Drink awareness campaign could expand after positive start

A CAMPAIGN around people drinking safely and for folk to call out inappropriate behaviour could be expanded to include a focus on drugs.

The community-wide ABC – “alcohol, behaviour, call it out” – campaign was launched by NHS Shetland in December with support from various organisations ahead of the festive period and Up Helly Aa season.

The ABC campaign encourages people across Shetland to know their limits and drink safely, recognise how alcohol can impact their behaviour and to “speak up when something doesn’t feel right”.

The health board said data collected through Shetland’s sexual assault response coordination service (SARCS) showed the importance of addressing alcohol-related behaviours.

An update on the topic was raised at a meeting of Shetland’s integration joint board on Wednesday by vice-chair and Lerwick councillor John Fraser.

NHS Shetland’s health improvement lead Nicola Balfour said feedback from the scheme, including from the likes of the Up Helly Aa committee, has been “really positive”.

Advertisement7 of 10

She said there were discussions for example with hosts and hostesses of halls at Lerwick’s Up Helly Aa as part of the initiative.

Balfour said there is more to come from the campaign, which could include potentially adding a “d” to reflect the drugs context.

She also said there is scope for the campaign to work with other events, such as music festivals.

Fraser said the project had got off to a “fantastic start” and added a suggestion that perhaps it could also collaborate with the “sporting fraternity” in Shetland.

Developed in partnership with local organisations, the ABC campaign aims to promote “safety, respect and responsible choices across the community”.

NHS Shetland said it follows last year’s rise in reported sexual assaults during the Up Helly Aa fire festival season and “urges everyone to be an active bystander by recognising unwanted behaviour and challenging it safely”.