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24 hour drinking could be banned

24 hour drinking could be banned in Surrey, if enough people give support in an online alcohol survey.

Health bosses have been quizzing people on their drinking habits and alcohol knowledge to tackle the county's "hazardous drinking" problem.

So far, more than 350 people have filled in the big drink debate survey, but the PCT hopes more than 10,000 will take part over the next five months.

Last November, Elmbridge was ranked the eighth worst place in the country for hazardous drinking - an amount above healthy levels of around three units a day, but below binge drinking. Of the top ten most hazardous drinking areas in the UK, seven were in Surrey.

We are not talking about demonising alcohol here.
Anna Raleigh, Surrey PCT

Now Surrey PCT wants to use the information from the survey to influence how the dangers of alcohol are taught in local schools, whether more rehab centres are needed, and if tougher licensing on 24 hour drinking would prevent people drinking as much.

It could mean the seven places with 24 hour licenses in the borough could have them removed in future - including Mercedes Benz World, Sainsbury's in Cobham and Walton, and the Oatlands Park Hotel, Weybridge.

The survey covers subjects including whether happy hours should be banned and if there are too many off licenses in the local area.

Surrey PCT's Director of Public Health, Anna Raleigh, has denied taking too much of a nanny-state approach.

She said: "We are not talking about demonising alcohol here. There is a recognition that alcohol is a part of British culture and people can use alcohol in a safe, sensible and social way.

"But there are some people who are drinking alcohol excessively and that is having an impact on the whole of society."

The survey closes on September 30 and the PCT plans to run events over the coming months to hand out paper surveys.

To take part visit www.surreybigdrinkdebate.nhs.uk.

4:58pm Friday 9th May 2008

Related Links
Surrey Big Drink Debate
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