One in five in Norwich binge drinks

One in five people in Norwich is classed as a binge-drinker, shocking new statistics have today revealed.

A binge-drinker is classed as a man who regularly consumes more than the recommended 10 units of alcohol - or five pints - and women who drink more than six units in a single drinking session.

The staggering figures put the city above the national average in terms of binge-drinkers - with Norwich at 19.9pc and the average at 16.5pc.

Campaigners have called on health bosses - and people who consume too much alcohol - to act immediately amid fears the figures highlight just the “tip of the iceberg”.

Norfolk's alcohol epidemic is further backed up by new figures showing the number of people who are required to stay in hospital due to alcohol related sickness or accidents is 316 out of 100,000 of population, compared to the national average of 247 per 100,000.

Ian Gibson, Norwich North MP, said today: “These figures do not surprise me at all. We are facing a timebomb in Norwich and I think the figures are far higher than this. Alcohol is so accessible in supermarkets and off licences that there is a hidden culture of binge-drinking that goes on at home.

“Health bosses need to look at this problem but people should concern themselves with their own health and take some sort of responsibility.”

However, while people in the city drink too much, not as many die from alcohol as in other parts of the country.

The figures, which were compiled by the City of Norwich Partnership Team at Norwich City Council, show 15 out of 1,000 men in the city die due to alcohol related illness and five out of 1,000 women compared to 16.5 and 7.7 respectively nationwide.

Some of the main causes include alcoholic psychoses, liver disease, chronic hepatitis, pancreatitis, alcohol poisoning and degeneration of the nervous system because of alcohol.

Jocelyn Pike, the PCT's lead commissioner for substance misuse, said: “The PCT works closely with Norfolk DAT and other agencies to commission and provide a range of services to meet the needs of individuals who present themselves with problems due to alcohol use.

“The trust also actively promotes safe alcohol consumption levels through a variety of ways, including posters and leaflets that are placed in various relevant places, such as GP practices, hospitals and health centres.

“Our staff are also trained to offer advice about the dangers of high alcohol consumption.”

The news also comes as researchers from London's St Thomas' Hospital claim the introduction of 24-hour drinking laws might have trebled alcohol-related admissions to A&E departments.

Evening News