GREAT YELDHAM POLICE STATION

Everyone enjoys socialising with friends but for some a night out ends with a bigger price to pay than a hangover.

Having too much to drink can lead to a number of offences, including assault, criminal damage, drink driving and, before long, a criminal record.

In fact, it’s estimated that 40% of crime involves the influence of alcohol.

Almost 80% of assaults, 88% of criminal damage and 40% of domestic violence are due to excessive drinking.

Know your limit

For some, there’s no ‘off switch’ when it comes to alcohol.

It’s easy to drink too much too quickly and before you know it you’re waking up the following day unable to remember how you got there or what you did last night. That’s the scary part!

To stop that happening, know your limit and stick to it. It’s recommended that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day and women no more than two to three.

A pint of bitter contains just over two units while a glass of wine can contain anything from 1.5 to more than three.

Alcohol and the law

You need to be aged 18 or over to buy and drink alcohol legally in licensed premises in Britain, but 1000 teenagers under the age of 15 are still admitted to hospital every year with alcohol poisoning.

With the exception of having a meal in a pub, it’s against the law for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-licence or supermarket.

Keep you and your children safe by being aware of the law around alcohol:

Aged five and under

It’s illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under the age of five except in certain circumstances such as under medical supervision.

Aged under 14

Unaccompanied Children under 16 are not allowed on licensed premises when they are being used for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises (Bar area)