'Alcohol A&E Admissions in London up by 56%' - Pope

10.00.00am GMT Fri 7th Dec 2007

New statistics uncovered by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats revealed that alcohol-related A&E admissions have increased by 56.5% in 2002-2006 from 14,810 to 23,170.

The most significant rise was in 2005-2006 when A&E admissions increased by 16.6% from 19,873 to 23,170, the same year that the 2003 Licensing Act became law. Other figures show that 13% of men and 5% of women in London now consume levels of alcohol considered seriously dangerous and that 6,910 Londoners claimed incapacity benefits in 2006-2007 because of alcohol-related illnesses.

Commenting on the drastic rise in alcohol-related A&E admissions, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson on the London Assembly, Geoff Pope, said:

"Alcohol abuse is putting huge pressure on front line NHS services. But the huge rise in A&E admissions is just the tip of the iceberg - binge drinking is a time bomb for the future health of Londoners.

"The government hasn't freed up the cash needed to ensure its new alcohol laws are properly enforced. This has huge consequences for under-age drinking. Our research has shown that the number of trading standard visits over the past year have fallen by 15% and that children can walk into 1 in 4 premises in London and buy alcohol.

"A major drive to provide preventative and support services for young people is urgently needed, as well as tightening controls on underage drinking."

ENDS

Notes to the Editors:

1. Raw data can be downloaded at:

http://www.glalibdems.org.uk/resources/sites/217.160.173.25-3e54d44dcb2780.65885247/Health/?217.160.173.25-3e54d44dcb2780.65885247/Health