Ambulance service launches responsible drinking campaign

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) has launched an alcohol campaign called Not An Ambulance, urging people to drink responsibly and look after their friends if they drink too much.

The London Ambulance Service’s Not An Ambulance campaign will run throughout August

The campaign comes following figures released by the UK ambulance service showing that more than 6,650 people were treated by ambulance crews after drinking too much alcohol in August 2016 – higher than in December when fewer than 6,000 people were attended to.

The #NotAnAmbulance campaign will run throughout August, and is the first campaign of its kind from LAS.

It is being accompanied by a 90-second film, which highlights the campaign’s message, which ends with a young man who has had too much to drink being looked after by his friends and the strap line: “He needs his friends, not an ambulance.”

Medical director Dr Fenella Wrigley said: “We’re asking people to drink responsibly and if their friends do drink too much and need help, look after them so they don’t end up alone, vulnerable and in need of an ambulance.

“A lot of people our control room and ambulance crews respond to on Friday and Saturday nights don’t need an ambulance – they need a friend to take responsibility to get them home safely and look after them.

“Our message is simple – look after your friends, and make sure they get home safely, rather than ending their night in the back of an ambulance.”

LAS offered several tips for a safe night out, including eating before drinking alcohol, alternating between an alcoholic beverage and a soft drink or water, and planning the journey home before the night begins.

Five boroughs were named for the highest levels of alcohol-related incidents throughout 2016: Westminster (4,830), Camden (3,427), Lambeth (3,419), City & Hackney (3,272) and Southwark (3,051).

A total of 25% of all alcohol-related incidents each week take place between midnight and 6am on a Saturday and Sunday.