Binge drinking is a huge problem in Britain and statistics show that nearly 1,000 more people end up in hospital due to over-drinking compared to the statistics just five years ago. Official figures show 1.1million people in England alone were admitted to hospital in 2009/10.

The 25% increase reinforces the severity of the situation and suggests that binge drinking is definitely a growing concern. Recently, supermarkets and their ‘cheap alcohol’ have been blamed for the increase in problem.

The chief executive of Alcohol Concern, Don Shenker says: ‘These figures are a result of supermarkets routinely selling cheap alcohol and the number of premises which are licensed to sell alcohol. It is clear that this Government needs to do far more to tackle the problems that all communities face in dealing with alcohol, If the UK wants a healthier relationship with alcohol, we need a different relationship with alcohol retailers and producers.’

The worst-affected region was London, where the number of alcohol related crimes per 1,000 residents reached 11.7 compared to 5.7 in the north east.

Alongside this, statistics show that 660,000 working days are being lost, due to alcohol, every year. The amount of binge drinking is not just affecting our health and crime rate, but it is affecting the economy too.

Beers

Picture courtesy of DeusXFlorida