Press Release

Positive Meeting for Civic Alcohol Forum

8th February 2010

The ayor, Councillor Paul Fleming, has hailed the latest meeting of the Civic Alcohol Forum a success, and was delighted to see strong representation from the statutory, community and business sectors as well as church leaders.

The meeting heard from a number of organisations that are working to tackle the problems of alcohol misuse. Eamon ‘O Kane from North West Alcohol Forum Ltd in Donegal provided the meeting with an update on the new European INTERREG IVa Cross-Border Alcohol Programme, a project developed as a partnership initiative between Derry Healthy Cities, NW Alcohol Forum, CAWT and the Health Boards and Trusts in the border area. The project will see the development of strategic action in tackling alcohol culture, creating border family support and crisis intervention.

Donna Hutton, the Manager of the Drink Think Big Lottery project, also attended the meeting, and outlined how they have begun to work within local communities to raise awareness of potential harm from alcohol misuse with a view to changing the culture and ultimately protecting future generations from alcohol related harm.

During the meeting it was reported that during 2009, Derry City Council noted a reduction in litter of up to 90% in Brooke Park, following the PSNI’s Operation SNAPPER to target underage drinking. This initiative is a positive example of how the partnership approach adopted by the Civic Alcohol Forum members has begun to produce real results.

The Mayor commented, “Since the beginning of my Mayoral Year, I have had the opportunity to visit a number of projects in the Derry City Council area and to meet many people who are carrying out invaluable work in tackling the issue of alcohol misuse within our society. It is not an easy task and we can only achieve our aims by working together with a range of organisations to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol misuse and promote responsible attitudes towards it. I commend all those involved so far and I look forward to the continuation of the hard work and effort that has been offered to date”.

The Civic Alcohol Forum was established in 2004 by the then Mayor Cllr Gerry MacLochlainn, and has been chaired by each subsequent Mayor since then. It includes members from public and private sector and operates with the aims of raising awareness of the need to change the current alcohol culture and initiating a process of change regarding responsible alcohol use. The Forum continues to work towards its vision of “a clean, safe and vibrant region with a responsible attitude to alcohol that protects future generations against alcohol related harm”. For further information please contact Karen Phillips, Senior Environmental Health Officer with Derry City Council on 028 7136 5151.

Ends

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