Combined effort to beat problem drinking

The dangers of drinking too much will be highlighted at a conference at Taunton Racecourse on Wednesday.

The event comes a week after West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose warned that alcohol kills more people than drugs in Taunton.

Tomorrow's event will be attended by district council licensing experts, trading standards and crime reduction officers, police and councillors.

The aim is to share good practice and consider how the different authorities and services can develop a consistent and enhanced approach to tackling alcohol abuse on licensed premises.

Supt Gary Davies said: "This is not just about reducing crime.

"There are all kinds of other problems that are caused by excessive alcohol consumption, such as accidents and underage sexual activity.

"Great efforts are being made across the county to address these problems, but even more can be done if services work together.

"Somerset is overwhelmingly a safe place and a great place to live and work. We want to make sure that everyone can go out and enjoy it safely."

Jim Hunter, Taunton Deane Council's Operations Manager for Environmental Health, said: "We all have the same agenda but at the moment each do things a little differently.

"I hope we can establish what exactly we are all doing, and then start to consider how we can have a more integrated approach that brings everyone together."

Mr Rose's comments came at the inquest into the death of alcoholic Alexander Devine, 62, whose body lay undiscovered in his flat in Monmouth Road, Taunton, for almost a fortnight.

Mr Rose said: "It's a sad indictment of our society that we can't drink respectably."

Somerset County Gazette