BINGE-DRINKING with CHARLOTTE B

Informative, honest and hard hitting. A must for all teenagers.

The assumption that binge drinking is a new problem is simply ignoring history. In the 14th century, Oxford - now a place revered as a centre of educational excellence - was under curfew. The reason? Drunken students. We have to accept that for whatever reason, the British have an unusual relationship with alcohol, particularly when compared to our European neighbours. And it is getting worse.

• 113,400 licensed bars and clubs in England and Wales 36,000 off licences, 20,000 members clubs
• 1.2 million violent accidents linked to alcohol of which 360,000 are domestic violence incidents
• £95 million a year spent on alcohol treatment
• 30,000 admissions to hospital for alcohol dependence and 70% of A & E admissions linked to drink
• 22,000 premature deaths a year linked to alcohol
• 17 million working days lost through alcohol

What is being done about this? In 2000, there were 130 prosecutions for selling alcohol to under-18s. 56 convictions.

32-year-old Charlotte started binge drinking when she was only 14, whilst attending her convent school in Cardiff. Her story describes her ten years of binge drinking throughout school, university and her professional career as a solicitor. So, too, does it describe the consequences and ultimately being admitted into treatment for alcohol abuse when she was only 24.

Charlotte describes her experiences with humour, honesty and hard hitting facts; the problems associated with binge drinking affect not only ones health they impact on schools, families, relationships, careers, and many other aspects of daily life. This is not a don't drink lecture but a warning of what can happen if you don't respect the pit-falls of binge drinking.

I never planned to end up in a treatment centre at the age of 24. For me, unlike my friends, binge drinking meant more than a hangover on a Sunday morning. It cost me my job, my flat, my friends and my dignity. I believe I was one of the lucky ones because I am still here to tell the tale. Binge drinking can kill. Luckily, fate played me a different card and I was offered a second chance.

"In haste, just a brief note to say how wonderful it was to see Charlotte again on Friday... it was so-o-o-o good of her to [travel] all the way up here... The talk, as I expected, went very well indeed and the students responded magnificently to her... the message got home, at least for some of them, and the debate continues in the 6th Form Common Room where many kids have found the courage to voice the long-held opinion that having to look after some muppet who gets paralytic by 9pm really, really ruins an evening out! The first stirrings of a cultural shift? At least a start!"
Richard Golding, Arnold School

For further information, or to book Jamie, please call me, Alex Corkran, on 07790364784, email springback@homecall.co.uk I look forward to hearing from you.