Tomorrow night in Brighton, street performers will be amusing crowds, security guards will be roaming the streets and a church will be transformed into a field hospital. All these schemes have been launched in response to the rise of binge drinking in Brighton and Hove. Lawrence Marzouk looks at the innovative attempts to tackle alcohol-related problems.

Binge drinkers are flooding A&E wards and turning parts of Brighton and Hove into nogo areas at the weekend, say police, the NHS and the council.

Years of poster campaigns and hard-hitting radio adverts have failed to stem the growing number of people ending up in hospital or with a fine from the police after a night out drinking.

The number of people reporting to doctors and A&E with liver cirrhosis, alcohol poisoning and alcohol-induced mental illness trebled in the five years to 2005.

While serious violent crime across the county has fallen since the introduction of late-night drinking in November 2005, the number of fines for drunken behaviour has rocketed and central Brighton continues to see an increase in attacks.

Brighton and Hove police recently revealed plans to put a cap on the number of bars and clubs in the city centre but this is unlikely to be introduced until spring next year.

But this Christmas, a number of new ideas have been set out and, if successful, could become regular features in the city.

More than £15,000 has been made available for these projects by the Centre for Public Innovation, which is working for the Government Office for the South East.

Centre spokeswoman Patricia Sauer said: "Problems are often solved by people's bright ideas and do not always need loads of money.

"We are delighted so many energetic people in Brighton and Hove really want to help tackle nuisance drinking and its after-effects".

West Street field hospital, manned by the Red Cross, will open in West Street tomorrow to help accident and emergency wards cope with binge drinkers.

St Paul's Church in West Street, Brighton, will be transformed into a safe haven and first-aid centre for those who have injured themselves or become lost or distressed as a result of alcohol or drugs.

The Safe Space project will be piloted over eight nights between December 21 and New Year, from 10pm to 3am. Church door staff will assess people on entry and direct them towards an area either to sober up, be sick or have their injuries treated.

Youth workers will provide information on safe sex and details of drug and alcohol services, while two Red Cross first aiders will treat injuries such as cuts and sprains. Staff will then contact parents to ask them to collect their child or send them home in a taxi.

Taz Fletcher, Safe Space project co-ordinator, said: "The project will provide help and support and practical assistance to people who are ill, injured, separated from friends, too intoxicated to get home safely or vulnerable and distressed.

"We want to encourage police and licensees to send people who need support to the Safe Space."

Julia Wyborn-Dore, violent crime reduction officer for Brighton and Hove police, said: "The crime figures show we are consistently recording fewer serious violent crimes in the city centre area than this time last year but, despite our warnings, we unfortunately still see people in the city centre who have consumed too much alcohol and by the nature of their situation make themselves potentially vulnerable to crime.

"This project, which is also in existence in other areas such as Torquay and Norwich, can only help to prevent vulnerable people becoming victims of crime."

If successful, the project may become a regular feature in West Street.

Sassco security staff will pound the streets with £1,500 of the latest camera technology.

The quality of the image is far superior to CCTV and, as it is attached to the head, follows the action closely. Mark Bolingbroke, of Sassco, said: "With the headcams, we can pass the information on to the police and they are more likely to get more convictions."

The Cylon headcam has already been trialled in Devon, and it has clinched a number of successful prosecutions.

A long-term aim of the project is to use the footage to create short films that will be used in education campaigns in schools giving examples of what happens when people abuse alcohol.

He said: "We are looking at using the footage to put out a message to schools showing that if you do this you will get into trouble."

Alex Matthews, owner of The Amsterdam Hotel, is co-ordinating two safe areas and a street patrol for Kemp Town over the festive season.

Sassco will inform licensees in this area about possible troublemakers and will escort people to the safe havens in The Amsterdam Hotel, Marine Parade, and The Barley Mow, St Georges Road.

Mr Matthews said: "We will have a marked van patrol vehicle with "village pub watch" on the side.

"If they come across vulnerable people they will be taken to one of the safe areas."

The second strand of the project will look at encouraging responsible behaviour from licensees.

Mr Matthews is critical of 24-hour drinking and pubs offering cut-price drinks.

He said: "I have been in the business for 20 years and we should have a place where people can come out safely and drink reasonably and sensibly.

"I want all the pubs to look at each other and look at best practice. For example, if people are eating and drinking they are less likely to have too much to drink.

"If we give them a little bit of chocolate that helps."

Binge-drinking teens and early-20s are being targeted with text messages on nights out.

Brighton and Hove Primary Care Trust (PCT) will send out text messages to people who have signed up to a competition to win iPods and a range of other attractive goods. These will be sent out between 8pm and 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, asking the recipient whether they have had enough to drink or how they are getting home.

Gavin Bryce, head of alcohol policy at the PCT, said: "I regard binge drinking as people going out with the intention of getting drunk.

"It is an increasing problem with young people and it can carry on into their late teens and early 20s.

"The drive of this campaign is to make young people focus on the hazards associated with binge drinking and ways of avoiding harm, essentially a survival guide. Within the literature will be a call to action, where young people will be incentivised to sign up for a free text service.

"Once signed up, text messages will be sent out to remind them of the campaign messages at times when they are most likely to be drinking and at most risk of harm. Messages like, Who's watching ur drink?' and How're u getting home tonight?' will prompt young people to reflect.

"We are not saying you must not drink or enjoy yourselves. We are trying to get the message across about the potential hazards and how they can be avoided.

"We know most people pick up and read their text messages more than anything else so the hope is this will help get the message across."

The text message campaign will run for four weeks over the Christmas period and be extended if successful.

Street performers dressed as lollipop men and women are tackling binge drinking on West Street.

The idea is to prevent alcohol-related antisocial behaviour by using humour and performance to interact with people around Sussex's most violent street.

The team of experienced street performers all share a background working with challenging client groups, ranging from hospital A&Es to frontline work with drug and alcohol abusers.

The performers will try to diffuse antisocial behaviour and the threat of violence before it gets out of hand and will provide diversionary activities and entertainment to improve the atmosphere. Sick bags, condoms and chocolates will be handed out.

Eric Page and Christine Thornton, from the council's community safety team, are the brains behind the scheme.

Ms Thornton said: "Our intention is to turn the streets of Brighton into an arts venue and the crowds into an audience."

They will be on hand to help with taxis, medical assistance and possibly even a kebab.

What measures should the police take to prevent drink-related violence? Do you think a cap on the number of bars and clubs in Brighton and Hove's centre a good idea?

Was the introduction of 24-hour drinking a good or bad move?

Should we teach children the dangers of excessive drinking? Do you have any other ideas for tackling this country's binge drinking culture?

Have your say, add your comments below.