A HOST of agencies came together in Kirkcaldy yesterday to help launch the first alcohol awareness week in Scotland.

The Fife campaign takes the form of a roadshow, which was unveiled in the Mercat Centre. It was jointly created by Drugs and Alcohol Project Levenmouth (DAPL), Fife Constabulary, Diageo, and Fife Fire and Rescue.

Representatives from all of the organisations were on hand to explain their role in promoting a responsible drinking message to the public, and to provide information on units, service provision, drink driving, anti-social behaviour/ violence, and alcohol- related fires.

DAPL manager Robert Grant said, “I feel it is important that all sectors in the community work together to deliver a consistent message of safer drinking to protect individuals’ health and the community as a whole.”

Fife Police alcohol liaison officer Michelle McNally said, “This week is about educating people in Fife about alcohol units and responsible drinking, to show they can enjoy alcohol sensibly.”

Neil Strachan, of Fife Fire and Rescue Service, said, “Many fires across the UK, often with tragic consequences, have been caused by the lethal combination of alcohol and cooking or smoking.”

With the stall running between 11am and 2pm, shoppers were invited to enter a prize draw and taste free non-alcoholic cocktails provided by local drinks producer Diageo.

John Paterson, site director for the company, said, “We are delighted to work in this partnership demonstrating our support and commitment for the first ever alcohol awareness week in Scotland.”

Local councillors Lawrence Brown, Judy Hamilton, Alice Soper and Carol Lindsay dropped in to support the group. Councillor Soper said, “I am delighted to see such a good response from the public.

Councillor Lindsay said, “We need to make more people aware that there are alternatives available.

“Alcohol can be used to escape problems, and some seem to think that they can only have a good time using it.”

Glenrothes is the next stop for the roadshow, today with the same presentation going ahead in the Kingdom centre, followed throughout the week at venues in Leven, St Andrews and Dunfermline.