The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to tackling the serious problems that arise through drinking too much alcohol and 'binge drinking' "problems which affect individuals and society in general. We see the burden it places on our health and policing systems through alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour; and this impacts on all of us.

This is why the Welsh Assembly Government sees tackling alcohol misuse as a priority " as much so as tackling drug misuse. This is why our Substance Misuse Strategy, Tackling Substance Misuse in Wales: A Partnership Approach, published in 2000, includes promoting sensible drinking as one of its key aims. It is also why we have recently agreed to support a major BBC Wales' information and education campaign to tackle binge drinking.

The 22 Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) in Wales are responsible for tackling substance misuse locally. All their three-year action plans (2005€“2008) include measures to tackle alcohol problems which are tailored to meet specific needs. They include a variety of different schemes aimed at changing attitudes, and measures for dealing with alcohol-induced irresponsible behaviour. Examples include alcohol-free zones; night-time city-centre surveys, which include a questionnaire and voluntary breath test; and the early identification of alcohol use through the proactive use of alcohol screening tools.

Mrs Edwina Hart AM, the Welsh Assembly Government Minister responsible for substance misuse matters in Wales, firmly believes that education is key to encouraging a change in attitudes towards the consumption of alcohol.  This is why she agreed to provide over £3mn to support the All-Wales Schools programme, where teachers work with the police to educate children and young people in an interactive and imaginative way about risks and dangers including those associated with alcohol.

Although the Welsh Assembly Government does not have the formal powers to negotiate with all of the bodies that play a part in encouraging sensible drinking, we are keen to play an active role in the UK-wide campaign. For example, reacting to OFCOM's proposals on the television advertising of alcoholic drinks last year, we made it clear we would prefer alcohol advertising to be banned altogether.

We support engagement with the alcohol industry to encourage responsible drinking and we are encouraging the CSPs in Wales to work with licensees in their own areas.

Irresponsible drinking has become a major problem of the 21st century. The Welsh Assembly Government does not claim to have all the answers, or to be able to change habits over night. However, in the wider context of our Health Challenge Wales initiative, launched by the Welsh Assembly Government in January 2005, with the aim of improving the health of the whole Welsh population, encouraging sensible drinking is a theme which will feature strongly.