South East's drinking problem
The south east is a region of heavy drinkers, according to a new public health report.
People living in the area drink more than those in almost any other part of the UK, and significantly more than people in London.
The findings come from a report called Choosing Health in the South East: Alcohol.
It states that on average 26% of men and 16% of women in the south east drink on five or more days each week, with the latter figure on the increase.
There were 3,565 alcohol-related deaths in the south east in 2004.
The area has a lower rate of alcohol-related crime than England as a whole, but contains around 4,000 people claiming incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance due to alcoholism - significantly more than the national average.
The report adds that around 17million working days are lost nationally to alcohol-related sick leave, costing the country £6.4billion.
Across the country, around a quarter of 15 to 16-year-olds said they have regular binge drinking sessions and 90% of 15-year-olds drink alcohol at least occasionally.
Dr Alison Hill, director of the South East Public Health Observatory, who produced the report, said the report highlights some “worrying trends” among young people.
“Occasional drinking now appears to be the norm for 15 and 16 year olds and binge-drinking in this age group is not uncommon.
“This casts a shadow over the future. It is likely that more people in this generation will develop alcohol-related health problems, and at a younger age, than their parents' generation.”
Newbury Today
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