About the
Big Drink Debate

The Big Drink Debate aims to understand drinking in the South East, looking at what people think about alcohol, how much they drink and how they perceive alcohol-related health and social issues, and to investigate what we can all do to address problems caused by alcohol misuse.

The Big Drink Debate seeks to take a coordinated approach to tackling alcohol-related issues, bringing together the public and a wide network of public, private and third sector organisations.

An important part of the Big Drink Debate has been an in-depth analysis of the region’s alcohol research. This was followed by two public debates, where public and professionals expressed their views about how to tackle alcohol issues, in Oxford and Maidstone in November 2009.

Based on findings from the research and the two debates, a manifesto has been set out with a vision for addressing alcohol issues in the South East.

You can read, comment and sign-up to the manifesto on this website until 31 January 2010.  Your views on the manifesto will be used to inform how alcohol issues are addressed in the South East.

The Big Drink Debate is led by NHS South Central, NHS South East Coast and the Government Office for the South East, with close involvement from police, the drinks industry, retailers and universities among others.

The South East Big Drink Debate covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Kent, Medway, Eastern and Coastal Kent, West Sussex, East Sussex Downs and Weald, Hastings and Rother and Brighton and Hove.

Signup manifesto

The Big Drink Debate manifesto crystallises the views of the many members of the public and professionals from across the South East who engaged in the Big Drink Debate in autumn 2009.

It sets out their vision for addressing alcohol-related issues in the South East, enabling local people to confirm their support and help inform future alcohol priorities.

Sign up to the manifesto