Alcohol

Alcohol is known to cause more health damage and to contribute to more crime than all other drugs put together. Unfortunately, despite this, there is far less funding available to deal with alcohol-related problems.

The DAT has a dedicated alcohol strategy co-ordinator who  acts as a champion and a focal point for alcohol issues in Lambeth, ensuring that all DAT partners prioritise interventions to reduce alcohol-related problems.

An alcohol strategy (2005-08) for the borough has been drafted and part of the Alcohol Strategy Co-ordinator role is to produce an annual delivery plan from this document and co-ordinate its delivery.

For more information contact the Alcohol Strategy Co-ordinator on 020 7926 2737.

Brockwell Park Alternative Space Project

This project is a partnership response to problems identified around a group of street drinkers at the entrance to Brockwell Park. The agencies and groups involved include: Lambeth Police, Parks Rangers, Community Safety Team, Lambeth Drug and Alcohol Action Team, St. Mungos, Lambeth Parks, Friends of Brockwell Park and the Herne Hill Forum.

The results of the pilot project in its first three months include:

• An alternative space has been recognised by Lambeth Parks and the Friends of Brockwell Park that has moved the street drinkers out of sight, this being one of the main issues raised by residents and is now used by the majority of the drinkers.
• A number of drinkers have benefited from outreach and support work whilst attendance figures are down from other comparable periods
• Other people (non-street drinkers) have started using the space by the Herne Hill entrance that had previously only been occupied by street drinkers.
• Police have reported that Police Community Support Officer's and other officers have been tasked with going to the alternative space every day. There has been good feedback from these officers and they have reported that the street drinkers are keeping the area clean, e.g. refuse being put into the bins, using the public toilet facility.
• Park rangers have also been patrolling the area and have also developed positive relationships with the street drinkers.

For more information contact the alcohol strategy co-ordinator on 020 7926 2737