A GP HAS called for an end to the drinking culture he says is tearing apart families and destroying communities.
Dr Michael Taylor, who has practised in Heywood for nearly 30 years, has appealed to the government to curb binge-drinking and alcoholism after seeing a dramatic rise in family breakdown, street violence and domestic assaults deriving from drinking to excess.
Dr Taylor, of York House Surgery, York Street, came into contact with two patients in just two days last week who had tried to take their own lives while drunk.
He has already lost two patients under 45 to liver failure caused by alcoholism and fears the trend will soon affect younger people.
"Alcohol-induced relationship breakdown is an almost daily tale at the surgery," he said. "And most worrying of all are the frightened faces of children caught up in drink and drug lifestyle though no fault of their own.
"More and more I am seeing single mothers with drink problems and fathers who don’t see their children any more because of drink. What people don’t realise is that you become a different person when you drink to when you are sober. Outside my surgery it is usual to find empty bottles of high-strength cider and lager through the week. Loony licensing laws have made it too easy to drink. I like an occasional drink, as I’m sure many Advertiser readers do too, but it is time to act on this excessive culture."
Dr Taylor, a member of the Family Doctor Association, which treats alcoholism as a priority, has written to Heywood MP Jim Dobbin with four measures he feels would curb the issue.
"Taxation by units of alcohol, banning advertising, increasing the minimum legal drinking age to 21 and increasing licensing controls are proven ways of tackling alcoholism, and I would urge Mr Dobbin to have a word in the ear of Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State, to take immediate action," he said.
Mr Dobbin said: "I very much agree that the culture of alcohol is doing a lot of damage to our communities, particularly among the young, and it is a major priority for the government.
"I am happy to take Dr Taylor’s comments to the Secretary and can assure the people of Heywood that we understand the need to tackle binge-drinking and are taking it very seriously."
Anyone worried about alcohol-related issues can visit www.nhs.uk or email Dr Taylor at yhs@nhs.net .
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I think the comments of Jim Dobbin are lines from Labour's on going musical!
For God's sake Mr Dobbin start speaking your own mind for the benefit of locals! Stop toe-ing the party line and do what you were elected to do!
Unless Dr Taylor attached a brick to his letter and threw it through our MPs window, little will change.
It was a pleasant afternoon yesterday. Quite unlike me, I took the time to sit in the park at Heywood through lunchtime. Elderley people and young couples with children walked though and also sat down.
All were joined by two strong lager drinking individuals about 25-30 years of age who must be on the CCTV cameras. They caused no trouble just drank strong lager in a public place.
If the Government provide cash to support the addiction, perhaps things are not likely to improve.
Another sign of “broken Britain”!
The good doctor could be a little late Heywood has died already, I am reluctant to even drive through the town centre after 10 : 00p.m. Whilst mr. Dobbin is contacting his government colleagues maybe he could suggest the following, If a drunk is taken to hospital because of their own self inflicted condition they should have to pay for the privilige and also anyone arrested for being drunk and disorderly should have a minimum fine of £200.00 and all drink and drug related crime should have an extra tarrif of 25% just to cover the cost of wasting the time of the front line services
Recently I drove through Heywood and was horrified by the number of pubs that have closed. I counted around 10: such great names as the Victoria, the Freemasons Arms, the Royal George, the Navigation, and the unique, Our House - to name but a few. Yet Dr Taylor complains that alcohol is destroying Heywood. Well something is destroying the pub culture where people could socialise in a controlled environment. Perhaps there should be an enquiry into why alcohol is such a problem yet all the pubs are closing. I'd vote for that!