A nationwide drive to provide help to alcoholics is underway in Switzerland. The one-day campaign aims to create greater awareness of the problem, which affects some 300,000 people nationwide.

The campaign has been run annually for the past four years, and is targeted at alcoholics and people who are in danger of becoming addicted to drink.

Entitled "Swiss solidarity day for people with alcohol problems", it takes place on the second Thursday of November, and aims to promote awareness of the affliction and the various organisations which alcoholics can turn to for rehabilitation.

Some 40 cities and towns are involved in the campaign, and 170 mobile rehabilitation units have been fielded across the country. There are another 60 locations where alcoholics can seek help.

Every year some 33,000 people in Switzerland turn to hospitals and clinics for rehabilitation.

An estimated 160,000 people nationwide are severely addicted to drink, with a further 215,000 thought to be binge-drinkers. Nearly a million Swiss are said to drink too much.

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