HEALTH chiefs in Hart have received £80,000 to research the side-effects of excessive drinking at home.

The money was part of a £350,000 funding pot from Hampshire County Council, handed out to local authorities across Hampshire to fund health initiatives.

Hart District Council, together with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, applied for £80,000 to fund research into “increased risk drinking”, with a focus on those drinking at home.

It is hoped that any findings from the campaign will be shared to other areas of the county.

Councillor Anne Crampton, Hart cabinet member for housing and health, said: “We are delighted that we have been successful with a bid and have secured funding to undertake a research project into increased risk drinking.

“From this, we will carry out two campaigns to try and reduce the impact of such drinking.”

She added: “We look forward to working alongside Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, in collaboration with Hampshire County Council Public Health.”

Excessive drinking has been highlighted as a priority by the Hampshire Health and Wellbeing Board, set up by the county council in co-ordinate health and social care.

It estimates some 250,000 people drink excessively in Hampshire, while a study this year claimed that Hart has the highest overall rate of alcohol misuse in the county.

A report prepared for the funding bid stated that amongst males, Basingstoke and Deane has the second highest mortality rate from chronic liver disease.

Councillor Felicity Hindson, executive member for adult social care at Hampshire County Council, approved the funding at her decision day last month.

The project will start in January next year, with the research section of the project due to be completed by June 2014.

Hart also received £10,000 to extend the Village Agent scheme, which aims to prevent vulnerable people from becoming isolated socially, and £15,000 in a joint scheme to help businesses improve the health of employees.