Jersey still an Island of boozers

Tuesday 13 May 2014

Islanders are still drinking more than in most places in the world, beating the UK, Ireland and France – according to the latest figures produced by the Health department.

A worrying trend is that one in eight teenagers aged 14 and 15 are drinking alcohol regularly and many more drunk under 18s are admitted to hospital than in the UK.

Home Affairs hope to address the problem with their hard-hitting Prison Me No Way campaign which they have been delivering in the Island’s schools.

But the man in charge of the charity which helps people battling addiction says more might have to be done to highlight the dangers of alcohol.

Jason Wyse from Silkworth Lodge said: “These stats are alarming and it may well be that we need to look at more enhanced programmes for the youth of the island."

Alcohol is known to be the cause of more than 60 medical conditions including mouth, throat, stomach, liver and breast cancers as well as high blood pressure, cirrhosis and depression.The Health department say to avoid risking their health, men shouldn’t drink more than four units of alcohol a day and women no more than three.

But the stats taken from the annual Social Survey show that half of men aged 16 to 64 are drinking more than that every day and so are almost half of women aged 16-34.

Over 40% of women aged 34-54 are drinking more than the daily recommended limit at least once a week.

Around four thousand Islanders are now hooked on alcohol and deaths caused specifically by alcohol have increased in the last ten years.

Mr Wyse said: “We are lucky in the fact that our government is investing in services around alcohol and drug issues and the necessary individuals from within Health & Social Services and the Voluntary & Community Sector have formed a Leadership Team that will look at issues such as this and all other matters surrounding Alcohol issues in the island.

“There is a clear commitment to look at the best solutions to these issues and I am confident that we will start to make dents in tackling the huge problem that we have in the island around alcohol addiction.”