Health Promotion Agency supports anti-drink drive campaign

The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) has added its support to the new anti-drink drive campaign launched today by the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland and The National Safety Council in the Republic of Ireland.

Victoria Creasy, Senior Manager for Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco at the HPA said: “Alcohol plays a significant role in our culture and society and there are strong links between drinking and high risk behaviour such as drink driving. Statistics show that from 2000 to 2004,162 people were killed and 770 seriously injured on Northern Ireland roads due to drivers who had been drinking or taking drugs.

“Alcohol affects our judgement and even one drink can lead people to take decisions and risks they would not otherwise take. As Christmas approaches and the party season gets under way there is an upsurge in the amount of binge drinking here and people tend to overindulge. We would encourage all drinkers to act responsibly and look after their own health and the health of others and never ever drink and drive.”

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Notes to the Editor:
Alcohol remains a key health issue in Northern Ireland and the HPA has developed a number of campaigns and resources to support work around alcohol misuse. Further information is available from the website: www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk/Work/Alcohol/menu.htm

For further information about the Anti-Drink Drive Campaign contact:
Paddy Murphy at the DOE Press Office – Tel: 9054 0003.