Know your limits this Christmas

As part of Lancashire Constabulary's Operation Shepard town centre police officers are working closely with licensees across Blackburn and Darwen to encourage people to drink sensibly.

The police have received funding from Blackburn with Darwen Council Community Safety Partnership and have distributed posters to pubs and clubs in the borough.

They display messages to remind people to be careful about the amount of alcohol they are drinking.

The messages are echoed on 10,000 beer mats which have also been distributed and feature slogans such as Had one too many? Avoid mixing different drinks' and A night to remember or a night to forget? Don't leave it to chance-work out how you're going to get home before you go out'.

Operation Shepard aims to tackle and prevent alcohol related crime and anti social behaviour during Christmas and New Year.

Sergeant Rachel Baines for Blackburn Police said: "We want everyone to enjoy Christmas and New Year but not at the expense of others and I urge people to consider the amount they are drinking and take extra care when out celebrating.

"I am extremely grateful to Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety partnership for providing the funding for the beer mats which will allow us to spread the message about sensible drinking throughout the pubs and clubs in the borough.

"We want people to be aware of the dangers of drinking far too much and the negative impact that can have."

Coun Alan Cottam, chairman of the Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety Partnership, said: "The beer mats are aimed at getting the message across that we want people to enjoy themselves during the festive period but also to remind them to stay safe.

"We want them to have a night to remember, not one to forget."

Paul Stray, Liquid and Envy licensee, said: "We run a designated driver scheme where if a group of four designate a driver for the evening and come to Liquid and Envy then they can leave their keys at the front door and soft drinks are free all night."