NW England 'is alcohol blackspot'

Alcohol misuse is a major problem for the NHS

The North West region has England's biggest problem with alcohol, research figures suggest.

A table of blackspots compiled by the North West Public Health Observatory included seven areas in the North West in the top 10.

The list is an attempt to assess the impact of alcohol on local communities, based on factors such as hospital admissions, premature deaths and crime.

Experts warn alcohol-related disease is on the rise across the country.

In 2006/07, there were around 800,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions in England - up 9% in a year.

Some 63% of local authority areas showed an increase, with just 6% registering a decrease.

Deaths from chronic liver disease increased by 7% for women and 5% for men.

The local areas least affected by alcohol were mostly in the South East or Eastern regions of the country, including Mid-Bedfordshire, East Dorset, West Berkshire and South Norfolk.

ALCOHOL BLACKSPOTS Manchester Salford Liverpool Middlesbrough Rochdale Hammersmith and Fulham Kingston-upon-Hull Halton Tameside Oldham

Lead researcher Dr Karen Tocque said: "No area of England can escape the fact that alcohol is having some negative influence on their residents.

"Each year, people living in each community become a victim of a crime, are unable to work, are admitted to hospital or may even die - all because of alcohol."

Professor Mark Bellis, director of the observatory, added: "Rises in alcohol-related health problems reflect not only weekend binge drinking but also how use of alcohol on a nightly basis continues to erode our health.

"Further increases in alcohol problems are in store if we continue to focus on the symptoms of alcohol misuse, like night life violence and ill health, but ignore the causes such as cheap alcohol and a lack of recognition that alcohol is a dangerous drug."

Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said the figures showed that public health campaigns and soft-touch regulation of the industry were not working.

He said: "There is no longer any doubt that the rise in alcohol harms is related to cheaper, more widely available and irresponsibly sold alcohol.

"Many cases of alcohol-related ill-health, deaths and crimes can be avoided, and related costs to the NHS and the policing can be brought down.

"But without firm action on pricing and sales the numbers and the costs will continue to spiral pointlessly."

A spokesman for the Department of Health said ministers had announced their intention to impose new standards on the alcohol industry.

He said: "We are determined to reduce the health and social harms caused by alcohol."

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