The county has more off-licences than anywhere else in the country
Gwynedd is Wales’ booze capital, with more off-licences per head than anywhere else in Wales, figures show.
The area has a total of 167 off-licences covering a population of 122,864 – or one for every 736 people.
The national average is one for every 960 people.
Anglesey is sixth on Wales’ list with one off-licence for every 909 people.
People in Conwy have one such facility for every 945 residents while Wrexham and Flintshire have one for every 1148 people and 1158 persons respectively.
Perhaps surprisingly, Cardiff is down in eighth place, with its 388 off-licences working out as one for every 921 people.
The least boozy place in Wales is the Vale of Glamorgan, with 102 "offies" covering a population of 127,592 working out as one for every 1,251 people.
The figures, from the Office for National Statistics, include those places which can only sell alcohol for consumption off-site. That means pubs and clubs are not counted.
The figures have prompted Cais (Cyngor Alcohol Information Services) to call on local authorities to look at controlling the availability of alcohol in their areas.
Cais chief executive Clive Wolfendale said: “It seems that in most places in Wales just about every shop that can do so is now selling alcohol.
“It’s easier to get a bottle of scotch than a loaf of bread. This is a real problem in terms of protecting young and vulnerable people from misusing alcohol.
“I think all authorities should look at greater control on the display and availability of drinks in retail outlets.
“This applies particularly to cheap but strong lagers and ciders. A minimum pricing law would help on all counts.”
More than half of people referred for help with substance misuse in Wales have alcohol problems, prompting calls for a minimum pricing.
In 2013/14, nearly 13,500 of the 24,806 referrals were because of alcohol, Welsh government figures have shown.
Both figures are up on the previous year. Heroin and cannabis referrals are also up.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/gwynedd-booze-capital-wales-12198655
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