Alcohol Related Admissions Increasing, Report Finds

A report released today reveals that alcohol related admissions have increased dramatically since 1995.

The NHS report shows that alcohol was the main or secondary cause of 207,800 NHS admissions between 2006 and 2007 compared to just 93,500 between 1995 and 1996.

In 2006, 40% of men reported drinking over the recommended four units on at least one day in the week. Women were less likely to consume over the daily guideline, with a third of women drinking over three units on at least one day in the same week.

It was also reported that 23% of men and 15% of women reported drinking over twice the recommended daily allowance on one day during the week.

Yorkshire and Humber recorded the highest prevalence of those exceeding daily benchmarks amongst men (48%) and along with the North West, had the highest recorded prevalence for women (40%).

Drinking among children has decreased since 2001 although, among those who drank in the last week, consumption has increased in 2006.

As in previous years, beer, lager and cider remained the most commonly consumed type of alcohol, followed by spirits and alcopops.

In relation to drinking related illness and death, more than 112, 000 items were prescribed for the treatment of alcohol dependency in England at a cost of £2.1 million to the NHS.

The number of deaths directly related to alcohol consumption has increased each year since 2001. Last year, alcoholic liver disease was the most common cause of death linked to alcoholic consumption. Between 2006 and 2007, there were 43,548 admissions where alcoholic liver disease was either the primary or secondary diagnosis.

It is also estimated that workplace costs of alcohol misuse are as high as £6.4 billion per year through loss of productivity.

Alison Rogers, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust said: "We need action now to protect people's health to stop health harm from alcohol spiralling out of control.

"We seem to be getting on top of cardiovascular disease and cancer, but liver disease is the only one out of the big five on the rise. Piecemeal action to tackle liver disease just isn't working.

"We need a coherent government strategy to tackle liver disease that looks at the complex and inter-related factors behind it, from alcohol and viral hepatitis to obesity and treatment services."

A spokesman for Alcohol Concern said: "The Government needs to shape a response that meets the challenges thrown up by this bulletin.

"Information campaigns are a great first step, but we also need urgent investment in treatment systems that help steer problem drinkers away from harmful behaviour before they develop chronic conditions."

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo has launched a £6 million campaign to ensure that people know how much they are drinking.

Read:Drinkers Fuzzy About Units, Survey Reveals

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(DS)