OUR revelation today that Worcester tops the West Midlands binge-drinking league should act as a call to action for the city.

It is a shameful statistic that does Worcester's standing as a desirable destination for tourists no good.

It is important, however, not to overreact to statistics that show the city having more hazardous drinkers' than more urban areas like Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

The reality is that there are far more people in Worcester who do not binge drink than there are who do.

Unfortunately, it often does not seem like that on a Friday or Saturday night, particularly at closing time.

The responsibility for changing this situation rests with all of us.

Parents and schools need to do more to educate children about how to enjoy alcohol responsibly.

Pubs and clubs need to do even more than they already do to ensure people who are drunk do not continue to be served.

And at Government level there needs to be more investment in helping those who have genuine drink problems.

We cannot just leave the police and the health service to pick up the pieces.

Those who appreciate alcohol know it should not just be a quick route to drunken oblivion. There is a substantial middle ground between being teetotal and being a binge drinker.

But it would appear that fewer people occupy it.