Attention News Editor:

News Release                   For Immediate Release

September 5, 2003

What’s Your Excuse?

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

A hard-hitting campaign has been launched targeting young people of Grey and Bruce Counties about the dangers of alcohol-related sexual behaviour.  Young people ages 14 – 24 will be getting the message this fall 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 1/2 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 Tammy Allison, Public Health Nurse.  “This issue is not often discussed.  We want to get the message out that this is something not to be ignored.”

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

To support this campaign there will be posters and coasters distributed to local bars, materials to Georgian College, and work will be done with local schools to promote responsible drinking. 

Here are some drinking 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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Attachments:

What’s Your Excuse fact sheet

For more information:

Tammy Allison or Linda Yenssen

Public Health Nurses, Injury Prevention Program

Public Health

881-1920