Barnsley women dying for a drink

FEMALE drinkers in Barnsley are more at risk of dying from chronic liver disease or alcohol-related conditions than women anywhere else in Yorkshire and Humberside.

The shock figures reveal Barnsley is ranked 10th out of 354 local authorities nationally when it comes to the number of women who die from chronic liver disease.

They are also the most likely in Yorkshire and Humberside to die from alcohol-specific and alcohol-attributable conditions

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The grim statistics have been released by the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University which looked at figures from 2003-07.

The number of men admitted to hospital in Barnsley because of alcohol is also one of the highest in the region and Barnsley is ranked worse than the regional average for the number of 18-year-olds taken to hospital because of alcohol.

Alcohol-related crimes, violence and sexual offences in Barnsley are lower than in other parts of Yorkshire and Humberside.

Barnsley’s director of Public health, Dr Paul Redgrave said today: “We have been aware for a long time of the high levels of alcohol-related harm in Barnsley and the impact this has on individuals, families and the wider community.

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“Whilst we recognize that drinking is an important part of people’s social life and that there is evidence that drinking within the recommended limits even has some health benefits by reducing heart disease, we are however, very concerned at the number of people locally who are drinking well above the recommended levels.

“A large number of people are now drinking at rates that are actually harming themselves. We know that drinking at these levels affects their physical health, their mental wellbeing, can damage relationships with families and friends and seriously affect their ability to work.”

Dr Redgrave said the Drug and Alcohol Action Team had developed the Barnsley Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy last year and produced a prioritized action plan. The strategy is now being implemented throughout the borough.

Dr Redgrave said: “An Alcohol Co-ordinator/Commissioner has recently been appointed by the Drug and Alcohol Action team to drive this forward.

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“The Alcohol Task Group has also been established, which includes membership from a wide range of stakeholders such as South Yorkshire Police, National Probation Service, Barnsley Council licensing and regulatory services, local alcohol treatment services and Customs and Excise to ensure partners work closely together to reduce the negative impact that alcohol misuse can cause.”

Meanwhile a youth worker in Penistone expressed her concern about the problem of young people drinking alcohol.

Elaine MacFarlane of Barnsley Council's Youth Services told the town council alcohol was "a major problem".

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