ALCOHOL related deaths in Swindon are among the lowest in the country.

In 2010, figures from the Office of National Statistics showed that alcohol killed eight people in south Swindon and nine people in north Swindon.

These figures, split into Parliamentary constituencies, showed Swindon’s figures were 75 per cent lower than the worst spot in the country, Sunderland Central, where 36 deaths were recorded as a result of alcohol in the same period.

The south west had the lowest figures for deaths related directly to drinking, which includes alcohol poisoning, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.

Devizes came bottom of the country with only two alcohol-related deaths recorded in the time frame.

Health experts have put the low figures down to a mutli-agency approach, but admit more work still needs to be done to bring the figures down further.

Frances Mayes, senior public health manager at Swindon Primary Care Trust, said: “It is a problem and we are addressing it.

“We have taken concerted action to bring it down right through from education in the schools through to licensing venues.

“The main message is to know your limit.”

One of the places being used to tackle the problem is Swindon and Wiltshire Alcohol and Drugs Service (SWADS) where its counsellors work all year round to try to stop people from falling into the grips of alcohol dependence.

Booze-related deaths have fallen in Swindon over the past seven years, with 21 deaths recorded in 2005.

SWADS, based in Milton Road, offers information, support and advice to people who need it and also offers a detox programme with the help of GPs.

Ms Mayes said: “We do take drink related deaths quite seriously in Swindon and we do have in place a strategy which involves the council, police authority and NHS to tackle the problem.

“SWADS is a great service that offers a wide range of services to people who need it.

“The first thing is that people should know their weekly allowance, it is 21 units for men and 14 units for women.

“There is not only the cost on the NHS but also domestic violence and lots of other related problems.”