Swansea Ready To Safely Celebrate Beaujolais Day

Beaujolais Nouveau Day – Thursday 17th November 2016 ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Beaujolais Nouveau Day, the celebration of the first harvest of grapes from Beaujolais region of France has increased in popularity in recent years. Throughout South Wales, night time economy venues will be opening their doors and inviting members of the community to join in this celebration. South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, working alongside other emergency services and partner agencies will be out reminding people to drink less and enjoy more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“South Wales has a diverse and dynamic night time economy which allows the community of South Wales to socialise, meet new people and experience new things. The #DrinkLessEnjoyMore campaign urges people to have a good night out by not having too much to drink. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In the past emergency services, including the Police, would try and persuade the public to refrain from consuming alcohol. Today, that approach doesn’t work. In a modern age new approaches are needed to educate the public and create real change. The campaign aims at explaining the law, showing a person social ethical responsibilities and highlighting the importance of drinking in moderation” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is an offence for a person to knowingly get, or try to get, alcohol for a drunken person on licensed premises. An offence is also committed when an establishment or a staff member serves alcohol to a person who is drunk. A fine of up to £1000 can be imposed and a premises could lose their licence ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael continued: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Beaujolais Day will have a different feel to a normal night, however, with alcohol being a direct factor in over 50% of all violent crimes, South Wales Police alongside businesses and partners will be out enforcing the law and protecting those vulnerable. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Swansea has a number of support services in place to offer assistance to night time economy patrons. I set up the Help Point to provide assistance to those vulnerable individuals suffering from excessive alcohol consumption whilst reducing the demand placed on emergency services, and it will be open for the first time ever on Beaujolais Day this year following a request by Swansea Business Improvement District who will fund the costs for the night. ” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By reducing alcohol consumption, you reduce the risk of becoming a victim or perpetrator of alcohol related violence. Stay safe and have fun #DrinkLessEnjoyMore” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​