Christmas Campaign with a lotta bottle!

PCSO Natalie Hole hands out bottles in the Litten Tree on Queen Street to customer Danny Boueer

‘Have one on us’ - that’s the offer from BSafe Blackpool this Christmas.

The message from Blackpool Primary Care Trust, Blackpool Police, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Services and Blackpool Council – working in partnership under BSafe Blackpool - is a simple one: Have fun but BSafe during the festive period. 

Representatives from all of these agencies will be out in force in the town centre giving out free bottles of water to remind people of the ALTN8 campaign - alternate alcoholic and soft drinks the party period.

The bottles of water are branded with one of two messages.

Concerned at the 119% rise in house fires in December last year, Lancashire Fire Rescue service are telling Blackpool residents: 'Don't be a turkey this Christmas - Don't be a drunken cook'

Blackpool Forest Gate Station Manager Jeff Holden said: “Most of the fires last year started in kitchens. Many of those involved adults thought to have been under the influence of alcohol whilst trying to cook.”

Nationally, an alarming 39% of people killed in fires have consumed alcohol.

Jeff added: “The message is very much enjoy Christmas, but safely and don’t become a statistic.”

The message from the police is just as hard-hitting: “A good festive night out is for Christmas – not for life.’

In short: Stay safe, have fun but not at the expense of others, or your future.

Blackpool Central Geographic Inspector Tim Leeson says: “This is all about raising the profile of sensible drinking. 65% of all violent crime is alcohol related, and the message quite simply is - be sensible and enjoy your night out.”

Both bottles also carry the ALTN8 message, as the latest arm of Blackpool’s own strategy to help tackle binge drinking.

Ian Treasure, Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy Officer for Blackpool Primary Care Trust (PCT) said:  “By giving people bottles of water we are reinforcing the ALTN8 message in the run up to Christmas.

“We want people to enjoy the festive period - but with one eye on their health and their safety. 

“Christmas parties tend to start earlier and ALTN8ing drinks is one way of ensuring you don’t get worse for wear due to alcohol too quickly.”

Cllr Sue Wright, Vice Chair of BSafe Blackpool, said: “Many of us like to indulge in an extra glass of red wine or beer at Christmas, especially when out with friends and family or colleagues on office parties. The simple message is, if you are enjoying a drink, think responsibly and drink responsibly.

“This is a multi-agency awareness campaign for a good reason. The emergency services have seen first hand the impact that excessive alcohol can have, and we are working together to give people a gentle reminder to alternate their drinks this Christmas and think about their personal safety.”