We're asking residents about the effects of drinking on everyday life and whether these have increased because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The public consultation which launched yesterday  recognises that drinking is a complex issue. On the one hand a part of many people’s social lives and a healthy industry which sustains jobs across the county, alcohol also harms many people and consumes millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money spent managing its effects. Often the harm is greatest for the poorest.

The consultation, which is completely anonymous and can be taken online in less than 10 minutes, asks people to say more about how, why and when they drink.

Its findings will help shape a public health strategy to reduce the harms of alcohol over the next five years. For more information visit: Alcohol consultation

The East Sussex Director of Public Health, Darrell Gale, was interviewed on this morning's breakfast show on BBC Sussex.

He was responding to news that another unauthorised event, "Lime on D'Beach", was being organised and advertised for Camber Sands this weekend.

Along with Rother District Council, Darrell made it clear this event must not go ahead. He said that while he understood the impact the lockdown had had on people's lives, we were still in the middle of a pandemic.

We are fortunate to have low levels of coronavirus cases in the east of the county, and it needed to stay that way. Large gatherings like this risked raising infection rates in Camber, as well as putting visitors at risk.

Darrel added that when the tide comes in at Camber, there is little room for the thousands of visitors. He urged people to use other beaches and not gather in groups of more than 30.