VOLUNTEER actors, including two Kalgoorlie police officers and St John Ambulance members, have helped produce a graphic television advertisement depicting the dangers of excessive drinking.
The 30-second advertisement and two radio jingles – with backing by the Two Up Two Down community choir and promoting the same message - were launched at Hannans Club on Thursday last week as this year's Kalgoorlie Alcohol Action Project (KAAP) Christmas campaign.
The advertisement was filmed and produced in Kalgoorlie-Boulder by Gary Brown of Natcam Productions and directed and cast by Lisa Van Oyen of Stage Left Theatre Troupe.
The message is “Take AIM (Alcohol In Moderation) – too much booze ... we all lose”.
The advertisement will be shown on regional television from Sunday and the jingles will play on Radio West from next Friday.
Fredrik Welander from KAAP said this year's Christmas campaign “reflects the cost to people who become innocent victims due to the irresponsible actions of others who can not - or choose not to - drink alcohol responsibly.
“We also wanted to acknowledge that many people are doing the right thing when they use alcohol, and that it is only a minority that cause the problems for others.
“However, as long as the majority stays silent and condones antisocial behaviour on our streets and in our homes, be it due to alcohol abuse or drug abuse or both, these things will continue to affect us all,” Mr Welander said.
Information compiled by KAAP shows:
■Between 2002 and 2006 there were 1132 alcohol-related hospitalisations in Kalgoorlie at a cost of $4.5 million. This was 3.8 times higher than the state average.
■Of the domestic violence incidences reported to Kalgoorlie police, 67 per cent involve alcohol.