
message across to prevent individuals doing themselves harm and because
of the wider anti-social behaviour issue."

Separately, the alcohol industry watchdog, the Portman Group, is talking
to agencies about a similar campaign.