Alcohol abuse under the spotlight

A report found a link between violent crime and alcohol

Problem drinking has been put under the spotlight in Cumbria as a new report reveals that 30% of violent crime in the county is linked to alcohol.

The Cumbria Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) has drawn up a "Time to Call" strategy.

This describes alcohol as a powerful drug which can lead to health problems and crime if misused.

It aims to tackle excessive drinking by regulating supply, reducing demand and offering help to those with a problem.

The report found that 31% of children aged between 14 and 17 in Cumbria claimed to have made a recent alcohol purchase, and alcohol-specific hospital admissions for under-18s were above the national average.

The county council, police and primary care trust have joined forces for the campaign.

Mr Neil Rhodes, Assistant Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary, said: "Alcohol misuse contributes to 50% of all domestic abuse incidents and over 30% of violent crime in the county.

"This strategy asks each and every one of us to examine our own drinking patterns and that of our families and friends to identify areas where people may need to make small changes to their routine or seek help where they need to."