Admissions to hospital due to drinking have increased by eight per cent in one year to reach a figure just below 1 million, official figures have revealed.
The fourth annual Local Alcohol Profiles for England (LAPE) report revealed the dramatic increase of deaths from chronic liver disease for men and women. The Government’s national alcohol indicator also showed the scale of the health problems caused by alcohol in England after 863,257 patients sought treatment for alcohol-related harm in 2007/08, an eight per cent increase from the previous year or an additional 176 admissions every day, The Daily Telegraph reported.
The North West Public Health Observatory (NWPH) suggested that alcohol abuse in England could push the number above one million in two year’s time. Four in five local authorities reported an increase in hospital admissions for alcohol in 2007/08, with fewer than one in ten reporting a fall.
Professor Mark Bellis, of John Moores University and Director of NWPH, said:
‘Without substantial change in drinking behaviours, the annual number of alcohol related admissions to hospitals in England is on course to exceed one million per year in two years time.
‘Such admissions are still only the tip of an iceberg with many people attending accident and emergency units, GPs and pharmacies in order to treat health conditions resulting from their alcohol use.’
The figures revealed a north-south divide in alcohol related harm to health and communities with the north suffering most.
Deaths linked to alcohol abuse in East Lancashire are among the highest in the country. The figures show that Blackburn’s rate from 2005 to 2007 was around 30 deaths per 100,000 population from liver failure, while neighbouring Hyndburn clocked in at approximately 27 deaths and came 10th in the nationwide table. Liverpool has the second highest rate of hospital admissions caused by alcohol. The other two in the top 10 are the City of Kingston upon Hull and Middlesbrough.
Professor Chris Hawkey, President of The British Society of Gastroenterology, said:
‘This research, particularly the statistics around the younger generations is quite alarming. Whilst the research shows that 99 per cent of the population know what the recommended limits are, what’s concerning is the fact that this seems to be flouted.’
The Royal College of Nursing has branded the findings as a ‘national tragedy’. Dr Peter Carter, head of the RCN, described the nation’s relationship with alcohol as ‘a national and international disgrace’.
‘As well as causing unimaginable suffering for the families and friends of those involved, more people needing hospital treatment for alcohol-related reasons means extra pressure on an already over-stretched and pressurised health service,’ he said.
In the face of the situation, the Government has abandoned plans to ban pub happy hours and supermarket bulk alcohol offers despite Gordon Brown saying at the beginning of this week that he was never happy with 24-hour drinking and will create powers to curb it in areas where binge drinking is a problem. However Ministers say that local councils will be given greater powers to review the licences of problem shops and pubs.
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Chris Grayling, Tory Shadow Home Secretary, said:
‘This is typical of a government that makes announcements to make itself sound good – but never actually does anything that really makes a difference. They really have run out of steam.’
It was reported two weeks ago that teenagers who took part in the health tests were given tokens which can be exchanged for free alcoholic drinks. The scheme, proposed by the National Union of Students (NUS), pushed fresher-week students into abusing the incentive and created drunken mayhem on campuses. Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe said:
‘The organisers are naive to think that when alcohol’s involved, students wouldn’t work out a way to abuse the system. Using alcohol to bribe youths into testing is also unsuitable as we’re trying to curb binge drinking not promote it.’
The NUS promoted the idea to universities across the country as part of its Sexual Health Advice and Guidance campaign aimed at new undergraduates.
Student unions in London, Manchester and Birmingham have already carried out the incentive scheme.
On 8 October 2009, City University in London offered free alcohol to students who completed chlamydia tests, provided free by the Brook Advisory Centre charity.
At similar events students who agree to take part have provided a urine sample behind a screen, often set up in the bar area, before receiving a token that allows them to receive a free beer or spirit drink.
Recently, a conference of experts also warned that British schoolgirls have the worst record for binge drinking in Europe. The problem is likely to become worse as it becomes more socially acceptable, they said.
Some 648 children under ten were admitted to hospital due to drink between 2003 and 2008, the Daily Mail reported.
Gillian Merron, Public Health Minister and an MP for Lincoln, said:
‘The level of alcohol related hospital admissions, crime, ill-health and deaths are unacceptable. The Government is working harder to help those who regularly drink too much or are dependent on alcohol.
‘We have recently consulted on banning the worst types of irresponsible promotions, such as ‘all you can drink’ offers. The Know Your Limits campaign, makes information on alcohol units and the NHS guidelines widely available and has been well received.’
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