All existing procedures have such serious conceptual and methodological weaknesses that they are unable to provide any truly objective and reliable data

Dr Peter Marsh

Claims that between 70% and 80% of late-night violence in town centres is alcohol-related are also "meaningless", according to the research.

A quarter of police forces kept no record of alcohol-related crime, said the study, conducted by the Social Issues Research Centre in Oxford.

'Weaknesses'

And just one in 10 forces kept data that could be directly compared with others.

Accident and emergency departments fared little better - with the highest estimates of alcohol-related injuries coming from hospitals with the least reliable records.

Consultants are, in any case, divided on the extent to which alcohol contributes to injuries, according to the study.

And fewer than one in 20 town or city centre managers keep records of alcohol-related violence.

Dr Peter Marsh, who led the research, said: "All existing procedures have such serious conceptual and methodological weaknesses that they are unable to provide any truly objective and reliable data."

The Portman Group aims to help prevent misuse of alcohol and to promote sensible drinking.