The initiative – which is supported by Leicestershire Constabulary, NHS Leicester City, the Safer Leicester Partnership Drug and Alcohol Action Team, Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Service, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, the University of Leicester and Students’ Union, De Montfort University and Students’ Union, and Leicester College – forms part of a wider alcohol-awareness campaign for Christmas with the slogan ‘Cross the line… count the consequences’.

The Cross the line; count the consequences campaign will aim to increase people’s awareness of the range of consequences associated with alcohol misuse, particularly in the Christmas party season.  These include:

·        higher risk of anti-social behaviour and violent crime in the night time economy,

·        increased health risks associated with hazardous and harmful drinking,

·        increased incidents of domestic violence,

·        increased likelihood of unsafe sex and the causal link to unplanned pregnancy,

·        increased fire hazard for example, when cooking under influence of alcohol,

·        unnecessary and increased use of the accident and emergency service,

·        consequences to work, family and student life when regularly misusing alcohol.

 

 

An advent calendar has been jointly launched by agencies in Leicester as part of a campaign to promote responsible drinking over the Christmas and New Year period.

 

Instead of a Christmas scene, each window on the calendar contains a short message offering information and advice regarding alcohol and the potential consequences of drinking to excess over the festive period.