Sobering stats revealed on Rochdale's drinking habits

Man drinking alcohol

Binge drinkers who take up Accident and Emergency services have more than doubled since 2003, figures have revealed.

Staggering statistics by the North West Public Health Observatory revealed that the North West is the worst region in the country for alcohol related hospital submissions, and Rochdale is a main contributor.

A list of the England’s top ten was compiled inan attempt to assess the impact of alcohol on local communities, based on factors such as hospital admissions, premature deaths and crime.

In 2006/7 there were 4293 submission made to the Rochdale Infirmary from party goers who injured themselves with drink. This is more than twice the number from 2002/3, at 2123.

Nationally, in 2006/07, there were around 800,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions in England - up 9% in just one year.

Deaths from chronic liver disease increased by 7% for women and 5% for men.

The local areas least affected by alcohol were mostly in the South East or Eastern regions of the country, including Mid-Bedfordshire, East Dorset and South Norfolk.

Alcohol blackspots in the North West are:

• Manchester
• Salford
• Liverpool 
• Rochdale
• Tameside
• Oldham

Professor Mark Bellis, director of the observatory, added: "Rises in alcohol-related health problems reflect not only weekend binge drinking but also how use of alcohol on a nightly basis continues to erode our health.

"Further increases in alcohol problems are in store if we continue to focus on the symptoms of alcohol misuse, like night life violence and ill health, but ignore the causes such as cheap alcohol and a lack of recognition that alcohol is a dangerous drug."

Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said the figures showed that public health campaigns and soft-touch regulation of the industry were not working.

He said: "There is no longer any doubt that the rise in alcohol harms is related to cheaper, more widely available and irresponsibly sold alcohol.

"Many cases of alcohol-related ill-health, deaths and crimes can be avoided, and related costs to the NHS and the policing can be brought down.

"But without firm action on pricing and sales the numbers and the costs will continue to spiral pointlessly."

“These figures are a cause for great concern and I think that health bosses need to work harder to advertise the adverse affects of binge drinking. The fact is that if you drink to excess then your life will be significantly shortened. Binge drinking causes brain damage, liver damage and leads to crime and poverty.” 

Paul Rowen MP said: “The Government need to take action against crazy offers that means that sometimes a can of beer is cheaper than soft drinks and even water.

"The greed of our supermarkets is affecting many people and I am calling for tougher action to stop this. Whilst prices are going up for many goods like vegetables and fruit, booze is getting cheaper and that can’t be right. We need to stop this problem at source.”