INFORMATION and advice on sensible drinking will be available at Kidderminster's Rowland Hill Centre next week.

As part of Alcohol Awareness Week, Worcestershire's community alcohol team will be managing a stand and handing out leaflets on Thursday, April 10.

They will also be giving details of services available in the county which offer confidential advice and support for anyone concerned about their own or someone else's drinking.

According to the latest figures for Worcestershire, during 2005/06, 2,368 males and 1,678 females were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related reasons. Of those, 250 were aged under 18.

Of the population aged 16 and over in Worcestershire, 17.5 per cent were binge drinking, which was on a par with the regional average of 17.9 per cent and the national average of 18 per cent.

Emma Coll, of Worcestershire Community Alcohol Team, said: "There's no doubt that, for most of us, moderate drinking can greatly add to the quality of our lives.

"However, there's also a need to guard against getting into risky habits, particularly if we socialise regularly or frequently buy alcohol to drink at home.

"For information, the Government's recommended limits for safe drinking are two to three units per day for women and tjhree to four units per day for men.

"Sticking to those limits gives us the best likelihood of a lifetime of risk-free drinking"