Insight for Sunday 18 July 2010

Britain and New Zealand share a binge-drinking culture that's of growing concern in both countries.

Here a group of prominent New Zealanders, led by former Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves, is calling for a shake up of the country's alcohol laws.

In the UK, the new coalition government says targetting binge-drinking will be a priority.

What are they planning and are there any lessons for New Zealand?

In a two-part series, Radio New Zealand's Health Correspondent, Karen Brown, has been in Britain finding out.

In part one, Karen takes to the streets of London in the city's "Booze Bus" which delivers paramedic attention to drunks, in a bid to stop them tying up scarce hospital resources.

Photo: The "Booze Bus" operating in central London. Source, London Ambulance.