S launches ea Raign to warn students off excess booze
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By MATIHEW RAY, News Editor
The National Union of Students is set to join. leading drinks producers in a bid to warn students away from excess boozing. The campaign, to be launched next month, is being spearheaded by the Portman Group, who advi e on the dangerou effects of 'alcohol misuse.' Two or three units a day are The group is funded by national recommended for women and three producers of alcoholic drinks including Bacardi, Martini, Fosters or four units for men. One unit equals half a pint of and Guinne s. lager or beer, one shot of spirits or The new of the campaign comes one glass of wine. after boffins announced in top Nevertbeles , students drinking medical journal, The lAncet, that in the Union bar at the weekend had students are out-drinking other a different opinion, with some young people and a third of students believing the targets to be regularly 'binge' drink. unreali tic. Male tudents drink the mo t Said Ross Easterbrook (CHE 4), according to tlie study, with over "If you are going out for the night to half drinking above medically the LCR, then people are not going recommended levels. to pay attention to the limit."
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Andrew Chevi of the Portman Group believes that univer ity provides many student with their first opportunity to drink unlimited amounts of alcohol. "The fact that student bars can be open a lot longer, plus the fact that the alcohol is obviously quite cheap means that if students want to get rat-ar**d it is not difficult for them todo o." But be added, "This is not an attempt to preach, it is an atteQ'lpt to provide information o that students can make up their own minds." NUS - wbo organi e cut-price drinks deals for tudents unions and the Portman Group bope to increa e awarene s by informing students of afe drinking habits.
Recover He added that the student lifestyle is more laid-back than others. "University is the one time when you get the chance of a lie-in whenever you need to recover." Live Overbye Kvammon (EURI), expre sed anger at the NUS drive, saying, "We should be left alone to drink what we like." However, Douglas Trainer, NUS President, is hoping that students will listen to the moderation message. "No one wants to stop students having a good time," he aid. "But the message of safe drinking still need to be got
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