Alcohol abuse is costing the town millions

The shocking toll of alcohol abuse in Bolton has been spelled out in a report.

It says the NHS is spending a total of £7.75 million a year treating injuries caused as a result of drunkenness and treating long-term alcoholism.

The report, jointly produced by Bolton's Primary Care Trust and Bolton Council, also says that in the borough: l Every year £9 million is spent on policing alcohol-related crime, associated court appearances, solicitors' fees and replacing stolen or damaged property.

* Workers in Bolton take 157,000 sick days as a direct result of their drinking.

* Alcohol accounts for 95 sex assaults every year.

* 4,700 children are affected by parents who drink.

Children are becoming increasingly drawn into alcohol abuse. In June, The Bolton News revealed the number of youngsters admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital because of alcohol problems had rocketed by more than 400 per cent over the last decade.

In the year to April, 2006, 96 children ended up in hospital - along with 638 adults.

Alcohol is now the biggest early cause of death for women in Bolton and causes as many premature deaths in men as coronary heart disease.

Jan Hutchinson, director of public health for Bolton Primary Care Trust, said: "This isn't a problem unique to Bolton, it's a national issue. Alcohol is easily available in supermarkets and off licences, as well as in pubs.

"The biggest increase is in people drinking at home."

Health chiefs at Bolton Primary Care Trust have vowed to do all they can to tackle the problem, starting with reforming treatment services.

The report highlights four key ways to reduce the amount people drink - better education and awareness of the hazards of drink, stronger enforcement of licensing laws, addressing alcohol issues in communities and workplaces and improving treatment services.

An extra £120,000 per year is to be spent on improving available services Patients can be referred to alcohol treatment services through the courts, their GP or a hospital, or people can seek help themselves.

In future, patients will be assessed before being sent to the community alcohol team in order to give priority to those who want to change their ways.

But health and council chiefs are urging people to drink responsibly.

Cllr Andy Morgan, who is a magistrate and chairman of Bolton Council's health scrutiny committee, said: "This is a cultural problem that some believe has been exacerbated by 24-hour licensing laws.

"As a magistrate, I've seen assaults on members of the public and the police rise and anti-social behaviour increase.

"People have to be responsible drinkers."

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