Alcoholics Anonymous Reviews

Binge drinking is reducing the lives of men in the region by nine-and-a-half months, a study has shown.

Figures released by the Department of Health (DoH) show booze abuse shaves 9.4 months off the life of the average man, and 4.4 months off the average woman in North Lincolnshire.

This is roughly in line with the national average but the report also said alcohol caused a number of extra problems, including hospital admissions for under 18s, crime, sexual offences, and even fatalities.

In March last year, North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) revealed there were around 15,000 binge drinkers in North Lincolnshire and top public health expert Cynthia Manson-Siddle said: "It's an important issue and it's a burden on society.

"Alcohol is a toxic substance and can end in overdose."

Binge drinking means drinking eight or more units of alcohol in one day for men and six or more for women. It can also refer to heavy drinking over an evening.

The latest information was released as part of a DoH project to create a national 'alcohol map' revealing the harm done in each region by excessive boozing.

The map showed alcohol-related problems in the region were worse than the national average in a number of key areas.

These included the number of under-18s hospitalised due to drinking, hospital admission for alcohol-related harm, alcohol-related crime and binge drinking.

The PCT, which supplied the new information to the DoH, was unavailable for comment, but Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo called for tighter restrictions.

She said: "The evidence makes it clear this is the right time to consult on a tougher approach to the alcohol industry.

"Individuals have to take responsibility for their drinking, but others, including the industry, also have a role to play."

She said there was no evidence 24-hour licensing laws had any impact on the issue.

The alcohol map also showed there were 24 direct alcohol-related deaths among men and 15 among women between 2006 and 2007, and a further 43 male deaths and 28 female deaths attributed to alcohol.

In the same period, there were 84 alcohol-related hospital admissions for under-18s, and 3,423 hospital admissions for alcohol-related harm.

Related crimes numbered 1,934, of which 1,418 were violent crimes and 30 were sexual crimes.

A spokesman for Scunthorpe General Hospital said: "We are aware a number of different admissions which occur are alcohol related, they could be alcohol overdose, falls under the influence, or people who get into a fight and are assaulted.

"It does put a strain on accident and emergency, and we know people admitted who have been drinking are more a likely group to either verbally or physically abuse A &E staff.

"We would hope, and urge people to drink in moderation and remember the recommended maximum limits."

This is Scunthorpe