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Issue:- Monday, 13 June 2016

Headlines and reports on this page = 3 news items. Page - 2.

Revellers urged to drink less and enjoy more during Euro 2016

REVELLERS planning nights out to watch the Euro 2016 football tournament are being warned their night could be cut short if they get too drunk. A campaign, using the slogan:- 'Drink Less Enjoy More', warns bar staff may refuse to serve them if they have had too much alcohol. It encourages young people to cut back on how much they drink at home before going out; so called:- 'pre-loading'; as well as how much they consume when visiting bars, pubs and clubs. The initiative is organised by Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Police, City Safe and Liverpool NHS Clinical Commissioning Group and aims to raise awareness of the 2003 Licensing Act, which states it is illegal to:-

► Buy alcohol for someone who is clearly drunk.

► For bar staff to serve someone who is clearly drunk.

Both offences are punishable with a fine of up to Ł1,000 and premises found to be serving people who are clearly drunk are also at risk of being stripped of their licence; but research shows only half of people are aware of the law. Mayoral lead for Community Safety, Councillor Emily Spurrell, said:- "We know that there will be many people getting in the Euro 2016 spirit, and we are just urging them not to drink too much so they have a better and safer night. We always see a spike in demand for public services when there is a major sporting event taking place, and it places a huge strain on services such as the police, ambulance staff and hospitals which are already busy. We are also working closely with bars and clubs in Liverpool City Centre on this issue to support their staff to help keep people safer, and not serve them if they are excessively drunk."

The Council's Alcohol and Tobacco Unit staff have been running training sessions to support bar staff to confidently refuse service to someone who is clearly drunk. Research carried out by Liverpool John Moores University during a similar campaign, in 2015, that showed a dramatic increase in the number of people turned away. Merseyside Police will be actively enforcing the laws in Liverpool City Centre in order to reduce drunkenness. The campaign features a range of advertising including posters with text conversations between friends to illustrate how their night out could be ruined if they ignore the law, including:- "Dean, don't get too smashed mate! We won't get served anywhere later" and "Gonna try and catch the England game at home lads. Gaz is bladdered and they won't serve us. Nightmare!"

Chief Superintendent Mark Wiggins said:- "We want everyone to enjoy Euro 2016; it should be a wonderful tournament and there will be many places around Merseyside showing the games, in particular those involving the home nations. We are not out to spoil anyone's fun but we will not tolerate anti social or criminal behaviour. We know that around 50% of all violent crimes committed are alcohol related and that if you drink at home, then go out, you are more likely to be involved in violence, either as a victim or as an offender. Liverpool's night time economy is rightly famous and the City has a well deserved reputation as a safe and vibrant place to enjoy a night out, retaining its Purple Flag status earlier this year. We want to ensure people visiting the City to watch games in licensed premises leave with memories of a fantastic afternoon or evening watching the football and are keen to come back when the tournament is over. The Drink Less Enjoy More scheme isn't aimed at those who drink responsibly; it's there to help identify the small minority of people who have had too much alcohol and could end up being a danger either to themselves or others. People need to ask themselves whether they want to have their night ended early; possibly even before a match has kicked off; because they are refused entry to a bar due to them having consumed too much alcohol too early. Drink sensibly and enjoy your night out with friends. We are also asking people to be aware that if they buy alcohol for a friend who has already drunk to excess they could face prosecution themselves. If you can see your friend has consumed too much alcohol, buy them water or a soft drink instead. We are working with our partners to educate staff at licences premises so that they are not breaking the law by serving people who have clearly already had enough to drink. If you attend a screening event, stay aware and take good care of your belongings. I would also ask that people plan ahead; make sure you know how you're getting home at the end of the evening."

The launch is taking place at the Bierkeller Entertainment Centre in Liverpool ONE, 1 of the leading venues in the City which is backing the initiative. Isaac Mayne, Head of Marketing for Burning Night Group who owns Bierkeller said:- "We think that the 'Drink Less, Enjoy More' campaign is a great initiative which serves to emphasise the importance of responsible drinking, which is something we regard as essential. The campaign will highlight the necessity for people to drink sensibly and we feel that this is very opportune due to the start of Euro 2016. We want to ensure that everybody has a good time when they visit Bierkeller, and this campaign will help to highlight the significance of drinking responsibly".

'Drink Less Enjoy More' will use a range of communication channels to provide people with friendly reminders about the law. This includes radio and social media advertising, posters outside licensed premises such as supermarkets and pubs and materials in bars.

Smoke Free Spring campaign helps protect children in Sefton

Gemma Farrell, 31 and Naomi Ullman, 31 from Ainsdale with Smokefree Spring team

SMOKE Free Spring; a campaign that helped turn a series of family friendly events across Sefton into smoke free zones; has been heralded as a success by both the public and local health professionals. Events that became smoke free included:- Sefton Community Markets, Litherland Park Community Gala Day, Seaforth Children's Centre Children's Fun Day, Santa's Easter Egg Hunt and Cancer Research UK's Race for Life, in Southport. In total at least 4,500 people; many children; benefited from smoke free zones during the programme of events.

Smoke free Spring has been co-ordinated by Sefton Council and local social enterprise Healthier Futures, formerly Tobacco Free Futures.

As well as promoting healthy behaviours to children, the smoke free events will also help to reduce litter and reduce the chances of young children picking up and potentially eating cigarette butts that are toxic. Less places for adults to smoke also encourages smokers to quit and makes it easier for ex-smokers to not be tempted.

Daria Wojtkowiak, Tracey Adamson, Frankie-Jo Halsall, Halsall, Sara Draper and Libby Adamson with the Smokefree Spring team

Gemma Farrell and Naomi Ullman, both 31 and from Ainsdale, Southport, who were running at Cancer Research UK's Race for Life at the weekend, support the campaign.

Naomi said:- "I used to smoke but gave up a few months ago. The benefits have been great and it has really helped with my running. I think smoke free events for families and children are a great idea. I have 2 kids, and it's great to promote healthy behaviour to them. I would like to see more."

Gemma said:- "Most of my family smoke, and my mum has smoked since she was about 14. I grew up around it, and it has put me off ever starting to be honest. I don't want my kids to start smoking either; so healthy smoke free events like this are great. I'd like to see more across Sefton."

Demand for smoke free events and spaces with children present is high in Sefton, according to a recent survey 93% of people in Sefton questioned were supportive of smoke free outdoor events for children and families, with only 5% of people unsupportive.

Matthew Ashton, Sefton Council's shared Director of Public Health said:- "It's great to see that these smoke free events have been welcomed not only in the pre-campaign research, but by families actually attending the events. Smoking has a devastating effect on our communities and families, with 1 in 2 long term smokers dying prematurely from their addiction. At Sefton Council, we are committed to tackling the harms caused by tobacco in our communities, especially to children, and want to see more healthy, smoke free family friendly events in our area that everyone can enjoy."

Andrea Crossfield, Chief Executive of Healthier Futures (formerly named Tobacco Free Futures) added:- "Young people consistently overestimate the prevalence of smoking, with 60% thinking it's the 'norm', when in reality four out of five people don't smoke in Sefton. Smoke free Spring has been created to increase the amount of clean and healthy environments that children and families play in. This campaign is about promoting great, healthy positive spaces to children and families. The more events that become smoke free, the less likely children are to take up smoking; preventing them from entering into a deadly addiction that kills one in 2 long term smokers."

If you are thinking about quitting smoking you can contact your local stop smoking service for free help and support by calling Sefton Support on:- 0300 100 1000.

Nominate Liverpool and Merseyside's Endangered Buildings

NATIONAL charity, the Victorian Society, is asking Liverpool and Merseyside to nominate buildings for its Top 10 endangered Victorian and Edwardian buildings in England and Wales for 2016. Appearing in the Top Ten focuses attention on buildings and can help save them. Nominations close, on Friday, 1 July 2016. The Society has also published an updated campaigning guide to encourage people to fight for the buildings they are concerned about. There is hope for 1 of last year's endangered buildings from the North West. It has been reported that developers have now expressed an interest in fire damaged Central Plaza Hotel, Carlisle (Grade II, 1880, Daniel Birkett). Sadly, after a fire, one of our 2013 Top 10 Endangered Buildings, the colossal Grade II listed Accrington Conservative Club (1890 to 1891) designed by architects William James Morley & George Herbert has now been mostly demolished.

Christopher Costelloe, Victorian Society Director, said:- 'We had a phenomenal response to last year's Top 10, no doubt helped by the support of our Vice President Griff Rhys Jones. The future now looks much brighter for many of the buildings we featured. I hope the public will once again scour their local areas to nominate buildings for our 2016 list. Focusing attention on neglected buildings, whether by inclusion in the Top 10 or by using our new campaigning guide, can help save them, which in turn, benefits the wider community.'

To nominate a building contact the Victorian Society via email or via post, sending a letter to:- 1 Priory Gardens, London, W4 1TT; with brief details of the building/s, on, before Friday, 1 July 2016. All the buildings or structures nominated will be considered by the Society's architecture and conservation experts before the 2016 list of the Top 10 Endangered Buildings in England and Wales is announced on 14 September 2016. Nominated buildings could be threatened by demolition, neglect or inappropriate redevelopment.

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Deceased estates notice - Lilian May Jackam

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925, any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of Lilian May Jackam (also known as Lillian May) Jackam (Deceased), late of Birch Abbey Rest Home, 55 Alexandra Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 9HD, UK, who died on 04/10/2018, are required to send particulars thereof in writing, to the undersigned Solicitors, on or before 24/05/2019, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests of which they have had notice. Churches Solicitors, 12 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BL, UK. Ref:- 'T553015.'

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