Drinking ourselves to death in North

Jul 23 2008 by William Green, The Journal

PEOPLE in the North East are drinking themselves into an early grave, shock figures have revealed.

Government-commissioned research found alcohol claimed at least one life a day, while men are losing a year of life expectancy and women nearly six months because of drinking.

The cost in crime, jobs and the NHS has also been revealed, with 17,832 cases of violence and 323 incidents of sexual crime in the region attributed to alcohol in 2006-07.

Some 2,690 people also claimed incapacity benefit because of alcoholism.

And drink-related admissions to hospital have rocketed from 31,600 in 2002-03 to 55,904 in 2006-07, with the region seeing the biggest rise in England.

Five North East cities and towns, including Newcastle, are among 20 areas in England with the highest drink-related admission rates.

Nationally, the annual cost of alcohol to the NHS now tops £2.7bn a year.

Last night, North East Minister Nick Brown said: “We cannot go on like this. We have to win the hearts and minds of local people to sensible drinking.”

Newcastle liver specialist Christopher Record said he had warned of an epidemic several years ago. “I said if we took action then, we might see some effect in five years. But we are now five years on and there are still no effective actions being taken.”

Dr Record said many patients were now in their 20s and the youngest was a 19-year-old woman, who died of liver disease.

He called for a minimum 50p a unit price for alcohol, meaning a bottle of wine would cost at least £4.50.

Kevan Martin, of the North East Regional Alcohol Forum, said alcohol was taking at least one life a day in the region and a change in the country’s drinking culture was essential.

The North East Strategic Health Authority said a lot of work was under way, but it was vital people took responsibility for safer drinking. Northumbria Chief Constable Mike Craik said his force took a firm stance on alcohol-related disorder with campaigns helping cut such crime.

The developments came as ministers warned the alcohol industry it faced tough new laws if it failed to encourage sensible drinking. A ban on happy hours, cheap promotions and the sale of alcohol at checkouts are being considered.

Pubs and clubs could also be forced to offer the option of smaller glasses.

But the Government insisted there was no evidence licensing changes allowing round-the-clock drinking had affected alcohol consumption.

A second review by experts at Sheffield University is looking at the link between price and alcohol abuse – with interim findings showing strong evidence that higher prices could cut demand.

But the Wine and Spirit Trade Association warned of higher prices for responsible drinkers without solving the problem of alcohol misuse.

Hard stuff

A QUARTER of over-16s in the North East are classed as binge drinkers as they have double the daily recommended limit in a single session.

Men should not drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day regularly and women no more than two or three units, the NHS says.

A pint of standard lager equals 2.3 units, a 125ml glass of wine 1.5 units and a 25ml measure of whisky one unit. But 5% of people in the North East indulge in harmful drinking, defined as more than 50 units a week for men and more than 35 for women.

The North East and North West have the most alcohol-related hospital admissions per 100,000 people. Nationally, admissions have risen 15% a year to 800,000 in 2006-07.

The Journal has revealed that alcohol-linked conditions killed 3,600 in the region in 10 years.