City drunks to be given quit advice after being locked up

Drunks who end up spending a night in the cells are to be given information and advice on quitting the booze.

The Custody Cards scheme has been running in Glasgow city centre for more than a year.

And health bosses claim that for something so low-tech as a card with advice and phone numbers, it's already had a positive effect.

Thirteen people, locked up at Stewart Street police station for alcohol-related crimes, have since been referred to addiction teams to combat their drinking.

At least two others have joined Alcoholics Anonymous as a result.

With at least two-thirds of city centre arrests alcohol-related, it's considered worthwhile extending it across Glasgow.

The cards contain telephone numbers for community addiction teams, the AA, the National Alcohol Helpline, and information on how many units are recommended and how many units drinks contain, advice on safer drinking and dispelling myths on sobering up.

Nikki Boyle, health promotion officer with NHS Greater Glasgow, said: "This is a low-level harm-reduction scheme which is part of a bigger strategy and not something which will change the world by itself, but already there are results."

Meanwhile, Scottish ministers are to extend a scheme which offers drug addicts access to treatment when they are arrested.

They have approved funding of £1.4million annually for the extension of the scheme which has been running in areas such as Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire.

Evening Times