Tackling Alcohol Safer Communities highlights consequences of excessive drinking
A new initiative has been launched in South Wales to highlight the consequences of excessive drinking to people who commit alcohol-related crime.
The Tackling Alcohol Safer Communities (TASC) scheme has previously been run in Swansea and is now being introduced across the Western Bay region to include Neath, Port Talbot and Bridgend.
It will give individuals who receive a fixed penalty notice for low-level alcohol-related offences the opportunity of attending an alcohol awareness course so they can learn more about the impact of excessive drinking on the community and on their health and wellbeing.
The price of attending the course will be £45 which is half the cost of a fixed penalty notice.
The relaunch of TASC has taken place ahead of the busy Six Nations rugby tournament and is being driven by the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, Alun Michael with the support of the community safety partnerships in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend.
Mr Michael said:
“Tackling Alcohol Safer Communities is all about highlighting the impact that excessive drinking has on individuals and the communities of South Wales.
“All too often, people go out, drink too much and end up injuring themselves or becoming involved in crime, either as a victim or a perpetrator. The aim of this initiative is to give individuals an opportunity to learn more about the consequences of their actions and make them think hard about their drinking habits in the future.
“It is part of our wider strategy to tackle alcohol-related violent crime in South Wales and reinforces our Know the Score campaign which encourages people to go out and have a great time, but to drink less and enjoy more.”
People who receive a fixed penalty notice for being drunk and incapable, drunk and disorderly or for alcohol-related Section 5 Public Order Act offences will be eligible to attend the course instead of paying the fine.
The three-hour evening course will be delivered by the Welsh Centre for Action on Dependency and Addiction (WCADA) and will include information on alcohol consumption, personal safety and the health, social and legal implications of drinking too much.
Superintendent Liane Bartlett of South Wales Police said:
“The extension of TASC will be an important addition to the range of initiatives already in place to make the nightlife in our town and city centres safer.
“Unfortunately some people cannot control their behaviour after drinking alcohol and end up becoming involved in drunken public order incidents which police and other emergency services then have to deal with. This course will help educate these people and hopefully stop them reoffending in the future and encourage them to take more responsibility for their actions.”
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