Issued 2 October 2008

NORTHERN Constabulary has launched a new film aimed at women aged between 18 and 25 which seeks to address the issues surrounding the excessive consumption of alcohol by this group.

The current trend of young women, (18 to 25 years) to excessively consume alcohol, frequently results in anti-social behaviour and crime.

Some studies in the UK present a picture of an exponential rise in alcohol consumption combined with a similar rise in violent behaviour by this section of our community. Northern Constabulary’s Force Area is not immune from this condition.

Apart from antisocial behaviour and crime, there are issues of personal safety for those involved, consequences in respect of their health, and in some cases concerns regarding parenting and child protection.

The film seeks, through visual arts, to graphically highlight the consequences of the choices young women make in relation to alcohol.

The four minute film is called Tonight You Decide. It sets out to depict the possible consequences of choices of lifestyle as regards alcohol.

The film does not set out to shock, but to present an honest representation of conditions seen in our streets weekly, if not daily. It is designed to be thought provoking and to stimulate discussion surrounding such aspects as social impact of over consumption, health, personal safety, self esteem and employment to name but a few.

The film ends cleverly with the same young actor in split screen, one depicting her heading home with friends happy and the other showing her sitting on a step with ripped tights, make up ruined and unable to stand let alone summon the words to call a taxi to take her home safely. And the film itself shows the positive and negative lifestyle choices a woman can make over a period of time and ultimately the consequences.

The film is the brainchild of Northern Constabulary's Drug and Alcohol Co-ordinator Inspector Bob Pollock and has been made possible thanks to the support of the Highland Drug and Alcohol Action Team and funding from the Highland Council's Anti-social Behaviour Fund. Northern Constabulary also contributed towards the costs and the film was produced by Edinburgh based Hee Haw Productions.

Part of the funding has allowed Northern Constabulary to have its own Tonight You Decide website for further information and a place where people can view the film in its entirety. The film will be shown at colleges across the Highlands and Islands as well as at a number of clubs across the area. The website address is www.tonightyoudecide.com

Inspector Pollock said: "The film seeks to recognise that a growing percentage of 50% of the population is increasing their consumption of alcohol. That in doing so, they run the risk of never reaching their potential personally and socially; they may be storing up health problems for the future, let alone the present; they run the risk of falling prey to predatory males; they may become involved in criminal acts, and acts of violence.

"Not dissimilar to a percentage of the other 50% of the population. In producing this film we would seek to contribute to the ongoing work of many other agencies and Action Teams in promoting responsible drinking, by all, but in this case particularly young women 18 years to 25 years of age.

"The HDAAT has been majoring on women and alcohol for the past 18 months and the Scottish Government focused on the issue last year. The film does not set out to lecture, nor to preach absitence it merely presents the truth of what is happening to many, and leaves the decision to those viewing as to the choices they will make.

He added: "The Scottish Government set out its ‘overarching purpose’ namely ‘ to increase sustainable economic growth’. To achieve this requires that the skills, abilities , talents, and potential of the population is realised. We hope that this film will contribute to achieving this goal by persuading some of that 50% of the population mentioned previously to be all that they can be, for themselves and for the society

"This is a Force wide project and it is intended to take the film out to the Islands communities and seek the support the relevant Action Teams."