A campaign to tackle head issues surrounding alcohol related violence and anti-social behaviour this Christmas will tour Cornish towns to raise awareness.

Called "What will your drink cost?" it aims to highlight the potential cost of drinking too much alcohol, with events in "priority areas" of Truro, Redruth, Camborne, Bodmin, St Austell, Penzance, Liskeard, Falmouth and Newquay.

The campaign targets 13 to 25 year olds, parents, drivers and pedestrians with key messages, including the illegal or inappropriate supply of alcohol to young people by their parents or other adults.

Specialist  teams including Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornwall Council services such as Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, and Licensing and Anti-social Behaviour Teams, are taking part and supporting the campaign.

David Parker, community safety officer with Cornwall Council says: “This initiative has already been successfully trialed to catch young people’s attention offering online advice on how to have a safe night out. We all want to have a good time over Christmas, our message, is that you can do this without getting drunk.”

With a third of all pedestrians killed in Cornwall over the last five years having been drinking, road safety and arranging a safe way to get home and taking care of  friends while on a night out are part of the message.

Des Tidbury the chair of Safer Cornwall partnership says: “The Safer Towns initiative is yielding some good results across Cornwall. This campaign speaks directly to young people and asks them to seriously consider the consequences of drinking and how it can lead to alcohol related violence, including domestic violence, and anti social behaviour. People need to be aware that if the national health guidelines on drinking are exceeded, or if people drink and drive, the negative consequences can be devastating. This partnership approach will raise awareness and demonstrate that we are all working together to tackle the problems that excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to.”

If you need more local help, then advice is available from: Addaction • Truro - 01872 263001 • Penzance – 01736 365467 • Liskeard - 01579 340616 • www.safercornwall.co.uk/contact-us/ • YZUP (Wise up) for young people – 0800 1693787 (freephone) 

Safer Cornwall also publicises a wealth of information and advice on its website (www.safercornwall.co.uk).