HEALTH professionals in Holmfirth are targeting school pupils with their latest alcohol awareness campaign.

Health visitor Jill Allsopp, school nurse Beverley Atkinson and health care assistant Ann Moss have been making lunchtime visits to Holmfirth High School since Monday, offering information about alcohol.

They have spoken to pupils of all ages about responsible drinking, the dangers of drinking and binge drinking.

New Government guidelines on recommended alcohol consumption were also explained.

Previously, guidelines used to recommend the number of alcohol units which should be drunk by adult men and women each week.

Now, the guidelines give the recommended amount of units per day.

These are three to four units a day for men and two to three for women. One unit is equal to half a pint of normal strength beer, a small glass of wine or a single pub measure of spirits.

Mrs Allsopp said: "They changed it to stop people thinking they could save their units until the weekend, then binge.

"It is actually worse for you to binge. We wanted to give the pupils some facts and figures.

"They seemed interested in the information."

Mrs Allsopp said the campaign was not in response to a particular problem with youngsters drinking, but was a general educational exercise.

She added: "They have a lifestyle event every year and we had a stand at last year's. It proved popular, so we decided to make a week of it this year.

"Alcohol in general is an issue, not just with young people."