News Release                   For Immediate Release

May 13, 2004

What’s Your Excuse?

A campaign launched to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol-related sexual behaviour

The hard-hitting campaign “What’s Your Excuse?” will be launched again this year to inform the young people of Grey and Bruce Counties about the dangers of alcohol-related sexual behaviour.  This May long weekend, young people ages 14–24 will receive the message that heavy alcohol consumption may lead to sexual harm.

The Canadian Campus Survey April 2000 reports that nearly 2/3 of post secondary students have reported drinking at least 4 or 5 drinks at one time.  As a result of this heavy drinking, students report unplanned sexual relations and unsafe sex.  Alcohol is a factor in 69% of all sexually transmitted disease, including HIV.  Alcohol is involved in over half of the reported sexual assaults that occur between people who know each other.

“The combination of alcohol and unplanned sex is a problem that our sexual health clinics see on a regular basis,” says Public Health Nurse Tammy Allison.  “This issue is not often discussed.  We want to get the message out that this is something not to be ignored.”

This is the fourth year since the “What’s Your Excuse?” campaign was launched.  The Public Health Unit and the Focus Project joined forces to tackle this issue in Grey and Bruce Counties.

To kick off this year’s campaign there will be posters and coasters distributed to local bars, materials to selected campgrounds, and work done with local schools to promote responsible drinking. 

Here are some tips:

·        Limit the number of drinks you consume.

·        Drink slowly.

·        Alternate between alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic drinks.

·        Plan ahead – abstain or use birth control and condoms.

Decide about alcohol.  Decide about sex.  Decide ahead of time.  No excuses.

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Attachment:

‘What’s Your Excuse?” Fact Sheet

For more information:

Tammy Allison or Linda Yenssen

Public Health Nurses

Grey Bruce Health Unit

881-1920