Councillor who lost mum to alcoholism calls for more sober nightlife
BBCA councillor who lost her mother to alcoholism has said Liverpool needs to embrace more sober nightlife - and championed a plan by the city to do more to tackle binge drinking culture.
The Green Party's Shantelle Lund said there have been too many hospital admissions due to alcohol and called has called for more non-alcohol nightlife alternatives.
Liverpool City Council has approved a new five-year plan to curb binge drinking and alcohol-related harm after figures showed more than 67,000 adults in the city were estimated to drink to excess.
Alcohol-related harm is estimated to cost Liverpool about £330m a year and is linked to thousands of hospital admissions.
Lund, a Knowsley councillor, told BBC Politics North West: "I am also someone who is almost five years sober.
"I lost my mum to alcoholism so this is a serious issue.
"We have a high prevalence of alcohol-related hospital admissions in Liverpool.
"But you can have a thriving nightlife with non-alcohol or zero alcohol alternatives.
"We have a coffee rave culture in Liverpool so I do think we can have a thriving night time economy where we de-incentivise alcohol within culture.
"And it is interesting that some reports have suggested that Gen Z are the least likely generation to want to drink of all the generations."
The council alcohol plan, which will run until 2032, was developed over two years with input from residents, community groups and organisations.
Council figures estimate about 87,000 adults in the city drink more than the recommended guidelines.
Prof Matt Ashton, Liverpool's director of public health, said the city had a "proud and vibrant" hospitality sector but alcohol-related harm remained a significant public health challenge.
"It impacts people's lives, their families and communities, and disproportionately affects some of our communities," he said.
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