Is our reliance on alcohol giving us all a headache?

Jun 16 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal

The problem

THE North East has one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the country, resulting in a range of health and social problems.

Issues range from alcoholism and liver disease through to alcohol-related violence and teenage pregnancies and anti-social behaviour.

The North East has the highest levels of binge drinking in the country.

Newcastle has one of the highest rates of death in the country from chronic liver disease amongst men.

In 2006, almost half of all adults in the North East believed that alcohol was a major cause of crime, up 28% on 2004.

Between April 1 and December 31 2008, police forces in the North East dealt with more than 4,500 domestic incidents which were alcohol related.

Residents of the North East have a higher percentage of people being drunk or rowdy in public places than the national average.