Trevor Ivory has expressed concern over new official figures that have revealed a soaring number of hospital admissions due to alcohol misuse and that show a link between alcohol and the rising tide of crime and disorder.

According to research by the NHS Information Centre:

·         The number of admissions to NHS hospitals due to alcohol has soared by 52 per cent over the last decade.

·         1 in 10 of all these incidents now involves those under 18.

·         Across the region there were 14,116 hospital admissions due to alcohol last year alone.

·         1 in 3 of all 15 year olds think that it is acceptable to get drunk at least once a week.

·         Half of all violent attacks are committed by those under the influence of alcohol.

Growing alcohol misuse has coincided with new 24 hour licensing laws imposed by the Government and a continuing failure to enforce existing laws against under-age drinking. The Government has also raided budgets for the promotion of healthy living to meet NHS deficits.

“There’s nothing wrong with adults having a good night out, but under-age and binge drinking fuels crime and anti-social behaviour. Labour Ministers talk endlessly about cracking down on alcohol-related violence, but these new figures expose Gordon Brown’s complacency and the knock-on effect on the NHS,” Mr Ivory said.

“The Labour Government’s failure to enforce the law sends totally the wrong message about under-age drinking. We need greater social responsibility, more powers for local communities over licensing, and an end to some parents turning a blind eye to their children’s drinking.”